Overview:

This Orzhov lifegain/drain deck helmed by Astarion, the Decadent focuses on converting life manipulation into opponent life loss through synergistic triggers and infinite combos. The strategy leverages vampire tribal elements, life-doubling effects, and recursive threats to execute one of Magic's most iconic combos (Exquisite Blood + Sanguine Bond/Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose) while using Astarion as a flexible finisher. The deck can win through gradual incremental drain, explosive X-spells like Debt to the Deathless, or instant table kills via combo assembly.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (Turns 1-4):
   • Deploy mana rocks (Sol Ring, Mana Vault, Crypt Ghast) and vampire enablers like Indulging Patrician
   • Establish card advantage engines: Necropotence, The One Ring, Phyrexian Arena
   • Tutor for combo pieces or key value cards with Demonic Tutor, Vampiric Tutor, Enlightened Tutor

2. Midgame Triggers (Turns 4-7):

   • Activate life engines: Exquisite Blood, Sanguine Bond, Vito
   • Amplify triggers with Roaming Throne (Vampire type) and Bloodletter of Aclazotz
   • Deploy finishers: Gray Merchant of Asphodel, Aetherflux Reservoir, or Bolas's Citadel

3. Win Conditions:

   • Infinite Combo: Pair Exquisite Blood with any "lifegain→opponent loss" effect for instant table kill
   • Mass Drain: Debt to the Deathless/Exsanguinate with Cabal Coffers mana
   • Commander Finish: Use Astarion's Feed ability after significant life loss turns

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with at least 3 lands (including WB sources)
• Prioritize early ramp (Sol Ring, Signets) or card engines (Necropotence, Black Market Connections)
• Value combo piece + tutor combinations highly
• Avoid hands lacking lifegain triggers or mana acceleration

Key Tips:

• Use Teferi's Protection to protect combo turns or survive board wipes
• Strionic Resonator doubles Astarion's end-step triggers for explosive life swings
• Blood Tribute becomes a game-ender with Bloodletter of Aclazotz in play
• Whip of Erebos reanimates key vampires while providing global lifelink

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Extreme vulnerability to enchantment removal (Exquisite Blood, Sanguine Bond, Necropotence are linchpins)
• Limited stack interaction against fast combo decks
• Heavy reliance on 4-6 mana enchantments with minimal protection

Moderate

• Life total management crucial (many pay-life effects with Necropotence, Bolas's Citadel)
• Board wipes disrupt vampire tribal synergies and lifelink attackers
• Graveyard recursion limited to specific cards (Celestine, the Living Saint, Whip of Erebos)

Minor

• High CMC density risks clunky draws without proper ramp
• Limited answers to artifact-based strategies
• Aetherflux Reservoir requires significant setup without combo

Most Important Cards:

• Exquisite Blood (Combo cornerstone)
• Sanguine Bond (Primary combo piece)
• Necropotence (Card advantage engine)
• Demonic Tutor (Combo assembler)
• Cabal Coffers (Mana amplification)
• Teferi's Protection (Combo turn protection)
• Aetherflux Reservoir (Alternate win condition)
• Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose (Combo redundancy)
• Gray Merchant of Asphodel (Mass life swing)
• Bolas's Citadel (Topdeck turbocharger)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 6/10

• Can consistently threaten T6-8 wins through tutors and combo assembly, but lacks fast mana beyond Mana Vault

Resilience: 5/10

• Multiple redundant combo pieces but critical enchantments remain vulnerable to removal. Limited protection beyond Teferi's Protection.

Consistency: 7/10

• Strong tutor suite and card draw engines ensure regular access to combo pieces, though high CMC can slow early game.

Interaction: 5/10

• Targeted removal for creatures/artifacts (Swords to Plowshares, Anguished Unmaking), but minimal counterspells and limited board wipes.

Rating Justification:

This deck demonstrates focused combo potential with T6-8 win capacity through its tutor-rich shell and iconic infinite combo, but its reliance on vulnerable enchantments and moderate interaction keeps it below cEDH thresholds. The balance between strong lifegain synergies and fragile win conditions aligns with high-powered casual play.

Power level: 5.5 - 6.0