Karlov - creatures by user2758384

Format: Commander

Commander: Karlov of the Ghost Council

Bracket: 3

DeckCheck Threat Index: 36

Deck overview

This deck is an Orzhov lifegain and attrition strategy commanded by Karlov of the Ghost Council. The primary plan leverages low-cost soul sisters and extort permanents like Soul Warden, Soul's Attendant, and Authority of the Consuls to rapidly place +1/+1 counters on Karlov. This quickly transforms the commander into a massive combat threat while providing on-demand creature exile to clear away blockers. Mid-to-late game transitions incorporate life-drain amplifiers such as Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose, Sanguine Bond, and Enduring Tenacity, as well as big mana mana-sinks like Exsanguinate and Debt to the Deathless fueled by Crypt Ghast and Cabal Coffers. The deck excels at dominating creature-based combat and disrupting opposing boards through versatile permanent exile. However, the lack of countermagic and dedicated protection leaves Karlov vulnerable to spot removal, and the absence of generic tutors means it relies on functional redundancy and natural draws to find late-game finishers.

Decklist (100 cards)

  • 1 Anguished Unmaking
  • 1 Arcane Signet
  • 1 Authority of the Consuls
  • 1 Basilica Guards
  • 1 Bastion of Remembrance
  • 1 Black Market
  • 1 Black Market Connections
  • 1 Blind Obedience
  • 1 Bojuka Bog
  • 1 Cabal Coffers
  • 1 Cabal Stronghold
  • 1 Castle Locthwain
  • 1 Caves of Koilos
  • 1 Cliffhaven Vampire
  • 1 Command Tower
  • 1 Creeping Bloodsucker
  • 1 Crypt Ghast
  • 1 Damnation
  • 1 Dauthi Voidwalker
  • 1 Dawn of Hope
  • 1 Debt to the Deathless
  • 1 Despark
  • 1 Dreadhorde Invasion
  • 1 Eiganjo, Seat of the Empire
  • 1 Elas il-Kor, Sadistic Pilgrim
  • 1 Enduring Tenacity
  • 1 Exsanguinate
  • 1 Farewell
  • 1 Fellwar Stone
  • 1 Fetid Heath
  • 1 Flawless Maneuver
  • 1 Generous Gift
  • 1 Godless Shrine
  • 1 Gray Merchant of Asphodel
  • 1 Greed
  • 1 High Market
  • 1 Infernal Grasp
  • 1 Isolated Chapel
  • 1 Kambal, Consul of Allocation
  • 1 Karlov of the Ghost Council
  • 1 Kingpin's Pet
  • 1 Knight of Obligation
  • 1 Marauding Blight-Priest
  • 1 Marsh Flats
  • 1 Mind Stone
  • 1 Morbid Opportunist
  • 1 Mortify
  • 1 Night's Whisper
  • 1 Nirkana Revenant
  • 1 Ophiomancer
  • 1 Orzhov Basilica
  • 1 Orzhov Signet
  • 1 Path to Exile
  • 1 Phyrexian Tower
  • 8 Plains
  • 1 Pontiff of Blight
  • 1 Pristine Talisman
  • 1 Reanimate
  • 1 Reassembling Skeleton
  • 1 Revenge of Ravens
  • 1 Sanguine Bond
  • 1 Scoured Barrens
  • 1 Shattered Sanctum
  • 1 Skrelv's Hive
  • 1 Skullclamp
  • 1 Sol Ring
  • 1 Soul Warden
  • 1 Soul's Attendant
  • 1 Stroke of Midnight
  • 1 Suture Priest
  • 8 Swamp
  • 1 Swords to Plowshares
  • 1 Syndic of Tithes
  • 1 Tainted Field
  • 1 Takenuma, Abandoned Mire
  • 1 Talisman of Hierarchy
  • 1 Thought Vessel
  • 1 Thrull Parasite
  • 1 Tithe Drinker
  • 1 Toxic Deluge
  • 1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
  • 1 Vault of Champions
  • 1 Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose
  • 1 Vizkopa Guildmage
  • 1 Voice of the Blessed
  • 1 Well of Lost Dreams