Deck Name: Clerical Requiem (Clerics Black & White v2)

Format: Legacy
Deck Type: Tribal-Control
Deck Theme: Lifegain & Attrition via Clerics
Colors: White-Black (Orzhov)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Description

“Clerical Requiem” is a Legacy tribal-control deck that thrives on resilience, lifegain synergies, and relentless recursion. Anchored in the power of Clerics, this Orzhov creation builds incremental value through Soul Sisters-style triggers and turns them into pressure with sacrifice outlets and token generation.

The deck leverages an army of lifegain-focused Clerics (Soul Warden, Suture Priest, Cleric of Life's Bond) to stabilize the board, while Ayli, Eternal Pilgrim and Cabal Archon convert that life into removal or direct damage. Meanwhile, Edgewalker reduces costs, and Rotlung Reanimator transforms fallen Clerics into an undead army.

With recursion tools like Reveillark, Order of Whiteclay, and Cleric Class, your Clerics never stay dead. The deck doesn’t win through explosiveness, but through inevitability — like a sacred hymn that turns into a funeral dirge.

This is not just a cleric deck — it’s a divine war of attrition, sanctified through blood.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
How to Play

Early Game:
Deploy Soul Warden and Suture Priest to start gaining life.
Use Ayli or Fiend Hunter to stabilize the board.
If available, play Edgewalker to cheat on mana and curve.

Mid-Game:
Play multiple Clerics to multiply lifegain triggers.
Use Ayli and Cabal Archon to drain life or remove key threats.
Establish Rotlung Reanimator and begin building pressure through tokens.

Late Game:
Recur key creatures using Reveillark, Order of Whiteclay, or Cleric Class (Level 3).
Buff your board with Archangel of Thune.
Finish off opponents through overwhelming value, drain loops, or attrition.

Ideal Opening Hand:
Includes 2 lands (one white), a Soul Sister, and a sacrifice outlet (Ayli/Cabal Archon).
Interaction (Fiend Hunter, Path, or Vindicate) is a plus.

Avoid hands without mana or early drops — mulligan if necessary.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
How the Tribal Strategy Works

Clerics in this deck aren't just a creature type — they're a collective engine.
Every creature fuels lifegain. Every death fuels recursion. Every loop builds inevitability.
Unlike explosive tribal decks (e.g., Elves, Slivers), Clerics operate through cumulative advantage, controlling the pace until opponents crumble under constant life swings, board rebuilds, and grindy inevitability.
Edgewalker provides cost reduction, Ayli and Cabal Archon turn life into power, and Rotlung ensures that even your losses lead to wins.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sideboard Strategy

Against Aggro / Burn:
2 Leyline of Sanctity, 1 Auriok Champion, 1 Settle the Wreckage
– 2 Fiend Hunter, 1 Cleric Class, 1 Rotlung Reanimator

Against Control / Combo:
2 Duress, 2 Pithing Needle, 2 Leyline of Sanctity
– 1 Reveillark, 1 Rotlung Reanimator, 1 Archangel of Thune, 1 Selfless Spirit, 1 Profane Prayers, 1 Soul Warden

Against Graveyard Strategies:
2 Rest in Peace, 1 Farewell, 1 Sanctifier en-Vec
– 1 Reveillark, 1 Order of Whiteclay, 1 Rotlung Reanimator, 1 Fiend Hunter

Against Enchantments / Artifacts / Planeswalkers:
2 Disenchant, 2 Pithing Needle
– 2 Cleric Class, 1 Shadowspear, 1 Selfless Spirit

Multiplayer:
Focus on lifegain engines, drain pieces, and recurring Clerics.
Side out narrow interaction and lean into value (e.g., Reveillark, Archangel, Cleric Class Level 3).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Skill Level and Playability

“Clerical Requiem” is ideal for players who enjoy synergy-based decks with layered engines.
It rewards timing, board evaluation, and long-game thinking.

Difficulty Level: Intermediate
Playstyle: Attrition-based tribal with lifegain recursion
Best For: Multiplayer and 1v1 Legacy casual/competitive pods

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Competitive Profile and Ratings

Power Level: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5)
Able to dominate attrition matchups and stabilize early threats.

Tribal vs Mechanic-Based Ratio: 80% Tribal (Clerics) / 20% Utility Engines
Flavor and function align through Cleric synergy and key support pieces.

Speed: ⭐⭐☆☆☆ (2/5)
Early survivability is strong, but the win takes time.

Resilience: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5)
High thanks to recursion and lifegain loops.

Best Format Fit:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Legacy High-Power Casual (1v1 or Multiplayer)
⭐⭐⭐☆☆ Competitive Legacy (non-optimized tournaments)

Complexity: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ (3/5)
Moderate sequencing decisions, mostly synergistic patterns.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Play Like a Pro – 5 Tips for Mastering the Deck

Don’t overextend into board wipes. Keep Reveillark or recursion in hand.

Use Ayli as a pressure valve — she's both removal and win condition.

Time Cleric Class Level 3 for recursion chains or surprise threats.

Count your Clerics: every one is a trigger for Rotlung, Ayli, and your win.

Treat your life total as a resource. You’re not just surviving — you’re building power.

Bonus Tip: Let your opponent fear your graveyard more than your hand.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Quote:
“Their faith gives them strength. Our faith gives us eternity.”

Last Update: 14/7/2025