Overview:

Karador, Ghost Chieftain pilots an Abzan graveyard recursion deck focused on value engines, stax elements, and creature-based combos. The strategy leverages Karador's cost reduction and reanimation ability to repeatedly deploy threats like Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite and Ashen Rider, while using Hermit Druid, Survival of the Fittest, and Buried Alive to fill the graveyard. Key combos involve Kokusho, the Evening Star recursion loops and Luminous Broodmoth + sac outlets for incremental advantage, supported by stax pieces like Archon of Emeria and Thalia, Guardian of Thraben to disrupt opponents.

Primer:

Core Strategy: This deck aims to overwhelm opponents through recursive value and layered disruption. The game plan unfolds in three phases:

1. Graveyard Setup: Use Hermit Druid, Entomb, and Buried Alive to stock the graveyard with key creatures like Karmic Guide and Ashen Rider.
2. Stax Deployment: Cast Archon of Emeria, Dauthi Voidwalker, or Thalia, Guardian of Thraben to slow opponents while recurring creatures like Corpse Knight for incremental damage.
3. Combo Execution: Assemble loops like Phyrexian Altar + Kokusho, the Evening Star + Karmic Guide for infinite life drain, or use Birthing Pod/Eldritch Evolution to chain creatures into game-ending threats.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 2-3 lands (preferably including a fetch land or Dryad Arbor).
• Prioritize early enablers like Hermit Druid, Birds of Paradise, or Survival of the Fittest.
• Avoid hands without graveyard interaction or creature recursion.

Key Tips:

• Use Silence or Teferi's Protection to protect critical combo turns.
• Leverage Dauthi Voidwalker to steal opponents' exiled threats.
• Sequence Eerie Ultimatum as a late-game reset button after targeted removal.

Avoid Traps:

• Overextending into graveyard hate like Rest in Peace without answers.
• Wasting recursion on low-impact creatures before securing key combo pieces.

Weaknesses:

Critical:

• Graveyard hate (e.g., Rest in Peace, Leyline of the Void) cripples the core engine.
• Reliance on 2-3 creature combos vulnerable to instant-speed removal.

Moderate:

• Limited counterspell protection for combo turns.
• Slow recovery from multiple board wipes.

Minor:

• Some high-CMC cards (e.g., Elesh Norn) risk being stranded without ramp.

Most Important Cards:

• Hermit Druid
• Survival of the Fittest
• Phyrexian Altar
• Karmic Guide
• Birthing Pod
• Buried Alive
• Dauthi Voidwalker
• Necromancy
• Ashen Rider
• Eerie Ultimatum

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 7/10

• Can assemble Hermit Druid + Necromancy loops by T4-5. Stax locks via Archon of Emeria + Thalia, Guardian of Thraben pressure opponents as early as T3.

Resilience: 6/10

• Redundant recursion (Volrath's Stronghold, Loyal Retainers) mitigates single-target removal but folds to grave hate. Limited free protection outside Flawless Maneuver.

Consistency: 8/10

• 12 tutors (including Survival of the Fittest, Fiend Artisan, and Finale of Devastation) ensure key pieces are accessible. Karador's persistent recursion provides inevitability.

Interaction: 7/10

• Premium targeted removal (Swords to Plowshares, Assassin's Trophy) and stax effects. Lacks free counterspells but uses Force of Vigor for artifact/enchantment hate.

Rating Justification:

This deck sits between Optimized (6.5) and Focused Competitive (7.0) on the rubric. Its T5-7 deterministic win potential through recursive combos and stax locks matches Tier 2 cEDH strategies, but lacks the speed (T3-4 wins) and free interaction seen in higher tiers. The reliance on graveyard mechanics and vulnerability to hate keeps it below true cEDH viability.

Power level: 6.5 - 7.0