Overview:

Karador, Ghost Chieftain pilots a graveyard-centric deck focused on recurring value creatures, assembling stax locks, and executing reanimation combos. The deck leverages tutors, efficient interaction, and a dense suite of creature-based synergies to out-resource opponents or win via infinite loops. Key strengths include redundancy in graveyard setup (e.g., Hermit Druid, Survival of the Fittest), combo potential with Karmic Guide/Phyrexian Altar, and stax elements like Archon of Emeria to slow opponents.

Primer:

Core Strategy:
This deck aims to overwhelm opponents through recursive value and combo finishes. Early turns prioritize ramping (e.g., Bloom Tender, Elvish Mystic) and filling the graveyard via Entomb, Buried Alive, or self-mill. Mid-game pivots to reanimating key pieces like Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite for stax pressure or assembling infinite loops (e.g., Kokusho, the Evening Star + Luminous Broodmoth + sac outlet). Late-game transitions into Eerie Ultimatum or Vorinclex Saga for overwhelming board states.

Key Lines:

1. Stax Lock: Deploy Thalia, Heretic Cathar + Archon of Emeria to cripple opponents’ tempo, then recur Ashen Rider to exile threats.
2. Infinite Life Drain: Karmic Guide + Reveillark (not listed but implied via Loyal Retainers/Necromancy loops) + Phyrexian Altar generates infinite death/ETB triggers with Kokusho or Corpse Knight.
3. Hermit Druid Engine: Mill the library with Hermit Druid (if basics are minimized), then reanimate Elesh Norn or Vorinclex for immediate pressure.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 2+ ramp sources (e.g., Birds of Paradise, Utopia Sprawl).
• Prioritize graveyard enablers (Entomb, Hermit Druid) or early stax (Thalia, Guardian of Thraben).
• Avoid hands without green mana or graveyard setup.

Key Tips:

• Use Karador, Ghost Chieftain to recast Priest of Fell Rites or Fiend Artisan for repeated tutoring.
• Teferi's Protection protects against board wipes during combo setup.
• Dauthi Voidwalker disrupts opponents’ graveyards while enabling your own plays.

Weaknesses:

Critical:

• Graveyard Hate: Rest in Peace or Leyline of the Void cripples recursion engines.
• Combo Fragility: Key pieces (Hermit Druid, Survival of the Fittest) are vulnerable to early removal.

Moderate:

• Slow Stax Recovery: Lacks mass recursion beyond Eerie Ultimatum.
• Mana Base Reliance: Nonbasic lands (e.g., Bayou, Cavern of Souls) fold to Blood Moon.

Minor:

• Limited Evasion: Relies on flying/reach (Six, Poison-Tip Archer) for combat wins.

Most Important Cards:

• Survival of the Fittest
• Hermit Druid
• Phyrexian Altar
• Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite
• Entomb
• Teferi's Protection
• Karmic Guide
• Dauthi Voidwalker
• Buried Alive
• Birthing Pod

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 7/10

• Turn 5-6 deterministic wins via reanimation loops or stax locks. Fast mana (Bloom Tender, Elvish Mystic) enables early Karador casts.

Resilience: 6/10

• Graveyard recursion provides recovery, but heavy reliance on the graveyard makes it vulnerable to hate. Limited free protection outside Flawless Maneuver.

Consistency: 8/10

• 10+ tutors (e.g., Fiend Artisan, Eldritch Evolution) and redundancy in graveyard engines ensure combo/stax assembly.

Interaction: 8/10

• Efficient removal (Swords to Plowshares, Assassin's Trophy) and stax pieces disrupt opponents. Lacks free counterspells but compensates with Force of Vigor.

Rating Justification:

This deck operates at the Focused Competitive tier (rubric 7.0) due to its ability to consistently threaten T5-6 wins via combos or stax locks. It outpaces casual decks but lacks the speed/protection of cEDH staples like Demonic Consultation + Thassa's Oracle. Key weaknesses to graveyard hate and slower stax recovery prevent it from reaching higher tiers.

Power level: 7.0 - 7.5