Overview:

This Orzhov aristocrats/life gain deck leverages Liesa, Forgotten Archangel's recursion to fuel sacrifice synergies and life-draining effects. The strategy focuses on recurring value creatures like Plaguecrafter and Fleshbag Marauder for repeated ETB triggers while building incremental advantage through death triggers from Zulaport Cutthroat and Cruel Celebrant. The deck can create angel tokens through life gain payoffs like Angelic Accord and Valkyrie Harbinger, but lacks explosive combo potential or fast mana to accelerate its game plan.

Primer:

Core Strategy:
The deck aims to establish a board of sacrifice outlets (Viscera Seer, Vampiric Rites) and death trigger payoffs (Teysa Karlov, Bastion of Remembrance). Key phases:

1. Early Setup: Deploy mana rocks and small creatures like Selfless Spirit while disrupting opponents with Fleshbag Marauder effects.
2. Midgame Engine: Cast Liesa by turn 5-6 using basic ramp, then cycle creatures like Demon's Disciple for repeated board control.
3. Win Conditions: Grind opponents down with life drain effects or create an angel army via Sephara, Sky's Blade protection and Firja's Retribution combat boosts.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 3 lands and 1-2 ramp pieces (Orzhov Signet, Mind Stone)
• Prioritize early sacrifice outlets or death trigger enablers
• Avoid hands without black/white mana sources or creature density

Key Tips:

• Time Liesa casts after establishing 1-2 sac outlets to maximize recursion value
• Use Ascend from Avernus as a late-game graveyard reload
• Protect critical engine pieces like Teysa Karlov with Swiftfoot Boots
• Leverage Sorin, Vengeful Bloodlord to recur key creatures at instant speed

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Commander-dependent recursion (3+ removals cripple engine)
• No graveyard protection vs Rest in Peace/Bojuka Bog
• Weak to mass enchantment removal (loses all drain payoffs)

Moderate

• Slow setup (average CMC 3.2, limited fast mana)
• Minimal stack interaction (only 3 instant-speed answers)

Minor

• Life gain without clear payoff scaling
• Vulnerable to flying blockers despite angels

Most Important Cards:

• Teysa Karlov
• Zulaport Cutthroat
• Cruel Celebrant
• Harvester of Souls
• Midnight Reaper
• Sephara, Sky's Blade
• Angelic Accord
• Valkyrie Harbinger
• Bastion of Remembrance
• Sorin, Vengeful Bloodlord

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 4/10
Wins through incremental damage typically around T10-12 with optimal recursion loops.

Resilience: 5/10
Moderate recovery via Liesa recursion but folds to repeated commander removal or graveyard hate.

Consistency: 6/10
12 card draw effects and 5 tutors provide reliable access to engine pieces despite high average CMC.

Interaction: 5/10
7 targeted removals and 3 board wipes, but lacks counterspells and instant-speed protection.

Rating Justification:

This midrange aristocrats deck demonstrates precon-level synergy with upgraded recursion but lacks the fast mana, combo potential, and interaction density needed for higher tiers.

Power level: 4.0 - 4.5