Standard 2026

A black-based Rakdos-style graveyard/aristocrats midrange deck with a strong lifegain subtheme. It uses cheap creatures and aura removal like Dead Weight and Mire’s Grasp to control the board while generating value with Hateful Eidolon, Blood Artist, and Serrated Scorpion.

The deck wants to recur threats repeatedly with Lurrus of the Dream-Den, Call of the Death-Dweller, Malakir Rebirth, and Takenuma, turning the graveyard into an extension of its hand. Key synergies include reanimating Archfiend’s Vessel for a huge demon, draining the opponent with Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose plus lifelink creatures like Gifted Aetherborn and Vampire Nighthawk, and grinding opponents out through death triggers and recursive pressure from Tenacious Underdog.

It typically wins by attrition: chipping in with evasive/lifelink attackers, draining life through Blood Artist/Vito, and overwhelming the opponent with repeated recursion and value.