Overview:

This Mardu deck helmed by Celes, Rune Knight focuses on recursive creature loops and graveyard synergy to generate infinite death triggers and value. The commander enables persistent creature recursion by offsetting -1/-1 counters with her +1/+1 counter distribution, creating engine-based wins. Key strategies include reanimator combos with Abdel Adrian, Gorion's Ward loops, persist creature recursion chains, and aristocrat drain effects. Celes serves as both a card advantage engine and combo enabler, making her essential to the deck's core functionality.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (Turns 1-3):
   • Deploy mana acceleration (Sol Ring, Dark Ritual, Talismans) and value engines (Esper Sentinel, Black Market Connections).
   • Use Entomb/Buried Alive to stock graveyard with combo pieces like Putrid Goblin, Murderous Redcap, or Abdel Adrian.

2. Engine Assembly (Turns 3-5):

   • Cast Celes to enable persist loops: Pair Putrid Goblin/Lesser Masticore with a sac outlet (Phyrexian Altar, Goblin Bombardment) and Celes' +1/+1 counters for infinite death triggers.
   • Establish Abdel Adrian + Animate Dead loops: Exile permanents to create tokens, then sacrifice Abdel to recur the Aura and generate infinite tokens/mana.

3. Win Conditions (Turns 4-7):

   • Infinite Drain: Combine persist loops with Blood Artist, Zulaport Cutthroat, or Syr Konrad, the Grim.
   • Combat Overrun: Use Luminous Broodmoth and Celes' counters to build an overwhelming board.
   • Altar of Dementia Mill: Infinite sacrifices with persist creatures to mill opponents.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 2-3 lands (prioritize black sources for reanimation).
• Ensure early ramp (Sol Ring, Talismans) or a reanimation spell + entomb effect.
• Look for combo pieces or tutors (Demonic Tutor, Vampiric Tutor) in opening hands.
• Avoid hands lacking graveyard setup or mana acceleration.

Key Tips:

• Use Underworld Breach to recur key spells like Reanimate or Silence for protection.
• Teferi's Protection protects against board wipes during combo setup.
• Grand Abolisher and Drannith Magistrate secure your turn against interaction.
• Ephemerate can reset ETB creatures like Skyclave Apparition or protect Celes.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Graveyard hate (Rest in Peace, Leyline of the Void) permanently disrupts recursion engines.
• Commander removal cripples persist loops and card advantage.
• Torpor Orb/Hushbringer nullifies ETB-based value and combo triggers.

Moderate

• Artifact removal targeting sac outlets (Phyrexian Altar, Ashnod's Altar).
• Countermagic disrupting key combo assembly turns.
• Rule of Law effects limiting spell sequencing.

Minor

• Flyer-heavy boards outpacing ground-based defenses.
• Life gain strategies delaying drain-based wins.

Most Important Cards:

• Celes, Rune Knight (Combo enabler & draw engine)
• Putrid Goblin (Primary persist combo piece)
• Phyrexian Altar (Sac outlet & mana generator)
• Abdel Adrian, Gorion's Ward (Infinite token loop enabler)
• Animate Dead (Abdel combo & reanimation)
• Demonic Tutor (Tutoring critical pieces)
• Blood Artist (Primary win condition)
• Underworld Breach (Recursion for spells)
• Buried Alive (Graveyard setup)
• Grand Abolisher (Combo protection)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 8/10

• Capable of T4-5 wins through optimized hands with fast mana and tutors, though typically operates in T5-7.

Resilience: 6/10

• Multiple recursion options (Breach, Reanimate) and protection spells, but heavily commander-dependent and vulnerable to graveyard disruption.

Consistency: 8/10

• Extensive tutor suite (12+ tutors) and card draw engines ensure reliable access to combo pieces.

Interaction: 5/10

• Efficient targeted removal (Swords to Plowshares, Deadly Rollick) and stack protection (Silence, Pyroblast), but lacks broad answers to resolved hate pieces.

Rating Justification:

This deck demonstrates cEDH-adjacent speed with T4-5 win potential through compact combos and premium tutors, but its critical vulnerability to graveyard hate and commander reliance limit its ceiling. The balance of explosive lines and moderate protection places it in high-power casual tiers.

Power level: 7.5 - 8.0