Overview:

This Kokusho, the Evening Star deck is a mono-black aristocrats/reanimator build focused on death trigger loops and life drain. The commander serves as both a primary win condition and value engine, leveraging sacrifice outlets and recursion to repeatedly trigger its 5-life drain effect. The deck employs multiple undying effects, reanimation spells, and combo synergies to create explosive turns while draining opponents. Secondary win conditions include Gray Merchant of Asphodel devotion bursts and Sanguine Bond/Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose amplifier effects.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (T1-4): Deploy mana acceleration (Sol Ring, Crypt Ghast, Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx) and value engines (Necropotence, Phyrexian Arena). Use Entomb/Vampiric Tutor to position key pieces in graveyard/hand.
2. Combo Assembly (T3-6): Establish sacrifice outlets (Ashnod's Altar, Yawgmoth, Thran Physician), recursion (Nim Deathmantle, Mikaeus, the Unhallowed), and trigger doublers (Drivnod, Carnage Dominus). Tutor for missing pieces with Razaketh, the Foulblooded or Diabolic Intent.
3. Win Execution:
   • Kokusho Loop: Sacrifice Kokusho to an outlet while Mikaeus/undying effects return it, repeating with Nim Deathmantle/Phyrexian Reclamation for infinite life drain.
   • Amplified Drain: Combine Kokusho triggers with Bloodletter of Aclazotz (doubles life loss) and Sanguine Bond (converts life gain to damage).
   • Devotion Burst: Reanimate Gray Merchant of Asphodel with high black permanents for massive life swings.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 2-3 lands including Cabal Coffers/Phyrexian Tower
• Prioritize early ramp (Sol Ring, Jet Medallion) or enablers (Viscera Seer, Entomb)
• Ensure access to black mana symbols for devotion
• Avoid hands without sacrifice outlets or recursion

Key Tips:

• Use Strionic Resonator to copy Kokusho's death trigger for double drain
• K'rrik, Son of Yawgmoth enables explosive plays by paying life for black mana costs
• Corpse Dance with buyback creates recurring reanimation engine
• Necromancy at instant speed can disrupt opponents' end steps
• Opposition Agent punishes fetchlands while providing card access

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Graveyard hate (Bojuka Bog, Rest in Peace) permanently exiles key combo pieces
• Torpor Orb effects nullify ETB triggers from Kokusho/Gray Merchant
• Heavy artifact/enchantment removal disrupts sacrifice outlets and recursion engines

Moderate

• Life gain strategies can outpace incremental drain
• Board wipes reset devotion counts and creature-based engines
• Limited stack interaction against non-creature combos

Minor

• Commander tax accumulation without Netherborn Altar/Command Beacon
• Life payment costs become risky against aggressive decks

Most Important Cards:

• Mikaeus, the Unhallowed (Enables infinite Kokusho loops with sac outlets)
• Nim Deathmantle (Key recursion engine for combo finishers)
• Ashnod's Altar (Sacrifice outlet + mana generation)
• Yawgmoth, Thran Physician (Sac engine, card draw, -1/-1 synergy)
• Necropotence (Premium card advantage)
• Gray Merchant of Asphodel (Alternate win condition)
• Drivnod, Carnage Dominus (Doubles death triggers)
• Razaketh, the Foulblooded (Tutor engine)
• Phyrexian Tower (Sac outlet + mana acceleration)
• Sanguine Bond (Life drain amplifier)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 6/10
Can threaten wins as early as T5 with perfect draws (T1 Entomb -> T2 Reanimate Kokusho + setup), but typically executes T6-8. Relies on assembling 3+ card combos.

Resilience: 5/10
Multiple recursion engines and protection spells (Malakir Rebirth, Kaya's Ghostform), but critically weak to graveyard disruption. Can rebuild after wipes but struggles against layered hate.

Consistency: 7/10
Strong tutor density (11 direct tutors + card selection) ensures reliable access to combo pieces. High redundancy in sac outlets and recursion effects.

Interaction: 5/10
Targeted removal (Toxic Deluge, Deadly Rollick) handles threats, but limited counterspells. Opposition Agent and Imp's Mischief provide unique disruption angles.

Rating Justification:

This deck demonstrates focused combo potential with T6-8 wins through redundant aristocrats engines and tutor support, but its graveyard dependency and vulnerability to common hate pieces prevent higher optimization. The balance between speed and fragility aligns with the Focused tier.

Power level: 6.0 - 6.5