Overview:

This Mardu (R/W/B) deck helmed by Celes, Rune Knight focuses on recursive creature synergies and aristocrat-style combos. The strategy revolves around recurring creatures from the graveyard (via reanimation, persist mechanics, and recursion spells) to trigger Celes' +1/+1 counter distribution, enabling both aggressive board states and infinite loops. The deck leverages low-CMC persist creatures like Putrid Goblin and Murderous Redcap paired with sacrifice outlets (Phyrexian Altar, Goblin Bombardment) and payoff engines (Zulaport Cutthroat, Blood Artist) to create game-ending loops. Celes serves as both a card advantage engine and a counter distributor, making her critical to amplifying the deck's threats.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (Turns 1-3):
   • Deploy mana rocks (Sol Ring, Arcane Signet) or tutors (Entomb, Buried Alive) to set up graveyard recursion.
   • Cast low-CMC value engines like Esper Sentinel or Smothering Tithe.
   • Use Dark Ritual or Culling the Weak for explosive early plays like T2 Celes.

2. Graveyard Synergy (Turns 3-5):

   • Reanimate key creatures (e.g., Murderous Redcap via Animate Dead) or self-mill with Altar of Dementia.
   • Loop persist creatures with +1/+1 counters from Celes to negate -1/-1 counters, enabling infinite death/sacrifice triggers.

3. Combo Execution (Turns 4-6):

   • Assemble Persist Creature + Sac Outlet + Payoff:
     • Example: Putrid Goblin + Phyrexian Altar + Zulaport Cutthroat = infinite life drain.
   • Use Buried Alive/Victimize to tutor combo pieces into the graveyard for reanimation.

4. Alternative Lines:

   • Overwhelm with buffed creatures using Celes' counters and finishers like Valgavoth, Harrower of Souls.
   • Steal opponents' threats with Puppeteer Clique.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 2-3 lands, preferably including a fetch or dual land.
• Prioritize early ramp (e.g., Sol Ring), a reanimation spell, or a tutor.
• Ensure access to black mana for critical early plays.

Key Tips:

• Use Teferi's Protection or Grand Abolisher to protect combo turns.
• Viscera Seer scry triggers help dig for missing combo pieces.
• Wheel of Fortune refuels your hand while disrupting opponents.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Graveyard hate (Rest in Peace, Leyline of the Void) shuts down recursion and combo lines.
• Celes dependency: Removing Celes repeatedly disrupts +1/+1 counter synergy.

Moderate

• Artifact/enchantment removal targets key pieces like Phyrexian Altar or Smothering Tithe.
• Board wipes reset creature-based synergies, though the deck can rebuild with recursion.

Minor

• Limited stack interaction outside of Pyroblast and Deflecting Swat.
• Life loss from Phyrexian Arena/Black Market Connections adds up in prolonged games.

Most Important Cards:

• Putrid Goblin (Core persist combo enabler)
• Phyrexian Altar (Infinite mana/sac outlet)
• Zulaport Cutthroat (Primary combo payoff)
• Buried Alive (Tutors combo pieces to graveyard)
• Animate Dead (Key reanimation spell)
• Teferi's Protection (Combo turn protection)
• Grand Abolisher (Prevents disruption during critical turns)
• Dark Ritual (Enables explosive early plays)
• Blood Artist (Redundant life-drain payoff)
• Murderous Redcap (Alternate persist combo piece)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 7/10

• Can assemble infinite combos as early as Turn 4-5 with optimal hands (e.g., T1 Ritual into Celes, T2 Buried Alive + Reanimate).

Resilience: 5/10

• Graveyard reliance makes it fragile to hate, but protection spells and redundant combo pieces provide some recovery.

Consistency: 8/10

• 10+ tutors and ample card draw (Celes, Wheel of Fortune, Grim Tutor) ensure reliable access to key components.

Interaction: 5/10

• Targeted removal (Swords to Plowshares, Anguished Unmaking) and limited counterspells offer moderate disruption but lack breadth.

Rating Justification:

This deck operates at a 6.5 - 7.0 power level, capable of threatening T4-5 wins with efficient combos but held back by graveyard vulnerability. Its tutor density and explosive potential align with optimized casual tiers, while its reliance on creature recursion keeps it below cEDH viability.

Power level: 6.5 - 7.0