Overview:

This Orzhov aristocrats deck helmed by Teysa Karlov focuses on generating value through death triggers and token synergies. The strategy revolves around sacrificing creatures for incremental life loss, card advantage, and board control, amplified by Teysa’s ability to double death triggers. Key themes include token generation (Bitterblossom, Elspeth Tirel), sacrifice outlets (Viscera Seer, Phyrexian Altar), and payoff engines like Blood Artist and The Meathook Massacre. Teysa is essential to maximize triggers but can be reanimated via Karmic Guide or Reveillark. Hidden commanders like Drivnod, Carnage Dominus and Mondrak, Glory Dominus further amplify token and trigger synergies.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (T1-3): Deploy mana rocks (Sol Ring, Arcane Signet), token generators (Bitterblossom, Ophiomancer), and value engines (Dark Prophecy).
2. Midgame Triggers (T4-6): Cast Teysa to double death effects. Sacrifice tokens to Skullclamp or Altar of Dementia for card draw/mill. Use Grave Pact to control opponents’ boards.
3. Combo/Lock (T5-8): Assemble infinite loops:
   • Reveillark + Karmic Guide + Sac Outlet + Blood Artist = Infinite drain.
   • Phyrexian Altar + Divine Visitation + Token Doublers = Infinite mana/angels.
   • Elenda, the Dusk Rose + Sac Outlet + Mondrak = Exponential tokens.
4. Finishers: Overwhelm with Craterhoof-esque effects (Call the Coppercoats + Divine Visitation), mill via Altar of Dementia, or drain via stacked Blood Artist triggers.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Prioritize early mana (Sol Ring, lands), a token generator, and a payoff (e.g., Blood Artist).
• Keep hands with Necropotence or Skullclamp for explosive card advantage.
• Avoid hands lacking synergy (e.g., only high-cost cards without ramp).

Key Tips:

• Use Teferi's Protection or Grand Crescendo to protect against wipes during critical turns.
• Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth + Cabal Coffers enables explosive black mana for Exsanguinate-like drain via The Meathook Massacre.
• Drivnod, Carnage Dominus triples death triggers when combined with Teysa.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Graveyard Hate: Rest in Peace or Leyline of the Void cripples recursion combos (Reveillark/Karmic Guide).
• Commander Reliance: Teysa’s removal significantly slows the engine; limited protection beyond Malakir Rebirth.
• Torpor Orb Effects: Nullifies critical ETB triggers (Reveillark, Karmic Guide, Eternal Witness).

Moderate

• Board Wipes: Recovering from Farewell requires rebuilding engines like Bitterblossom or Ophiomancer.
• Anti-Token Tech: Cursed Totem/Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite disrupt token strategies.

Minor

• Mana Base: Slow enters-tapped lands (e.g., Isolated Chapel) can delay early plays.

Most Important Cards:

• Teysa Karlov (Double death triggers)
• Phyrexian Altar (Infinite mana/token loops)
• Blood Artist (Primary drain engine)
• Grave Pact (Board control)
• Necropotence (Card advantage)
• Mondrak, Glory Dominus (Token doubling)
• The Meathook Massacre (Mass drain/wipe)
• Karmic Guide (Recursion combo piece)
• Reveillark (Recursion combo piece)
• Elenda, the Dusk Rose (Scalable token generator)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 7/10

• Can threaten infinite combos or overwhelming boards by T5-6 with ideal draws (e.g., Dark Ritual into early Necropotence).

Resilience: 6/10

• Recursion (Karmic Guide, Volrath's Stronghold) and protection (Teferi's Protection) mitigate disruption, but key pieces are fragile to exile.

Consistency: 8/10

• High tutor density (Grim Tutor, Beseech the Mirror) and card draw (Necropotence, Skullclamp) ensure access to combo pieces.

Interaction: 7/10

• Robust removal (Anguished Unmaking, Deadly Rollick), stax (Grave Pact), and stack control (Silence, Grand Abolisher).

Rating Justification:

This deck operates at a 6.5 - 7.0 power level, capable of winning via efficient combos or attrition by T5-7. While its speed and consistency rival optimized decks, reliance on the commander and vulnerability to grave hate prevent it from reaching cEDH tiers.

Power level: 6.5 - 7.0