Overview:

This Orzhov deck helmed by Teysa, Orzhov Scion focuses on aristocrats strategies, leveraging death triggers, token generation, and recursive value engines. The deck aims to control the board through sacrifice outlets while draining opponents with effects like Blood Artist and building an overwhelming token army enhanced by Cathars' Crusade. Teysa serves as both a removal engine (via her exile ability) and token generator, synergizing with the deck's sacrifice-for-value theme. Key "hidden commanders" include Elenda, the Dusk Rose and Luminous Broodmoth, which amplify recursion and board resilience.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (Turns 1-4): Deploy mana rocks (Sol Ring, Arcane Signet), token generators (Hanged Executioner, Promise of Bunrei), and sacrifice outlets like Fleshtaker. Establish incremental value with Morbid Opportunist or Bastion of Remembrance.
2. Mid-Game Engine (Turns 5-7): Activate recursive loops using Reassembling Skeleton, Persistent Specimen, and Sanitarium Skeleton with sacrifice payoffs. Deploy key enhancers like Intangible Virtue or Symmetry Matrix to amplify tokens. Use Ashnod's Altar/Pitiless Plunderer to convert deaths into mana/resources.
3. Win Conditions (Turns 7-10+):
   • Drain: Leverage Blood Artist, Marauding Blight-Priest, and Vito, Fanatic of Aclazotz with mass sacrifice (e.g., Martial Coup + Altar of Bhaal).
   • Token Overrun: Buff Spirits/Soldiers via Cathars' Crusade or Serra Redeemer, then swing with flying tokens.
   • Combo Potential: Ashnod's Altar + Promise of Bunrei + Pitiless Plunderer creates infinite death/ETB triggers and mana for Walking Ballista-style finishers (though not explicitly included).

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 2-3 lands (including color-fixing like Command Tower).
• Prioritize early sacrifice outlets (Fleshtaker), token generators, or recursion engines.
• Ensure at least one card draw/advantage engine (Skullclamp, Morbid Opportunist).
• Avoid hands lacking early plays or overly reliant on 4+ CMC spells.

Key Tips:

• Use Luminous Broodmoth to recur non-flyers with flying counters, enabling Teysa's exile ability.
• Ghost Vacuum doubles as graveyard hate and a late-game reanimation tool.
• Helm of the Host on Teysa creates exponential Spirits and removal activations.
• Kaya, Spirits' Justice can convert tokens into copies of key exiled creatures.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Lacks explicit infinite combo finishers, relying on incremental drain/combat.
• Minimal stack interaction (only 3 counterspell-like effects in Hanged Executioner/Ruthless Lawbringer).
• Graveyard dependency makes it vulnerable to Rest in Peace/Leyline of the Void.

Moderate

• Board wipes reset token armies and sacrifice fodder.
• Struggles against hexproof/shroud-protected threats.
• Limited land ramp (only Knight of the White Orchid).

Minor

• Token strategies can be slowed by Propaganda-effects.
• Moderate reliance on Teysa for optimal removal.

Most Important Cards:

• Ashnod's Altar (Sacrifice engine + mana acceleration)
• Cathars' Crusade (Token snowball enabler)
• Blood Artist (Primary drain effect)
• Pitiless Plunderer (Treasure generation for recursive plays)
• Luminous Broodmoth (Recursion engine)
• Elenda, the Dusk Rose (Scaling threat and token generator)
• Skullclamp (Card draw from tokens)
• Bastion of Remembrance (Drain + token generation)
• Teysa, Orzhov Scion (Removal and token engine)
• Martial Coup (Board reset + token swarm)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 5/10

• Threatens incremental wins by T7-10 but lacks explosive combos. Relies on gradual board accumulation.

Resilience: 6/10

• Multiple recursion engines (Oversold Cemetery, Marshal's Anthem) and indestructible effects (Luminous Broodmoth), but vulnerable to graveyard hate.

Consistency: 6/10

• Moderate tutor density (Hoarding Broodlord, Finale of Devastation missing) but strong card draw from sacrifice triggers.

Interaction: 4/10

• Targeted removal via Teysa's ability and Ruthless Lawbringer, but limited instant-speed answers and no counterspells.

Rating Justification:

This deck operates as a tuned casual build with clear synergies and multiple win paths, but its reliance on board presence and moderate speed place it below optimized tiers. While resilient to single-target removal, it falters against widespread disruption.

Power level: 4.0 - 4.5