Lifegain by user5407030

Format: Commander

Commander: Karlov of the Ghost Council

Bracket: 3

DeckCheck Threat Index: 41

Deck overview

This deck is an aggressive Orzhov lifegain and attrition strategy commanded by Karlov of the Ghost Council. The core game plan exploits a high density of low-mana lifegain triggers, such as Soul Warden, Soul's Attendant, and Authority of the Consuls, to rapidly inflate Karlov with +1/+1 counters starting as early as Turn 2. Karlov functions simultaneously as a massive offensive threat and an on-board exile removal engine that polices opposing creature strategies. As the game develops, the deck compounds its life lead through asymmetric drain pieces like Kambal, Consul of Allocation, Starscape Cleric, and Sheoldred, the Apocalypse. It can close games through sequential commander damage knockouts, burst lethality with Aetherflux Reservoir, or an infinite life-drain loop with Exquisite Blood and Marauding Blight-Priest. Supported by low-cost protection spells like Clever Concealment and Flawless Maneuver, the deck maintains a resilient board state that punishes aggressive and spell-heavy pods alike.

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