Esper Spellcraft Lifedrain by HawthornVine

Format: Commander

Commander: Y'shtola, Night's Blessed

Bracket: 3

DeckCheck Threat Index: 37

Deck overview

This deck is an Esper spellslinger and control deck led by Y'shtola, Night's Blessed. The strategy focuses on casting noncreature spells with mana value 3 or greater to trigger Y'shtola's ability, dealing 2 damage to each opponent and gaining 2 life. Because this deals 6 total damage across three opponents in a multiplayer game, it consistently triggers Y'shtola's end-step ability to draw an extra card every turn. The deck supports this engine with efficient mana rocks, asymmetric tax creatures like Grand Arbiter Augustin IV, and versatile removal spells such as Anguished Unmaking and Void Rend. To close games, the list leverages life-drain amplifiers including Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose and Sanguine Bond, storm-like card advantage from Bolas's Citadel, the alternate win condition Approach of the Second Sun, and a compact infinite combo between Bloodchief Ascension and Mindcrank.

Decklist (100 cards)

  • 1 Alisaie Leveilleur
  • 1 All-Fates Scroll
  • 1 Anguished Unmaking
  • 1 Approach of the Second Sun
  • 1 Arcane Sanctum
  • 1 Arcane Signet
  • 1 Archmage Emeritus
  • 1 Ash Barrens
  • 1 Ashnod's Intervention
  • 1 Authority of the Consuls
  • 1 Azorius Locket
  • 1 Bloodchief Ascension
  • 1 Bolas's Citadel
  • 1 Chromatic Lantern
  • 1 City of Brass
  • 1 Command Bridge
  • 1 Command Tower
  • 1 Commander's Sphere
  • 1 Contaminated Landscape
  • 1 Crushing Disappointment
  • 1 Dark Ritual
  • 1 Darkwater Catacombs
  • 1 Decanter of Endless Water
  • 1 Decorum Dissertation
  • 1 Desolate Mire
  • 1 Detection Tower
  • 1 Dimir Aqueduct
  • 1 Dimir Locket
  • 1 Dismember
  • 1 Enduring Tenacity
  • 1 Evolving Wilds
  • 1 Exotic Orchard
  • 1 Frantic Search
  • 1 Geist of Saint Thalia
  • 1 Glacial Fortress
  • 1 Grand Arbiter Augustin IV
  • 1 Grasp of Fate
  • 1 Imprisoned in the Moon
  • 6 Island
  • 1 Jace's Triumph
  • 1 Kambal, Consul of Allocation
  • 1 Lightning Greaves
  • 1 Mindcrank
  • 1 Mithril Coat
  • 1 Monologue Tax
  • 1 Mortify
  • 1 Mulldrifter
  • 1 Mystical Teachings
  • 1 Ophidian Eye
  • 1 Orzhov Signet
  • 1 Oubliette
  • 1 Painful Truths
  • 1 Phyrexian Arena
  • 8 Plains
  • 1 Port Town
  • 1 Potioner's Trove
  • 1 Propaganda
  • 1 Quick Study
  • 1 Read the Bones
  • 1 Refute
  • 1 Relic of Legends
  • 1 Riot Control
  • 1 Sanguine Bond
  • 1 Sol Ring
  • 1 Summon: Yojimbo
  • 8 Swamp
  • 1 Talisman of Dominance
  • 1 Talisman of Hierarchy
  • 1 Talisman of Progress
  • 1 Thalia, the Survivor
  • 1 The Wind Crystal
  • 1 Time Stretch
  • 1 Timely Ward
  • 1 Toxic Deluge
  • 1 Troop of Ponies
  • 1 Trophy Mage
  • 1 Vindicate
  • 1 Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose
  • 1 Void Rend
  • 1 Whispersilk Cloak
  • 1 Y'shtola, Night's Blessed