Overview:

This Wilhelt, the Rotcleaver deck is a Zombie aristocrats strategy focused on generating token swarms, sacrificing creatures for value, and draining opponents through death triggers. The commander enables token generation from non-decayed Zombie deaths and provides card advantage via controlled sacrifices. Key themes include token duplication (Necroduality, Open the Graves), sacrifice payoffs (Mirkwood Bats, Vengeful Dead), and recursion engines (Gisa and Geralf, Liliana, Death's Majesty). Wilhelt is critical to the deck's engine, enabling both token generation and card draw, though the deck can function temporarily without him using backup token generators like Headless Rider.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (Turns 1-4): Deploy mana rocks (Dimir Signet, Arcane Signet), key Zombie lords (Death Baron, Diregraf Captain), and value engines like Undead Augur.
2. Token Generation (Turns 3-6): Cast Wilhelt and synergistic Zombies (Gravecrawler, Plague Belcher) to build a board. Use Necroduality or Liliana's Mastery to amplify token production.
3. Sacrifice Engine (Turns 4+): Activate sac outlets (Carrion Feeder, Ashnod's Altar) to trigger death payoffs (Mirkwood Bats, Gray Merchant of Asphodel). Rooftop Storm enables free Zombie casting for explosive turns.
4. Win Conditions:
   • Combat: Overwhelm with boosted Zombies via lords like Lord of the Accursed.
   • Drain: Infinite loops with Gravecrawler + sac outlet + Diregraf Captain/Plague Belcher.
   • Burst Damage: Army of the Damned + Mirkwood Bats for massive life loss.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 2-3 lands and early ramp (Signets, Sol Ring).
• Prioritize Wilhelt enablers (Gravecrawler, Headless Rider) or key lords (Diregraf Captain).
• Avoid hands lacking sac outlets or token generators.

Key Tips:

• Use Overcharged Amalgam to counter key removal or combo disruptors.
• Pitiless Plunderer generates Treasure for explosive Rooftop Storm turns.
• Mikaeus, the Unhallowed provides undying to protect key Zombies and amplify sacrifice loops.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Graveyard Reliance: Bojuka Bog/Rest in Peace cripples recursion and Gravecrawler loops.
• Commander Dependency: Wilhelt removal stalls token generation and card draw.

Moderate

• Board Wipes: Rebuilding post-wipe requires significant setup (e.g., Zombie Apocalypse).
• Anti-Token Hate: Cursed Totem/Torpor Orb nullifies sac outlets and ETB triggers.

Minor

• Limited Stack Interaction: Only 4 instant-speed answers (e.g., Go for the Throat).
• Slow Mana Base: Multiple tapped lands (e.g., Temple of Deceit) delay early plays.

Most Important Cards:

• Rooftop Storm (Free Zombie casting enables infinite combos)
• Gravecrawler (Sacrifice loop linchpin)
• Ashnod's Altar (Mana generation for explosive turns)
• Diregraf Captain (Primary drain engine)
• Mikaeus, the Unhallowed (Recurrence and lord effect)
• Gray Merchant of Asphodel (Burst life drain)
• Necroduality (Token duplication multiplier)
• Pitiless Plunderer (Treasure generation for combos)
• Wilhelt, the Rotcleaver (Token/card draw engine)
• Mirkwood Bats (Sacrifice payoff amplifier)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 6/10
Can threaten wins via combat or combo by T6-7, but lacks fast mana for earlier explosive plays.

Resilience: 5/10
Moderate recursion (Victimize, Gisa and Geralf) but folds to graveyard hate. Limited protection for key pieces.

Consistency: 6/10
Multiple tutors (Diabolic Tutor, Mausoleum Secrets) and card draw (Distant Melody, Undead Augur) ensure access to combo pieces.

Interaction: 4/10
Spot removal (Feed the Swarm, Go for the Throat) and Overcharged Amalgam provide answers but lack counterspell density.

Rating Justification:

The deck has focused synergy and a clear T6-7 win path via combat or combo but struggles against graveyard hate and lacks the interaction density/turbo speed of higher tiers. Resilience issues cap its ceiling.

Power level: 5.0 - 5.5