Overview:

This Golgari deck helmed by Aphelia, Viper Whisperer focuses on deathtouch synergies, token multiplication, and life-loss payoffs. The commander enables a steady stream of 1/1 deathtouch Snakes, which synergize with cards like Hooded Blightfang and Seshiro the Anointed to drain opponents. The deck also employs explosive mana acceleration (e.g., Gaea's Cradle, Grim Monolith, Mox Diamond) to power out game-ending combos like Chain of Smog + Witherbloom Apprentice or Vorpal Sword activations. Secondary win conditions include poison via Triumph of the Hordes, massive life loss via Wound Reflection/Bloodletter of Aclazotz, and overwhelming board states with Doubling Season/Parallel Lives. Aphelia acts as a value engine but isn't strictly essential, as the deck contains multiple independent win lines.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (T1-3): Deploy fast mana (Sol Ring, Mox Diamond, Chrome Mox), land accelerators (Exploration, Burgeoning), and key engines like Survival of the Fittest or Necropotence. Prioritize Lotus Cobra with fetch lands for explosive turns.
2. Midgame Value (T3-5): Generate deathtouch tokens via Aphelia or Sidisi, Undead Vizier, then amplify them with Doubling Season or Parallel Lives. Use The Great Henge or Seshiro the Anointed to draw into combo pieces. Tutor for Wound Reflection or Bloodletter of Aclazotz to amplify life loss.
3. Win Execution (T4+):
   • Combo: Cast Chain of Smog targeting yourself with Witherbloom Apprentice in play to loop infinitely, draining all opponents.
   • Combat: Deploy Triumph of the Hordes or Beastmaster Ascension for lethal infect/overrun damage.
   • Alt Wins: Activate Vorpal Sword's game-ending ability after equipping a deathtouch creature.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with at least 2 lands (preferably including Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth/Yavimaya, Cradle of Growth).
• Prioritize fast mana, tutors (Demonic Tutor, Worldly Tutor), or combo pieces (Chain of Smog + Witherbloom Apprentice).
• Avoid hands lacking ramp or with only high-CMC cards.

Key Tips:

• Use Survival of the Fittest to bin Eternal Witness/Sidisi, Undead Vizier and recur key spells.
• Ad Nauseam is best cast after establishing Necropotence or Reliquary Tower to refuel.
• Opposition Agent + Praetor's Grasp can steal opponents' win conditions.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Fragile to graveyard hate (Rest in Peace, Leyline of the Void) disrupting Reanimate, Journey to Eternity, and Sidisi, Undead Vizier.
• Torpor Orb/Hushbringer nullifies ETB triggers from Eternal Witness, Sidisi, and Craterhoof Behemoth-like effects.
• Relies heavily on nonbasic lands (12 fetch/dual lands); Blood Moon/Back to Basics cripples mana.

Moderate

• Board wipes reset token armies, and the deck lacks mass recursion outside Agadeem's Awakening.
• Chain of Smog requires holding priority to loop; instant-speed removal on Witherbloom Apprentice disrupts the combo.

Minor

• Limited stack interaction (only 6 counterspell/protection effects).
• Dauthi Voidwalker can exile key combo pieces from graveyards.

Most Important Cards:

• Chain of Smog (Primary combo enabler)
• Witherbloom Apprentice (Combo payoff for infinite life loss)
• Necropotence (Unmatched card advantage engine)
• Survival of the Fittest (Tutor + graveyard setup)
• Gaea's Cradle (Explosive mana for tokens)
• Ad Nauseam (Game-winning refuel)
• Wound Reflection (Life-loss amplifier)
• Doubling Season (Token/counter multiplier)
• Vorpal Sword (Alt win condition)
• The Great Henge (Card draw + counters)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 8/10

• Capable of T3-4 wins via Chain of Smog combo or T5-6 combat kills with hyper-accelerated boards.

Resilience: 6/10

• Multiple protection spells (Heroic Intervention, Snakeskin Veil) and recursion, but combo pieces are vulnerable to instant-speed removal.

Consistency: 8/10

• 10 tutors and potent draw engines (Necropotence, The Great Henge) ensure reliable access to win conditions.

Interaction: 5/10

• Efficient targeted removal (Abrupt Decay, Force of Vigor), but minimal countermagic beyond Veil of Summer.

Rating Justification:

This deck operates at cEDH-adjacent speeds with T3-4 combo potential and robust tutoring, but its reliance on fragile creature-based combos and vulnerability to common stax pieces keep it below tiered cEDH lists. Its hybrid combat/combo strategy aligns with High Power (T3-4) but lacks the redundancy and protection of true cEDH builds.

Power level: 7.5 - 8.0