Overview:

This mono-black deck helmed by Zenos yae Galvus // Shinryu, Transcendent Rival combines board control with lifedrain synergies and alternate win conditions. The primary strategy leverages Zenos' board-shrinking ETB effect to enable creature-based removal while setting up Shinryu's "Burning Chains" victory trigger. Secondary win conditions include infinite lifedrain loops (Exquisite Blood + Sanguine Bond/Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose), Aetherflux Reservoir nukes, and Vorpal Sword instakills. The deck employs heavy mana amplification (Cabal Coffers, Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx, Bubbling Muck) to fuel game-ending X-spells like Exsanguinate and Peer into the Abyss.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (T1-4): Deploy mana accelerants (Jet Medallion, Charcoal Diamond, Dark Ritual) and value engines (Necropotence, The Darkness Crystal). Use Zenos' ETB to suppress wide boards while preserving a key enemy creature for eventual transformation.
2. Midgame Control (T5-7): Activate Cabal Coffers/Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx with Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth to power out win enablers. Deploy Exquisite Blood or Bloodletter of Aclazotz alongside lifedrain payoffs. Tutor for missing combo pieces with Demonic Tutor/Vampiric Tutor.
3. Win Execution:
   • Combo: Pair Exquisite Blood with any lifegain-to-damage effect (Sanguine Bond, Vito) for infinite loop
   • Direct Damage: Activate Aetherflux Reservoir after casting multiple spells in a turn
   • Commander Win: Eliminate Shinryu's marked player through targeted lifedrain (Sheoldred, the Apocalypse, Underworld Dreams)
   • Overkill: Vorpal Sword activation on an unblocked creature (enabled by Rogue's Passage/Shizo, Death's Storehouse)

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 3+ lands including Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth/Cabal Coffers
• Prioritize early mana rocks or Necropotence
• Ensure at least one piece of interaction (Deadly Rollick, Toxic Deluge)
• Reject hands without black mana sources or excessive high-CMC spells

Key Tips:

• Use The Darkness Crystal's recursion on key creatures like Opposition Agent or Sheoldred
• Bolas's Citadel pairs explosively with Sensei's Divining Top for free spell chains
• Time Pestilence/Last Laugh activations with lifegain triggers to offset damage
• K'rrik, Son of Yawgmoth enables explosive turns but requires careful life management

Weaknesses:

Critical

• No graveyard recursion beyond The Darkness Crystal makes key combo pieces vulnerable to exile
• Heavy reliance on 4-5 key enchantments (Exquisite Blood/Sanguine Bond/Necropotence) with limited protection

Moderate

• Weak to Rest in Peace/Leyline of the Void shutting off The Darkness Crystal
• Torpor Orb nullifies Zenos' ETB and most lifedrain creature triggers

Minor

• Limited answers to resolved planeswalkers
• Blood Moon effects disrupt mana base optimization

Most Important Cards:

• Exquisite Blood (Primary combo piece)
• Cabal Coffers (Mana amplification core)
• Necropotence (Card advantage engine)
• Aetherflux Reservoir (Alternate win condition)
• The Darkness Crystal (Recursion engine/ramp)
• Demonic Tutor (Tutor flexibility)
• Vorpal Sword (Commander-agnostic win)
• Sheoldred, the Apocalypse (Passive lifedrain)
• Peer into the Abyss (Game-ending draw)
• Bolas's Citadel (Free spell enabler)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 6/10

• Can threaten T5-7 wins with ideal draws (Exquisite Blood combo, massive Exsanguinate) but lacks T1-4 fast mana beyond Dark Ritual

Resilience: 5/10

• Multiple win conditions but critical enchantments lack hexproof/shroud protection

Consistency: 7/10

• 8 tutors and strong card selection (Necropotence, Top) ensure combo piece access

Interaction: 6/10

• 15 targeted removal spells but limited stack interaction beyond Imp's Mischief

Rating Justification:

This deck demonstrates focused combo potential with T5-7 win capability through redundant lifedrain engines and tutor density, but its vulnerability to enchantment removal and lack of free counterspells prevent higher optimization. The balance between speed and fragility aligns with high-power casual tiers.

Power level: 6.0 - 6.5