Overview:

This Orzhov aristocrats deck helmed by Teysa Karlov focuses on generating overwhelming value through recursive death triggers and token generation. The strategy revolves around sacrificing creatures to fuel drain effects (Blood Artist, Zulaport Cutthroat), create token armies (Bitterblossom, Divine Visitation), and assemble infinite death loops. Teysa doubles all death triggers, acting as both an enabler and payoff. The deck can pivot between grindy value and explosive combo finishes using pieces like Karmic Guide/Reveillark loops, Phyrexian Altar synergies, and Mondrak, Glory Dominus token multipliers.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (T1-3): Deploy mana rocks (Sol Ring, Arcane Signet), token generators (Bitterblossom, Ophiomancer), and sac outlets (Viscera Seer, Carrion Feeder). Prioritize Smothering Tithe or Black Market Connections for resource acceleration.
2. Midgame Triggers (T4-6): Cast Teysa to amplify death effects. Use Skullclamp/Yawgmoth, Thran Physician to convert tokens into cards. Assemble key pieces like Pitiless Plunderer + Phyrexian Altar for infinite mana or Karmic Guide + Reveillark for recursive loops.
3. Win Conditions:
   • Drain: Amplify Blood Artist-style effects with Teysa + Drivnod, Carnage Dominus for quadruple triggers.
   • Infinite Combos: Reveillark + Karmic Guide + free sac outlet creates infinite death/ETB triggers. Mondrak + Divine Visitation + token generators produces overwhelming angel armies.
   • Altar of Dementia]]: Mill opponents out with recursive token sacrifices.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with at least 2 lands, a sac outlet, and a token generator or draw engine.
• Prioritize Phyrexian Altar, Skullclamp, or Smothering Tithe in opening hands.
• Avoid hands without early plays or lacking black mana for key sac outlets.

Key Tips:

• Use Grand Abolisher/Silence to protect combo turns. Teferi's Protection/Inkshield negate opposing win attempts.
• Beseech the Mirror can tutor combo pieces or answers like Grave Pact.
• Ratadrabik of Urborg creates nonlegendary copies of Teysa for exponential trigger doubling.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Graveyard hate (Rest in Peace, Leyline of the Void) dismantles recursion engines and combo lines.
• Enchantment removal cripples key pieces like Divine Visitation, Grave Pact, and Smothering Tithe.

Moderate

• Board wipes reset token armies, though Grand Crescendo/Teferi's Protection mitigate this.
• Anti-sacrifice effects (Torpor Orb, Hushbringer) nullify death triggers.

Minor

• Fast combo decks can outpace this deck's setup time.
• Life gain strategies reduce the effectiveness of incremental drain.

Most Important Cards:

• Teysa Karlov (Trigger doubler, strategy linchpin)
• Phyrexian Altar (Mana engine, combo enabler)
• Karmic Guide (Recursion combo piece)
• Mondrak, Glory Dominus (Token multiplier)
• Pitiless Plunderer (Treasure generation, combo fuel)
• Beseech the Mirror (Tutor for win conditions)
• Blood Artist (Primary drain effect)
• Smothering Tithe (Resource acceleration)
• Yawgmoth, Thran Physician (Sac outlet, card draw)
• Drivnod, Carnage Dominus (Triple death triggers)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 7/10
Can threaten T5-7 wins via combos or overwhelming drain triggers, accelerated by rituals (Dark Ritual) and treasure generation.

Resilience: 6/10
Multiple recursion engines (Reveillark, Karmic Guide) and protection spells (Teferi's Protection, Grand Abolisher) offset removal, but relies heavily on graveyard access.

Consistency: 8/10
Abundant tutors (Beseech the Mirror, Diabolic Intent), card draw (Skullclamp, Black Market Connections), and redundant combo pieces ensure reliable execution.

Interaction: 5/10
Focused on protecting its own strategy (Imp's Mischief, Deadly Rollick) but lacks stack interaction beyond Silence.

Rating Justification:

This deck operates at a high-power casual level with optimized combos and strong synergy, capable of T5-7 wins through multiple redundant lines. While resilient to single-target removal, its graveyard dependency and moderate interaction keep it below cEDH viability.

Power level: 6.5 - 7.0