Esper Spellcraft Lifedrain by HawthornVine

Format: Commander

Commander: Y'shtola, Night's Blessed

Bracket: 3

DeckCheck Threat Index: 32

Deck overview

This deck is an Esper spellslinger and lifegain control strategy helmed by Y'shtola, Night's Blessed. The game plan revolves around casting noncreature spells with mana value 3 or greater to repeatedly trigger Y'shtola's ability, draining each opponent for 2 damage while gaining 2 life. This engine compounds with lifegain amplifiers such as Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose, Sanguine Bond, and Enduring Tenacity to rapidly drain life totals and draw extra cards on end steps. The deck controls the board using flexible 3-mana removal like Void Rend, Anguished Unmaking, and Grasp of Fate, alongside stax-lite taxes like Grand Arbiter Augustin IV and Propaganda. It closes games on Turn 8 through an infinite mill-drain combo with Bloodchief Ascension and Mindcrank, an explosive Bolas's Citadel turn, or two casts of Approach of the Second Sun.

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 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 Diabolic Tutor
  • 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 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 The Wind Crystal
  • 1 Time Stretch
  • 1 Timely Ward
  • 1 Toxic Deluge
  • 1 Troop of Ponies
  • 1 Trophy Mage
  • 1 Unwinding Clock
  • 1 Vindicate
  • 1 Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose
  • 1 Void Rend
  • 1 Whispersilk Cloak
  • 1 Windfall
  • 1 Y'shtola, Night's Blessed