Overview:

This Sultai (BUG) graveyard-centric deck leverages Teval, the Balanced Scale as a value engine, focusing on self-mill, land recursion, and token generation. The primary strategy involves filling the graveyard with creatures and lands using cards like Hedron Crab, Mesmeric Orb, and Hermit Druid, then exploiting recursion tools like Muldrotha, the Gravetide, The Gitrog Monster, and Phyrexian Reclamation to generate overwhelming value. Win conditions include aristocrats-style drain via Blood Artist/Zulaport Cutthroat, Laboratory Maniac self-mill, Altar of Dementia mill combos, and reanimation of threats like Colossal Grave-Reaver. Teval enables land recursion for ramp and triggers token generation, but the deck isn’t commander-dependent, utilizing "hidden commanders" like Muldrotha and Gitrog.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (T1-3): Deploy self-mill engines (Stitcher's Supplier, Hedron Crab, Hermit Druid) and ramp (Sol Ring, Skull Prophet). Use Buried Alive to dump key creatures like Gravecrawler or Eternal Witness.
2. Mid-Game Value (T4-6): Cast Teval to recur lands and generate Zombie tokens. Activate recursion engines (Muldrotha, the Gravetide, Tortured Existence) to replay milled threats. Assemble drain combos with Gravecrawler + Phyrexian Altar + Blood Artist, or mill opponents via Altar of Dementia + token loops.
3. Win Conditions (T6-8):
   • Aristocrats: Sacrifice tokens/Zombies to Altars with Mirkwood Bats or Zulaport Cutthroat on board.
   • Lab Man: Mill your library using Hermit Druid/Mesmeric Orb, then draw with Smuggler's Surprise or The Gitrog Monster.
   • Reanimation: Cast Living Death or Rise of the Dark Realms for a massive board.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 2-3 lands, including a green source.
• Prioritize early self-mill (Stitcher's Supplier, Hermit Druid) or ramp (Sol Ring, Skull Prophet).
• Look for key enablers like The Gitrog Monster, Muldrotha, the Gravetide, or Phyrexian Altar.
• Avoid hands lacking graveyard interaction or ramp.

Key Tips:

• Use Sylvan Safekeeper to protect critical lands like Cabal Coffers or Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth.
• Life from the Loam + Dakmor Salvage ensures consistent land drops and fuels recursion.
• Perpetual Timepiece protects against graveyard exile.
• Insidious Roots turns token generation into mana acceleration.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Graveyard hate (Rest in Peace, Leyline of the Void) cripples recursion and combo lines.
• Instant-speed interaction disrupts key combo pieces (e.g., removing Blood Artist mid-loop).

Moderate

• Board wipes reset token armies and recursion targets, though the deck can rebuild with Living Death.
• Stax pieces like Torpor Orb nullify ETB triggers from Eternal Witness or Stitcher's Supplier.

Minor

• Limited stack interaction (only Counterspell, Negate, etc.) struggles against fast combo decks.
• Mana base has some tapped lands, slowing early turns.

Most Important Cards:

• Muldrotha, the Gravetide (Recursion engine for all permanent types)
• The Gitrog Monster (Card draw and land recursion)
• Phyrexian Altar (Sac outlet for infinite loops)
• Laboratory Maniac (Self-mill win condition)
• Gravecrawler (Aristocrats combo piece)
• Altar of Dementia (Mill combo enabler)
• Hermit Druid (Self-mill accelerator)
• Blood Artist (Life drain payoff)
• Living Death (Mass reanimation)
• Buried Alive (Tutor for combo pieces)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 6/10

• Can threaten wins via combo or Lab Man by T6-8, but lacks fast mana to consistently accelerate.

Resilience: 5/10

• Recursion engines and Perpetual Timepiece provide recovery, but graveyard dependency creates fragility.

Consistency: 7/10

• High redundancy in self-mill and recursion, though tutors are limited outside Worldly Tutor and Buried Alive.

Interaction: 5/10

• Spot removal (Assassin's Trophy, Beast Within) and counterspells exist but are sparse; struggles against resolved hate pieces.

Rating Justification:

This deck has a focused game plan with multiple synergistic win conditions but lacks the speed and protection to compete with high-power lists. Its T6-8 win potential and vulnerability to graveyard hate align it with the "Focused" tier (6.0), though its recursion tools and combo redundancy push it toward the upper end.

Power level: 6.0 - 6.5