Whatever it takes by user1732961

Format: Commander

Commander: Teysa Karlov

Bracket: 3

DeckCheck Threat Index: 43

Deck overview

This deck is a dedicated Orzhov Aristocrats build led by Teysa Karlov. The primary strategy focuses on assembling a three-part engine: recurring sacrifice fodder, free sacrifice outlets, and life-draining payoffs. Teysa Karlov doubles every death trigger from your permanents, turning modest incremental drain into rapid life swings and doubling token generation from cards like Requiem Angel and Elenda, the Dusk Rose. The deck controls creature-heavy boards using asymmetric edict effects like Dictate of Erebos and strips opponent options with Sadistic Hypnotist and Mind Slash. It can close games through sustained combat and doubled life loss by Turn 8, or assemble a three-card infinite death loop with Ashnod's Altar, Pitiless Plunderer, and Reassembling Skeleton. While resilient against standard destruction and spot removal due to instant-speed sacrifice options, the deck is vulnerable to exile-based board wipes and dedicated graveyard hate.

Decklist (100 cards)

  • 1 Agent of the Iron Throne
  • 1 Arcane Signet
  • 1 Arnyn, Deathbloom Botanist
  • 1 Ashnod's Altar
  • 1 Ayli, Eternal Pilgrim
  • 1 Bastion of Remembrance
  • 1 Blood Artist
  • 1 Bloodsoaked Champion
  • 1 Body Count
  • 1 Braids, Arisen Nightmare
  • 1 Braids, Cabal Minion
  • 1 Brood of Cockroaches
  • 1 Buried Alive
  • 1 Cordial Vampire
  • 1 Cruel Celebrant
  • 1 Damn
  • 1 Deadly Dispute
  • 1 Diabolic Tutor
  • 1 Dictate of Erebos
  • 1 Dreadhorde Invasion
  • 1 Elas il-Kor, Sadistic Pilgrim
  • 1 Elenda, the Dusk Rose
  • 1 Field of Souls
  • 1 Funeral Room // Awakening Hall
  • 1 Hallowed Spiritkeeper
  • 1 Inkshield
  • 1 Insatiable Avarice
  • 1 Jadar, Ghoulcaller of Nephalia
  • 1 Martyr's Cause
  • 1 Midnight Reaper
  • 1 Mind Slash
  • 1 Morbid Opportunist
  • 1 Nasty End
  • 1 Open the Graves
  • 1 Ophiomancer
  • 1 Path to Exile
  • 1 Pitiless Plunderer
  • 1 Plaguecrafter
  • 11 Plains
  • 1 Priest of Forgotten Gods
  • 1 Rabid Attack
  • 1 Reassembling Skeleton
  • 1 Requiem Angel
  • 1 Revel in Riches
  • 1 Sadistic Hypnotist
  • 1 Sanguine Spy
  • 1 Shadowy Backstreet
  • 1 Shattered Sanctum
  • 1 Skullclamp
  • 1 Smothering Abomination
  • 1 Sol Ring
  • 1 Stir Up Trouble
  • 23 Swamp
  • 1 Syr Konrad, the Grim
  • 1 Szat's Will
  • 1 Tenacious Dead
  • 1 Tenacious Underdog
  • 1 Teysa Karlov
  • 1 Teysa, Orzhov Scion
  • 1 The Meathook Massacre
  • 1 Thought Vessel
  • 1 Vampiric Rites
  • 1 Vanquish the Horde
  • 1 Vengeful Bloodwitch
  • 1 Village Rites
  • 1 Vraan, Executioner Thane
  • 1 Xu-Ifit, Osteoharmonist
  • 1 Zulaport Cutthroat