Overview:

This Orzhov deck leverages Eriette of the Charmed Apple as a central engine for a disruptive Aura-based strategy. The primary plan involves enchanting opponents' creatures with detrimental Auras (e.g., Darksteel Mutation, Reprobation, Stab Wound) to neutralize threats while triggering Eriette's life-drain ability. Secondary win conditions include goading creatures with cards like Parasitic Impetus, generating value from enchantress effects (Kor Spiritdancer, Mesa Enchantress), and amplifying life loss via Sheoldred, the Apocalypse/Archfiend of Despair. Eriette is critical for enabling the life-drain payoff and attack prevention, but her 3 CMC and vulnerability to removal make recasting costly.

Primer:

Core Strategy Execution:

1. Early Setup (Turns 1-3): Deploy mana rocks (Sol Ring, Arcane Signet), stax pieces (Thalia, Heretic Cathar, Ghostly Prison), or cheap Auras like Clawing Torment/Vampiric Link on opponents' threats. Prioritize casting Eriette by turn 3-4.
2. Disrupt & Drain (Turns 4-6): Attach debilitating Auras (Reprobation, Stab Wound, Contaminated Bond) to opponents' creatures. Use recursion (Auramancer, Retether) to reuse key Auras. Activate Eriette's life-drain each turn while protecting her with Lightning Greaves or Mithril Coat.
3. Win Condition Execution (Turns 7+):
   • Life Drain: Amplify Eriette's triggers with Bloodletter of Aclazotz or Archfiend of Despair. Pair with forced draw (Fate Unraveler) or global damage.
   • Combat: Buff your creatures with All That Glitters/Ethereal Armor or create Angel tokens via Sigil of the Empty Throne. Use goad (Martial Impetus) to force opponents into combat.
   • Control Lock: Combine No Mercy/Crawlspace with life-gain from Spirit Link to stall indefinitely.

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 2-3 lands (including color-fixing like Command Tower), early ramp (Sol Ring, Talisman of Hierarchy), and at least one early interaction piece (Aura, removal, or stax).
• Prioritize hands containing Eriette or a tutor (e.g., Pointed Discussion to find key cards).
• Avoid hands lacking early plays or reliant solely on high-CMC cards like Archfiend of Despair.

Key Tips:

• Protect Eriette: Equip Swiftfoot Boots or Mithril Coat immediately. Use Imp's Mischief to redirect removal.
• Maximize Aura Value: Attach "draw on death" Auras (Hateful Eidolon, Unholy Indenture) to opponents' creatures for card advantage.
• Exploit Recursion: Lurrus of the Dream-Den enables casting key Auras/artifacts from the graveyard. Resurgent Belief provides mass reanimation.
• Stall Aggro: Use Pariah on an indestructible creature (e.g., enchanted with Gift of Immortality) to redirect damage.

Weaknesses:

Critical

• Enchantment Removal: Mass enchantment wipes (Farewell) cripple the deck's engine and win conditions.
• Commander Reliance: Repeated removal of Eriette stalls the life-drain plan and attack prevention.
• Graveyard Hate: Rest in Peace shuts down recursion from Lurrus, Auramancer, and Retether.

Moderate

• Artifact/Enchantment Stax: Stony Silence or Collector Ouphe disables mana rocks and equipment protection.
• Fast Aggro: Swarms of low-CMC creatures can bypass Crawlspace/Ghostly Prison before Auras stabilize the board.
• Combo Decks: Limited stack interaction (only Imp's Mischief, Go for the Throat) struggles against non-creature win conditions.

Minor

• Card Draw Reliance: Life-loss from Phyrexian Arena/Lord Skitter's Blessing adds up in long games.
• Mana Base: Several tapped lands (e.g., Scoured Barrens, Myriad Landscape) slow early tempo.

Most Important Cards:

• Eriette of the Charmed Apple (Core engine: life drain & attack prevention)
• Kor Spiritdancer (Primary card draw engine)
• Retether (Mass Aura recursion)
• Sigil of the Empty Throne (Win condition via token generation)
• Sheoldred, the Apocalypse (Life-drain amplifier)
• No Mercy (Creature-based combo deterrent)
• Archfiend of Despair (Life-loss finisher)
• Lurrus of the Dream-Den (Recursion for low-CMC permanents)
• Mithril Coat (Commander protection)
• All That Glitters (Primary combat buff)

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 4/10

• Wins typically occur around turns 8-10 via gradual life drain or combat. No fast combos; reliant on incremental value and board control.

Resilience: 5/10

• Moderate recursion/protection exists, but heavy reliance on Eriette and enchantments makes the deck vulnerable to targeted hate and wipes.

Consistency: 6/10

• Multiple enchantress effects (Sram, Senior Edificer, Mesa Enchantress) and card-draw engines provide steady access to pieces, but lacks efficient tutors for specific answers.

Interaction: 7/10

• Strong targeted removal (Swords to Plowshares, Vindicate), stax (Thalia, Heretic Cathar), and Aura-based disruption. Limited stack interaction outside Imp's Mischief.

Rating Justification:

The deck executes a focused casual strategy with clear synergies and disruptive elements, aiming for T8-10 wins through combat or life-drain. Its speed is constrained by incremental damage and setup requirements, while resilience is hampered by commander/enchantment dependency. This aligns with the "Focused Casual" tier (4.5) but lacks the speed for higher optimization.

Power level: 4.0 - 4.5