Overview:

Karador, Ghost Chieftain pilots an Abzan graveyard-centric strategy focused on recurring high-value creatures, assembling combo loops, and leveraging stax elements to control the game. The deck combines efficient tutors, reanimation engines, and creature-based synergies to overwhelm opponents with value or execute game-ending loops. While not cEDH-tier due to graveyard reliance and speed limitations, it operates at a high-power optimized level.

Primer:

Core Strategy:
This deck aims to fill the graveyard with creatures via self-mill (Hermit Druid, Buried Alive), then recur them using Karador’s ability and reanimation spells (Necromancy, Karmic Guide). The primary win conditions are:

1. Infinite Drain Combos: Karmic Guide + Loyal Retainers + Phyrexian Altar + Corpse Knight/Poison-Tip Archer creates infinite ETB/death triggers to drain the table.
2. Stax Locks: Archon of Emeria, Grand Abolisher, and Drana and Linvala disrupt opponents while assembling combos.
3. Mass Reanimation: Eerie Ultimatum or Emeria Shepherd to overwhelm the board.

Key Phases:

• Early Setup: Ramp with dorks (Birds of Paradise, Elvish Mystic) and self-mill (Hermit Druid).
• Midgame Value: Recur utility creatures (Dauthi Voidwalker, Elesh Norn) or tutor combo pieces (Survival of the Fittest, Birthing Pod).
• Endgame: Protect combo lines with Silence, Teferi’s Protection, or Grand Abolisher, then execute loops.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Ensure 3 lands (preferably untapped duals/fetches).
• Include at least 1 ramp spell and 1 enabler (tutor, self-mill, or reanimation).
• Prioritize hands with Hermit Druid, Survival of the Fittest, or Buried Alive.

Key Tips:

• Use Phyrexian Altar as both a sac outlet and mana engine.
• Hermit Druid mills strategically to avoid exiling combo pieces.
• Grand Abolisher ensures safe combo turns.

Avoid Traps:

• Overcommitting to the board before establishing protection.
• Holding interaction instead of advancing your own game plan.

Weaknesses:

• Critical: Graveyard hate (Rest in Peace, Leyline of the Void) shuts down the deck.
• Moderate: Overreliance on creature-based strategies (vulnerable to board wipes).
• Minor: Limited basic lands make Blood Moon effects manageable but inconvenient.

Most Important Cards:

• Hermit Druid
• Survival of the Fittest
• Phyrexian Altar
• Karmic Guide
• Loyal Retainers
• Entomb
• Buried Alive
• Birthing Pod
• Corpse Knight
• Grand Abolisher

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 7/10

• Can assemble T4-T5 wins with optimal hands (e.g., Buried Alive into Necromancy). Average goldfish win: T5-T6.

Resilience: 7/10

• Recursive threats and tutors mitigate single-target removal. Graveyard hate is crippling but partially answerable via Force of Vigor/Assassin’s Trophy.

Consistency: 8/10

• 10+ tutors (Survival of the Fittest, Finale of Devastation) and redundancy in reanimation effects.

Interaction: 8/10

• Efficient targeted removal (Swords to Plowshares, Assassin’s Trophy) and stax pieces (Archon of Emeria).

Rating Justification:

This deck operates at the high end of "Focused Competitive" (7.0) to "Highly Optimized" (7.5). It lacks the speed of cEDH combos (e.g., Thassa’s Oracle + Demonic Consultation) and has critical graveyard vulnerabilities, but its tutor density, combo redundancy, and stax integration surpass typical optimized casual decks. It consistently threatens T5-T6 wins with protection, aligning with 7.0–7.5 on the rubric.

Power level: 7.0–7.5