Overview:

This Korvold, Fae-Cursed King deck is an aristocrats/sacrifice build focused on generating value through recursive token sacrifice and permanent-based engines. Korvold serves as both the primary value engine (drawing cards and growing exponentially with each sacrifice) and a win condition via commander damage. The deck leverages powerful token generators like Bitterblossom and Ophiomancer, infinite sacrifice loops with Pitiless Plunderer/Chatterfang, Squirrel General, and game-ending drain effects from Zulaport Cutthroat and Mirkwood Bats. Key hidden commanders include Yawgmoth, Thran Physician for card draw/control and Chatterfang, Squirrel General for token multiplication.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (Turns 1-3): Deploy mana dorks (Ignoble Hierarch), token generators (Awakening Zone, Ophiomancer), and sac outlets (Viscera Seer, Woe Strider). Prioritize casting Korvold once you have 1-2 sac triggers available.
2. Mid-Game Engine (Turns 4-6): Activate sacrifice loops using Pitiless Plunderer + Chatterfang, Squirrel General with any free sac outlet to generate infinite treasures/Squirrels. Use Phyrexian Altar or Ashnod's Altar to convert tokens into mana for explosive plays.
3. Win Conditions:
   • Drain: Zulaport Cutthroat/Blood Artist + mass sacrifice (The Meathook Massacre, Living Death)
   • Infinite Mana: Pitiless Plunderer + Chatterfang + Ashnod's Altar enables game-ending Exsanguinate-like effects via Korvold draws
   • Combat: Korvold with 21+ power via Mazirek, Kraul Death Priest triggers or Old Gnawbone treasure generation

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 2-3 lands including at least one green source
• Prioritize early token generators or sac outlets
• Look for at least one piece of the Pitiless Plunderer/Chatterfang combo
• Ensure access to black mana for critical sacrifice payoffs

Key Tips:

• Use Yawgmoth, Thran Physician to convert tokens into card advantage and board control
• Living Death serves as both a board wipe and a reanimation bomb
• The One Ring provides critical protection while digging for combo pieces
• Grave Pact/Moldervine Reclamation turn every sacrifice into permanent advantage

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Complete graveyard shutdown (Rest in Peace, Leyline of the Void) cripples recursion and Living Death strategies
• Torpor Orb effects nullify ETB-based token generation and death triggers
• Board wipes during setup phases before establishing recursion engines

Moderate

• Rule of Law effects limit combo potential
• Blood Moon disrupts greedy manabase despite fetchland package
• Focused removal on Korvold increases commander tax pressure

Minor

• Flyer-heavy strategies (limited reach outside Poison-Tip Archer)
• Life gain strategies outpacing drain effects
• Single-target artifact removal (altars are critical but have some redundancy)

Most Important Cards:

• Pitiless Plunderer (Infinite treasure/Squirrel engine with Chatterfang)
• Chatterfang, Squirrel General (Token multiplier/combo piece)
• Yawgmoth, Thran Physician (Sac outlet, card draw, and board control)
• Phyrexian Altar (Mana generation from sacrifices)
• Grave Pact (Board control through sacrifice)
• Living Death (Mass recursion and board reset)
• The One Ring (Protection and card advantage)
• Demonic Tutor (Finds any combo piece)
• Moldervine Reclamation (Sustained card advantage)
• Old Gnawbone (Treasure generation for explosive turns)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 7/10

• Can establish infinite combos as early as T5 with perfect draws, but typically threatens wins T6-8 through gradual drain or Korvold beats.

Resilience: 6/10

• Strong recursion (Slimefoot and Squee, Victimize) and protection (Deflecting Swat, The One Ring), but heavily commander-reliant and vulnerable to graveyard hate.

Consistency: 8/10

• 14 tutors/search effects and massive card draw from Korvold/Yawgmoth ensure key pieces are found reliably.

Interaction: 5/10

• Efficient targeted removal (Assassin's Trophy, Deadly Rollick) and board wipes, but lacks counterspells and struggles against resolved enchantments.

Rating Justification:

This deck demonstrates cEDH-adjacent combo potential with its infinite loops and tutor density, but lacks the speed (no fast mana beyond Sol Ring) and interaction suite needed for true competitive play. Its T6-8 win clock and vulnerability to common stax pieces place it firmly in optimized casual territory.

Power level: 6.5 - 7.0