Ayli, Eternal Pilgrim is a 2/3 for only , making it a great bargain buy. I have managed to get to 30 life multiple times, though her sacrificing a creature to enable abilities does hurt because it I don't always have a lot of creatures out.
Defiant Bloodlord is one of those cards that most people avoid, and for good reason. with a casting cost of , it is expensive. However, this is exactly the card that has finished games for me. Most people don't mind losing a life here or there to other cards, but then throw in losing life just because I gained life, and this becomes a card that requires the opponent's attention very quickly.
Drana's Emissary is another staple of these decks. Gaining life during upkeep is fine. Stacking these is even better.
Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet has lifelink and really nice abilities. Powerful card. Great card.
Kambal, Consul of Allocation
is probably the card that has thus far annoyed opponents the most. Casting any non-creature spell adds up. This means that vehicles and other, non-creature artifacts cost a 4 life spread to opponents (I gain 2, they lose 2). Very nice. It is worth noting here that there are 4x of this card and that it is a legendary creature. Opponents learn very quickly that they dislike this card and work to remove it quickly. As a result, I actually prefer to have a backup in hand.
Lone Rider
is a solid card, but it is not a card you want to play too soon. I try to reserve this until I have life generators out. While it becomes the target of removal no matter what, might as well wait to play it until I can flip it at the end of the same turn it was cast.
Night Market Lookout is a great first turn card as it can attack turn two and cause double damage if there's not a blocker. However, its main purpose in the deck is to crew Smuggler's Copter! Tap to crew, opponent loses a life. Even if I don't attack with the copter, I always crew. If I didn't attack, I wait until the end of my opponent's turn to crew. If Night Market Lookout is targeted with removal, I crew and get in one last ping. It's a card that will wear thin on people very quickly...
Noxious Gearhulk is the first to go when I have to sideboard, but the ability to destroy a creature when it enters the battlefield, then add its toughness to my life total makes this a solid 6 CMC card. Menace is just a bonus.
Zulaport Cutthroat is a great answer for anyone whop wants to try to pick off creatures, especially when I can get more than one out at a time.
