Overview:

This Orzhov Knight tribal deck leverages Aryel's token generation and removal abilities to establish a wide board of synergistic creatures. The primary win condition is overwhelming combat damage amplified by anthem effects (Benalish Marshal, Glorious Anthem) and finishers like Moonshaker Cavalry or True Conviction. Secondary strategies include incremental life drain via Corpse Knight/Exsanguinator Cavalry and graveyard recursion engines (Haakon, Stromgald Scourge, Knights' Charge). Aryel acts as both a token engine and targeted removal enabler, but the deck can function without her due to redundant knight producers.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (Turns 1-4): Prioritize ramp (Sol Ring, Arcane Signet, Sword of the Animist) and knight token generation via Aryel, History of Benalia, or Sigiled Sword of Valeron. Establish card advantage engines like Smothering Tithe or Vanquisher's Banner.
2. Board Development (Turns 3-6): Deploy key lords (Knight Exemplar, Valiant Knight, Kinsbaile Cavalier) to buff your knights. Use Thalia's Lancers to fetch critical pieces like Moonshaker Cavalry or The Circle of Loyalty. Leverage Haakon to recur knights from the graveyard.
3. Win Execution (Turns 6-9):
   • Combat Overkill: Swing wide, then cast Moonshaker Cavalry for massive flying damage or activate Aryel's removal to clear blockers. Akroma's Will provides lethal indestructible/double-strike turns.
   • Life Drain: Amplify Corpse Knight/Exsanguinator Cavalry triggers with mass token generation.
   • Recursion: Reanimate your entire knight army with Knights' Charge or Living Death after a wipe.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 2-3 lands (including color fixing) and early plays: ramp, a knight generator, or card advantage.
• Prioritize hands containing Knight Exemplar, Smothering Tithe, or a tutor like Thalia's Lancers.
• Avoid hands lacking early board presence or with only high-cost finishers.

Key Tips:

• Protect Key Pieces: Use Swiftfoot Boots, Teferi's Protection, or Flare of Fortitude to shield Knight Exemplar or finishers. Grand Abolisher prevents disruption during your turn.
• Maximize Graveyard: Cast knights from the graveyard with Haakon. Skullclamp sacrifices tokens for card draw.
• Timed Removal: Pair Aryel's ability with first-strike knights like Mirran Crusader to destroy larger threats. Save board wipes (Kaya's Wrath, Vanquish the Horde) for critical moments.
• Leverage Synergies: Kwende, Pride of Femeref grants double strike to first-strike knights. Dauthi Voidwalker disrupts opponents while enabling graveyard theft.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Board Wipe Vulnerability: Heavy reliance on creatures makes mass removal (e.g., Blasphemous Act) devastating. Limited recovery beyond Living Death/Knights' Charge.
• Graveyard Hate Cripples: Rest in Peace or Leyline of the Void shuts down Haakon, Knights' Charge, and recursion spells.

Moderate

• Artifact/Enchantment Reliance: Key engines (Herald's Horn, Vanquisher's Banner, Skullclamp) are vulnerable to targeted removal.
• Limited Card Draw: Relies on artifacts/enchantments for card advantage; struggles if they're removed early.
• Slow Setup: Minimal fast mana delays critical mass until mid-game.

Minor

• Flying Threats: Few flying blockers may struggle against aerial aggression until Moonshaker Cavalry deploys.
• Combo Matchups: Minimal stack interaction struggles against non-combat win conditions.

Most Important Cards:

• Knight Exemplar (Indestructible lord, essential resilience)
• Moonshaker Cavalry (Primary combat finisher)
• Haakon, Stromgald Scourge (Graveyard recursion engine)
• Smothering Tithe (Critical ramp and treasure generation)
• Valiant Knight (Double-strike enabler)
• Thalia's Lancers (Tutor for key legends)
• Corpse Knight (Life-drain win condition)
• Vanquisher's Banner (Card draw and anthem effect)
• Akroma's Will (Protection/lethal combat trick)
• Skullclamp (Card draw from tokens)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 5/10

• Wins typically around T8-10 via combat or life drain. Fast mana is limited, and finishers are high-cost (e.g., Moonshaker Cavalry at 7 mana).

Resilience: 5/10

• Recursion tools (Haakon, Living Death) and protection spells (Teferi's Protection) offer recovery, but board wipes remain a critical weakness.

Consistency: 6/10

• Strong tribal synergy and multiple tutors (Thalia's Lancers, Fell the Profane) ensure access to key pieces, but card draw is artifact-dependent.

Interaction: 4/10

• Targeted removal (Damn, Mortify, Aryel's ability) handles threats, but lacks counterspells and has minimal stack interaction.

Rating Justification:

This deck executes a focused combat strategy with moderate speed (T8-10 wins) and fair resilience through recursion, aligning with the "Focused Casual" tier. Its vulnerability to board wipes and slower setup compared to optimized lists caps its power level below higher tiers.

Power level: 4.5 - 5.0