Im fairly new to EDH after having spent most of my time playing Modern. I love the formats card variety and I especially love playing it in free-for-all multiplayer, which is what I built this deck around. Here are a few quick notes about the cards in the deck and some of the strategy involved. Ill likely update this later, but until the meantime feel free to give me any pointers.
Note that this is something of a wish-list deck as I don't own all the cards listed here, but i do own most of them. Also, I mostly play Online, which makes some of the cards like Overwhelming Forces and Scrubland a little more accessible.
GENERAL
Obzedat, Ghost Council: Obzedat is a nifty general due to his ability to blink himself at the end of each turn meaning not just are you extorting two life each turn, but he can also avoid devastating board wipe sorcery spells, which are common in EDH. Your opponent could cast Apocalypse and hed still be safe. Also, at 5/5 hes not a bad attacker either.
DRAW MECHANICS
Necropotence: This whole deck was pretty much born out of my discovery of Necropotence. Ive heard of the spell, but since I spent most of my time playing Modern I never really put much thought into how it works before. Now that Im playing EDH it has quickly become one of, if not my number one, favorite card in Magic. Draw mechanics dont get much better than this. Almost makes me regret not getting into EDH before they banned Griselbrand.
Phyrexian Arena: Not quite as good as Necropotence, but still a very welcome addition.
Erebos, God of the Dead: Comes with a draw mechanic and at 5/7 it works well as both an attacker and a blocker. Hit it with Pariah to boost your defenses.
Well of Lost Dreams: Helps you get the most out of your life gain. Extort, then draw.
Ad Nauseam: Another great draw effect spell thats also an instant. Also, the artwork is awesome.
Sensei's Divining Top: Its Senseis Diving Top. Need I say more?
PILLOW FORT AND OTHER DEFENSES
No Mercy: One of my favorite pillow fort cards of all time. It basically gives you, the player, deathtouch. A low-cost alternative to this would be Aurification (which fits well into the decks flavor might I add).
Solitary Confinement: Meant to be played after you get your life-for-cards mechanic rolling. Works especially well with Necropotence. Use Library of Leng to mitigate the discard so youre not exiling all your cards.
Ghostly Prison: A pillow fort classic.
Karmic Justice: Makes your opponent think twice about blowing your enchantments and artifacts up.
Norn's Annex: Fun against non-white foes and you can cast it for an easy three if you have the life to spare (and you should).
Leyline of Sanctity: Who wouldnt want to start the game off with hexproof? An expensive card, but its worth it. Some folks just dont have an answer to it.
Pariah: Attach to an indestructible creature (thatll show you God decks) or something super valuable like Prophet of Kruphix in order to dissuade your opponent from attacking you.
Souls of the Faultless
: The bigger they are, the greater it hurts your opponent and the greater your life gain.
Blind Obedience: For two mana it slows your opponents down and grants you an extort trigger.
REMOVAL
Unmake: Exiles, which is great against indestructible creatures.
Mortify: Works against both creatures and enchantments.
Vindicate: Expensive so play it if you got it. Lets you destroy anything, including pesky planeswalkers.
Swords to Plowshares / Path to Exile: One mana to exile any one creature is always a great deal.
UNLIMITED HAND SIZE
Reliquary Tower: Land card, making it difficult to remove.
Spellbook: Cost nothing to play, meaning you can extort for free.
Library of Leng: Only one mana and it mitigates both Necropotences and Solitary Confinements discard condition.
Venser's Journal: The ultimate companion to Necropotence. Effectively cancels out its entire life cost penalty.
LIFE GAIN
Rhox Faithmender / Boon Reflection: Any white EDH deck built around a gain life mechanic should definitely consider these cards. Who wouldnt want to double or even triple their gain?
Divinity of Pride: Divinity has saved my butt on more than one occasion. An 8/8 flyer with lifelink is a pretty sweet deal at five mana.
Exsanguinate: Especially brutal in multiplayer. Throw in Debt to the Deathless for double the hurt and double the gains.
Felidar Sovereign: The only card in the deck thats a win condition in of itself. Just be prepared to make yourself a huge target when you play it. Still, 4/6 with vigilance and lifelink is a sweet deal.
MANA RAMP
Crypt Ghast: Black mana ramp, because extra mana is always welcome.
Sol Ring: Every EDH deck should have a Sol Ring.
Land Tax: Great for when youre having trouble with getting lands and its super easy to cast.
Dark Ritual: Great for early game. Imagine getting to cast Necropotence on turn one.
Chromatic Lantern: Great for multicolor commanders.
OTHER FUN STUFF
Bloodchief Ascension / Mindcrank: This deadly combo has won me the game more than once (though I can guarantee you that it wont win you any friends). An experienced player will know what youre up to once either of these hit the battlefield, so be mindful not to play them unless everyone seems to be targeting someone else.
Exquisite Blood / Sanguine Bond: Another brutal win-condition combo, though this one is harder to pull off due to the higher cost. Still, both cards are useful on their own.
Test of Endurance: 50 life shouldn't be too hard to get with this deck and four mana for an alt-win card is pretty sweet.
