Overview:

This Golgari deck leverages Meren of Clan Nel Toth as its engine commander, focusing on sacrifice, death triggers, and graveyard recursion. The primary strategy involves sacrificing creatures for value (card draw, mana, experience counters) and recurring key pieces like Gray Merchant of Asphodel, Plaguecrafter, or combo enablers from the graveyard. Meren acts as the core value generator, enabling consistent reanimation of creatures with MV ≤ experience counters each end step. Win conditions include attrition through sacrifice effects, life drain via Blood Artist/Zulaport Cutthroat/Gary, and Protean Hulk lines enabled by sacrifice outlets.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (Turns 1-3): Deploy mana dorks (Llanowar Elves, Elvish Mystic), sacrifice outlets (Viscera Seer, Carrion Feeder), or value creatures (Spore Frog). Cast Meren ASAP.
2. Engine Activation (Turns 4-6): Sacrifice creatures to outlets for experience counters and value. Use tutors (Buried Alive, Diabolic Intent, Eldritch Evolution) to find key pieces like Protean Hulk, Gray Merchant, or Syr Konrad. Recur Sakura-Tribe Elder/Wood Elves for ramp.
3. Value Looping (Turns 5+): Recur Plaguecrafter/Fleshbag Marauder for forced sacrifices, Eternal Witness for recursion, or Ravenous Chupacabra for removal. Leverage Ashnod's Altar/Skullclamp for mana/card advantage.
4. Win Condition Execution:
   • Attrition: Recur Gray Merchant with devotion or sacrifice loops with Blood Artist/Zulaport Cutthroat.
   • Hulk Combo: Sacrifice Protean Hulk to fetch Viscera Seer + Mikaeus, the Unhallowed + Walking Ballista (not in list, but implied by Hulk inclusion) for infinite damage.
   • Syr Konrad: Pair with mass mill/recursion (e.g., Altar of Dementia missing) or sacrifice loops.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 2-3 lands, at least one green source.
• Prioritize early ramp (dorks, Sol Ring), a sacrifice outlet, or Meren herself.
• Look for enablers like Skullclamp or tutors. Avoid hands lacking early plays or graveyard setup.

Key Tips:

• Sacrifice Sequencing: Sac creatures before blockers/combat to maximize death triggers and ensure Meren recursion.
• Experience Counters: Prioritize sacrificing creatures over letting them die in combat to guarantee counters.
• Graveyard Order: Use Buried Alive strategically—place combo pieces (Hulk) or high-impact targets (Gary) based on current experience counters.
• Protection: Recur Spore Frog every turn for fog lock once experience counters allow.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Graveyard Hate: Rest in Peace, Leyline of the Void, or Bojuka Bog cripples recursion and experience counter value.
• Commander Removal: Meren is essential; repeated removal (especially exile) stalls the deck.
• Combo Vulnerability: Lacks stack interaction (counterspells) to protect combos or stop opponents.

Moderate

• Board Wipes: Mass removal (Wrath of God) resets the board; recovery relies on graveyard access.
• Stax Pieces: Torpor Orb nulls ETB triggers (Gary, Plaguecrafter, Chupacabra); Cursed Totem shuts off dorks/outlets.
• Enchantment/Artifact Removal: Key pieces like Birthing Pod, Ashnod's Altar, or Skullclamp are vulnerable.

Minor

• Life Total Pressure: Aggro decks can outpace the setup phase if early blockers are absent.
• Limited Card Draw: Relies on sacrifice triggers; can stall without enablers.

Most Important Cards:

• Meren of Clan Nel Toth (Engine: recursion & experience counters)
• Protean Hulk (Primary combo win condition)
• Ashnod's Altar (Mana generation & sacrifice outlet)
• Gray Merchant of Asphodel (Life drain finisher)
• Buried Alive (Graveyard setup for combos/value)
• Diabolic Intent (Tutor for key pieces)
• Skullclamp (Card draw engine)
• Viscera Seer (Free sacrifice outlet & scry)
• Syr Konrad, the Grim (Alternate win condition)
• Eternal Witness (Recursion for spells/combos)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 6/10

• Can win via Hulk combo as early as T4 with perfect ramp/tutors, but typically threatens T6-8 through attrition or Gary loops.

Resilience: 5/10

• Recursion provides recovery from targeted removal, but graveyard hate or repeated commander removal is devastating. Limited protection spells.

Consistency: 7/10

• High tutor density (10+), card draw from sacrifice, and Meren’s recursion ensure reliable access to key pieces.

Interaction: 5/10

• Targeted removal (Abrupt Decay, Assassin's Trophy) is efficient, but lacks counterspells and struggles against resolved enchantments/artifacts.

Rating Justification:

This deck has strong consistency and a T6-8 win potential via Hulk combos or Gary loops, but its reliance on the graveyard and vulnerability to disruption caps its resilience. It fits into Optimized Casual, leaning toward High-Power when unimpeded but folding to common hate.

Power level: 6.0 - 6.5