Overview:

This Golgari deck helmed by Ygra, Eater of All focuses on a recursive aristocrats strategy, leveraging Food tokens and creature sacrifice synergies to drain opponents while buffing Ygra. The commander enables all creatures to become Foods, creating a self-sustaining engine for sacrifice fodder. Key themes include token multiplication (e.g., Academy Manufactor, Chatterfang, Squirrel General), infinite mana/drain loops via altars, and life-loss payoffs like Mirkwood Bats and Zulaport Cutthroat. Ygra acts as both an engine piece (enabling Food synergies) and a scalable threat via her +1/+1 counter accumulation.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (Turns 1-3):
   • Deploy mana dorks (Llanowar Elves, Deathrite Shaman) or token generators (Experimental Confectioner, Savvy Hunter).
   • Cast Ygra as early as Turn 3 using rituals (Dark Ritual, Culling the Weak).
2. Engine Assembly (Turns 4-5):
   • Resolve key token multipliers (Academy Manufactor, Peregrin Took) and sac outlets (Ashnod's Altar, Viscera Seer).
   • Tutor for combo pieces (Chain of Smog + Professor Onyx) or drain enablers (Mirkwood Bats).
3. Win Execution (Turns 5-7):
   • Drain: Sacrifice tokens to altars, triggering Blood Artist effects.
   • Infinite Combos:
     • Chain of Smog + Professor Onyx (infinite life loss).
     • Phyrexian Altar + Chatterfang + Academy Manufactor (infinite tokens/mana).
   • Overrun: Buff Ygra with +1/+1 counters and swing for lethal commander damage.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with early ramp (dorks/rituals) or a critical mass of token generators.
• Prioritize Ygra in opening hands unless a combo line (e.g., Chain of Smog + tutor) is available.
• Avoid hands lacking sac outlets or payoffs.

Key Tips:

• Use Skullclamp on 1-toughness tokens (e.g., Squirrels) for explosive card draw.
• Agatha's Soul Cauldron can spread key abilities (e.g., Deathrite Shaman’s mana) across your board.
• Bolas's Citadel pairs with lifegain from Food to dominate late-game turns.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Commander Reliance: Ygra’s removal cripples Food synergies; limited protection beyond Lightning Greaves.
• Artifact/Token Hate: Vandalblast or Farewell devastates the board.
• Combo Disruption: Single-target removal on Professor Onyx or Chatterfang halts primary wincons.

Moderate

• Graveyard Reliance: Scavenger's Talent and Cauldron Familiar are vulnerable to Rest in Peace.
• Life Total Pressure: Aggro decks can outpace the deck’s incremental lifegain.

Minor

• Limited Stack Interaction: Relies on Veil of Summer and Abrupt Decay for answers.

Most Important Cards:

• Academy Manufactor (Token tripling enables infinite loops)
• Chatterfang, Squirrel General (Token multiplier and sac outlet)
• Phyrexian Altar (Mana engine for combos)
• Chain of Smog (Primary combo piece with Professor Onyx)
• Professor Onyx (Combo finisher and value engine)
• Mirkwood Bats (Scalable drain effect)
• Demonic Tutor (Finds critical combo pieces)
• Ashnod's Altar (Sac outlet and mana generation)
• Peregrin Took (Token amplification)
• Ygra, Eater of All (Enables Food synergies and becomes a threat)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 7/10

• Can threaten T4-6 wins with ritual-fueled combos (e.g., T3 Ygra into T4 Chain of Smog + Onyx).

Resilience: 5/10

• Fragile to commander removal and board wipes; limited recursion outside Cauldron Familiar.

Consistency: 7/10

• High tutor density (7+ tutors) and card draw (Skullclamp, Deadly Dispute) ensure combo access.

Interaction: 5/10

• Efficient targeted removal (Assassin's Trophy, Toxic Deluge) but lacks counterspells.

Rating Justification:

This deck operates at a 6.0–6.5 power level, capable of T5-7 wins through efficient combos and tutors but held back by reliance on Ygra and vulnerability to common interaction. Its speed aligns with "Focused" tiers, while resilience gaps prevent higher optimization.

Power level: 6.0 - 6.5