Overview:

This deck combines Vampire/Knight tribal synergies with a card draw engine to create tokens and drain opponents. The primary win conditions are combat damage from buffed Knights, lifegain/drain through Vampire aristocrats like Elas il-Kor, Sadistic Pilgrim, and incremental value from draw-triggered effects like Psychosis Crawler. While moderately synergistic, it lacks infinite combos, fast mana, and high-density tutors.

Primer:

Core Strategy: The deck aims to cast Elenda and Azor by turn 5-6 using artifact ramp, then leverage its attack-triggered draw ability to fuel token generation and card synergy payoffs. Key phases:

1. Setup (T1-4): Play mana rocks, tribal enablers like Legion Lieutenant, and low-cost vampires/knights. Prioritize fixing for WUB casting costs.
2. Engine Activation (T5+): Attack with Elenda and Azor to draw 3-4 cards per turn, creating 3-4 Vampire tokens each end step through life payment.
3. Win Conversion: Use token swarms buffed by Intangible Virtue for combat, drain through Mirkwood Bats, or amplify draw triggers with Queza, Augur of Agonies.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 3 lands + 1-2 ramp artifacts
• Prioritize early tribal creatures over reactive spells
• Avoid hands without colored mana sources

Key Tips:

• Time board wipes like Austere Command after establishing token generators
• Use Knights' Charge as both incremental drain and late-game recursion
• Pair Knowledge Is Power with X-spell draws for explosive combat turns

Avoid Traps:

• Overextending tokens before having anthems
• Paying life for tokens when facing aggressive decks
• Holding up mana for Elenda's draw ability without sufficient protection

Weaknesses:

Critical:

• No graveyard recursion beyond Knights' Charge
• Relies on 6MV commander with minimal protection

Moderate:

• Weak to Rest in Peace/Leyline of the Void disrupting recursion
• Limited counterspells for protecting engine

Minor:

• Some tapped lands slow early development
• Creature-focused with few non-combat wincons

Most Important Cards:

• Psychosis Crawler
• Queza, Augur of Agonies
• Knight Exemplar
• Elas il-Kor, Sadistic Pilgrim
• Mirkwood Bats
• Ancient Excavation
• Valiant Knight
• Knowledge Is Power
• Sphinx's Revelation
• Corpse Knight

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 5/10

• Goldfish win around T9-10 through incremental value
• No fast mana or cost-reduction for key pieces

Resilience: 6/10

• Moderate board wipe recovery via tokens
• Vulnerable to commander removal (only 2 protection spells)

Consistency: 6/10

• Strong draw engine but only 3 tutors
• Tribal redundancy helps maintain pressure

Interaction: 5/10

• 7 targeted removals + 3 wipes
• Lacks stack interaction beyond Negate

Rating Justification:

This deck sits between Focused Casual (4.5) and Optimized Casual (5.0). It has clear synergies and multiple paths to victory but lacks:

• The speed of T8-10 combat wins seen at 5.0
• The interaction density expected at 5.5
• The redundancy/protection of 6.0 decks

Its incremental value generation and moderate resilience align best with 4.5-5.0. The absence of infinite combos and reliance on a high-cost commander prevent higher placement.

Power level: 4.5 - 5.0