Overview:

This Esper Zombie tribal deck helmed by Varina, Lich Queen focuses on wide board strategies with aristocrat drain effects and graveyard recursion. The commander enables card filtering, token generation, and life gain while amplifying zombie synergies. Key themes include zombie token swarming with Endless Ranks of the Dead/Necroduality, drain effects via Corpse Knight/Wayward Servant, and explosive recursion with Zombie Apocalypse/Living Death. A secondary combo line exists with Rooftop Storm + Gravecrawler + sac outlets like Ashnod's Altar for infinite death triggers. Varina serves as both engine (draw/discard) and win enabler (mass token generation), but the deck can function without her.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (T1-4): Deploy zombie lords (Diregraf Captain, Death Baron), token generators (Cryptbreaker, Gravecrawler), and mana rocks. Use Varina's attack triggers to cycle through the deck while building a zombie army.
2. Midgame Value (T5-7): Resolve key enchantments like Rooftop Storm or Necroduality for explosive plays. Activate Ashnod's Altar/Wilhelt, the Rotcleaver to convert tokens into resources. Stockpile zombies and graveyard fuel.
3. Win Conditions:
   • Combat Overrun: Pump wide boards with Mirror Entity/Haunted One and evasive effects from Cover of Darkness.
   • Drain Combos: Pair zombie tokens with Plague Belcher effects or Gray Merchant of Asphodel recursion.
   • Infinite Loops: Rooftop Storm + Gravecrawler + Ashnod's Altar = infinite death/ETB triggers with Corpse Knight/Wayward Servant.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 3 lands (including WUB sources) and early plays like Cryptbreaker/Undead Augur.
• Prioritize Rooftop Storm in slow metas or Necroduality in creature-heavy matchups.
• Avoid hands without early zombies or excessive high-CMC spells.

Key Tips:

• Use Varina's exile ability pre-combat to create chump blockers for her attack trigger.
• Time Zombie Apocalypse after milling via Varina's discards.
• Living Death doubles as a board wipe protection tool.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Graveyard hate (Rest in Peace, Leyline of the Void) cripples recursion and Gravecrawler loops.
• Rooftop Storm is a single-point failure for the combo line with no redundant cost reducers.

Moderate

• Board wipes (especially exiling ones) reset zombie token progress.
• Slow mana base (10+ tapped lands) delays key plays.

Minor

• Limited stack interaction (only 5 counterspells/removal).
• Relies on combat damage for Varina triggers against flying-heavy boards.

Most Important Cards:

• Rooftop Storm (Combo enabler, free zombies)
• Necroduality (Token duplication engine)
• Gravecrawler (Recursive combo piece)
• Ashnod's Altar (Sac outlet for combos/resource generation)
• Gray Merchant of Asphodel (Life drain bomb)
• Zombie Apocalypse (Mass recursion win condition)
• Wilhelt, the Rotcleaver (Token generator and sac synergy)
• Living Death (Board reset/recursion)
• Cover of Darkness (Evasion enabler)
• Varina, Lich Queen (Card filtering and token generation)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 5/10
Can threaten wins via combo T6-8 with ideal draws, but typically wins through incremental value T8-10.

Resilience: 6/10
Multiple recursion engines (Unholy Grotto, Zombie Apocalypse) and redundancy in zombie lords, but heavily reliant on graveyard.

Consistency: 7/10
Strong tribal synergy and Varina's draw/discard helps find key pieces, though lacks high-impact tutors.

Interaction: 4/10
Limited removal suite focused on creatures (Swords to Plowshares, Vanquish the Horde) with minimal stack interaction.

Rating Justification:

This deck operates at Focused Casual tier, capable of T8-10 wins through combat or Gray Merchant recursion but lacks the speed/protection for higher tiers. Its reliance on vulnerable combo pieces and slow mana base cap its ceiling despite strong tribal synergy.

Power level: 4.5 - 5.5