Overview:

This Yawgmoth, Thran Physician deck focuses on -1/-1 counter synergies, recursive creature loops, and death-triggered value engines. It combines aristocrat drain effects with proliferate mechanics, leveraging Yawgmoth's sac/draw engine to assemble either infinite combos or overwhelming board states. The deck can win through deterministic loops with undying creatures or grind opponents out through persistent value.

Primer:

Core Strategy: The deck aims to flood the board with recursive creatures (Gravecrawler, Reassembling Skeleton) and token generators (Ophiomancer, Pawn of Ulamog), using Yawgmoth's abilities to convert these into card advantage and board control. Key phases:

1. Engine Setup (Turns 1-4): Deploy mana rocks (Jet Medallion, Crypt Ghast) and recursive creatures. Prioritize establishing sac outlets and death triggers like Zulaport Cutthroat.

2. Value Conversion (Turns 5-6): Activate Yawgmoth's proliferate ability to amplify -1/-1 counters from cards like Archfiend of Ifnir while drawing into combo pieces. Use Skullclamp on tokens for explosive card draw.

3. Win Execution:

   • Combo Lines: Mikaeus, the Unhallowed + undying creatures for infinite death triggers
   • Drain Overload: Gray Merchant of Asphodel with Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth devotion
   • Lock Potential: Dictate of Erebos + token spam to strip opponents' boards

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 3 lands and at least 1 recursive creature
• Prioritize early sac outlets over high-CMC bombs
• Reject hands without black mana sources

Key Tips:

• Use Phyrexian Reclamation as backup for Yawgmoth removal
• Chain Peer into the Abyss with Bolas's Citadel for explosive turns
• Save Force of Despair for opposing combo attempts

Weaknesses:

Critical:

• Foldsto grave hate (Rest in Peace cripples 40% of creatures)
• No native counterspell protection for combos

Moderate:

• Slow recovery from board wipes pre-Bastion of Remembrance
• Limited tutor density for key pieces

Minor:

• Life payment mechanics risk self-burn

Most Important Cards:

• Mikaeus, the Unhallowed
• Pitiless Plunderer
• Gravecrawler
• Blood Artist
• Zulaport Cutthroat
• Phyrexian Reclamation
• Gray Merchant of Asphodel
• Archfiend of Ifnir
• Skullclamp
• Peer into the Abyss

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 7/10

• Goldfish win possible T4 with perfect hand (T1 Ritual -> T2 Yawgmoth -> T3 combo)
• Average goldfish win T6-7 through incremental value

Resilience: 6/10

• Strong recursion engine but vulnerable to grave hate
• Limited protection for Yawgmoth beyond Lightning Greaves

Consistency: 6/10

• 5 tutors (Beseech the Queen, Insatiable Avarice) plus strong draw
• Redundant sac outlets but combo pieces are unique

Interaction: 5/10

• 8 targeted removal spells (Toxic Deluge, Infernal Grasp)
• Lacks stack interaction beyond Force of Despair

Rating Justification:

The deck sits between Optimized (T6-7 wins) and Focused Competitive (T5-6) tiers. While capable of explosive combo turns, it lacks: 1) Free interaction seen in 7.0+ decks 2) Redundant combo protection 3) cEDH-speed mana (only 3 fast mana sources)

Its aristocrat grind game surpasses 6.0 decks but can't reliably race true combo decks. Folds to early grave hate but recovers better than 5.5 decks.

Power level: 6.0 - 6.5