I won't bother explaining the main combo of this deck, because it is pretty well covered anywhere else you look on the internet :) (Gifts Ungiven + Unburial Rites + big creatures) in one form or another is the main combo; however, this deck has thousands of ways of getting there, which is what pushes the difficulty of this deck up to the same levels of Splinter Twin and Pod (and perhaps with an even steeper learning curve).
In addition to the main combo win, there are what we call 'packages' that can attrition an opponent to death, and additionally there are plenty of ways to quickly transform into a Midrange deck for a fair fight.
Below, we'll discuss the individual cards and what makes this deck unique and powerful. I cannot hit on every single line, since there are so many unique board states even just within your own side of the red zone. I will try to hit on all of the main ones, however.
Enjoy!
INDIVIDUAL CARDS
[Removal] (can be tweaked to your meta... this one works for general tournament level)
Abrupt Decay x3 - Important removal that is great against a great deal of Modern decks
Path to Exile x4 - Almost requisite Modern removal when playing white. Should not need an explanation.
Maelstrom Pulse x1 - Since it's slower, we don't want too many of these. However, we do want something that is a universal answer (for the most part), and these can take of most threats.
[Creatures]
Birds of Paradise x3 - Mana fixing, acceleration, and something to play on turn 1 if necessary. The fact that these lovely birdies have flying is actually relevant, as later in the game they can chump some creatures that would otherwise eat away at too much of our life total (i.e., Lingering Souls or even Emrakul, the Aeons Torn)
Sylvan Caryatid x4 - Experienced Modern players may be scratching heads and asking 'Why?'. The ramping and color fixing is obvious. Hexproof, it has shown, is more important in this type of deck than the exalted trigger from Noble Hierarch. Yes, it is also one mana slower, but it doesn't die nearly as easily AND it fixes more colors. Additionally, it makes another card we'll talk about later work even better. Spoiler: it's
Worship
.
Qasali Pridemage or Voice of Resurgence x4 - Up for debate on which is better. Probably depends on the meta. Rounds out the twos, and can be searched up with Gifts for utility.
Knight of the Reliquary x4 - Besides Gifts, the meat of the deck. A huge creature by itself, this card can search up a Bojuka Bog for the Storm or Reanimator decks, it can fix mana, and it combos with Life from the Loam and about a million other cards in the deck. I don't have time to write all of the wonderful things this card does, but if you've ever played it in Legacy or Modern, you understand.
Elesh Noorn, Grand Cenobite + Wurmcoil Engine + Iona, Shield of Emeria or Ashen Rider x1 - Finishers with Unburial Rites and Gifts. Read other Gifts decks explanations for a full description. Too much to say here.
[Other Spells]
Lingering Souls, Raven's Crime + Life from the Loam - You can make your opponent discard infinitely (over many turns) with Crime + Loam. Lingering Souls is there for utility. These are standard in other Gifts decks.
Worship
- Protects from the weakest match-ups: burn, Affinity, and Pod. (Affinity and Pod aren't BAD match-ups per se, but game 1 can always be shaky). Worship is amazing, and it can be gotten via Gifts or Eternal Witness if it accidentally goes into your graveyard. Most of the time you'll be going through your deck so fast (the deck has relatively high velocity), that you'll see the card even though it's just a 1-of.
Beyond these individual choices, there are many hidden synergies between creatures, non-creatures, and Gifts. Gifts allows for this deck to simultaneously be a combo deck, a fair deck, and a control deck, which isn't something many decks can do. It is really good in the meta right now, because no one is playing it or siding against it. And even if they do, the deck is very competitive in any case, and the deck allows for a wide array of sideboarding.
Any questions or comments, please share!! :) Again, enjoy!
