Karlovation - Taxation is extortion

Commander / EDH Control Lifegain Multiplayer WB (Orzhov)

MrHighscore

Land (36)

• 1x Cabal Coffers
• 1x Caves of Koilos
• 1x Godless Shrine
• 1x Isolated Chapel
• 1x Leechridden Swamp
• 1x Marsh Flats
• 1x Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
• 12x Plains
• 1x Shambling Vent
• 13x Swamp
• 1x Tainted Field
• 1x Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
• 1x Vault of the Archangel

Control (10)

• 1x Ashen Rider
• 1x Hero's Downfall
• 1x High Priest of Penance
• 1x Martial Coup
• 1x Mortify
• 1x Necrotic Sliver
• 1x Swords to Plowshares
• 1x Tragic Slip
• 1x Unmake
• 1x Utter End

Utility (5)

• 1x Ashnod's Altar
• 1x Bloodghast
• 1x Darksteel Plate
• 1x Flickering Ward
• 1x Reassembling Skeleton

Tutor (2)

• 1x Demonic Tutor
• 1x Vampiric Tutor

Drain (12)

• 1x Blood Artist
• 1x Bloodchief Ascension
• 1x Debt to the Deathless
• 1x Exsanguinate
• 1x Gray Merchant of Asphodel
• 1x Kambal, Consul of Allocation
• 1x Obzedat, Ghost Council
• 1x Palace Siege
• 1x Suture Priest
• 1x Underworld Coinsmith
• 1x Vizkopa Guildmage
• 1x Zulaport Cutthroat

Card Advantage (11)

• 1x Debtors' Knell
• 1x Erebos, God of the Dead
• 1x Land Tax
• 1x Necropotence
• 1x Oversold Cemetery
• 1x Phyrexian Arena
• 1x Phyrexian Reclamation
• 1x Skullclamp
• 1x Sun Titan
• 1x Sword of Light and Shadow
• 1x Yawgmoth's Will

Ramp (3)

• 1x Coalition Relic
• 1x Orzhov Signet
• 1x Sol Ring

Tax (3)

• 1x Ghostly Prison
• 1x Grave Pact
• 1x Sphere of Safety

Commander (1)

Extort (12)

• 1x Basilica Guards
• 1x Basilica Screecher
• 1x Blind Obedience
• 1x Crypt Ghast
• 1x Kingpin's Pet
• 1x Knight of Obligation
• 1x Pontiff of Blight
• 1x Syndic of Tithes
• 1x Syndicate Enforcer
• 1x Thrull Parasite
• 1x Tithe Drinker
• 1x Vizkopa Confessor

Lifegain (5)

• 1x Authority of the Consuls
• 1x Divinity of Pride
• 1x Serra Ascendant
• 1x Soul Warden
• 1x Soul's Attendant

---

Maybeboard

Other (3)

• 1x Lightmine Field
• 1x Swiftfoot Boots
• 1x Treasury Thrull

---

As long as I profit, I don't care if you call it tax or extortion.

Taxation is extortion is a drain based deck with all printed extort cards included. Focus is on casting lots of small spells and getting as many extort triggers as possible in the process. As there are only so many extort cards in the game, I've included a good deal of card advantage and recursion as well, to maximize the number of small spells I can cast (extort triggers), and always keeping my mana drained.

Highlights and synergies

• Low CMC allows me to use extort triggers
• Low CMC allows me to cast multiple spells each round
• Good Card Advantage and recursion provides me with the ressources I need. This is partly done by leveraging the life surplus with Erebos, God of the Dead, Phyrexian Reclamantion, and Necropotence
• No crap lands - I'm only playing two colors, and Land Tax helps.
• Lots of cheap creature focused life drain that has good synergy with my recursion options (e.g., Oversold Cemetery, Sun Titan, Sword of Light and Shadow)
• Very good control suite that covers the entire spectre (over average vs. indestructible with Ashen Rider, Karlov of the Ghost Council, Swords to Plowshares, Tragic Slip, Unmake and Utter End).
• A couple of bordline-lame lifelink creatures, namely Divinity of Pride and Serra Ascendant.
• Ashnod's Altar helps as sac outlet and can help fuel Exsanguinate, Debt to the Deathless, and Martial Coup
• Cheap spells and Yawgmoth's Will
• Sphere of Safety + 15 other enchantments
• Bloodchief Ascension in EDH :)
• Gray Merchant of Asphodel + recursion

Why Karlov of the Ghost Council as commander?

I get a lot of milage out of his exile ability , due to all the lifegain triggers I can generate. From time to time he can also lay down good chunks of commander damage.

Notable omissions

• I'm not running Exquisite Blood + Sanguine Bond , as I get plenty of heat for running it in Orio Oloro Overweight - aka Fatboy Slim

Notes

• I want the power level to be under competitive, but the deck should be able to hold it's own.

All suggestions are welcome - please also suggest cuts!

Please +1 Upvote if you like where the deck is going!

Top Ranked	Achieved #3 position overall 8 years ago
Date added	9 years
Last updated	1 year
Key combos	Exquisite Blood + Sanguine Bond
Legality	This deck is Commander / EDH legal.
Rarity (main - side)	11 - 0 Mythic Rares 28 - 0 Rares 25 - 0 Uncommons 11 - 0 Commons
Cards	100
Avg. CMC	2.81
Tokens	Soldier 1/1 W
Folders	Fun EDH, Ideas for Angelica, Decks I Like, Must Make, 5. Inspirations, Commander, EDH, Commander Decks, A EDH Playtest, cool decks