Overview:

This Orzhov aristocrats deck helmed by Teysa, Orzhov Scion focuses on token generation, sacrifice synergies, and death-triggered life drain. The primary win condition is the infinite loop with Darkest Hour (making all creatures black) and Teysa's ability to sacrifice white Spirit tokens indefinitely, enabling infinite death triggers with cards like Zulaport Cutthroat. Secondary strategies include token swarm via Mondrak, Glory Dominus, combat finishers with large token armies from Blot Out the Sky/Inkshield, and incremental value from Teysa Karlov doubling death triggers. Teysa serves as both combo enabler and engine, with critical vulnerability to commander removal disrupting the primary wincon.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (Turns 1-3): Deploy mana rocks (Sol Ring, Orzhov Signet), token generators (Ophiomancer, Voice of Victory), and value engines (Esper Sentinel, Morbid Opportunist).
2. Engine Assembly (Turns 4-6): Cast Teysa, then establish key pieces like Darkest Hour, Skullclamp, or Mondrak, Glory Dominus. Use sac outlets (Viscera Seer, Carrion Feeder) to convert tokens into card advantage or combo setup.
3. Win Conditions:
   • Infinite Combo: Teysa, Orzhov Scion + Darkest Hour + any death trigger payoff (Blood Artist/Zulaport Cutthroat)
   • Token Overload: Mondrak, Glory Dominus doubling Inkshield/Blot Out the Sky tokens, enhanced by Teysa Karlov's vigilance/lifelink
   • Recursive Value: Gravecrawler/Nether Traitor loops with Phyrexian Tower for repeated sacrifice

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 2-3 lands including black sources
• Prioritize early token generators, sac outlets, or combo pieces (Teysa + Darkest Hour)
• Ensure access to at least one card draw engine (Skullclamp, Phyrexian Arena)
• Reject hands lacking sac outlets or token generation

Key Tips:

• Use Teferi's Protection/Galadriel's Dismissal to protect combo turns or survive alpha strikes
• Phyrexian Tower enables explosive plays by sacrificing Spirits for BB
• Kambal, Profiteering Mayor copies opponents' tokens while draining life
• Court of Ardenvale provides monarch-fueled recursion for key pieces

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Graveyard hate (Rest in Peace, Leyline of the Void) shuts down recursion engines and Gravecrawler/Nether Traitor
• Commander dependency - Multiple Teysa removals cripple combo viability
• Anti-synergy hosers - Torpor Orb/Hushbringer nullifies death triggers

Moderate

• Board wipes disrupt token armies with limited recovery outside Ascend from Avernus
• Artifact/enchantment removal targets critical pieces (Darkest Hour, Mondrak, Skullclamp)
• Life gain strategies outpace incremental drain

Minor

• Limited stack interaction beyond Reprieve and targeted removal
• High mana value finishers (Blasphemous Edict, Perch Protection) can clog early hands

Most Important Cards:

• Darkest Hour (Combo enabler with Teysa)
• Mondrak, Glory Dominus (Token multiplier)
• Teysa Karlov (Death trigger amplifier)
• Skullclamp (Card draw engine)
• Phyrexian Tower (Mana acceleration + sac outlet)
• Inkshield (Combat trick + token generator)
• Zulaport Cutthroat (Primary drain payoff)
• Ophiomancer (Reliable token generation)
• Gravecrawler (Recursive sac fodder)
• Teferi's Protection (Game-saving protection)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 6/10
Can execute infinite combo as early as T4 with perfect draws (Teysa + Darkest Hour + payoff), but typically threatens wins T6-8 through incremental drain or token swings.

Resilience: 5/10
Moderate recursion (Court of Ardenvale, Lively Dirge) and protection (Teferi's Protection), but heavily commander-dependent and vulnerable to graveyard disruption.

Consistency: 6/10
Limited tutors for combo pieces (only Lively Dirge as flexible search), but strong card draw from Skullclamp/Phyrexian Arena mitigates this.

Interaction: 5/10
Efficient targeted removal (Path to Exile, Snuff Out) and board wipes, but lacks counterspells and struggles against resolved enchantments.

Rating Justification:

This deck has focused combo potential (T4-6 wins) and strong synergy, but its commander dependency and vulnerability to common disruption tools limit its ceiling. The balance between aristocrats grind and combo finishers aligns with optimized casual play with high-power elements.

Power level: 6.0 - 6.5