Overview:

This mono-black enchantment-focused deck helmed by Aphemia, the Cacophony leverages low-cost enchantments and self-mill to generate Zombie tokens while draining opponents through constellation triggers and attrition effects. The strategy revolves around cycling enchantments into the graveyard (via sacrifice, mill, or natural attrition) to fuel Aphemia's token generation, supported by payoff cards like Grim Guardian, Wicked Visitor, and Endless Ranks of the Dead. The commander acts as both an engine and win condition, while secondary threats like Demon of Fate's Design and Cacophony Unleashed provide alternate paths to victory.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (Turns 1-4): Deploy cheap enchantments (Bitterblossom, Dead Weight, Hopeless Nightmare) and self-mill tools (Tymaret Calls the Dead, Ripples of Undeath). Use Village Rites/Infernal Tribute to sacrifice enchantments for value.
2. Mid-Game Engine (Turns 4-6): Activate Aphemia's token generation consistently by exiling milled/sacrificed enchantments. Deploy key payoffs like Grim Guardian, Doomwake Giant, and Undead Augur to amplify damage and card draw.
3. Late Game Closures:
   • Token Swarm: Scale with Endless Ranks of the Dead and Graf Harvest-enhanced Zombies.
   • Life Drain: Stack constellation triggers with Wicked Visitor and Stab Wound.
   • Bomb Plays: Resolve Cacophony Unleashed as a board wipe/finisher or Demon of Fate's Design for free enchantment casting.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 2-3 lands and at least one 1-2 CMC enchantment or self-mill effect.
• Prioritize enablers like Bitterblossom, Tymaret Calls the Dead, or Village Rites.
• Avoid hands without early enchantments or graveyard-filling tools.

Key Tips:

• Sacrifice Sequencing: Use Infernal Tribute on expendable enchantments after Aphemia's end-step trigger resolves to maximize value.
• Protect Key Engines: Equip Lightning Greaves/Swiftfoot Boots to Aphemia or Doomwake Giant to preserve critical pieces.
• Leverage Death Triggers: Hateful Eidolon and Ashiok's Reaper turn enchantment deaths into card advantage.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Graveyard Reliance: Rest in Peace or Leyline of the Void cripples Aphemia's engine and constellation recursion.
• Enchantment Wipes: Cleansing Nova/Farewell remove multiple key pieces simultaneously.

Moderate

• Slow Setup: Struggles to recover from early board wipes before establishing token generators.
• Limited Ramp: Relies heavily on Crypt Ghast and Sol Ring for acceleration.

Minor

• Fliers/Evasion: Lacks consistent ways to push damage through blockers outside Graf Harvest's menace.

Most Important Cards:

• Aphemia, the Cacophony (Token engine/win condition)
• Bitterblossom (Continuous token/enchantment source)
• Endless Ranks of the Dead (Token scaling)
• Grim Guardian (Primary life drain)
• Toxic Deluge (Critical board control)
• Cacophony Unleashed (Board wipe/finisher)
• Doomwake Giant (Board control + constellation)
• Demon of Fate's Design (Bomb/alternative win)
• Undead Augur (Card draw engine)
• The Cruelty of Gix (Tutoring/recursion)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 3/10

• Wins typically require 8+ turns to assemble critical mass of tokens/drain effects.

Resilience: 4/10

• Moderate recursion (Kaya's Ghostform, Shade's Form), but core strategy folds to graveyard hate.

Consistency: 5/10

• Redundant enchantment payoffs but lacks high-impact tutors beyond The Cruelty of Gix.

Interaction: 6/10

• Strong targeted removal (Toxic Deluge, Feed the Swarm) but minimal stack interaction.

Rating Justification:

This deck operates as Structured Jank with a clear game plan but lacks the speed and redundancy to compete with tuned decks. Its T10-12 win potential via incremental drain/token strategies and vulnerability to common hate pieces place it firmly in casual tiers.

Power level: 3.0 - 3.5