Overview:

This Lazav, Dimir Mastermind deck combines rogue tribal synergies, opponent mill, and graveyard theft to create a disruptive midrange strategy. Lazav serves as a flexible threat that copies key creatures from opponents' graves, while the deck leverages milling (via rogue triggers and cards like Consuming Aberration/Syr Konrad, the Grim) to fuel reanimation spells like Sepulchral Primordial and Mnemonic Betrayal. The primary win conditions involve incremental mill damage through Syr Konrad, overwhelming with stolen creatures, or commander damage via Lazav copying high-power threats.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (Turns 1-4): Deploy rogue enablers like Soaring Thought-Thief, Anowon, the Ruin Thief, and Nimana Skydancer to start milling opponents. Use removal/counterspells (Murder, Sinister Sabotage) to disrupt opponents while building board presence.
2. Midgame Value (Turns 5-7): Cast Lazav to copy impactful creatures from opponents' graveyards. Activate mill engines like Consuming Aberration and Syr Konrad, the Grim for incremental damage. Steal key threats using Sepulchral Primordial or Whispersteel Dagger.
3. Win Conditions (Turns 8+):
   • Mill Damage: Amplify Syr Konrad triggers with mass mill (Pilfered Plans, Extract from Darkness).
   • Combat/Theft: Overwhelm with stolen creatures or Lazav copying high-power targets.
   • Alternate Wincons: Etrata, the Silencer assassination or Lotleth Giant graveyard burn.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 2-3 lands (prioritize untapped UB sources).
• Ensure early plays: rogues (Changeling Outcast), mill enablers, or interaction.
• Avoid hands lacking ramp/mill starters or clogged with high-CMC spells.

Key Tips:

• Use Lazav reactively—copy game-ending threats (e.g., opponents' Craterhoof Behemoth) rather than early creatures.
• Prioritize protecting Syr Konrad and Anowon; they are critical for mill damage and card draw.
• Mnemonic Betrayal can steal opponents' wincons if timed after a board wipe.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Graveyard hate (Rest in Peace, Leyline of the Void) cripples Lazav’s copying, reanimation, and Syr Konrad’s triggers.
• Minimal fast mana or tutors for key pieces like Syr Konrad or Etrata.

Moderate

• Struggles against wide boards due to limited sweepers (only In Garruk's Wake at 9CMC).
• Slow setup makes it vulnerable to aggressive decks.

Minor

• Overreliance on combat for mill triggers (no instant-speed mill combos).
• Mana base has 12 taplands, slowing early plays.

Most Important Cards:

• Syr Konrad, the Grim (Primary mill damage engine)
• Sepulchral Primordial (Mass reanimation for opponent threats)
• Anowon, the Ruin Thief (Mill synergy and card draw)
• Consuming Aberration (Scaling mill threat)
• Mnemonic Betrayal (Theft from all opponents' graveyards)
• Etrata, the Silencer (Alternate wincon)
• Lotleth Giant (Graveyard-to-burn payoff)
• Whispersteel Dagger (Recursive creature theft)
• Sinister Sabotage (Critical interaction with surveil)
• Soaring Thought-Thief (Early mill enabler)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 4/10

• Wins typically occur around T10+ via incremental mill or combat. No fast combos.

Resilience: 5/10

• Limited protection for key pieces, but recursion (Gravedigger, Blood Beckoning) provides some recovery.

Consistency: 5/10

• Moderate card draw and surveil, but lacks high-density tutors for Syr Konrad/Etrata.

Interaction: 6/10

• Decent removal suite (Murder, Aetherize) and counterspells, but light on stax/board wipes.

Rating Justification:

This deck operates at a Casual/Precon level (T10-12 wins) with a structured mill/graveyard strategy but lacks the speed and redundancy of optimized lists. While it has interaction and synergy, its reliance on slow mill and vulnerability to graveyard hate cap its power.

Power level: 4.0 - 4.5