Karlov Lifegain

Commander / EDH

Paranoiac

Creature (29)

• 1x Archangel of Thune
• 1x Ayli, Eternal Pilgrim
• 1x Blood Artist
• 1x Burnished Hart
• 1x Children of Korlis
• 1x Crested Sunmare
• 1x Crypt Ghast
• 1x Disciple of Bolas
• 1x Drana's Emissary
• 1x Famished Paladin
• 1x Gray Merchant of Asphodel
• 1x Kambal, Consul of Allocation
• 1x Kokusho, the Evening Star
• 1x Ranger of Eos
• 1x Resplendent Mentor
• 1x Rhox Faithmender
• 1x Serra Ascendant
• 1x Shattered Angel
• 1x Shirei, Shizo's Caretaker
• 1x Sidisi, Undead Vizier
• 1x Solemn Simulacrum
• 1x Soul Warden
• 1x Soul's Attendant
• 1x Sun Titan
• 1x Sunscorch Regent
• 1x Tree of Perdition
• 1x Tymna the Weaver *f-etch*
• 1x Vizkopa Guildmage
• 1x Wurmcoil Engine

Sorcery (3)

• 1x Austere Command
• 1x Fumigate
• 1x Mastermind's Acquisition

Land (32)

• 1x Arcane Lighthouse
• 1x Bojuka Bog
• 1x Caves of Koilos
• 1x City of Brass
• 1x Command Tower
• 1x Concealed Courtyard
• 1x Ghost Quarter
• 1x High Market
• 1x Isolated Chapel
• 1x Myriad Landscape
• 1x Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
• 1x Orzhov Basilica
• 7x Plains
• 1x Rogue's Passage
• 9x Swamp
• 1x Tainted Field
• 1x Temple of the False God
• 1x Vault of the Archangel

Enchantment (16)

• 1x Angelic Accord
• 1x Authority of the Consuls
• 1x Boon Reflection
• 1x Cradle of Vitality
• 1x Dawn of the Dead
• 1x Dictate of Erebos
• 1x Exquisite Blood
• 1x Gift of Immortality
• 1x Grave Pact
• 1x Land Tax
• 1x Necropotence
• 1x Palace Siege
• 1x Phyrexian Arena
• 1x Sanguine Bond
• 1x Unspeakable Symbol
• 1x Vampiric Rites

Commander (1)

Artifact (17)

• 1x Aetherflux Reservoir
• 1x Alhammarret's Archive
• 1x Lifeline
• 1x Lightning Greaves
• 1x Loxodon Warhammer
• 1x Pristine Talisman
• 1x Skullclamp
• 1x Sol Ring
• 1x Sorcerer's Wand
• 1x Sun Droplet
• 1x Sword of Light and Shadow
• 1x Sword of the Animist
• 1x Trading Post
• 1x Umezawa's Jitte
• 1x Well of Lost Dreams
• 1x Whip of Erebos
• 1x Whispersilk Cloak

Instant (2)

• 1x Beacon of Immortality
• 1x Hatred

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Sideboard

Creature (4)

• 1x Hangarback Walker
• 1x Vampire Nighthawk
• 1x Wall of Reverence
• 1x Zulaport Cutthroat

Enchantment (3)

• 1x Leyline of the Void
• 1x Phyrexian Reclamation
• 1x True Conviction

Artifact (4)

• 1x Illusionist's Bracers
• 1x Mimic Vat
• 1x Phyrexian Processor
• 1x Swiftfoot Boots

Planeswalker (2)

• 1x Elspeth, Sun's Champion
• 1x Liliana Vess

Instant (4)

• 1x Anguished Unmaking
• 1x Moonlight Bargain
• 1x Necrologia
• 1x Utter End

Sorcery (2)

• 1x Decree of Pain
• 1x Plague of Vermin

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Maybeboard

Creature (2)

• 1x Disciple of Griselbrand
• 1x Razaketh, the Foulblooded

Enchantment (2)

• 1x Attrition
• 1x Martyr's Bond

Artifact (1)

• 1x Ashnod's Altar

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The main goal of this deck is to weaponize lifegain to:

1. Kill opponents with general damage.
2. Remove non-land permanents to disrupt opponent's game plans.

Any input for improvements are welcomed and greatly appreciated.

An alternative win condition would be to create value via graveyard recursion to outpace opponents and get a victory.

General Damage/Removal: The simplest way for Karlov of the Ghost Council to finish off an opponent would be Hatred. This deck should generate an abundant amount of life to kill off an unsuspecting opponent whenever possible. Other ways of getting damage in include Whispersilk Cloak and Rogue's Passage.

To build up Karlov of the Ghost Council's counters we have a number of creatures and other non-land permanent's to help consistently gain life. These include:

• Soul Warden
• Soul's Attendant
• Blood Artist
• Authority of the Consuls
• Drana's Emissary
• Sunscorch Regent
• Kambal, Consul of Allocation
• Cradle of Vitality
• Shattered Angel
• Famished Paladin + Resplendent Mentor = infinite lifegain

Creating Value: Lifeline,Shirei, Shizo's Caretaker and Dawn of the Dead are intended to work with other permanents to create value through recursion. Some examples are:

Children of Korlis + Lifeline + Vampiric Rites helps to negate damage from attacks, draw cards, and help buff Karlov.

Ayli, Eternal Pilgrim + Dawn of the Dead and several permanents will gain life (buff Karlov) and create value. For example, Crested Sunmare and Wurmcoil Engine can be used in this combo to create tokens each turn. Use Sidisi, Undead Vizier to tutor up cards, or mana ramp and draw cards with Solemn Simulacrum, or recur permanents with Sun Titan. If a Soul Warden, Blood Artist, or Soul's Attendant is out, then you Karlov gets even bigger.

The deck also has a few ways to double lifegain. Using the above combo with Angelic Accord can also spawn some 4/4 angels.

Alternate Win Conditions: 1. Ayli, Eternal Pilgrim + Tree of Perdition + Vizkopa Guildmage can help finish off an opponents. 2. There is the good old Exquisite Blood + Sanguine Bond combo. 3. Famished Paladin + Sorcerer's Wand and a lifegain effect on the Paladin such as Resplendent Mentor, Loxodon Warhammer, or Whip of Erebos will do infinite damage and gain infinite life.

Date added	6 years
Last updated	2 years
Key combos	Exquisite Blood + Sanguine Bond Famished Paladin + Resplendent Mentor Famished Paladin + Sorcerer's Wand Children of Korlis + Lifeline + Vampiric Rites Ayli, Eternal Pilgrim + Dawn of the Dead Ayli, Eternal Pilgrim + Tree of Perdition + Vizkopa Guildmage
Legality	This deck is Commander / EDH legal.
Rarity (main - side)	13 - 3 Mythic Rares 39 - 11 Rares 25 - 5 Uncommons 7 - 0 Commons
Cards	100
Avg. CMC	3.53
Tokens	Angel 4/4 W, Copy Clone, Emblem Elspeth, Sun's Champion, Goat 0/1 W, Horse 5/5 W, Minion X/X B, Rat 1/1 B, Soldier 1/1 W, Thopter 1/1 C, Wurm 3/3 C w/ Deathtouch, Wurm 3/3 C w/ Lifelink