Overview:

This UB reanimator/combo deck leverages The Scarab God's zombie synergy and graveyard recursion while packing a compact Thassa's Oracle + Demonic Consultation/Tainted Pact wincon. It combines explosive reanimation targets like Archon of Cruelty with high-efficiency tutors and black's signature card advantage engines.

Primer:

Core Strategy: The deck operates on two axes:

1. Reanimator Engine: Use Entomb, Buried Alive, and self-discard to cheat massive threats (Razaketh, Vilis) into play via Reanimate, Animate Dead, and the commander's ability. Secondary value comes from zombie token generation and Gray Merchant devotion drains.
2. Compact Oracle Combo: Leverage 7 tutors (Demonic Tutor, Solve the Equation, etc.) to assemble Thassa's Oracle + Demonic Consultation/Tainted Pact for instant wins. Necropotence and Dark Ritual enable explosive draws.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with either a tutor, reanimation spell, or Necropotence
• Prioritize fast mana (Dark Ritual, Culling the Weak) for early Buried Alive/Necropotence
• Accept 2-landers with Sol Ring/Arcane Signet

Key Tips:

• Use Emergence Zone to flash in Thassa's Oracle post-consultation
• Imp's Mischief protects combos from counterspells
• Dauthi Voidwalker disrupts opponents while enabling alternative reanimation
• Sacrifice Kokusho repeatedly with Yawgmoth for life swings

Avoid Traps:

• Don't overcommit to board before establishing protection
• Reserve Demonic Consultation for game-ending plays
• Use Unmarked Grave strategically to avoid exiling combo pieces

Weaknesses:

Critical:

• Folded by graveyard hate (Rest in Peace, Leyline of the Void)
• Oracle combo vulnerable to counterspells and Stifle effects

Moderate:

• Limited redundancy for non-combo wins
• Relies on resolving key 2-card combos

Minor:

• Life payment mechanics risk self-burn

Most Important Cards:

• Thassa's Oracle
• Demonic Consultation
• Tainted Pact
• Necropotence
• Buried Alive
• Reanimate
• Entomb
• Dark Ritual
• Sol Ring
• Vilis, Broker of Blood

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 8/10

• T3 wins possible (T1 Ritual → T2 Necro → T3 Oracle+Consult)
• Average goldfish win: T4-5

Resilience: 6/10

• 6 counterspells + Imp's Mischief protect combos
• Graveyard recursion provides secondary lines
• Vulnerable to early stax pieces

Consistency: 9/10

• 7 tutors + Necropotence/Grim Tutor
• Multiple reanimation enablers (5 spells + commander)

Interaction: 7/10

• A-Tier removal (Toxic Deluge, Infernal Grasp)
• S-Tier counters (Counterspell, Negate)
• Lacks free interaction for cEDH parity

Rating Justification:

This deck sits between optimized casual and cEDH tiers. Its T3 win potential and dense tutor package exceed typical "Optimized Casual" (5.5) benchmarks but lack the free interaction and stack wars of true cEDH. The reliance on graveyard strategies and 2-card combos without Force of Will/Deflecting Swat lowers its ceiling compared to T1 lists.

Power level: 7.0 - 7.5