Karlov of the Ghost Council by Treasures

Format: Commander

Commander: Karlov of the Ghost Council

Bracket: 3

DeckCheck Threat Index: 35

Deck overview

This deck is a classic Orzhov lifegain Voltron strategy commanded by Karlov of the Ghost Council. The primary plan curves Karlov out on Turn 2, followed immediately by dense, low-mana lifegain triggers from soul sisters, extort permanents, and artifacts. Each instance of lifegain places two +1/+1 counters on Karlov, rapidly ballooning his stats into a massive threat that can exile opposing creatures for {W}{B} and six counters. The deck shields Karlov using a robust suite of targeted protection instants like Blacksmith's Skill and Brave the Elements, while leveraging equipment for haste and evasion. While highly effective at dominating creature combat and eliminating players via commander damage, the deck closes the game sequentially across multiple turns, giving surviving opponents several response cycles to find sweepers or combo finishes.

Decklist (100 cards)

  • 1 Abiding Grace
  • 1 Alseid of Life's Bounty
  • 1 Amalia Benavides Aguirre
  • 1 Angel's Feather
  • 1 Angelic Intervention
  • 1 Anguished Unmaking
  • 1 Arcane Signet
  • 1 Arguel's Blood Fast // Temple of Aclazotz
  • 1 Ashes of the Abhorrent
  • 1 Aunt May
  • 1 Auspicious Ancestor
  • 1 Ayli, Eternal Pilgrim
  • 1 Basilica Screecher
  • 1 Blacksmith's Skill
  • 1 Bloodthirsty Aerialist
  • 1 Bojuka Bog
  • 1 Brave the Elements
  • 1 Case of the Uneaten Feast
  • 1 Caves of Koilos
  • 1 Command Tower
  • 1 Concealed Courtyard
  • 1 Damn
  • 1 Dawn of Hope
  • 1 Daxos, Blessed by the Sun
  • 1 Desolate Mire
  • 1 Distinguished Conjurer
  • 1 Drana's Emissary
  • 1 Eight-and-a-Half-Tails
  • 1 Emerge Unscathed
  • 1 Essence Channeler
  • 1 Felisa, Fang of Silverquill
  • 1 Fellwar Stone
  • 1 Fetid Heath
  • 1 Glasswing Grace // Age-Graced Chapel
  • 1 Godless Shrine
  • 1 Greed
  • 1 Hinterland Sanctifier
  • 1 Hopeful Initiate
  • 1 Impassioned Orator
  • 1 Isolated Chapel
  • 1 Karlov of the Ghost Council
  • 1 Lifecreed Duo
  • 1 Light of Promise
  • 1 Lightning Greaves
  • 1 Lunar Convocation
  • 1 Lunarch Veteran // Luminous Phantom
  • 1 Mangara, the Diplomat
  • 1 Marauding Blight-Priest
  • 1 Mind Stone
  • 1 Moseo, Vein's New Dean
  • 1 Necrologia
  • 1 Orzhov Signet
  • 1 Orzhova, the Church of Deals
  • 1 Path to Exile
  • 20 Plains
  • 1 Pristine Talisman
  • 1 Restoration Magic
  • 1 Retribution of the Ancients
  • 1 Rogue's Passage
  • 1 Scheming Silvertongue // Sign in Blood
  • 1 Sevinne's Reclamation
  • 1 Shelter
  • 1 Shineshadow Snarl
  • 1 Sol Ring
  • 1 Sorin, Vengeful Bloodlord
  • 1 Speaker of the Heavens
  • 1 Starscape Cleric
  • 1 Stroke of Midnight
  • 1 Sunscorch Regent
  • 1 Swamp
  • 1 Swiftfoot Boots
  • 1 Swords to Plowshares
  • 1 Tainted Field
  • 1 Talisman of Hierarchy
  • 1 Temple of Silence
  • 1 Thought Vessel
  • 1 Thrull Parasite
  • 1 Tithe Drinker
  • 1 Vault of the Archangel
  • 1 Veinwitch Coven
  • 1 Vizkopa Guildmage