Death and Taxes by JTauzzi

Format: Commander

Commander: Teysa Karlov

Bracket: 3

DeckCheck Threat Index: 49

Deck overview

This deck is a classic Orzhov Aristocrats strategy led by Teysa Karlov. It leverages efficient token generation, free sacrifice outlets, and death-trigger doublers to drain life totals across the table. Early turns focus on establishing mana acceleration, consistent card advantage engines, and steady token generators such as Bitterblossom and Ocelot Pride. Once Teysa Karlov enters the battlefield on Turn 4, every creature death deals double the damage through payoffs like Blood Artist, Cruel Celebrant, and Bastion of Remembrance. The deck controls opposing creature boards asymmetrically using Dictate of Erebos and defends its big turns with silence effects from Myrel, Shield of Argive and Voice of Victory. It closes games decisively around Turn 6 or 7 by overwhelming opponents with Moonshaker Cavalry, draining out life totals in rapid succession, or resolving explosive spells like Plague of Vermin.

Decklist (100 cards)

  • 1 Adeline, Resplendent Cathar
  • 1 Afterlife Insurance
  • 1 Alliance of Arms
  • 1 Arcane Signet
  • 1 Arnyn, Deathbloom Botanist
  • 1 Ashnod's Altar
  • 1 Bastion of Remembrance
  • 1 Bitterblossom
  • 1 Black Market Connections
  • 1 Bleachbone Verge
  • 1 Blood Artist
  • 1 Body Count
  • 1 Brightclimb Pathway // Grimclimb Pathway
  • 1 Call the Coppercoats
  • 1 Caretaker's Talent
  • 1 Caves of Koilos
  • 1 Charismatic Conqueror
  • 1 Command Tower
  • 1 Concealed Courtyard
  • 1 Corpse Knight
  • 1 Cruel Celebrant
  • 1 Culling the Weak
  • 1 Desolate Mire
  • 1 Diabolic Intent
  • 1 Dictate of Erebos
  • 1 Dollmaker's Shop // Porcelain Gallery
  • 1 Eclipsed Steppe
  • 1 Elas il-Kor, Sadistic Pilgrim
  • 1 Elenda, the Dusk Rose
  • 1 Elspeth, Storm Slayer
  • 1 Enduring Innocence
  • 1 Fetid Heath
  • 1 Finale of Glory
  • 1 Generous Gift
  • 1 Godless Shrine
  • 1 Grand Crescendo
  • 1 Hour of Reckoning
  • 1 Idol of Oblivion
  • 1 Inkshield
  • 1 Insatiable Avarice
  • 1 Isolated Chapel
  • 1 Kambal, Profiteering Mayor
  • 1 Lightning Greaves
  • 1 Lotho, Corrupt Shirriff
  • 1 Marsh Flats
  • 1 Minas Tirith
  • 1 Mirkwood Bats
  • 1 Mondrak, Glory Dominus
  • 1 Moonshaker Cavalry
  • 1 Myrel, Shield of Argive
  • 1 Nadier's Nightblade
  • 1 Ocelot Pride
  • 1 Ojer Taq, Deepest Foundation // Temple of Civilization
  • 1 Orzhov Signet
  • 1 Phyrexian Altar
  • 1 Phyrexian Tower
  • 1 Pitiless Plunderer
  • 1 Plague of Vermin
  • 9 Plains
  • 1 Rabble Rousing
  • 1 Reliquary Tower
  • 1 Secure the Wastes
  • 1 Sephiroth, Fabled SOLDIER // Sephiroth, One-Winged Angel
  • 1 Shattered Sanctum
  • 1 Shineshadow Snarl
  • 1 Skullclamp
  • 1 Smothering Tithe
  • 1 Snuff Out
  • 1 Sol Ring
  • 7 Swamp
  • 1 Talisman of Hierarchy
  • 1 Teysa Karlov
  • 1 Thalisse, Reverent Medium
  • 1 The Meathook Massacre
  • 1 Turbulent Moor
  • 1 Vault of Champions
  • 1 Vault of the Archangel
  • 1 Village Rites
  • 1 Viscera Seer
  • 1 Voice of Victory
  • 1 Warren Soultrader
  • 1 Welcoming Vampire
  • 1 Will of the Mardu
  • 1 Wispdrinker Vampire
  • 1 Withering Torment
  • 1 Woe Strider