Overview:

This Esper (WUB) reanimator deck leverages Hashaton, Scarab's Fist to generate 4/4 Zombie tokens by discarding creatures, while using a robust reanimation package to cheat out high-impact threats like Archon of Cruelty, Razaketh, the Foulblooded, and Praetors. The commander acts as a value engine/synergy piece rather than the core win condition, enabling token generation and supporting a "discard matters" subtheme. Primary victories come from overwhelming board states with reanimated bombs, Living Death swings, or Sheoldred // The True Scriptures Saga completion.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Setup (T1-3):
   • Use Entomb, Buried Alive, or looting effects (Frantic Search, Ledger Shredder) to bin key creatures.
   • Deploy mana rocks (Sol Ring, signets) and discard outlets like Key to the City or Tortured Existence.
   • Cast Hashaton early if possible to convert discards into 4/4s.

2. Reanimation Spike (T3-5):

   • Cheat out bombs via Reanimate, Animate Dead, or Victimize. Prioritize Archon of Cruelty for immediate impact or Razaketh for tutoring.
   • Use Elesh Norn, Mother of Machines to double ETB triggers from reanimated creatures.

3. Late-Game Domination:

   • Resolve Living Death with a stocked graveyard for a game-ending swing.
   • Activate Sheoldred // The True Scriptures's Saga III to steal all graveyard creatures.
   • Leverage Consecrated Sphinx/Nezahal, Primal Tide draw engines to outvalue opponents.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with at least 2 lands, a reanimation spell, and a discard outlet/entomb effect.
• Prioritize early interaction (Swords to Plowshares, Counterspell) in unknown metas.
• Avoid hands lacking graveyard setup or mana acceleration.

Key Tips:

• Use Razaketh, the Foulblooded to tutor for Living Death or protection like Lightning Greaves.
• Tortured Existence enables recursive value with low-CMC creatures like Loyal Retainers.
• Time Mandate of Peace to protect combo turns or disrupt opponents' win attempts.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Graveyard reliance: Bojuka Bog-type effects cripple the primary strategy.
• Commander fragility: Removing Hashaton repeatedly negates the token engine.

Moderate

• Slow setup: Limited fast mana beyond Sol Ring delays early reanimation spikes.
• Stax vulnerability: Rest in Peace or Leyline of the Void are near-unanswerable pre-board.

Minor

• High CMC density: Clunky draws with multiple 7+ MV creatures.
• Token overextension: Overcommitting to Zombies risks blowouts from mass removal.

Most Important Cards:

• Archon of Cruelty (Game-ending ETB/reanimation target)
• Razaketh, the Foulblooded (Tutor engine)
• Living Death (Mass reanimation win condition)
• Buried Alive (Graveyard setup)
• Elesh Norn, Mother of Machines (ETB doubler/opponent trigger nullifier)
• Consecrated Sphinx (Card advantage)
• Sheoldred // The True Scriptures (Recurring board control)
• Reanimate (Efficient cheat)
• Tortured Existence (Discard outlet + recursion)
• Vampiric Tutor (Consistency tool)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 6/10
Can reanimate Archon of Cruelty as early as T2 with perfect hands (e.g., T1 Entomb + Dark Ritual + Reanimate), but typically threatens wins T4-6.

Resilience: 5/10
Limited protection beyond counterspells; graveyard exile is catastrophic, but Persist/Loyal Retainers provide some recursion.

Consistency: 7/10
12+ tutors/entomb effects and strong draw engines mitigate variance, but high CMC can clog hands.

Interaction: 8/10
Robust suite of counterspells, targeted removal, and board wipes (Vanquish the Horde, Damn).

Rating Justification:

This deck operates at high-powered casual levels with T4-6 win potential through efficient reanimation and strong interaction, but its critical vulnerability to graveyard hate and reliance on 2-card combos (entomb + reanimate) prevent cEDH viability. Resilience issues balance its speed and consistency.

Power level: 6.5 - 7.0