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Average CMC
Cost
Salt Score
Overview:
A life gain/drain strategy centered around Elas il-Kor, Sadistic Pilgrim, utilizing Clerics and creature ETB/death triggers to generate incremental advantages while building toward multiple possible combo finishes.
Primer:
The deck operates on multiple synergistic layers, with Elas il-Kor, Sadistic Pilgrim serving as both an enabler and payoff for its life gain/drain strategy. The primary gameplan involves establishing multiple sources of life gain triggers through creatures entering the battlefield, then converting those triggers into opponent life loss through various means. Key pieces like Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose, Marauding Blight-Priest, and Enduring Tenacity amplify the life drain aspect.
The deck features several powerful loops and combinations, including sacrifice outlets like Yawgmoth, Thran Physician and Priest of Forgotten Gods that can be paired with recursion effects and death triggers. The Cleric tribal theme provides additional value through cost reduction (Edgewalker) and tribal synergies. The deck can win through either gradual attrition or explosive turns using Aetherflux Reservoir or mass life gain/drain combinations.
Weaknesses:
- Vulnerable to graveyard hate and Rest in Peace effects, which shut down many recursion loops
- Relies heavily on creature-based strategies, making it susceptible to board wipes
- Can struggle against combo decks that can win before the engine is fully established
- Limited interaction with non-creature permanents
Most Important Cards:
- Yawgmoth, Thran Physician
- Aetherflux Reservoir
- Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose
- The Meathook Massacre
- Smothering Tithe
- Edgewalker
- Righteous Valkyrie
- Blood Artist
- Skullclamp
- Mikaeus, the Unhallowed
Attribute Ratings:
- Speed: 6/10
- Resilience: 7/10
- Consistency: 7/10
- Interaction: 6/10
Rating Justification:
This deck sits firmly in the 6.5-7.0 range due to its ability to establish strong board positions by turn 5-6 and potentially win through various combinations shortly after. While it lacks the explosive fast mana of higher-powered decks, it makes up for it with consistent value generation and multiple paths to victory. The presence of efficient tutors, strong interaction pieces, and multiple combo lines puts it above casual builds, but it's not quite fast or consistent enough to compete with true cEDH decks.
Final power level rating: 6.5 - 7.0
The deck features strong optimization within its strategy but maintains a fair and interactive gameplay pattern that allows for counterplay. It's stronger than typical focused decks (6.0) due to its combo potential and resilience, but doesn't quite reach the consistency and speed of higher-powered competitive builds (7.5+).
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