Overview:

This Orzhov aristocrats deck helmed by Teysa Karlov focuses on generating value through death triggers and token synergies. The primary strategy revolves around sacrificing creatures to fuel powerful payoffs like Blood Artist, Cruel Celebrant, and Mirkwood Bats, while leveraging Teysa's ability to double these triggers. The deck features multiple infinite combos, including Exquisite Blood + Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose and Leonin Relic-Warder + Animate Dead/Necromancy, supported by efficient tutors and recursion. Teysa acts as a critical force multiplier, though the deck can function without her through alternative token generators and combo lines.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (Turns 1-3):
   Deploy mana rocks (Sol Ring, Orzhov Signet), token generators (Shambling Ghast, Ophiomancer), and value engines (Black Market Connections, Grim Haruspex). Use Phyrexian Tower/Ashnod's Altar to convert creatures into resources.

2. Midgame Engine (Turns 4-6):
   Cast Teysa to amplify death triggers. Sacrifice tokens to altars for mana or Skullclamp for card draw. Establish board control with Grave Pact or The Meathook Massacre. Tutor for combo pieces with Demonic Tutor/Vampiric Tutor.

3. Win Conditions (Turns 5-8):

   • Infinite Life Drain: Resolve Exquisite Blood + Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose or Sanguine Bond-equivalent effects.
   • Loop Combos: Leonin Relic-Warder + Animate Dead with a Blood Artist effect.
   • Mass Token Overrun: Mondrak, Glory Dominus + Anointed Procession with Secure the Wastes or Adeline, Resplendent Cathar.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 2-3 lands, including at least one black source.
• Prioritize early ramp (Sol Ring, Phyrexian Tower) or token generators (Ophiomancer, Jadar, Ghoulcaller of Nephalia).
• Look for at least one payoff card (Blood Artist, Pitiless Plunderer) or tutor.

Key Tips:

• Use Teferi's Protection/Flare of Fortitude to protect combos during critical turns.
• Living Death can serve as both a board wipe and a game-winning reanimation spell.
• Necropotence and Dark Confidant provide card advantage but require careful life management.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Graveyard hate (Rest in Peace, Leyline of the Void) shuts down recursion engines and combo lines.
• Enchantment removal cripples key pieces like Exquisite Blood, Anointed Procession, and Grave Pact.

Moderate

• Board wipes disrupt token-based strategies, though the deck has some recovery tools (Living Death, Luminous Broodmoth).
• Torpor Orb effects nullify death triggers and ETB synergies.

Minor

• Limited stack interaction beyond Silence and Mana Tithe leaves combos vulnerable to counterspells.
• Life loss from Necropotence/Ad Nauseam can become dangerous in prolonged games.

Most Important Cards:

• Exquisite Blood (Infinite combo enabler)
• Teysa Karlov (Trigger doubler and token enhancer)
• Ashnod's Altar (Mana generation and sacrifice outlet)
• Anointed Procession (Token multiplier)
• Demonic Tutor (Consistency engine)
• Necropotence (Card advantage)
• Living Death (Board reset/combo piece)
• Grave Pact (Board control)
• The Meathook Massacre (Board wipe and life drain)
• Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose (Combo finisher)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 7/10

• Capable of T5-7 wins through tutors and efficient combo assembly, though lacks fast mana beyond Dark Ritual.

Resilience: 6/10

• Multiple recursion options (Necromancy, Living Death) and protection spells, but core combos remain fragile to targeted hate.

Consistency: 8/10

• Extensive tutor suite (7+ tutors) and card draw engines ensure reliable access to key pieces.

Interaction: 5/10

• Targeted removal (Swords to Plowshares, Anguished Unmaking) and board wipes are present but lack countermagic for stack battles.

Rating Justification:

This deck demonstrates focused combo potential with T5-7 win capability through redundant tutors and synergistic payoffs, aligning with the "Focused Competitive" tier. However, its vulnerability to common hate cards and moderate interaction keep it below cEDH viability.

Power level: 7.0 - 7.5