BuWu by user7733820

Format: Commander

Commander: Karlov of the Ghost Council

Bracket: 3

DeckCheck Threat Index: 45

Deck overview

This Orzhov deck leverages Karlov of the Ghost Council alongside a dense suite of low-cost lifegain triggers, commonly known as Soul Sisters. The primary strategy establishes passive lifegain engines on early turns using creatures like Soul Warden, Guide of Souls, and Auriok Champion. When Karlov enters on turn 2, every lifegain instance grants two +1/+1 counters, rapidly swelling the commander into a lethal combat threat while simultaneously providing on-demand creature exile. The deck backs up this aggressive Voltron clock with persistent drain effects from Sheoldred, the Apocalypse, Starscape Cleric, and Bloodchief Ascension, alongside explosive lifegain payoffs like Aetherflux Reservoir and Archangel of Thune. A robust interaction suite of exile removal and protective spells keeps opposing threats in check and shields Karlov from targeted disruption. While the deck lacks infinite combos and must eliminate opponents sequentially over multiple combat steps, its high redundancy, resilience, and early pressure create a formidable midrange engine.

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 Aunt May
  • 1 Auriok Champion
  • 1 Authority of the Consuls
  • 1 Black Market Connections
  • 1 Bleachbone Verge
  • 1 Blind Obedience
  • 1 Bloodchief Ascension
  • 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 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 Fell the Profane // Fell Mire
  • 1 Fetid Heath
  • 1 Flawless Maneuver
  • 1 Generous Gift
  • 1 Giver of Runes
  • 1 Godless Shrine
  • 1 Grand Abolisher
  • 1 Guide of Souls
  • 1 Heliod, Sun-Crowned
  • 1 Hinterland Sanctifier
  • 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 Ocelot Pride
  • 1 Orzhov Signet
  • 1 Path to Exile
  • 1 Phyrexian Arena
  • 5 Plains
  • 1 Plaza of Heroes
  • 1 Ranger-Captain of Eos
  • 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