Overview:

This Golgari deck helmed by Aphelia, Viper Whisperer combines deathtouch tribal synergies with explosive token generation and combo potential. The primary strategy leverages Aphelia's ability to create Snake tokens and amplify combat damage into life-loss triggers, supported by anthems like Seshiro the Anointed and Beastmaster Ascension. Secondary win conditions include the Witherbloom Apprentice + Chain of Smog infinite drain combo, Vorpal Sword insta-kills, and planeswalker ultimatums from both Vraskas. The deck's high-powered mana base (Gaea's Cradle, Mox Diamond) and tutors (Survival of the Fittest, Demonic Tutor) enable rapid deployment of threats.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Acceleration (Turns 1-3): Deploy fast mana (Mox Diamond, Sol Ring, Chrome Mox) and land engines (Exploration, Burgeoning). Use Sakura-Tribe Scout to cheat lands like Gaea's Cradle.
2. Token Generation (Turns 2-4): Activate Aphelia's attack trigger to create Snake tokens. Amplify with Parallel Lives/Doubling Season. Use Hooded Blightfang for incremental life loss and planeswalker removal.
3. Combo Setup (Turns 3-5): Tutor for Chain of Smog + Witherbloom Apprentice or assemble Vorpal Sword with unblockable creatures via Trailblazer's Boots. Seedborn Muse enables activation of Aphelia's life-loss ability every turn.
4. Endgame (Turns 4-7): Overwhelm with Triumph of the Hordes infect, Bloodletter of Aclazotz-amplified life loss, or Vraska the Unseen assassins. Recur key pieces with Journey to Eternity and Agadeem's Awakening.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 2+ mana sources including at least one accelerant (Mox, Deathrite Shaman).
• Prioritize Survival of the Fittest, Necropotence, or a tutor in opening hands.
• Avoid hands lacking early plays or color fixing.

Key Tips:

• Use Saryth, the Viper's Fang to give attacking Snakes hexproof while keeping blockers deathtouch-enabled.
• Dauthi Voidwalker disrupts graveyards while providing castable exiled cards.
• Culling Ritual clears opponents' early boards while fueling massive mana with token deaths.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Heavily commander-dependent for token generation and life-loss payoff - repeated removal cripples the engine.
• Rest in Peace/Leyline of the Void nullifies Reanimate, Agadeem's Awakening, and Dauthi Voidwalker.

Moderate

• Board wipes reset token progress; limited mass recursion beyond Eternal Witness.
• Torpor Orb shuts off Sidisi, Undead Vizier, Eternal Witness, and Snake draw triggers.

Minor

• Struggles against flying-heavy decks without deathtouch fliers.
• Life-loss strategy weakened by lifegain decks.

Most Important Cards:

• Gaea's Cradle (Mana explosion with tokens)
• Chain of Smog (Infinite combo with Witherbloom Apprentice)
• Survival of the Fittest (Tutor engine)
• Necropotence (Unmatched card advantage)
• Doubling Season (Token/counter multiplier)
• Witherbloom Apprentice (Primary combo piece)
• Vorpal Sword (Alternate insta-kill)
• Seedborn Muse (Untap engine for Aphelia activations)
• Heroic Intervention (Critical protection)
• Bloodletter of Aclazotz (Life-loss amplifier)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 8/10
Capable of T3 Chain of Smog combo kills with perfect draws (Mox + Dark Ritual), regularly threatens wins by T5-6 through combat or combo.

Resilience: 6/10
Protected by hexproof-granters and recursion, but over-reliance on Aphelia and fragile combo pieces creates vulnerability.

Consistency: 9/10
12 tutors, Necropotence draw, and redundant token generators ensure key pieces are reliably accessed.

Interaction: 7/10
Premium targeted removal (Abrupt Decay, Baleful Mastery) and staxy elements (Opposition Agent), but lacks countermagic beyond Prowling Serpopard.

Rating Justification:

This deck operates at cEDH-adjacent speeds with T3 win potential but lacks the stack interaction and compact wincons of top-tier lists. Its hybrid combat/combo approach and vulnerability to commander removal place it in high-power optimized tiers.

Power level: 7.5 - 8.0