Overview:

This mono-black deck leverages Vincent Valentine's unique death-triggered growth and recursion mechanics to fuel an attrition-based strategy. The primary game plan revolves around forcing opponent creature deaths through sacrifice effects (Grave Pact, Massacre Girl), targeted removal, and asymmetrical board wipes (The Meathook Massacre, Decree of Pain). Each death fuels Vincent's counters, enables card draw engines like Mari, the Killing Quill and Syr Konrad, the Grim, and drains opponents via Blood Artist effects. Vincent transforms into Galian Beast for lifelink/trample pressure, while its recursion provides resilience. Secondary win conditions include Syr Konrad damage triggers, large combat steps with buffed creatures, and value-based reanimation (Junji, the Midnight Sky, Victimize).

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (Turns 1-4): Deploy mana rocks (Sol Ring, Arcane Signet), value creatures (Viscera Seer, Ophiomancer), and card draw (Sign in Blood, Dark Confidant). Prioritize establishing a sacrifice outlet.
2. Engine Activation (Turns 3-6): Cast Vincent Valentine or key enablers like Grave Pact, Mari, the Killing Quill, or Syr Konrad. Force opponent creature deaths via targeted removal (Infernal Grasp, Go for the Throat) or asymmetrical wipes (The Meathook Massacre). Use death triggers to grow Vincent, draw cards, and drain life.
3. Mid-Game Domination (Turns 5-8): Transform Vincent into Galian Beast for lifelink/trample pressure. Recur key pieces with Phyrexian Reclamation or Evil Reawakened. Leverage Ashnod's Altar/Skullclamp to sacrifice tokens or small creatures for value.
4. Win Condition Execution:
   • Attrition: Overwhelm with Syr Konrad triggers, Blood Artist drains, and Galian Beast combat.
   • Combat: Deploy finishers like Zodiark, Umbral God or a massive Vincent/Galian.
   • Reanimation: Cheat out threats like Archfiend of Depravity or Junji, the Midnight Sky via Victimize or Lively Dirge.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 2-3 lands and early plays (ramp, draw, or sacrifice outlet).
• Prioritize hands containing Vincent, an engine (Mari/Syr Konrad/Grave Pact), or interaction.
• Avoid hands lacking early plays or with only high-CMC cards.

Key Tips:

• Sacrifice Sequencing: Use Vincent's transformation judiciously. Sacrificing Galian Beast returns Vincent tapped, delaying attacks but resetting growth potential.
• Protect Engines: Lightning Greaves on Syr Konrad or Mari amplifies value exponentially.
• Maximize Triggers: Saw in Half on a large Vincent creates two threats and doubles death triggers. K'rrik, Son of Yawgmoth enables explosive turns but manage life total carefully.
• Graveyard Control: Dauthi Voidwalker disrupts opponents while providing castable threats. Use Bojuka Bog defensively.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Severe vulnerability to graveyard hate (Rest in Peace, Leyline of the Void), crippling recursion, Syr Konrad, and Vincent's recursion.
• Heavy reliance on Vincent's presence for strategy momentum; repeated removal stalls the deck.
• Minimal stack interaction makes resolving key spells against counterspells difficult.

Moderate

• Board wipes reset Vincent's counters and token engines, requiring significant recovery time.
• Life loss from K'rrik, Phyrexian Arena, and Sign in Blood compounds quickly under pressure.
• Struggles against go-wide token strategies outpacing its piecemeal removal.

Minor

• Limited artifact/enchantment removal (only Feed the Swarm).
• High average CMC can lead to awkward early turns if ramp is disrupted.

Most Important Cards:

• Syr Konrad, the Grim (Primary win condition via death triggers)
• Grave Pact (Forces opponent sacrifices, fueling Vincent and triggers)
• Mari, the Killing Quill (Card draw, treasure generation, and deathtouch enabler)
• Ashnod's Altar (Sacrifice outlet for mana acceleration and death triggers)
• Blood Artist (Life drain win condition)
• Dauthi Voidwalker (Graveyard hate and threat access)
• K'rrik, Son of Yawgmoth (Mana acceleration and cost reduction)
• Phyrexian Reclamation (Key recursion engine)
• The Meathook Massacre (Asymmetrical board wipe and life drain)
• Viscera Seer (Free sacrifice outlet and scry)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 5/10

• Wins typically occur T8-10 through gradual attrition or combat; lacks fast combos but leverages incremental value.

Resilience: 6/10

• Strong recursion (Vincent, Phyrexian Reclamation) and card draw mitigate setbacks, but graveyard dependency and commander reliance are exploitable.

Consistency: 6/10

• Solid draw engines and tutor-like effects (Mari, Dauthi) provide access to key pieces, but limited tutors for specific answers.

Interaction: 7/10

• Robust targeted removal (Infernal Grasp, Go for the Throat) and board wipes (Decree of Pain, Soul Shatter), but lacks counterspells and noncreature interaction.

Rating Justification:

The deck executes a focused attrition strategy with reliable T8-10 wins through Syr Konrad triggers, combat, and drain effects, aligning with Optimized Casual (5.0). Its resilience and interaction offset slower speed, but graveyard vulnerability and commander dependence prevent higher optimization.

Power level: 5.0 - 5.5