Overview:

This K'rrik, Son of Yawgmoth deck leverages life-as-a-resource mechanics to power explosive combo turns and massive X-spells. It combines black's signature life manipulation with efficient tutors and high-synergy payoffs like Aetherflux Reservoir and Bolas's Citadel. The deck focuses on rapid mana acceleration through K'rrik's cost reduction ability and swamp-based land synergies, aiming to execute game-ending combos or overwhelming life drain effects.

Primer:

Core Strategy: The deck operates in three phases:

1. Life-Engine Setup: Use K'rrik's cost reduction ability to deploy key enablers like Necropotence and Chrome Mox, converting life into card advantage and mana acceleration.
2. Combo Assembly: Tutor for critical pieces like Bolas's Citadel/Sensei's Divining Top/Aetherflux Reservoir or Chain of Smog/Professor Onyx using Demonic Tutor and Vampiric Tutor.
3. Life Conversion Win: Execute infinite storm turns via Citadel/Top loops or drain opponents through Exsanguinate/Gray Merchant of Asphodel backed by Cabal Coffers mana.

Key Lines:

• Citadel Lock: With Bolas's Citadel and Sensei's Divining Top, play Top repeatedly from the library while gaining life via Reservoir triggers, eventually paying 50 life to eliminate opponents.
• Chain of Smog: Target yourself with Chain of Smog while controlling Professor Onyx, creating infinite Magecraft triggers to drain the table (requires empty hand).
• Emergency Drain: Use Cabal Coffers/Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth to fuel X=20+ Exsanguinate or Gray Merchant triggers.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 3 lands including swamp accelerators (Cabal Coffers, Urborg)
• Prioritize early life engines (Necropotence, Dark Confidant) or fast mana (Dark Ritual, Lotus Petal)
• Reject hands without black mana sources or life payment mitigation

Protection Protocol:

• Equip K'rrik with Lightning Greaves before going all-in on life payments
• Use Imp's Mischief to redirect critical removal
• Hold Force of Despair for opposing combo turns

Weaknesses:

Critical:

• Life total fragility against aggressive decks
• Commander dependency for cost reduction
• No graveyard recursion for exiled combo pieces

Moderate:

• Limited stack interaction (3 instant-speed answers)
• High variance without K'rrik in play

Minor:

• Weak to Rest in Peace effects (impacts 8% of deck)
• Susceptible to land destruction targeting Coffers/Urborg

Most Important Cards:

• Aetherflux Reservoir
• Bolas's Citadel
• Sensei's Divining Top
• Necropotence
• Cabal Coffers
• Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
• Demonic Tutor
• Vampiric Tutor
• Gray Merchant of Asphodel
• Exsanguinate

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 8/10

• Capable of T4 wins via Citadel/Top/Reservoir with perfect draw
• Average goldfish win by T6 through K'rrik-enabled X-spells

Resilience: 5/10

• 8 protection effects (Greaves, Boots, Mischief)
• Struggles against early stax (Thalia, Guardian of Thraben)
• Limited recovery from board wipes

Consistency: 7/10

• 7 tutors + 4 card engines (Necropotence/Greed)
• Multiple redundant life payment outlets
• 32% of deck functions as mana acceleration

Interaction: 4/10

• 9 targeted removal spells (Snuff Out, Bitter Triumph)
• 3 board wipes (Toxic Deluge, Decree of Pain)
• No native counterspell suite beyond Force of Despair

Rating Justification:

This deck sits between rubric 7.0 ("Focused Competitive: T5-6 win/lock") and 7.5 ("Highly Optimized: T4-5 win/lock"). While possessing T4 win potential and strong tutor density, it lacks the free interaction and redundancy of true cEDH builds. The life payment mechanic creates vulnerability to aggressive strategies, but the explosive combo potential surpasses typical high-power casual decks.

Power level: 7.0 - 7.5