Overview:

This Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord deck is a graveyard-centric build leveraging self-mill, recursive threats, and commander-enabled life drain. While lacking infinite combos, it uses synergistic creature recursion and graveyard-fueled payoffs like Gray Merchant of Asphodel and Syr Konrad, the Grim to pressure opponents. The deck operates at a midrange pace, prioritizing value over speed, with multiple overlapping graveyard engines but limited protection against hate.

Primer:

Core Strategy:
The deck aims to fill its graveyard through self-mill (Hermit Druid, Stitcher's Supplier) and targeted discard (Entomb), then leverage recursive threats and Jarad's sacrifice ability to drain opponents. Key phases:

1. Graveyard Setup: Use early mill/dredge effects (Grisly Salvage, Golgari Thug) to stock creatures like Ghoultree and Souls of the Lost.
2. Value Recursion: Recur key pieces with Meren of Clan Nel Toth, Dread Return, and Archpriest of Shadows while generating value from death triggers.
3. Win Conditions:
   • Direct life loss via Jarad's activated ability with high-power creatures
   • Gray Merchant of Asphodel loops with recursion
   • Syr Konrad, the Grim ping damage from mill/recursion
   • Overwhelm with recursive threats like Sepulchral Primordial

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 3 lands and at least 1 early mill/ramp creature (Glowspore Shaman, Satyr Wayfinder)
• Prioritize enablers over payoffs - a T2 Stitcher's Supplier is better than a T5 Ghoultree
• Avoid hands without graveyard interaction or land drops

Key Tips:

• Time Jarad's activation post-boardwipe when opponents are vulnerable
• Use Buried Alive as a combo tutor for Gray Merchant + recursion enablers
• Protect Syr Konrad with Snakeskin Veil - his damage adds up quickly
• Culling Ritual can both disrupt opponents and fuel massive Zopandrel, Hunger Dominus turns

Avoid Traps:

• Overextending creatures pre-wrath without recursion backup
• Casting Decree of Pain without sufficient mana to rebuild
• Holding key creatures in hand when mill engines are online

Weaknesses:

Critical:

• Graveyard hate (Rest in Peace, Leyline of the Void) shuts down 80% of strategy
• Limited protection for key engines (only 3 hexproof sources)

Moderate:

• Slow recovery from board wipes without World Shaper/Ramunap Excavator
• Minimal stack interaction (no counterspells, limited instant-speed removal)

Minor:

• Some high-CMC payoffs vulnerable to exile removal

Most Important Cards:

• Gray Merchant of Asphodel
• Syr Konrad, the Grim
• Buried Alive
• Meren of Clan Nel Toth
• Hermit Druid
• Entomb
• Dread Return
• World Shaper
• Ghoultree
• Sepulchral Primordial

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 5/10

• Earliest win potential T6-7 with perfect mill → Ghoultree → Jarad activation
• Average goldfish win ~T8-9 through incremental drain

Resilience: 6/10

• 8 recursive spells and 13 creature tutors provide recovery paths
• Vulnerable to graveyard exile but has some enchantment removal (Haywire Mite)

Consistency: 7/10

• 17 dedicated mill/dredge cards + 5 graveyard tutors
• Multiple overlapping payoffs (drain, recursion, big creatures)

Interaction: 4/10

• 10 targeted removal spells but mostly sorcery-speed
• No counterspells or free protection

Rating Justification:

This deck sits between Optimized Casual (5.0) and High-Power Casual (5.5) on the rubric. It has:

• T8-10 win potential through combat/recursion (matches 5.0)
• Strong redundancy in graveyard engines (exceeds 5.0)
• Limited stack interaction and protection (below 5.5)
• Vulnerable to common hate cards but has some answers

Power level: 5.0 - 5.5