Overview:

This mono-black Tergrid deck focuses on forced discard and sacrifice to disrupt opponents while stealing their permanents via Tergrid's ability. The strategy leverages symmetrical effects like Smallpox, Rankle, Master of Pranks, and Braids, Cabal Minion alongside targeted discard (Pilfer, Distress) and sacrifice outlets (Priest of Forgotten Gods, Bone Splinters). Tergrid serves as the central engine, converting opponents' losses into your board presence. Secondary win conditions include incremental life drain (Zulaport Cutthroat, Bontu's Monument) and overwhelming stolen resources.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Disruption (Turns 1-3): Deploy mana rocks (Sol Ring, Charcoal Diamond) and cheap discard/sacrifice enablers (Burglar Rat, Virus Beetle, Village Rites). Prioritize casting Tergrid by turn 4-5 using ramp like Wayfarer's Bauble or Dark Ritual.
2. Symmetrical Pressure (Turns 4-6): Resolve asymmetrical payoffs like Waste Not or Dictate of Erebos. Cast symmetrical effects (Smallpox, Plaguecrafter, Rankle) while Tergrid is active to steal opponents' permanents. Use sacrifice fodder (Reassembling Skeleton, Doomed Dissenter) to mitigate your own losses.
3. Resource Amplification (Turns 6+): Deploy value engines like Black Market or Harvester of Souls. Leverage stolen permanents to overwhelm opponents. Close the game with life drain synergies (Zulaport Cutthroat + Phyrexian Altar) or large-scale discard (Mind Sludge).

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 2-3 lands and early plays (ramp, discard creature, or sacrifice outlet).
• Prioritize hands containing Tergrid + protection (Lightning Greaves, Malakir Rebirth) or a key payoff like Waste Not.
• Avoid hands lacking early interaction or reliant solely on high-CMC cards.

Key Tips:

• Protect Tergrid: Cast her only with protection (Lightning Greaves, Malakir Rebirth) or when you can immediately trigger her ability.
• Sequence Symmetry: Play symmetrical effects after Tergrid resolves to maximize theft. Use your own sacrifice fodder proactively.
• Leverage Graveyard: Utilize recursion (Raise Dead, Macabre Waltz) for key creatures like Priest of Forgotten Gods.
• Manage Resources: Reliquary Tower prevents hand size issues from mass discard. Orbs of Warding shields you from retaliation.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Graveyard hate (Rest in Peace, Leyline of the Void) shuts off Tergrid's recursion and theft ability.
• Commander removal cripples the deck's core engine due to high reliance on Tergrid.
• Board wipes devastate the stolen board presence and sacrifice fodder.

Moderate

• Anti-sacrifice effects (Tajuru Preserver, Sigarda, Host of Herons) nullify key disruption.
• Artifact/enchantment removal targets critical payoffs like Waste Not and Phyrexian Altar.
• Hand-size protection (Library of Leng, Wheel of Sun and Moon) reduces discard efficacy.

Minor

• Flying threats can bypass ground defenses if stolen flyers aren't acquired.
• Mana inefficiency due to high-CMC cards and limited ramp acceleration.

Most Important Cards:

• Waste Not (Converts discards into tokens, mana, and cards)
• Phyrexian Altar (Sacrifice outlet for mana, enables life-drain loops)
• Smallpox (Symmetrical disruption that fuels Tergrid)
• Dictate of Erebos (Amplifies sacrifice triggers, forces opponent losses)
• Rankle, Master of Pranks (Flexible symmetrical disruption on a stick)
• Pitiless Plunderer (Generates treasure from deaths, fuels combos)
• Braids, Cabal Minion (Forces repeated sacrifices)
• Diabolic Tutor (Finds critical combo pieces/payoffs)
• Sheoldred, Whispering One (Recursion engine and sacrifice pressure)
• Priest of Forgotten Gods (Sacrifice outlet, mana generation, and card draw)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 5/10

• Can deploy early disruption but typically wins via incremental value or combat around turns 8-10. Fast mana (Dark Ritual) enables occasional T5-6 explosive turns.

Resilience: 4/10

• Highly dependent on Tergrid staying on board; limited protection and slow recovery from wipes. Some recursion exists but lacks comprehensive answers to key weaknesses.

Consistency: 6/10

• Redundant discard/sacrifice effects provide functional redundancy. Tutors (Diabolic Tutor) and card draw (Read the Bones) find key pieces, but reliance on commander creates variance.

Interaction: 7/10

• Strong targeted removal (Soul Shatter, Plaguecrafter) and hand disruption. Lacks counterspells but leverages sacrifice-based board control effectively.

Rating Justification:

This deck executes a focused strategy with potent disruption and synergy, but its reliance on Tergrid and vulnerability to graveyard hate limit its speed and resilience. It consistently pressures opponents but wins later than optimized decks, placing it in the Focused Casual tier.

Power level: 4.5 - 5.0