Overview:

This Orzhov lifegain/drain deck helmed by Astarion, the Decadent leverages life manipulation as both defense and offense. The primary strategy revolves around triggering life gain/loss synergies through vampires, enchantments like Exquisite Blood/Sanguine Bond, and payoffs like Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose to drain opponents out. Astarion amplifies these effects by doubling life loss or gain during end steps but isn't strictly essential to the core combo-based win conditions. The deck can win via infinite loops (Exquisite Blood + Sanguine Bond/Vito), massive Gray Merchant of Asphodel triggers, or incremental pressure from lifelink creatures.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (T1-4): Deploy lifegain engines (Soul Warden, Indulging Patrician) and ramp (Crypt Ghast, Jet Medallion). Protect key pieces with Swiftfoot Boots or Teferi's Protection.
2. Midgame Synergy (T4-7): Cast Astarion to amplify end-step triggers. Assemble combo pieces via tutors (Enlightened Tutor, Bolas's Citadel). Use Peer into the Abyss for explosive draws. Activate Vona, Butcher of Magan to remove threats.
3. Win Conditions:
   • Infinite Drain: Pair Exquisite Blood with Sanguine Bond or Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose to chain life loss/gain triggers.
   • Burst Damage: Gray Merchant of Asphodel with high devotion or Wound Reflection to double opponents' life loss.
   • Combat: Lifelink creatures like Bloodthirsty Conqueror pressure opponents while padding your life total.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 2-3 lands (including duals/fetches).
• Prioritize early lifegain (Soul's Attendant, Creeping Bloodsucker) or ramp (Sol Ring, Crypt Ghast).
• Mulligan away hands lacking lifegain triggers or interaction in removal-heavy metas.

Key Tips:

• Use Bolas's Citadel to cheat combo pieces but balance life payments with your drain effects.
• Inkshield punishes combat-focused decks and creates blockers.
• Verrak, Warped Sengir doubles life payments for abilities like Vona, Butcher of Magan or Astarion's Thirst.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Enchantment Removal: Exquisite Blood/Sanguine Bond are irreplaceable and vulnerable to Disenchant effects.
• Combo Disruption: Lacks counterspells to protect critical synergies.

Moderate

• Board Wipes: Over-reliance on creature-based lifegain (Gray Merchant, Elenda, Saint of Dusk) makes recovery slow.
• Life Total Parity: Struggles if opponents avoid life loss (e.g., Platinum Angel, Leyline of Sanctity).

Minor

• Artifact Hate: Bolas's Citadel and mana rocks are soft to Vandalblast.
• Graveyard Reliance: Recursion (Revival // Revenge) is limited but disruptable.

Most Important Cards:

• Exquisite Blood (Primary combo piece)
• Sanguine Bond (Combo finisher)
• Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose (Alternative combo piece)
• Bolas's Citadel (Card advantage/combo tutor)
• Gray Merchant of Asphodel (Burst life drain)
• Crypt Ghast (Mana acceleration)
• Teferi's Protection (Board protection)
• Enlightened Tutor (Key enchantment fetcher)
• Wound Reflection (Amplifies life loss)
• Peer into the Abyss (Draw engine)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 6/10

• Can threaten wins via T6-7 combos with optimal draws but relies on assembling 2-card synergies.

Resilience: 5/10

• Limited protection for key enchantments; relies on phasing (Teferi's Protection) and spot removal.

Consistency: 7/10

• Strong tutor density (Enlightened Tutor, fetchlands) and card draw (Bolas's Citadel, Tocasia's Welcome) to find combo pieces.

Interaction: 6/10

• Efficient targeted removal (Swords to Plowshares, Anguished Unmaking) but minimal stack interaction.

Rating Justification:

This deck operates at a 5.5 - 6.0 power level, capable of T6-7 wins through efficient combos and tutors but held back by vulnerability to enchantment removal and limited protection. Its resilience and interaction suite align with optimized casual tiers, while its ceiling approaches focused strategies when undisrupted.

Power level: 5.5 - 6.0