Astarion Lifegain WIP

Commander / EDH* Casual Combo Extort Lifegain Lifelink Tempo Vampires WB (Orzhov)

LeGingerbeardMan

Creature (25)

• 1x Auriok Champion
• 1x Bloodletter of Aclazotz
• 1x Creeping Bloodsucker
• 1x Cruel Celebrant
• 1x Crypt Ghast
• 1x Divinity of Pride
• 1x Drana's Emissary
• 1x Elas il-Kor, Sadistic Pilgrim
• 1x Felidar Sovereign
• 1x Gollum, Obsessed Stalker
• 1x Indulging Patrician
• 1x Kambal, Consul of Allocation
• 1x Knight of Dawn's Light
• 1x Ravos, Soultender *f-etch*
• 1x Rhox Faithmender
• 1x Soul Warden
• 1x Soul's Attendant
• 1x Sunseed Nurturer
• 1x Suture Priest
• 1x The Gaffer
• 1x Transcendent Master
• 1x Twilight Prophet
• 1x Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose
• 1x Vizkopa Guildmage
• 1x Witch of the Moors

Sorcery (9)

• 1x Battle at the Bridge
• 1x Blood Tribute
• 1x Death Grasp
• 1x Debt to the Deathless
• 1x Exsanguinate
• 1x Gift of Estates
• 1x Revival / Revenge
• 1x Rush of Dread
• 1x Sanctify

Artifact (16)

• 1x Aetherflux Reservoir
• 1x Arcane Signet
• 1x Blade of the Bloodchief
• 1x Bontu's Monument
• 1x Chalice of Life  ^Flip
• 1x Jet Medallion
• 1x Lightning Greaves
• 1x Lithoform Engine
• 1x Orzhov Locket
• 1x Pearl Medallion
• 1x Pristine Talisman
• 1x Quietus Spike
• 1x Scytheclaw *f-etch*
• 1x Sol Ring
• 1x Strionic Resonator
• 1x Well of Lost Dreams

Enchantment (13)

• 1x Authority of the Consuls
• 1x Blind Obedience
• 1x Bloodchief Ascension
• 1x Boon Reflection
• 1x Cleric Class
• 1x Exquisite Blood
• 1x Feast of the Victorious Dead
• 1x Light of Promise
• 1x Phyrexian Reclamation
• 1x Sanguine Bond
• 1x Smothering Tithe
• 1x Test of Endurance
• 1x Wound Reflection

Commander (1)

Land (34)

• 1x Godless Shrine
• 1x Kabira Crossroads
• 1x Leechridden Swamp
• 1x Mortuary Mire
• 1x Myriad Landscape
• 1x Obscura Storefront
• 1x Orzhov Basilica
• 11x Plains
• 1x Reliquary Tower
• 1x Restless Fortress
• 1x Rogue's Passage
• 1x Scoured Barrens
• 10x Swamp
• 1x Temple of Silence
• 1x Temple of the False God

Instant (2)

• 1x Erebos's Intervention
• 1x Return to Dust

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Sideboard

Artifact (6)

• 1x Archaeomancer's Map
• 1x Commander's Sphere
• 1x Decanter of Endless Water
• 1x Endless Atlas
• 1x Orzhov Cluestone
• 1x Tower of Eons

Enchantment (5)

• 1x Black Market
• 1x Court of Ambition
• 1x Painful Quandary
• 1x Tainted Remedy
• 1x Words of Worship

Creature (1)

• 1x Rebbec, Architect of Ascension

Sorcery (1)

• 1x Sign in Blood

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Maybeboard

Creature (5)

• 1x Angel of Destiny
• 1x Celestial Force
• 1x Cliffhaven Vampire
• 1x Scourge of the Skyclaves
• 1x Vraan, Executioner Thane

Planeswalker (5)

• 1x Kaya, Intangible Slayer
• 1x Sorin Markov
• 1x Sorin the Mirthless
• 1x Sorin, Grim Nemesis
• 1x Sorin, Vengeful Bloodlord

Artifact (4)

• 1x Fountain of Renewal
• 1x Lembas
• 1x Oketra's Monument
• 1x Staff of Nin

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An Orzhov lifegain deck headed by Astarion, the Decadent. The first deck strategy I wanted to explore after playing Magic for about two months was lifegain: I had played against a friend's lifegain deck and gotten mercilessly nuked by Aetherflux Reservoir, and as a result, was gifted an unquenchable thirst to inflict this upon others. The initial concept was for a mono-White Phyrexian deck that utilized lifegain to pay Phyrexian mana with life and speed up the process of fielding creatures, but this was scrapped after 1. I couldn't find a single satisfactory commander for this strategy, and 2. I was told the best lifegain color combo was Orzhov. I discovered Astarion and that was that.

The core strategy of this deck is to capitalize on the versatility of Astarion's ablities to either outlast or OHK opponents with combos such as Sanguine Bond + Exquisite Blood to allow a single point of life gained or damage dealt to win the game instantly or, as previously mentioned, use Aetherflux Reservoir to nuke opponents one by one. Creatures are primarily focused on adding to, enhancing, or duplicating Astarion's effects, so as to reduce the overall span of attrition it may be necessary to overcome. Instants and Sorceries are a melange of options for removal (Return to Dust, Sanctify), and targeted damage/lifegain(Battle at the Bridge, Exsanguinate, Erebos's Intervention). Artifacts focus mainly on mana generation/spell cost reduction, but also offer utility effects utilizing lifegain mechanics (Well of Lost Dreams, Chalice of Life  /Chalice of Death  ). Enchantments are split between mana ramp (Black Market, Smothering Tithe, Wound Reflection), lifegain utility effects, and duplicating/enhancing Astarion's abilities.

Future planned enhancements include the addition of Tutor cards and the acquisition of game-changing creatures (Sheoldred, the Apocalypse/Serra Ascendant), Cabal Coffers, and any and all of the tutor cards I might fit. Deck name TBD upon first victory.

Suggestions are welcome for upgrades, sidegrades, streamlining strategy and trimming fat

Date added	1 year
Last updated	7 months
Exclude colors	URG
Splash colors	WB
Legality	This deck is Commander / EDH legal.
Rarity (main - side)	7 - 0 Mythic Rares 36 - 8 Rares 24 - 1 Uncommons 12 - 4 Commons
Cards	100
Avg. CMC	3.05
Tokens	City's Blessing, Copy Clone, Phyrexian Germ 0/0 B, Monarch Emblem, Treasure