Overview:

This WB aristocrats/reanimator deck leverages Carmen's sacrifice synergies and reanimation to control the board and drain opponents. It combines sacrifice outlets, recursive creatures, and stax elements to grind value while threatening combo finishes through Gravecrawler loops or Torment of Hailfire. The deck has strong tutor density but remains vulnerable to graveyard hate.

Primer:

Core Strategy: This deck aims to establish sacrifice engines (Phyrexian Altar, Ashnod's Altar) and death triggers (Zulaport Cutthroat, The Meathook Massacre) while using Carmen to recover key pieces. Primary wincons include:

1. Combo Kills: Gravecrawler + Phyrexian Altar + payoff creature for infinite deaths
2. Mass Drain: Torment of Hailfire with treasure mana or Exsanguinate-style effects
3. Stax Lock: Grave Pact/Dictate of Erebos + recursive creatures to strip opponents' boards

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 3 lands and early sacrifice outlets (Selfless Spirit, Pawn of Ulamog)
• Prioritize mana rocks (Sol Ring, Jet Medallion) for Carmen acceleration
• Avoid keeping slow hands without enablers or protection

Key Tips:

• Use Entomb/Buried Alive to setup Razaketh, the Foulblooded or combo pieces
• Time Carmen attacks to rebuy key permanents like Smothering Tithe
• Activate Phyrexian Tower for emergency mana or to enable sac triggers

Avoid Traps:

• Don't overextend into board wipes without Malakir Rebirth backup
• Preserve instant-speed reanimation (Necromancy) for end-step plays
• Prioritize protecting Pitiless Plunderer over generic token generation

Weaknesses:

Critical:

• Graveyard hate (Rest in Peace) cripples recursion engines
• Torpor Orb-effects negate ETB death triggers

Moderate:

• Relies on 2-3 card combos without free protection
• Limited planeswalker interaction

Minor:

• Mana base handles color requirements well
• Multiple board wipe recoveries via Carmen

Most Important Cards:

• Phyrexian Altar
• Ashnod's Altar
• Grave Pact
• Zulaport Cutthroat
• Blood Artist
• Pitiless Plunderer
• Razaketh, the Foulblooded
• Smothering Tithe
• Torment of Hailfire
• Entomb

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 6/10

• Can assemble T5-6 kills with ideal tutor sequencing
• Typical goldfish win around T7-8

Resilience: 5/10

• Multiple recursion lines but folds to grave hate
• Limited stack interaction (only Silence protection)

Consistency: 7/10

• 8 tutors + 3 entomb effects
• Redundant sacrifice outlets and payoffs

Interaction: 6/10

• Premium targeted removal (Swords to Plowshares, Anguished Unmaking)
• Lacks free counterspells for combo protection

Rating Justification:

This deck operates at the high end of Optimized Casual (5.5) with potential Focused (6.0) elements due to:

• Tutor density enabling consistent T7-8 wins
• Multiple angles of attack (combos/stax/drain)
• Vulnerability to common grave hate keeping it below 6.5
• Comparable to rubric's T8-10 via combos/overwhelming value (5.0-5.5) but superior tutor package pushes higher

Power level: 5.5 - 6.0