Overview:

This Orzhov aristocrats deck leverages Teysa Karlov to amplify death triggers, focusing on sacrificing tokens and creatures for value, drain effects, and combo finishes. The commander doubles death triggers and enhances tokens with vigilance/lifelink, enabling a mix of grindy attrition and explosive loops. Key themes include token generation (Bitterblossom, Ophiomancer), sacrifice outlets (Viscera Seer, Phyrexian Altar), and payoff engines like Zulaport Cutthroat and The Meathook Massacre. Drivnod, Carnage Dominus and Mondrak, Glory Dominus act as "hidden commanders," providing redundancy for Teysa’s doubling effect and token multipliers. The deck can win via incremental life drain, infinite loops (e.g., Reveillark/Karmic Guide with a sac outlet), or overwhelming angel tokens from Divine Visitation.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (Turns 1-3): Deploy token generators (Bitterblossom, Ophiomancer), sac outlets (Viscera Seer, Carrion Feeder), and value pieces (Esper Sentinel, Smothering Tithe).
2. Midgame Value (Turns 4-6): Cast Teysa or Drivnod to double death triggers. Sacrifice tokens to Phyrexian Altar or Altar of Dementia for mana/mill while draining opponents with Blood Artist effects. Use Yawgmoth, Thran Physician to draw cards and spread -1/-1 counters.
3. Win Conditions (Turns 5-8+):
   • Infinite Combos: Loop Reveillark + Karmic Guide with a sac outlet (e.g., Altar of Dementia for mill or Zulaport Cutthroat for infinite drain).
   • Token Overrun: Pair Divine Visitation with token doublers (Mondrak) to create lethal 4/4 angels.
   • Life Drain: Stack multiple Cruel Celebrant/Elenda, the Dusk Rose triggers with mass sacrifice (The Meathook Massacre).

Mulligan Priorities:

• Prioritize early token generators, sac outlets, and at least one payoff card (e.g., Zulaport Cutthroat).
• Keep hands with ramp (Sol Ring, Arcane Signet) or tutors (Diabolic Intent, Beseech the Mirror).
• Avoid slow hands lacking synergy (e.g., only high-CMC cards).

Key Tips:

• Use Teferi's Protection or Grand Crescendo to protect against board wipes during critical turns.
• Saw in Half on Elenda, the Dusk Rose or Morbid Opportunist doubles death triggers and token generation.
• Beseech the Mirror can fetch combo pieces like Phyrexian Altar or Divine Visitation.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Graveyard Hate: Rest in Peace or Leyline of the Void cripples recursion (Karmic Guide, Reveillark) and Elenda’s token generation.
• Enchantment Removal: Losing Divine Visitation or Grave Pact disrupts key engines.

Moderate

• Board Wipes: Without Teferi's Protection, rebuilding post-wipe is slow.
• Anti-Token Tech: Torpor Orb nullifies token ETB synergies; Cursed Totem shuts off sac outlets.

Minor

• Spot Removal: Targeting Teysa/Drivnod reduces trigger doubling, but redundancy (Ratadrabik of Urborg) mitigates this.

Most Important Cards:

• Teysa Karlov (Doubles death triggers, enables lifelink/vigilance tokens)
• Drivnod, Carnage Dominus (Backup trigger doubler)
• Phyrexian Altar (Mana engine/combo enabler)
• Divine Visitation (Token finisher)
• Karmic Guide (Recursion/combo piece)
• Reveillark (Recursion/combo piece)
• The Meathook Massacre (Board wipe + drain)
• Beseech the Mirror (Tutor for combo pieces)
• Yawgmoth, Thran Physician (Sac outlet + card draw)
• Mondrak, Glory Dominus (Token doubler)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 7/10

• Can threaten infinite combos or lethal drain by turns 5-7 with optimal draws (e.g., Beseech the Mirror into Phyrexian Altar + combo).

Resilience: 6/10

• Recursion (Karmic Guide, Elenda) and protection (Teferi's Protection) provide recovery, but combos are vulnerable to exile/graveyard hate.

Consistency: 7/10

• Multiple tutors and card draw engines (Yawgmoth, Black Market Connections) find key pieces, but lacks redundant combo lines.

Interaction: 5/10

• Targeted removal (Anguished Unmaking, Deadly Rollick) and stax (Grand Abolisher) are present but limited against noncreature threats.

Rating Justification:

This deck’s ability to threaten wins via combos or drain by turn 5-7 aligns with the "Focused Competitive" tier (7.0), but its reliance on graveyard synergy and vulnerability to common hate caps its ceiling. Resilience and interaction gaps prevent higher optimization.

Power level: 6.5 - 7.0