EDH Licia, Gladii, Sanguis, Valeria Victrix

Commander / EDH Aggro Casual Lifegain Multiplayer RBW (Mardu) Voltron

Bou

Land (36)

• 1x Akoum Refuge
• 1x Battlefield Forge
• 1x Blood Crypt
• 1x Bloodfell Caves
• 1x Bloodstained Mire
• 1x Bojuka Bog
• 1x Caves of Koilos
• 1x City of Brass
• 1x Clifftop Retreat
• 1x Command Tower
• 1x Dragonskull Summit
• 1x Exotic Orchard
• 1x Godless Shrine
• 1x Isolated Chapel
• 1x Kabira Crossroads
• 1x Mana Confluence
• 1x Marsh Flats
• 2x Mountain
• 1x Orzhov Basilica
• 3x Plains
• 1x Radiant Fountain
• 1x Rakdos Carnarium
• 1x Reliquary Tower
• 1x Rogue's Passage
• 1x Sacred Foundry
• 1x Scoured Barrens
• 1x Slayers' Stronghold
• 1x Smoldering Marsh
• 1x Sulfurous Springs
• 3x Swamp
• 1x Wind-Scarred Crag

Enchantment (8)

• 1x Dark Tutelage
• 1x Duelist's Heritage
• 1x Gift of Immortality
• 1x Grasp of Fate
• 1x Land Tax
• 1x Necropotence
• 1x Phyrexian Arena
• 1x Unquestioned Authority

Artifact (20)

• 1x Alhammarret's Archive
• 1x Boros Signet
• 1x Chromatic Lantern
• 1x Coalition Relic
• 1x Conqueror's Flail
• 1x Darksteel Plate
• 1x Elixir of Immortality
• 1x Expedition Map
• 1x Ivory Tower
• 1x Orzhov Signet
• 1x Pristine Talisman
• 1x Prowler's Helm
• 1x Rakdos Signet
• 1x Sol Ring
• 1x Sunforger
• 1x Swiftfoot Boots
• 1x Sword of Feast and Famine
• 1x Sword of Fire and Ice
• 1x Sword of War and Peace
• 1x Venser's Journal

Creature (12)

• 1x Aerial Responder
• 1x Archangel Avacyn  ^Flip
• 1x Dark Confidant
• 1x Erebos, God of the Dead
• 1x Kambal, Consul of Allocation
• 1x Mathas, Fiend Seeker
• 1x Odric, Lunarch Marshal
• 1x Queen Marchesa
• 1x Serra Ascendant
• 1x Vampire Nighthawk
• 1x Vizkopa Guildmage
• 1x Vona, Butcher of Magan

Commander (1)

Instant (13)

• 1x Ad Nauseam
• 1x Anguished Unmaking
• 1x Arcbond
• 1x Boros Charm
• 1x Lightning Helix
• 1x Path to Exile
• 1x Return to Dust
• 1x Shelter
• 1x Utter End
• 1x Vampiric Tutor
• 1x Warleader's Helix
• 1x Wear / Tear
• 1x Wild Ricochet

Sorcery (10)

• 1x Blasphemous Act
• 1x Chandra's Ignition
• 1x Cut / Ribbons
• 1x Debt to the Deathless
• 1x Demonic Tutor
• 1x Night's Whisper
• 1x Read the Bones
• 1x Sign in Blood
• 1x Torment of Hailfire
• 1x Wheel of Fate

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Sideboard

Land (3)

• 1x Fetid Heath
• 1x Graven Cairns
• 1x Rugged Prairie

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Maybeboard

Creature (6)

• 1x Mother of Runes
• 1x Neheb, the Eternal
• 1x Rhox Faithmender
• 1x Sangromancer
• 1x Treasonous Ogre
• 1x Tymna the Weaver

Sorcery (3)

• 1x Brightflame
• 1x Death Grasp
• 1x Fumigate

Artifact (6)

• 1x Darksteel Ingot
• 1x Fellwar Stone
• 1x Haunted Cloak
• 1x Mana Crypt
• 1x Mana Vault
• 1x Trailblazer's Boots

Land (1)

• 1x Hall of the Bandit Lord

Enchantment (1)

• 1x Boon Reflection

Instant (6)

• 1x Brave the Elements
• 1x Comet Storm
• 1x Deflecting Palm
• 1x Reverberate
• 1x Swords to Plowshares
• 1x Teferi's Protection

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"Licia is an army general renowned for her ruthlessness in battle. She wields dual swords stained with the blood of countless victims, including the enchanted blood of an angel, whose feathers Licia wears in her helmet as a symbol of her supremacy"

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When 'Vampiric Bloodlust' was just spoiled in the commander 2017 set there were three new Mardu Commanders you could build with.

You could use Edgar Markov, make a lot of Vampire tokens and do... stuff. There's also Mathas, Fiend Seeker, for when you like to hide behind politics and let other people do the dirty work. Or you could be a real man (or woman) and choose Licia, Sanguine Tribune as your champion!

At 8 CMC she's probably not going to be a popular commander, but don't let that high cost discourage you! We just need to gain some life, and Licia just happens to be very good at making people bleed.

So let's take their blood, their life, and all they have,

For victory!

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Tactics

1. Get some blood. Your own blood will do, but using your opponents blood is probably better.
2. Offer that blood to Licia, and have her slap someone really hard.
3. Repeat 1. and 2.

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Draw

Enchantments

Dark Confidant: It's a Dark Tutelage on a stick?! also cheaper to cast, but not to acquire.. and as a creature - easier to kill. I loved Tutelage so far, but whether it's worth the expense .. I might forego this and include Ad Nauseam after all (- I ended up going with both).

Dark Tutelage: Not a 'draw', but you do get an extra card. We can afford the life penalty easily due to the substantial lifegain and low CMC.

Erebos, God of the Dead: After much contemplating, decided to swap Greed for Erebos after all.

Necropotence: This is your main draw engine, Use the life we get from our opponents to draw more cards.

Phyrexian Arena: Low cost card draw, every turn. Unlike Necropotence not much of a threat and often left alone, so you can usually keep it a few turns.

Sorceries

Night's Whisper, Read the Bones, and Sign in Blood: One-use only - offer blood for cards. (I used to play Ambition's Cost, Ancient Craving and Painful Truths but took them out as I have never had to cast them - dead cards in hand).

Wheel of Fate: Disruption for them, full hand for you. It has a suspend cost so you can set it and forget it. Although it's probably best you don't draw like your life depends on it (with e.g Necropotence) right before it resolves.. Reforge the Soul would be nice as well as you could Tutor it with Vampiric Tutor and put it on top of your library, then miracle it for way cheaper.

Finishers

Once you have Licia out and equipped, empowered, and ready to slap people, you'll need to find something to use all that extra life and mana for.

These spells will probably win you the game.

Chandra's Ignition: The only sorcery that needs Licia active and ready, depending on how strong you managed to get her, the lifegain will set you up for.. life.

Debt to the Deathless: I find it hard to decide between this and Exsanguinate. On the one hand, Debt looks cooler, and hits harder at mid-endgame - but Exsanguinate is more accessible in the early game. The easy option would be to have both, but when have things ever been easy eh >:(.

Life -link/-gain

Artifacts

Elixir of Immortality: Aside from the fact that you get to shuffle this card and your graveyard back into your library.. Imagine you activate this in T4/5 for with / / leftover mana. Instant Licia!

Ivory Tower: A bit tricky as it has its most effect with a full(er) hand, but when we get our draw going it should really benefit us.

Venser's Journal: Just because you have cards in your hand, doesn't mean you have to play them. This is something I still struggle with as I play, because I like to "play" and usually end up with an empty hand. Obviously, don't use Wheel of Fate if you have too many cards in your hand.

Creatures

In order to get Licia out fast we need early cost-reducers. Spells help, but we need something that can consistently be useful at relatively low cost. that's where these minions come into play. They might not be perfect, but they're cheap and they get the job done.

Aerial Responder: A flying vigilant lifelink Soldier, pretty much a white Vampire Nighthawk.

Kambal, Consul of Allocation: Mostly here to give you some life here and there, maybe scare off excessive spell-usage or just general bleeding out opponents. We probably won't gain much Life during our own turn, but all bits and pieces help.

Serra Ascendant: One of the earliest added creatures that moved me away from Vampires and Soldiers - but allows you to get a turn 3 Licia theoretically.

Vampire Nighthawk: Flying and deathtouch.. If I could have more of these, I would!

Vona, Butcher of Magan: A new Vampire from Ixalan! Vigilance, Lifelink, and we can use our life - which we should have plenty of - to destroy things! Wonderful!

Instants

Lightning Helix and Warleader's Helix are both in for the lifegain. They replace Ambition's Cost and Ancient Craving and will hopefully see more use.

Sorceries

While I've taken this one out by now, I felt it did deserve mention as the early game potential is huge;

Chaplain's Blessing: For just you get 5 life. This is basically a noncreature Serra's ascendant that can potentially get Licia out in Turn 4 and fuel her growth. Even if you draw it later in the game, it can still be used for fuel or will even help with Sunbond or Vizkopa Guildmage. Similar shoutout for Sunbeam Spellbomb.

Ramp

Ramp in / / ? yeah.. good luck. Not the easiest colors to ramp in, though I could spend $50 on a Land Tax (True, they can be cheaper, but those are the older ones and I don't like those :X ). However, there are tons of artifacts we can use. I made a small selection but you can definitely improve here. I'd love to run Mana Vault or Mana Crypt but they - like Land Tax - are too expensive at the moment.

Boros Signet, Orzhov Signet and Rakdos Signet: Filters colors and gives an extra mana. Signets are staples.

Chromatic Lantern: Pretty darn good for multi-color set-ups, won't have to worry about color anymore and you get an extra mana.

Coalition Relic: Should help getting those colors early on. There isn't a lot of in this deck for example, so we don't play that many mountains, and you don't want to sit around waiting for a mountain you can't find, so having an artifact that makes colors should be good. Fellwar Stone could work as well but you can get more mana with this and less dependent on opponents.

Expedition Map: Quick Land-grab that really everyone should play.

Land Tax: Yeah, I'm getting one after all! It's too good to be petty about it, so it's going to have to be an older one rather than the fancy looking Judge promo.

Pristine Talisman: 1 mana and 1 Life!, so this cuts Licia's cost by 2.

Sol Ring: Staple 1-drop for a reason, but I would be happier with colors.

Removal

Instants

Anguished Unmaking: Exile permanent, helps if they have indestructibles or when they Darksteel Mutation you. You do lose life but we have plenty anyway.

Grasp of Fate: It's like Oblivion Ring but you get to pick more things and it can't really be abused like the good ol' O-ring. Depending on meta, how quickly your group can remove enchantments, and whether or not they want to unleash the crazy stuff you exiled, this could be one of your best removals.

Path to Exile: The only exile target creature we use, mostly for those pesky indestructibles.

Return to Dust: Whether in their turns or during your own main phase, this card is a must have to get rid of enchantments or artifacts.. but mostly enchantments (Looking at you Darksteel Mutation... tsk).

Utter End: Same as Anguished Unmaking, but no life loss and 1 mana extra.

Wear / Tear: Should help getting rid of enchantments, or artifacts whenever you need it, or both.

Sorcery

Cut / Ribbons: This one is pretty nice if you can cast it from the graveyard, might even remove something with the initial 4 damage as well, but the real kicker is of course the Aftermath effect.

Blasphemous Act: One thing I get as a comment quite often, is that I need to play more wipes.. I'm still doubting whether that should be Wrath of God, Damnation, Fumigate, or Blasphemous Act. Fumigate helps gain life and we can cast Licia cheap if we keep some colors open. Blasphemous Act seems nice because it deals damage - which means that we can cast Arcbond on Licia and gain 13*X life and deal the damage to players as well.

Torment of Hailfire: This card is so mean, but so cool.. I wouldn't want it used against me though. If you make the X high enough it's a board wipe and a life drain. you can even copy it with Wild Ricochet!

Support

Artifacts

Licia is a ruthless general with two swords, so weapons are a must-have! If I would go more towards a theme, I'd find her some armor - probably Darksteel Plate, and a nice helmet - something like Helm of Kaldra or Prowler's Helm. Actually, that last one's not even a bad idea, who plays walls anyway??

Alhammarret's Archive: Keeping track of every sword and soldier can be difficult. Luckily we have the Archive to help keep and sort all the information, though weirdly enough it seems to double life gained and cards drawn..

Conqueror's Flail: +3/+3 and opponents can't cast spells during your turn. Cheap to cast, cheap to equip, adds a ton of value. Had to remove something though so took out Sigarda's Aid since all our artifacts are pretty cheap anyway.

Darksteel Plate: Went in after some suggestions(threats?) from playgroup. Good thing I already wanted to use it! It kinda completes my armory.

Prowler's Helm: I'm adding it, it's so cool! on theme and unblockable, don't need Trample if they can't touch you.

Sunforger: Packs a punch with +4/+0, but most importantly - functions as an instant speed tutor for .. instants. Boros Charm, Wild Ricochet, or really any of our instants except Vampiric Tutor will work with this. I might take Faith's Reward back in now that I included this.. had taken it out to make space previously.

Sword of Feast and Famine: Other than the +2/+2, protection from and , this sword also allows you to untap your lands. Now I didn't want to include this originally as it felt too powerful and yet unusable as, at that stage, I didn't have enough ways to use my land.. or so I thought. However, the early potential of this sword is unquestionable, for example; Use the mana you have, equip the sword on ANY lifelinker you currently have lying in play, swing, get life - hopefully enough to fund Licia (minimum of 4, 2p +2/+2) - and untap lands to fix the mana dedication (for Licia). The mid-endgame potential is even more rigged as it allows you to cast all your draw spells in first main, attack, and cast the cards you just drew in second main phase.

Sword of Fire and Ice: I kinda wish I bought the Modern Masters version instead of the Darksteel one now, because then it would have matching art with Sword of War and Peace instead of Sword of Light and Shadow. Protection from and , +2/+2 and 2 extra damage on combat damage, more importantly though is the card draw we get.

Sword of War and Peace: +2/+2, protection from and , and you get to Drain 'n Gain on combat damage. The lifegain/lifeloss should benefit us greatly.

Creatures

Archangel Avacyn  : I know what you're thinking.. "Bou, why is there an Angel in a Vampire/Voltron deck?" - Well.. I actually thought about this really hard, but when I looked at Licia's character background on the wizards website (Which I copy-pasted at the top of this description) I think I can get away with just one Angel. The question then becomes! which angel?? I wanted Archangel of Thune at first because lifegain and lifelink, but Akroma, Angel of Wrath has a ton more keywords, and Avacyn, Angel of Hope or Archangel Avacyn   has more protection and removal capabilities. It also doesn't help that I have to buy the Thune angel (Thuna hehe) which is 20 bucks, and I have the Akroma and both Avacyns already in my binder. I know from experience that Akroma, Angel of Wrath is absurdly strong, so I might go with one of the avacyns. Haven't played Avacyn, Angel of Hope in ages, but Archangel Avacyn   would probably be the best choice at the moment.

Mathas, Fiend Seeker: Another new Vampire that should help with politics in the multiplayer game, you put a bounty counter on someone's creature and encourage others to kill it for card draw and some life.

Odric, Lunarch Marshal: If I'm going to allow other Soldiers, Odric is a must-have! Why cast multiple Enchantments if you can get all the effects with just this one :D. Odric is the reason most other creatures have keywords. If I were to replace him, that would open up new possibilities for all other creatures.

Queen Marchesa: Politics, Deathtouch, and card Draw as long as you're the Monarch.

Vizkopa Guildmage: Like Serra Ascendant, neither Vampire nor Soldier, it's also not yet in.. but I'm considering it! Imagine the second ability and then swinging with Licia, or even just casting Blood Tithe or Syphon Soul (Which I've removed now but oh! the possibilities!). The best part is that it hits each opponent and you don't even need haste!

Enchantments

Duelist's Heritage: Double strike for Licia during your turn, politics in everyone else's turn!

Gift of Immortality: This should be amazing, I could also run Darksteel Plate but I know from experience how much harder it is to remove this enchantment. Not much you can do if they Exile Licia though.

Unquestioned Authority: Unblockable and you get a card back. it's a one-use card like Sunbond but once is more than enough.

Sorceries

Demonic Tutor: Find whatever you need.

Instants

Arcbond: I like to consider this a bit similar to Chandra's Ignition as in it lets a creature deal damage to everyone and everything, the difference is that you need to get hit for it to apply. Ideally, you cast this on Licia if you block with her or get blocked, and the damage dealer has a lot of power. It's a completely Rakdos, macho card that works perfectly with any source of lifelink because the harder they hit the more damage you bounce back. As long as you don't kill yourself with it, the lifelink will heal you right up.

Boros Charm: Everything gets indestructible! Have fun with your board-wipe.

Vampiric Tutor: Find whatever you need, and totally on theme!

Wild Ricochet: I think this will probably be your first Sunforger find if things start looking bleak and someone is trying to exile or destroy something of yours.. Changes the target and copies it, so you can make them pay for their insolence! Or, you could cast it on literally any of your finishers for insane win. you could also cast your finishers for a lot less many if you're able to copy it - Exsanguinate(e.g.) with X = 5 instead of 10, and copy it to save some mana.

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Improvements

See the update history for all changes made, and most importantly, the reasons behind them.

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Comments and suggestions very much appreciated - Let me know if you think I missed anything!

(Be sure to mark cards as suggestions so I can give you helper points/good card recommendations if I like the suggestion)

Top Ranked	Achieved #4 position overall 7 years ago
Date added	7 years
Last updated	3 years
Exclude colors	UG
Splash colors	WR
Legality	This deck is Commander / EDH legal.
Rarity (main - side)	13 - 0 Mythic Rares 43 - 3 Rares 21 - 0 Uncommons 15 - 0 Commons
Cards	100
Avg. CMC	3.02
Tokens	Assassin 1/1 B w/ Haste, Monarch Emblem
Folders	EDH, daretti, Decks I like, nice try, commander, Interesting Commander Decks, Playgroup plans, EDH, Vampire decks, EDH
Based on	EDH Jeleva's Malevolent Whispers Bou EDH