Overview:

This Sultai (BGU) deck helmed by Teval, the Balanced Scale operates as a graveyard-centric midrange strategy focused on self-mill, land recursion, and zombie token generation. The commander enables incremental value through its attack-triggered mill/land recursion and passive zombie creation whenever cards leave the graveyard. The deck leverages powerful reanimation targets like Craterhoof Behemoth and Colossal Grave-Reaver, while using engines like The Gitrog Monster and Syr Konrad, the Grim to generate card advantage and passive damage. Key synergies emerge between land recursion (Life from the Loam, Conduit of Worlds), zombie armies (Tormod, the Desecrator, Insidious Roots), and graveyard-based value engines.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (T1-4):
   • Ramp with Sol Ring, Birds of Paradise, and land-fetch spells (Cultivate, Three Visits).
   • Begin milling through attack triggers (Teval), Hedge Shredder, or spells like Grapple with the Past.
   • Establish key engines: Phyrexian Reclamation, Sylvan Library, or Titans' Nest.

2. Midgame Value (T4-7):

   • Reanimate key threats using Animate Dead, Reanimate, or Victimize.
   • Exploit land recursion with Teval, the Balanced Scale attacks and Life from the Loam.
   • Generate zombie tokens through Teval/Syr Konrad triggers and Insidious Roots.

3. Win Conditions (T6+):

   • Overwhelm with Craterhoof Behemoth boosted zombie hordes.
   • Drain opponents via Syr Konrad, the Grim triggers amplified by mass reanimation (Living Death, Rise of the Dark Realms).
   • The Scarab God recursion loops or Death Begets Life board control into card advantage.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 2-3 lands including at least one green source.
• Prioritize early ramp (mana dorks, Sol Ring, land fetch) and at least one graveyard enabler (Grapple with the Past, Hedge Shredder).
• Avoid hands lacking both ramp and graveyard interaction.

Key Tips:

• Use Command Beacon to bypass Teval's increasing commander tax when repeatedly recasting.
• Conduit of Worlds enables recurring Life from the Loam or key creatures from the graveyard.
• Fiend Artisan can tutor for Syr Konrad, the Grim or Craterhoof Behemoth as needed.
• Wonder in the graveyard gives all creatures evasion for alpha strikes.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Graveyard hate (Rest in Peace, Leyline of the Void) cripples 80% of the deck's strategy.
• Overreliance on commander: Teval's attack trigger is the primary land recursion engine, making it vulnerable to repeated removal.

Moderate

• Board wipes reset zombie armies and key creatures, though some recovery exists.
• Slow setup: Minimal fast mana beyond Sol Ring delays critical mass until mid-late game.

Minor

• Limited stack interaction: Only 5 instant-speed answers to threats.
• Mana base inconsistencies: Multiple taplands and color-intensive costs (e.g., Mikaeus, the Unhallowed).

Most Important Cards:

• The Gitrog Monster (Card draw engine + land recursion)
• Syr Konrad, the Grim (Passive damage + mill synergy)
• Craterhoof Behemoth (Primary combat finisher)
• Life from the Loam (Land recursion + dredge engine)
• Conduit of Worlds (Graveyard recursion enabler)
• Phyrexian Reclamation (Creature recursion)
• Living Death (Mass reanimation/reset)
• Insidious Roots (Token generation + mana fixing)
• Hedge Shredder (Mill enabler + land recursion)
• Fiend Artisan (Tutor for key creatures)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 5/10

• Can threaten wins via reanimation or Craterhoof around T7-9, but lacks fast mana for explosive starts.

Resilience: 6/10

• Multiple recursion engines (Conduit of Worlds, Eternal Witness) mitigate single-target removal, but folds to graveyard hate.

Consistency: 7/10

• Strong card draw (Gitrog, Sylvan Library) and selective tutors (Fiend Artisan) find key pieces reliably.

Interaction: 5/10

• Limited but targeted removal (Assassin's Trophy, Lethal Scheme), lacks counterspells for stack interaction.

Rating Justification:

This deck demonstrates focused midrange capabilities with T7-9 win potential through resilient graveyard synergies and combat finishers, but its reliance on the graveyard and moderate speed place it below optimized tiers. The balance of consistency and vulnerability aligns with upgraded casual play.

Power level: 5.0 - 6.0