Overview:

This is an Esper tokens deck that combines token generation with aristocrats-style payoffs, using Marneus Calgar's card draw ability to maintain resources while creating an engine of death triggers and token production.

Primer:

The deck operates on multiple synergistic layers, with Marneus Calgar serving as both a card advantage engine and token producer. The primary gameplan involves establishing token generators alongside death trigger payoffs like Cruel Celebrant, Zulaport Cutthroat, and Teysa Karlov. The deck can create substantial board presence through tokens while simultaneously setting up damage-dealing engines through aristocrats effects.

The deck's strength lies in its ability to recover from board wipes and maintain constant pressure through recursive token generation. Key pieces like Divine Visitation can upgrade the token quality, while Smothering Tithe, Skullclamp, and the commander's ability ensure a steady flow of resources. The deck can win through either combat damage with an overwhelming token army or through death trigger damage accumulation.

Weaknesses:

The deck is vulnerable to graveyard hate and cards that prevent death triggers like Rest in Peace. It can struggle against faster combo decks due to its relatively fair gameplan and limited interaction suite. The mana base, while functional, could be more optimized with additional fetch lands and shock lands to improve consistency.

Most Important Cards:

1. Smothering Tithe
2. Divine Visitation
3. Skullclamp
4. Ashnod's Altar
5. Teysa Karlov
6. Cruel Celebrant
7. Pitiless Plunderer
8. Elspeth, Sun's Champion
9. Zulaport Cutthroat
10. Swords to Plowshares

Attribute Ratings:

• Speed: 5/10
• Resilience: 7/10
• Consistency: 6/10
• Interaction: 5/10

Rating Justification:

This deck sits comfortably in the 6.0-6.5 range due to its ability to establish a strong board presence and maintain it through disruption. While it lacks the explosive speed of higher-powered decks, it makes up for it with strong resilience and multiple paths to victory. The deck's interaction suite and mana base prevent it from reaching higher power levels, but its synergistic gameplay and ability to recover from setbacks put it above casual builds.

Final power level rating: 6.0 - 6.5

The deck demonstrates focused gameplay with clear win conditions and good synergy, but lacks the fast mana and heavy optimization that would push it into the 7+ range. It's stronger than typical casual decks due to its resilience and ability to maintain card advantage, but doesn't quite reach the speed and consistency of highly optimized builds.