Overview:
A synergistic aristocrats-style deck that leverages treasure tokens and sacrifice outlets to generate value, build a powerful commander, and close games through direct damage or combat.
Primer:
The deck operates on multiple interconnected axes, primarily focusing on treasure generation and sacrifice synergies. Early game development relies on efficient ramp through treasures and traditional sources like Sol Ring and Arcane Signet, while establishing value engines through cards like Pitiless Plunderer and Professional Face-Breaker. The commander serves as both a sacrifice outlet and a win condition, growing larger through sacrificing creatures and treasures while threatening significant damage upon death.
The deck can pivot between aggressive strategies with cards like Ancient Copper Dragon and Goldspan Dragon, and more controlling approaches using The Meathook Massacre and various removal spells. The treasure theme enables explosive turns while feeding into the sacrifice strategy, creating a snowball effect that can quickly overwhelm opponents. Key pieces like Marionette Master and Revel in Riches provide alternative win conditions beyond commander damage.
Weaknesses:
The deck is vulnerable to graveyard hate and artifact removal, which can disrupt both its treasure generation and recursion plans. Rest in Peace effects are particularly problematic. The relatively low land count (31) makes the deck somewhat dependent on artifact ramp, making it susceptible to mass artifact removal. The deck can struggle against heavy control strategies that prevent it from establishing its engine pieces.
Most Important Cards:
- Phyrexian Altar
- Pitiless Plunderer
- Marionette Master
- The Meathook Massacre
- Academy Manufactor
- Necropotence
- Ancient Copper Dragon
- Grim Hireling
- Black Market Connections
- Professional Face-Breaker
Attribute Ratings:
- Speed: 7/10
- Resilience: 6/10
- Consistency: 7/10
- Interaction: 8/10
Rating Justification:
This deck sits firmly in the 7.0-7.5 range due to its ability to establish strong board positions by turn 5-6 and threaten wins shortly after. While it lacks the explosive fast mana and turn 2-3 wins of higher-powered decks, it makes up for it with consistent value generation and multiple paths to victory. The interaction suite is robust, featuring efficient removal and protection, while the treasure theme enables explosive turns that can catch opponents off-guard.
Final power level rating: 7.2 - 7.4
The deck demonstrates too much consistency and interaction to be rated lower, but lacks the speed and protection packages of true cEDH decks. It represents a well-tuned, focused competitive deck that can hang with optimized casual builds while threatening faster wins through its synergistic gameplay patterns.
Evereth, Viceroy of Plunder