Overview:

This Sultai (BGU) deck helmed by Teval, Arbiter of Virtue leverages delve-enabled spell discounts and graveyard synergies to fuel explosive plays. The strategy revolves around self-mill (Hermit Druid, Mesmeric Orb), reanimation (Portal to Phyrexia, Muldrotha, the Gravetide), and high-impact spells discounted by Teval's delve. The commander serves as both a cost reducer and a resilient lifelink threat, though the deck can function independently through its graveyard recursion. Secondary themes include storm payoffs (Brain Freeze, Aetherflux Reservoir) and Eldrazi annihilation (Ulamog, the Ceaseless Hunger).

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (T1-4): Deploy mana rocks (Sol Ring, Arcane Signet), self-mill engines (Deranged Assistant, Hermit Druid), and graveyard fillers (Traumatize). Use Life from the Loam to recur utility lands.
2. Midgame Value (T4-7): Cast delve-discounted bombs (Exsanguinate, Breach the Multiverse) or reanimate threats (Emrakul, the Promised End). Activate Teval, Arbiter of Virtue's delve to offset life loss from spells.
3. Win Conditions:
   • Storm: Chain spells with Frantic Search/Brain Freeze + Aetherflux Reservoir
   • Reanimation: Recur Ulamog, the Ceaseless Hunger or Platinum Emperion for board dominance
   • Mana Sinks: Villainous Wealth or Finale of Devastation for overwhelming value

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 2-3 lands, at least one self-mill engine (e.g., Millikin), and early interaction (Reanimate, Arcane Denial).
• Prioritize fixing for Sultai colors.
• Avoid hands lacking graveyard setup or expensive spells without cost reducers.

Key Tips:

• Use Yavimaya, Cradle of Growth + Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth to maximize Cabal Coffers output.
• Out of the Tombs enables infinite recursion once the library is milled.
• Pair Fight Rigging with Teval’s 6 power to cheat in exiled bombs.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Graveyard hate (Rest in Peace, Leyline of the Void) annihilates the deck’s engine.
• Limited protection for key pieces beyond Tyvar's Stand and Swiftfoot Boots.

Moderate

• Life loss from Teval’s ability and Cabal Coffers-adjacent lands can become lethal without lifegain enablers.
• Struggles against fast combo decks due to slow setup.

Minor

• High variance in self-mill targets (risk of exiling key cards).
• Limited stack interaction beyond Pact of Negation and Arcane Denial.

Most Important Cards:

• Hermit Druid (Self-mill engine)
• Teval, Arbiter of Virtue (Cost reduction, threat)
• Portal to Phyrexia (Recurring reanimation)
• Aetherflux Reservoir (Storm payoff)
• Muldrotha, the Gravetide (Graveyard recursion)
• Ulamog, the Ceaseless Hunger (Annihilator threat)
• Finale of Devastation (Tutor + finisher)
• Cabal Coffers (Mana amplification)
• Brain Freeze (Storm/mill enabler)
• Life from the Loam (Land recursion)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 6/10

• Can threaten wins via storm/reanimation by T6-8 but lacks fast mana for explosive starts.

Resilience: 5/10

• Recursion tools (Timeless Witness, Muldrotha) mitigate disruption, but graveyard dependency is a critical flaw.

Consistency: 6/10

• Multiple self-mill engines and tutors (Finale of Devastation, Lórien Revealed), but lacks redundancy for key combo pieces.

Interaction: 5/10

• Limited removal suite (Death Begets Life, Primal Might), but counterspells and land-based disruption (Boseiju, Who Endures) provide situational answers.

Rating Justification:

This deck operates at a T7-9 win/lock pace with moderate resilience, placing it in the optimized casual tier. Its reliance on graveyard synergy and vulnerability to common hate caps its ceiling despite strong late-game potential.

Power level: 5.5 - 6.0