Overview:

This Orzhov deck combines flicker synergies with aristocrats strategies, leveraging Abdel Adrian's token generation and Agent of the Iron Throne's life drain. The primary win conditions involve incremental life loss through sacrificed tokens and Gray Merchant devotion bursts, supported by recursive flicker engines and moderate interaction.

Primer:

Core Strategy: The deck aims to generate value through repeated Abdel Adrian flickers (via Cloudshift, Ephemerate, etc.), creating Soldier tokens while recycling key permanents. These tokens fuel sacrifice outlets (Ashnod's Altar, Viscera Seer) to trigger Agent of the Iron Throne, Nadier's Nightblade, and Mirkwood Bats. Secondary lines involve Gray Merchant of Asphodel devotion bursts and Pestilence/Crypt Rats board control.

Key Phases:

1. Setup (Turns 1-4): Develop mana rocks, ETB draw creatures (Dusk Legion Zealot, Phyrexian Rager), and protection (Sejiri Steppe).
2. Engine Activation (Turns 5+): Cast Abdel with 1-3 nonland permanents to exile, generating tokens. Use flicker spells to reset Abdel and grow the token army.
3. Conversion to Damage: Sacrifice tokens to drain opponents via Agent triggers while maintaining board control with recursive removal (Faceless Butcher, Oblivion Ring).

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 3 lands and 1-2 ramp pieces (Mind Stone, Orzhov Signet)
• Prioritize early flicker targets (Spirited Companion, Suture Priest)
• Avoid hands without white/black mana sources

Key Tips:

• Time Abdel casts after developing 1-2 nonland permanents for immediate token generation
• Use Flicker of Fate defensively to dodge removal or offensively to reset Abdel
• Preserve Gray Merchant for high-devotion turns (pair with Biblioplex Assistant recursion)

Weaknesses:

Critical:

• Overreliance on Abdel surviving (3+ removals cripples the engine)
• No infinite combos for quick wins

Moderate:

• Limited mass recursion for rebuilds after wipes
• Weak to graveyard hate disrupting Dread Return/Omen of the Dead

Minor:

• Basic land base vulnerable to nonbasic hate

Most Important Cards:

• Ashnod's Altar
• Gray Merchant of Asphodel
• Nadier's Nightblade
• Mirkwood Bats
• Pestilence
• Crypt Rats
• Viscera Seer
• Deadly Dispute
• Ephemerate
• Oblivion Ring

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 5/10

• Earliest potential win ~T8 via Gary devotion (needs 7+ black symbols)
• Token swarm requires multiple combat phases

Resilience: 4/10

• Moderate protection (Fanatical Devotion, flickers)
• Commander-dependent with limited alternative lines

Consistency: 5/10

• 8 ETB draw/filter effects but only 2 transmute tutors
• Multiple redundant sacrifice outlets

Interaction: 5/10

• 6 targeted removals (Cast Down, Feed the Swarm)
• 3 board wipes (Pestilence, Crypt Rats)
• No free counterspells

Rating Justification:

The deck operates at upgraded precon levels (4.0-4.5) with its focused flicker/aristocrats synergy but lacks:

1. The speed of T5-7 combos seen in 5.0+ decks
2. The interaction density/protection of optimized lists
3. Redundant win conditions beyond token flooding

It outperforms janky builds through ETB value chains but folds to focused disruption. Comparable to a modified Elenda, the Dusk Rose precon with better token generation but weaker recursion.

Power level: 4.0 - 4.5