Overview:

This Orzhov aristocrats deck helmed by Elas il-Kor, Sadistic Pilgrim focuses on incremental life drain through death triggers and token sacrifice synergies. The commander amplifies the deck's core strategy by providing consistent life swing effects while serving as a resilient deathtouch blocker. Key payoffs like Teysa Karlov (doubling death triggers) and Syr Konrad, the Grim create exponential value from creature deaths, supported by token generators like Jadar, Ghoulcaller of Nephalia and Ghoulish Procession. The deck employs stax elements (Grave Pact, Dictate of Erebos) to control opponents' boards while building toward critical mass of drain effects.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (Turns 1-4): Deploy token generators (Jadar, Ghoulcaller of Nephalia, Dalkovan Packbeasts) and death payoff permanents (Zulaport Cutthroat, Bastion of Remembrance). Use Sol Ring/Orzhov Signet to accelerate into key 4-drops.
2. Midgame Engine (Turns 4-6): Resolve payoff amplifiers like Teysa Karlov or Anointed Procession. Activate sacrifice outlets (Dreg Recycler, Legion Vanguard) to convert tokens into life drain. Use Buried Alive to stock graveyard for recursion.
3. Endgame (Turns 7+): Lock the board with Grave Pact effects while chaining recursive creatures (Reassembling Skeleton, Gravecrawler). Finish with Syr Konrad, the Grim activations or Thalisse, Reverent Medium token armies enhanced by Felidar Retreat.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with at least 1 token generator and 1 payoff card
• Prioritize early mana rocks (Sol Ring, Orzhov Signet)
• Ensure access to black mana for critical 3-4 CMC plays
• Avoid hands without creature generation or payoff engines

Key Tips:

• Use Pitiless Plunderer treasures to fuel Ghouls' Night Out or Tombstone Stairwell
• Pair Anointed Procession with Ghoulish Procession for quadruple zombie generation
• Sacrifice decayed tokens during combat for free triggers before they self-sacrifice
• Use Diabolic Intent to tutor missing combo pieces during critical turns

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Extremely vulnerable to Rest in Peace/Leyline of the Void shutting off recursion and death triggers
• Torpor Orb/Hushbringer nullifies 80% of the deck's value engines
• Struggles to recover from early board wipes before establishing recursion

Moderate

• Massacre Wurm punishes token strategies severely
• Lacks instant-speed interaction for non-creature threats
• Rule of Law effects hinder ability to chain multiple sac triggers

Minor

• Limited card advantage without established board presence
• Weak to flyers if Windborn Muse isn't active
• High dependency on 3-4 CMC enchantments vulnerable to removal

Most Important Cards:

• Teysa Karlov (Doubles all death triggers)
• Grave Pact (Asymmetric board control)
• Pitiless Plunderer (Mana generation and sac synergy)
• Anointed Procession (Token multiplier)
• Syr Konrad, the Grim (Alternate win condition)
• Buried Alive (Graveyard setup)
• Diabolic Intent (Premium tutor)
• Felidar Retreat (Scaling token/counter value)
• Tombstone Stairwell (Mass token generation)
• Butcher of Malakir (Redundant Grave Pact effect)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 5/10

• Can establish lethal drain by T8-9 through incremental triggers, lacks explosive combos

Resilience: 6/10

• Multiple recursive creatures and token generators provide recovery options, but core enchantments lack protection

Consistency: 7/10

• Strong density of redundant effects (14 drain payoffs, 9 token generators), though limited tutors

Interaction: 4/10

• Relies on forced sacrifice and stax rather than targeted removal, weak to non-creature strategies

Rating Justification:

This deck demonstrates focused casual play patterns with T8-10 win potential through combat/drain, but lacks the speed (no fast combos) and interaction density of optimized builds. Its resilience through token generation and recursion elevates it above precon level, while mana constraints and vulnerability to common hate keep it below high-power tiers.

Power level: 4.5 - 5.0