Overview:

This Golgari deck helmed by Savra, Queen of the Golgari focuses on sacrifice synergies and attrition strategies. The deck leverages recursive creatures, forced sacrifice triggers, and life-drain effects to control the board while grinding opponents down through incremental value. Savra serves as both enabler and payoff, converting creature sacrifices into opponent board depletion via her black trigger and life stabilization via her green trigger. Key themes include zombie token generation, graveyard recursion, and aristocrat-style drain effects with cards like Zulaport Cutthroat and Mirkwood Bats.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (Turns 1-4): Deploy mana dorks (Sakura-Tribe Elder, Farhaven Elf), sacrifice fodder (Reassembling Skeleton, Putrid Goblin), and value engines like Moldervine Reclamation or Phyrexian Arena.
2. Mid-Game Control (Turns 4-7): Activate sacrifice outlets (Ashnod's Altar, Phyrexian Tower) with Savra in play to force opponent sacrifices. Use recurring threats like Gravecrawler with Phyrexian Altar for infinite sacrifice loops.
3. Win Conditions (Turns 6+):
   • Drain Combos: Gravecrawler + Phyrexian Altar + Zulaport Cutthroat for infinite life loss.
   • Token Overload: Avenger of Zendikar/Lathril, Blade of the Elves + Craterhoof Behemoth-style effects (though absent here, replaced by Rise of the Dark Realms).
   • Mass Reanimation: Sheoldred, Whispering One or Rise of the Dark Realms to overwhelm opponents.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with at least 2 lands and a ramp spell (Farseek, Rampant Growth).
• Prioritize early sacrifice outlets or recursive creatures.
• Ensure access to black mana for critical early plays.

Key Tips:

• Use Bolas's Citadel with token generation to bypass life payment costs.
• Gravelighter triggers Savra's ability while drawing cards.
• Lively Dirge can simultaneously fill graveyard and recur key creatures.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Graveyard Reliance: Stone of Erech, Leyline of the Void, or Rest in Peace cripple recursion engines and combo lines.
• Sacrifice Outlet Dependency: Without active outlets, many synergies become inert.

Moderate

• Board Wipes: Recovering from mass removal requires significant graveyard setup.
• Combo Fragility: Key combo pieces (Gravecrawler, Phyrexian Altar) lack protection.

Minor

• Limited Evasion: Relies on attrition rather than direct combat damage.
• Mana Intensity: High-CMC finishers like Rise of the Dark Realms require significant setup.

Most Important Cards:

• Ashnod's Altar (Sacrifice outlet + mana acceleration)
• Gravecrawler (Infinite combo enabler)
• Mirkwood Bats (Drain multiplier for token strategies)
• Phyrexian Altar (Sacrifice engine + combo piece)
• Zulaport Cutthroat (Primary life-drain payoff)
• Sheoldred, Whispering One (Recurrence and board control)
• Rise of the Dark Realms (Late-game finisher)
• Moldervine Reclamation (Card advantage engine)
• Diabolic Intent (Tutor with sacrifice synergy)
• Bolas's Citadel (Card advantage and combo potential)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 6/10
Can threaten wins via combos as early as T5-6 with perfect draws, but typically operates in T7-9 range.

Resilience: 5/10
Multiple recursion engines (Meren of Clan Nel Toth, Journey to Eternity), but critical pieces lack protection and graveyard dependence is a liability.

Consistency: 7/10
Strong tutor density (Diabolic Intent, Lively Dirge) and card draw offset by some situational synergies.

Interaction: 5/10
Moderate targeted removal (Vendetta, Slum Reaper), but lacks stack interaction and struggles against resolved enchantments.

Rating Justification:

This deck demonstrates focused combo potential and strong attrition tools but lacks the speed and protection to compete with high-power lists. Its reliance on vulnerable graveyard strategies and moderate interaction suite place it in the optimized casual tier.

Power level: 5.5 - 6.0