Overview:

This Abzan (W/B/G) deck leverages Myrkul, Lord of Bones to transform dying nontoken creatures into enchantment tokens, preserving their activated/static abilities while dodging creature removal. The primary strategy revolves around aristocrat-style sacrifice loops, token generation, and enchantment synergies to drain opponents via death triggers (e.g., Blood Artist, Zulaport Cutthroat) while controlling the board with forced sacrifice effects (Grave Pact, Dictate of Erebos). Myrkul acts as the essential engine, enabling persistent value from creatures like Ophiomancer, Spore Frog, or Devoted Druid. The deck wins through incremental life drain, overwhelming token armies enhanced by Mondrak, Glory Dominus/Doubling Season, or large Exsanguinate/Bolas's Citadel turns. It is highly vulnerable to commander removal and enchantment hate.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (Turns 1-4): Prioritize ramp (Sol Ring, Farseek, Bloom Tender) and establishing key engines like Ophiomancer, Bitterblossom, or Smothering Tithe. Protect key pieces with Mother of Runes or Sterling Grove. Use Diabolic Intent/Green Sun's Zenith to find critical components.
2. Deploy Commander/Engine (Turns 4-6): Cast Myrkul, Lord of Bones with protection if possible (e.g., Malakir Rebirth). Immediately sacrifice low-CMC creatures (e.g., Spore Frog, Devoted Druid) to transform them into resilient enchantments. Leverage Pitiless Plunderer/Ashnod's Altar for mana and Skullclamp for card draw.
3. Amplify & Control (Turns 5-8): Deploy sacrifice outlets (Bartolomé del Presidio, Phyrexian Altar) and death payoffs (Drivnod, Carnage Dominus, Mirkwood Bats). Lock the board with Grave Pact/Dictate of Erebos + token generators. Use Aura Shards/Loran of the Third Path for targeted removal.
4. Win Condition Execution:
   • Aristocrat Drain: Loop token sacrifices (e.g., Faeries, Pests, Saprolings) with Blood Artist effects under Drivnod for massive life loss.
   • Token Overrun: Flood the board with tokens via Tendershoot Dryad, Awaken the Woods, or Chatterfang, Squirrel General, boosted by Mondrak/Doubling Season.
   • Big Mana Payoffs: Generate infinite mana with Devoted Druid (enchantment token) + untapper (e.g., Saryth, the Viper's Fang), then cast Exsanguinate or activate Bolas's Citadel.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 2-3 lands (including color fixing), at least one ramp spell, and an early engine (e.g., Ophiomancer, Bitterblossom) or payoff (e.g., Pitiless Plunderer, Zulaport Cutthroat).
• Prioritize hands containing protection (Sterling Grove, Mother of Runes) or a tutor if commander-centric plays are viable.
• Avoid hands lacking ramp, card draw, or early plays.

Key Tips:

• Sacrifice Sequencing: Sacrifice creatures before Myrkul's trigger resolves to maximize death triggers and ensure transformation. Use Phyrexian Tower/High Market for instant-speed sacrifices.
• Protect Myrkul: Cast Myrkul only when you can immediately sacrifice a creature or have protection. Indestructible (via life loss) doesn't prevent exile/bounce.
• Leverage Enchantment Synergies: Setessan Champion, Eidolon of Blossoms, and Sanctum Weaver scale with enchantment tokens. Sterling Grove shields key pieces.
• Combo Potential: Devoted Druid + Myrkul creates an untapable enchantment that generates infinite green mana with an untapper (e.g., Saryth). Ophiomancer + Ashnod's Altar + Pitiless Plunderer generates infinite mana/sacrifices.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Commander Reliance: Myrkul is essential; removal/exile cripples the deck's engine.
• Enchantment Hate: Farewell or Cleansing Nova exiles key pieces. Back to Nature is devastating.
• Graveyard Exile: Rest in Peace/Leyline of the Void prevent Myrkul's transformation trigger.

Moderate

• Anti-Token Effects: Torpor Orb/Hushbringer null death triggers. Cursed Totem shuts down mana dorks and Devoted Druid.
• Board Wipes: Recovering from mass removal is slow without established draw engines.
• Stack Interaction: Limited counterspells make resolving key sorceries (Exsanguinate, Awaken the Woods) risky.

Minor

• Life Total Pressure: Aggressive decks can exploit the life loss from Bitterblossom, Black Market Connections, and Bolas's Citadel.
• Artifact Reliance: Ashnod's Altar, Phyrexian Altar, and Smothering Tithe are vulnerable to artifact removal.

Most Important Cards:

• Myrkul, Lord of Bones (Core engine enabling enchantment transformation)
• Pitiless Plunderer (Mana generation and token synergy)
• Drivnod, Carnage Dominus (Doubles death triggers for explosive drains)
• Grave Pact (Board control via forced sacrifice)
• Ashnod's Altar (Sacrifice outlet and mana acceleration)
• Ophiomancer (Recurring token generation for sacrifices)
• Devoted Druid (Mana dork, infinite mana combo piece with Myrkul)
• Diabolic Intent (Tutor enabling key creature searches)
• Sterling Grove (Protects enchantments and tutors for key pieces)
• Exsanguinate (Primary X-spell finisher)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 6/10

• Can threaten wins via combo/drain around turns 7-8 with optimal setup, but relies heavily on resolving Myrkul and assembling pieces.

Resilience: 7/10

• Strong recursion (Agadeem's Awakening, Bala Ged Recovery), protection (Sterling Grove, Malakir Rebirth), and redundancy in death triggers mitigate disruption. However, enchantment exile is catastrophic.

Consistency: 7/10

• Multiple tutors (Diabolic Intent, Green Sun's Zenith, Sterling Grove), card draw engines (Eidolon of Blossoms, Sylvan Library, Dark Prophecy), and token generators ensure reliable access to key components.

Interaction: 8/10

• Robust suite of removal (Anguished Unmaking, Aura Shards, Farewell, Grave Pact effects) and protection. Lacks stack interaction but excels at permanent control.

Rating Justification:

The deck demonstrates focused speed (T7-8 wins via combos or drains) and high resilience through redundancy/protection, aligning with the "Focused" tier (6.0). Its reliance on the commander and vulnerability to enchantment hate prevent higher optimization, placing it at the lower end of the range.

Power level: 6.0 - 6.5