Overview:

This Karador, Ghost Chieftain deck is a resilient Abzan reanimator list focused on grinding value through recursive creature combos and graveyard synergy. Karador serves as the engine, enabling repeated casting of key creatures like Kokusho, the Evening Star and combo pieces from the graveyard. The deck leverages powerful tutors, sacrifice outlets, and reanimation spells to assemble infinite death/ETB loops or overwhelming board states with cards like Craterhoof Behemoth and Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite. Secondary strategies include stax elements (Thalia, Guardian of Thraben, Deafening Silence) and toolbox answers via Survival of the Fittest/Birthing Pod chains.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (T1-3):
   • Deploy mana dorks (Birds of Paradise, Avacyn's Pilgrim) and ramp (Utopia Sprawl).
   • Use Entomb/Hermit Druid/Buried Alive to stock graveyard with key creatures.
   • Cast Karador as early as T3-4 using graveyard cost reduction.

2. Midgame Engine (T4-6):

   • Recur value engines: Tymna the Weaver for card draw, Fiend Artisan for tutoring.
   • Assemble sac loops with Phyrexian Altar + Carrion Feeder + Kokusho, the Evening Star (life drain) or Felidar Guardian + Luminous Broodmoth (infinite ETBs).
   • Tutor for Survival of the Fittest/Birthing Pod to chain into combo pieces.

3. Win Conditions:

   • Infinite Mana/Death Loops: Phyrexian Altar + Grave Titan/Loyal Retainers + Karmic Guide.
   • Mass Drain: Kokusho, the Evening Star/Poison-Tip Archer with recursive sac outlets.
   • Combat Overrun: Craterhoof Behemoth + wide board enabled by Lumra, Bellow of the Woods land recursion.
   • Stax Lock: Drana and Linvala shutting off opponents' activated abilities.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 2-3 lands (including green/black sources).
• Prioritize early ramp (dorks/Utopia Sprawl) + graveyard filler (Entomb, Hermit Druid).
• Look for protection (Mother of Runes, Teferi's Protection) in interaction-heavy metas.
• Avoid hands without graveyard setup or Karador enablers.

Key Tips:

• Use Volrath's Stronghold to rebuy key creatures after board wipes.
• Crop Rotation can fetch Boseiju, Who Endures to protect combo turns or Phyrexian Tower for burst mana.
• Tombstone Stairwell creates exponential Zombies when paired with Poison-Tip Archer/Zulaport Cutthroat effects.
• Eerie Ultimatum serves as a late-game "reload" for multiple combo pieces.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Graveyard hate (Rest in Peace, Leyline of the Void) completely shuts down Karador's recursion and combo lines.
• Containment Priest/Dauthi Voidwalker nullifies reanimation strategies.

Moderate

• Fast combo decks can outpace this deck's grindy value engine.
• Drannith Magistrate/Opposition Agent disrupts key tutors and Karador's ability.

Minor

• Limited stack interaction beyond Silence and Abrupt Decay.
• High reliance on creature-based strategies makes it vulnerable to mass removal.

Most Important Cards:

• Survival of the Fittest (Tutor engine for combo pieces)
• Phyrexian Altar (Mana engine for infinite loops)
• Kokusho, the Evening Star (Primary life drain wincon)
• Birthing Pod (Creature toolbox enabler)
• Hermit Druid (Graveyard filler)
• Teferi's Protection (Board wipe protection)
• Natural Order (Tutor for Craterhoof Behemoth/Elesh Norn)
• Loyal Retainers (Reanimation for legendaries)
• Volrath's Stronghold (Recursion engine)
• Drana and Linvala (Stax piece/combo protection)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 7/10
Can threaten T4-6 wins via Hermit Druid/Buried Alive setups into combo lines, but typically operates at a midrange pace.

Resilience: 8/10
Multiple layers of recursion (Karador, Necromancy, Eerie Ultimatum) and protection (Flawless Maneuver, Yavimaya Hollow) mitigate disruption.

Consistency: 9/10
Extensive tutor suite (11+ tutors) and card draw (Tymna, The Great Henge) ensure reliable access to key pieces.

Interaction: 6/10
Efficient targeted removal (Swords to Plowshares, Assassin's Trophy) but limited counterspells. Stax pieces provide passive disruption.

Rating Justification:

This deck demonstrates cEDH-adjacent speed and consistency with its tutor density and T4-6 combo potential but lacks the free interaction and compact wincons of top-tier lists. Its resilience against conventional removal and robust graveyard recursion place it firmly in high-power casual territory.

Power level: 7.5 - 8.0