Overview:

This Orzhov deck helmed by Ketramose, the New Dawn focuses on exiling permanents and graveyard cards to fuel card draw and incremental value. The commander acts as a resilient engine that rewards strategic exile effects with card advantage, while Abdel Adrian, Gorion's Ward + Far Traveler serve as a "hidden commander" pair for token generation and flicker loops. The deck wins through attrition, lifegain synergies (Aetherflux Reservoir, Gray Merchant of Asphodel), and occasional combat pressure, with Approach of the Second Sun as an alt-win condition.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (Turns 1-4): Play mana rocks (Sol Ring, Fellwar Stone), exile-based removal (Swords to Plowshares, Skyclave Apparition), and value creatures (Inspiring Overseer, Corpse Knight). Use Scrabbling Claws or Relic of Progenitus to start exiling graveyards.
2. Midgame Engine (Turns 5-7): Cast Ketramose once 7+ cards are exiled. Activate flicker loops with Teleportation Circle, Restoration Angel, or Abdel Adrian + Far Traveler to exile opponents' threats and generate Soldier tokens. Deploy Smothering Tithe or Bolas's Citadel for resource acceleration.
3. Win Conditions (Turns 8+):
   • Drain via Gray Merchant of Asphodel (amplified by Crypt Ghast's devotion)
   • Aetherflux Reservoir with lifegain from ETB creatures
   • Cast Approach of the Second Sun twice using Ketramose's card draw
   • Overwhelm with token armies from Abdel Adrian

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 2-3 lands (including color fixing like Caves of Koilos).
• Prioritize early interaction (Path to Exile, Deadly Rollick) or value engines (Soul-Guide Lantern, Authority of the Consuls).
• Avoid hands without exile enablers or ways to cast Ketramose (WBW mana).

Key Tips:

• Use Teleportation Circle on Abdel Adrian to create exponential Soldier tokens.
• Imprint Ephemerate on Isochron Scepter for protection/flicker value.
• Time Farewell to reset the board while preserving your flicker-exiled permanents.
• Bolas's Citadel + lifegain sources lets you chain spells from the top of your library.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Struggles to maintain 7+ exiled cards early, rendering Ketramose inert.
• Minimal protection for key engines (no Teferi's Protection, limited counterspells).

Moderate

• Slow setup makes it vulnerable to fast combo/aggro decks.
• Rest in Peace/Leyline of the Void nullifies Ketramose's draw and graveyard synergies.

Minor

• Light on land ramp beyond Solemn Simulacrum.
• Limited card advantage without Ketramose on board.

Most Important Cards:

• Abdel Adrian, Gorion's Ward (Token generation/flicker engine)
• Teleportation Circle (Recurring exile/flicker value)
• Gray Merchant of Asphodel (Primary life drain)
• Aetherflux Reservoir (Lifegain payoff/alt wincon)
• Approach of the Second Sun (Alt wincon)
• Smothering Tithe (Mana acceleration)
• The Eternal Wanderer (Board control/flicker)
• Bolas's Citadel (Card advantage engine)
• Sun Titan (Recur key permanents)
• Isochron Scepter (Value amplification)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 4/10
Wins typically occur around T10-12 via incremental value. Fastest potential is T7-8 with perfect Bolas's Citadel/Approach sequencing.

Resilience: 5/10
Recursion via Sun Titan and flicker effects provides recovery, but relies heavily on Ketramose staying active for card flow.

Consistency: 6/10
Numerous exile/flicker enablers and card draw from Ketramose, but lacks high-density tutors for key pieces.

Interaction: 7/10
Strong targeted removal (Vanishing Verse, Despark) and board wipes (Farewell), but minimal stack interaction.

Rating Justification:

This deck operates as a midrange value engine with multiple win paths but lacks the speed and redundancy of optimized lists. Its T10-12 win benchmark and moderate resilience align with Casual/Precon tiers, though its interaction suite elevates it slightly.

Power level: 4.0 - 4.5