Overview:

This Shirei, Shizo's Caretaker deck focuses on recursive sacrifice loops with 1-power creatures to generate value, drain opponents, and control the board. Shirei is the linchpin, enabling repeated death triggers by resurrecting creatures like Burglar Rat and Serrated Scorpion every end step. The deck leverages aristocrat payoffs (Zulaport Cutthroat, Bastion of Remembrance), forced sacrifice effects (Grave Pact, Dictate of Erebos), and mana acceleration (Cabal Coffers, Ashnod's Altar) to grind out wins. While it lacks infinite combos, it generates overwhelming value through persistent recursion and board-wide life drain.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (Turns 1-4): Deploy Shirei protection (Lightning Greaves, Swiftfoot Boots) and low-power enablers (Viscera Seer, Burglar Rat). Use ramp (Sol Ring, Jet Medallion) to cast Shirei early.
2. Engine Activation (Turns 3-6): Sacrifice creatures with Shirei on board to trigger death effects (e.g., Blood Artist drains, Pitiless Plunderer Treasures). Recur creatures like Doomed Dissenter for repeated token generation.
3. Mid-Game Control (Turns 5-8): Lock opponents with Grave Pact/Dictate of Erebos and drain with Zulaport Cutthroat. Use Massacre Wurm or Plague of Vermin for explosive turns.
4. Win Conditions (Turns 7+): Grind opponents out via incremental life loss or finish with Bolas's Citadel/Black Market-fueled plays.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Prioritize hands with Shirei protection, 1-2 mana creatures (e.g., Viscera Seer), and a sac outlet.
• Ensure at least 3 lands or ramp to cast Shirei by turn 4. Avoid hands lacking recursion enablers or payoff cards.

Key Tips:

• Use Malakir Rebirth or Supernatural Stamina to protect Shirei from removal.
• Sacrifice Solemn Simulacrum repeatedly for land ramp and card draw.
• Contamination locks opponents out of colored mana if supported by token generation.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Shirei Dependency: Removal targeting Shirei cripples the deck’s engine, especially with high commander tax.
• Graveyard Hate: Bojuka Bog or Rest in Peace permanently exiles key recursive creatures.

Moderate

• Board Wipes: Damnation-effects reset the board, delaying setup despite Shirei’s recursion.
• Enchantment Removal: Losing Grave Pact/Dictate of Erebos weakens control elements.

Minor

• Limited Stack Interaction: Minimal counterspells make combating combos or key spells difficult.
• Slow Start: Clunky hands without early sac outlets delay engine activation.

Most Important Cards:

• Shirei, Shizo's Caretaker (Recursion engine)
• Grave Pact (Forced sacrifice control)
• Zulaport Cutthroat (Primary life drain)
• Ashnod's Altar (Mana generation/sac outlet)
• Pitiless Plunderer (Treasure synergy)
• Bolas's Citadel (Late-game value engine)
• Dictate of Erebos (Sacrifice amplification)
• Viscera Seer (Sac outlet/scry)
• Massacre Wurm (Board control/finisher)
• Black Market (Mana scaling)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 5/10

• Wins typically occur around turns 8-10 via incremental drain or Massacre Wurm triggers. Fast mana (Cabal Coffers) enables explosive turns but lacks early combo potential.

Resilience: 6/10

• Recursion and Shirei’s persistence mitigate removal, but heavy graveyard hate or repeated commander removal is devastating.

Consistency: 6/10

• Redundant 1-power creatures and sac outlets ensure engine pieces, but limited tutors slow combo assembly.

Interaction: 4/10

• Spot removal (Go for the Throat) and forced sacrifices handle threats, but lacks answers to noncreature permanents or stack interaction.

Rating Justification:

This deck operates as a focused aristocrats build with moderate speed (T8-10 wins) and resilience, but its reliance on Shirei and vulnerability to common hate caps its power. It aligns with Focused Casual (4.5) to Optimized Casual (5.0), leveraging synergy without cEDH-level efficiency.

Power level: 4.5 - 5.0