Overview:

Varina, Lich Queen pilots a zombie tribal deck focused on generating zombie tokens, leveraging graveyard recursion, and overwhelming opponents with value. The strategy revolves around attacking with zombies to fuel card selection via Varina's draw/discard ability, enabling graveyard synergies and key payoffs like Rise of the Dark Realms or Exsanguinate. While lacking infinite combos, the deck has moderate interaction and recursion but struggles against graveyard hate and lacks top-tier speed/protection.

Primer:

Core Strategy:
This deck aims to flood the board with zombie tokens using Varina's attack triggers and payoffs like Diregraf Colossus, then close games with overwhelming numbers or graveyard-fueled bombs. Key phases:

1. Early Setup: Cast low-cost zombies (e.g., Gravecrawler) and ramp with signets/Caged Sun.
2. Midgame Value: Use Varina's attack triggers to cycle through the deck while filling the graveyard for recursion (Gisa and Geralf, Victimize).
3. Late-Game Payoffs: Resolve Rooftop Storm for free zombie casting, duplicate tokens with Necroduality, or win via Rise of the Dark Realms/Exsanguinate.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 3 lands and early zombies/ramp.
• Prioritize Arcane Signet/Azorius Signet for color fixing.
• Avoid hands lacking graveyard enablers (e.g., no discard outlets).

Key Tips:

• Use Prized Amalgam and Zul Ashur, Lich Lord to recur zombies from the graveyard.
• Save Overcharged Amalgam to counter critical spells.
• Vanquisher's Banner and Diregraf Colossus stack buffs for lethal combat swings.

Avoid Traps:

• Don't overextend into board wipes without Undying Malice protection.
• Maze's End is a dead card; treat it as a tapped land.

Weaknesses:

Critical:

• Foldsto graveyard hate (Rest in Peace, Leyline of the Void).
• Lacks infinite combos or fast mana to compete with optimized decks.

Moderate:

• Slow recovery from board wipes despite recursion.
• Mana base relies on taplands (e.g., Scoured Barrens).

Minor:

• Limited interaction for noncreature threats.

Most Important Cards:

• Rooftop Storm
• Necroduality
• Diregraf Colossus
• Gravecrawler
• Vanquisher's Banner
• Liliana, Dreadhorde General
• Gisa and Geralf
• Grave Titan
• Rise of the Dark Realms
• Grimoire of the Dead

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 5/10

• Wins via combat or Exsanguinate around T8–10. No fast combos, but Rooftop Storm accelerates zombie spam.

Resilience: 4/10

• Recursion (Sevinne's Reclamation, Crawl from the Cellar) provides some recovery, but graveyard reliance makes it vulnerable.

Consistency: 6/10

• Moderate card draw (Varina triggers, Midnight Reaper) and tutors (Final Parting), but lacks redundancy for key pieces like Rooftop Storm.

Interaction: 5/10

• Runs Damnation, Mortify, and counterspells, but most are sorcery-speed or overcosted (Refurbished Familiar).

Rating Justification:

This deck sits between "Optimized Casual" (T8–10 wins) and "Focused" (T7–8) on the rubric. It has clear synergies and recursion but lacks the speed, protection, and redundancy of higher-tier decks. Its reliance on combat/grindy value aligns with Power Level 5.0–5.5, comparable to a tuned precon with upgrades but not cEDH-level optimization.

Power level: 5.0 - 5.5