Overview:

This Queen Marchesa (Aikido/Token Aristocrats) deck leverages monarch mechanics, token generation, and death-trigger synergies to control the board and drain opponents. The strategy focuses on creating token swarms with cards like Adeline, Resplendent Cathar, Brimaz, King of Oreskos, and Mondrak, Glory Dominus, amplified by Anointed Procession. Damage is dealt through ETB triggers (Purphoros, God of the Forge, Impact Tremors) and sacrifice payoffs (Zulaport Cutthroat, Mirkwood Bats), while stax elements (Blind Obedience, Norn's Annex) and goad (Taunt from the Rampart) disrupt opponents. Queen Marchesa provides monarch-fueled card advantage and token generation but isn’t essential to the core strategy.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (Turns 1-4):
   • Secure mana with Sol Ring, Land Tax, or signets.
   • Deploy stax pieces (Authority of the Consuls, Ghostly Prison) or token generators (Ophiomancer, Black Market Connections).
   • Cast Queen Marchesa to become monarch and start generating Assassins.

2. Midgame Value (Turns 4-7):

   • Drop key enchantments: Anointed Procession, Teysa Karlov, or Cathars' Crusade to amplify tokens.
   • Use Skullclamp or Diabolic Intent to sacrifice tokens for card advantage.
   • Activate Ashnod's Altar or Goblin Bombardment to convert tokens into damage via Blood Artist or Mayhem Devil.

3. Win Conditions (Turns 6+):

   • Token Swarm: Overwhelm with Purphoros, God of the Forge/Impact Tremors triggers or pump tokens via Akroma's Will/Cathars' Crusade.
   • Sacrifice Loops: Drain opponents with Zulaport Cutthroat and Mirkwood Bats using infinite mana from Pitiless Plunderer + Ashnod's Altar (with token generators).
   • Combat Tricks: Use Inkshield to punish attacks or Forth Eorlingas! to secure monarch and create a lethal board.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 2-3 lands, including color-fixing (e.g., Command Tower).
• Prioritize early token generators (Ophiomancer, Brimaz), stax pieces, or card advantage engines (Black Market Connections).
• Avoid hands lacking ramp or token synergy.

Key Tips:

• Use Farewell judiciously—exiling your own tokens can reset synergy pieces.
• Gerrard, Weatherlight Hero provides recursion after board wipes.
• Helm of the Host on Mondrak, Glory Dominus quadruples token production.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Mass Exile Effects: Farewell or Merciless Eviction cripple token strategies and bypass Gerrard, Weatherlight Hero.
• Anti-Token Hate: Torpor Orb nullifies ETB triggers; Rest in Peace disrupts death synergies.

Moderate

• Fast Combo Decks: Struggles to outpace decks that win before T6.
• Mana Constraints: High reliance on colored pips (e.g., Teysa Karlov, Cathars' Crusade) with limited fixing.

Minor

• Flyers: Limited reach outside Inkshield or Vault of the Archangel.
• Single-Target Removal: Redundant token generators mitigate this threat.

Most Important Cards:

• Anointed Procession (Token multiplier)
• Purphoros, God of the Forge (Primary win condition)
• Teysa Karlov (Doubles death/ETB triggers)
• Mondrak, Glory Dominus (Token multiplier)
• Ashnod's Altar (Sac outlet for mana/damage)
• Impact Tremors (Burn engine)
• Zulaport Cutthroat (Life drain)
• Cathars' Crusade (Token pump)
• Skullclamp (Card draw engine)
• Farewell (Board reset)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 6/10

• Wins via incremental damage or combat around T7-9. Lacks fast mana or compact combos.

Resilience: 7/10

• Redundant token generators, recursion (Gerrard), and protection (Flawless Maneuver) mitigate disruption.

Consistency: 7/10

• Tutors (Enlightened Tutor, Diabolic Intent) and monarch card draw ensure key pieces are found.

Interaction: 6/10

• Targeted removal (Swords to Plowshares), board wipes, and stax slow opponents but lack stack interaction.

Rating Justification:

This deck’s synergy-driven token strategy and monarch value engine enable consistent T7-9 wins through combat or drain effects. While resilient to removal and packed with redundancy, its reliance on board presence and vulnerability to exile effects cap its power below cEDH tiers.

Power level: 5.5 - 6.0