Karlov by user8184621

Format: Commander

Commander: Karlov of the Ghost Council

Bracket: 3

Deck overview

This Orzhov lifegain deck, helmed by Karlov of the Ghost Council, is a classic value-engine build that transforms incidental life gain into board dominance. The primary plan is to deploy a dense suite of soul sisters (Soul Warden, Soul's Attendant, Impassioned Orator) and life-drain payoffs (Marauding Blight-Priest, Starscape Cleric) to steadily grow Karlov into a removal machine. The deck's primary win conditions are the Aetherflux Reservoir life-total cannon, the Angel of Destiny alternate trigger, and the infinite life-drain loop between Exquisite Blood and any "whenever you gain life, each opponent loses 1 life" creature. Karlov himself isn't strictly required for the combo, but his ability to exile threats and grow from every life-gain trigger makes him a powerful reactive piece. The deck also leans on value creatures like Lurrus of the Dream-Den for recursion and Sheoldred, the Apocalypse for further life/draw leverage.

Decklist (100 cards)

  • 1 Abiding Grace
  • 1 Aetherflux Reservoir
  • 1 Ajani, Strength of the Pride
  • 1 Angel of Destiny
  • 1 Anguished Unmaking
  • 1 Archangel of Thune
  • 1 Archivist of Oghma
  • 1 Auriok Champion
  • 1 Authority of the Consuls
  • 1 Black Market Connections
  • 1 Bleachbone Verge
  • 1 Blind Obedience
  • 1 Bloodchief Ascension
  • 1 Bloodthirsty Conqueror
  • 1 Bojuka Bog
  • 1 Brightclimb Pathway // Grimclimb Pathway
  • 1 Case of the Uneaten Feast
  • 1 Castle Locthwain
  • 1 Caves of Koilos
  • 1 Clever Concealment
  • 1 Command Tower
  • 1 Concealed Courtyard
  • 1 Cosmos Elixir
  • 1 Creeping Bloodsucker
  • 1 Damn
  • 1 Dawn of Hope
  • 1 Daxos, Blessed by the Sun
  • 1 Delney, Streetwise Lookout
  • 1 Despark
  • 1 Distinguished Conjurer
  • 1 Eiganjo, Seat of the Empire
  • 1 Elas il-Kor, Sadistic Pilgrim
  • 1 Elenda's Hierophant
  • 1 Esper Sentinel
  • 1 Exemplar of Light
  • 1 Exorcise
  • 1 Exquisite Blood
  • 1 Fell the Profane // Fell Mire
  • 1 Fetid Heath
  • 1 Flawless Maneuver
  • 1 Generous Gift
  • 1 Giver of Runes
  • 1 Godless Shrine
  • 1 Guide of Souls
  • 1 Heliod, Sun-Crowned
  • 1 Hinterland Sanctifier
  • 1 Impassioned Orator
  • 1 Isolated Chapel
  • 1 Kambal, Consul of Allocation
  • 1 Kambal, Profiteering Mayor
  • 1 Karlov of the Ghost Council
  • 1 Ketramose, the New Dawn
  • 1 Lifecreed Duo
  • 1 Lotho, Corrupt Shirriff
  • 1 Lunar Convocation
  • 1 Lunarch Veteran // Luminous Phantom
  • 1 Lurrus of the Dream-Den
  • 1 Mangara, the Diplomat
  • 1 Marauding Blight-Priest
  • 1 Marsh Flats
  • 1 Minas Tirith
  • 1 Mother of Runes
  • 1 Night's Whisper
  • 1 Path to Exile
  • 1 Phyrexian Arena
  • 5 Plains
  • 1 Plaza of Heroes
  • 1 Seraph Sanctuary
  • 1 Serra Ascendant
  • 1 Shattered Sanctum
  • 1 Sheoldred, the Apocalypse
  • 1 Shizo, Death's Storehouse
  • 1 Sign in Blood
  • 1 Silent Clearing
  • 1 Skrelv, Defector Mite
  • 1 Sorin of House Markov // Sorin, Ravenous Neonate
  • 1 Soul Warden
  • 1 Soul's Attendant
  • 1 Spectrum Sentinel
  • 1 Starscape Cleric
  • 1 Sunscorch Regent
  • 1 Suture Priest
  • 3 Swamp
  • 1 Swords to Plowshares
  • 1 Tainted Field
  • 1 Takenuma, Abandoned Mire
  • 1 The Gaffer
  • 1 Tymna the Weaver
  • 1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
  • 1 Vault of Champions
  • 1 Vault of the Archangel
  • 1 Voice of the Blessed
  • 1 Witch Enchanter // Witch-Blessed Meadow
  • 1 Witch of the Moors