Overview:

This mono-black deck helmed by Vilis, Broker of Blood focuses on leveraging life payment mechanics to generate explosive card advantage and fuel massive mana sinks. The strategy revolves around using Vilis' life-loss-to-card-draw engine to cycle through the deck rapidly, enabling high-impact plays like Torment of Hailfire, Exsanguinate, and Bolas's Citadel activations. Secondary win conditions include Gray Merchant of Asphodel recursion, Psychosis Crawler pings, and Exquisite Blood life-swings. The deck employs extensive tutor density and black's signature mana amplification (Cabal Coffers/Crypt Ghast) to execute its game plan efficiently.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (Turns 1-4):
   • Deploy mana accelerants like Sol Ring, Jet Medallion, and Cabal Ritual.
   • Cast value engines: Phyrexian Arena, Necropotence, or The One Ring.
   • Tutor for key pieces with Demonic Tutor/Vampiric Tutor if Vilis isn't immediately castable.

2. Commander Deployment (Turns 4-5):

   • Cast Vilis using ritual effects (Dark Ritual, Culling the Weak on Wall of Blood) or K'rrik, Son of Yawgmoth's life-payment ability.
   • Protect Vilis with Lightning Greaves/Swiftfoot Boots to maintain card draw engine.

3. Value Conversion (Turns 5-7):

   • Activate life-for-value engines: Bolas's Citadel topdeck plays, Doom Whisperer graveyard setup, or Font of Agonies removal.
   • Chain card draw triggers via Sheoldred, the Apocalypse and Psychosis Crawler.

4. Win Conditions:

   • X-Spell Finale: Cast Torment of Hailfire/Exsanguinate with Cabal Coffers/Crypt Ghast mana.
   • Recurring Threats: Loop Gray Merchant of Asphodel via Phyrexian Reclamation or Chainer, Dementia Master.
   • Combat Overkill: Use Vilis, Broker of Blood's 8-power flying body with lifelink synergies (Exquisite Blood, Bloodthirsty Conqueror).

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 2-3 lands including a Swamp.
• Prioritize early mana (Sol Ring, Jet Medallion) or a Vilis enabler (ritual, Stinging Study).
• Ensure access to protection (Greaves) or recovery (Malakir Rebirth) in interactive metas.

Key Tips:

• Use Yawgmoth's Will to recur rituals and tutors from grave for explosive turns.
• Skirge Familiar converts excess cards from Vilis into black mana for X-spells.
• Bolas's Citadel + Sensei's Divining Top allows near-full library playout.
• Saw in Half on Vilis creates two 4/4 Demons that each retain his card draw ability.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Commander-dependent strategy: Repeated removal of Vilis cripples card advantage.
• Limited stack interaction: Relies on Imp's Mischief/Force of Despair rather than counterspells.
• Vulnerable to life total pressure: Aggressive decks can exploit the life-payment mechanics.

Moderate

• Graveyard hate disrupts Chainer, Dementia Master/Reanimate lines.
• Rest in Peace/Leyline of the Void nullifies Gray Merchant recursion.
• Artifact destruction hits critical mana sources (Cabal Coffers, Bolas's Citadel).

Minor

• Limited board wipes beyond Toxic Deluge/Pestilence.
• Struggles with enchantments (only Feed the Swarm as answer).

Most Important Cards:

• Vilis, Broker of Blood (Primary draw engine/wincon)
• Bolas's Citadel (Unrestricted topdeck plays)
• Cabal Coffers (Mana amplification)
• Exquisite Blood (Life swing enabler)
• Necropotence (Card advantage backbone)
• Torment of Hailfire (Primary finisher)
• Demonic Tutor (Consistency anchor)
• K'rrik, Son of Yawgmoth (Mana cheat)
• Gray Merchant of Asphodel (Recurring life drain)
• Yawgmoth's Will (Graveyard recursion burst)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 7/10
Capable of threatening T5-6 wins via ritual-accelerated X-spells or Citadel chains, but requires setup turns for optimal mana.

Resilience: 5/10
Multiple recursion options (Phyrexian Reclamation, Malakir Rebirth) and protection artifacts, but folds to repeated commander removal.

Consistency: 8/10
12 tutors + extensive card draw ensure frequent access to key pieces, though black's lack of artifact/enchantment recursion hurts.

Interaction: 6/10
Efficient spot removal (Snuff Out, Deadly Rollick) and board wipes, but limited answers to noncreature permanents.

Rating Justification:

This deck demonstrates high-speed potential through explosive mana and tutor density but suffers from commander dependency and meta-vulnerable interaction suites. Its T6-7 win capacity through protected X-spells aligns with optimized casual tiers, while resilience issues prevent higher rankings.

Power level: 6.5 - 7.0