Banking with Karlov

Commander / EDH Casual Control Lifegain Multiplayer WB (Orzhov)

Coltronics

Creature (28)

• 1x Ajani's Pridemate
• 1x Angelic Skirmisher
• 1x Archangel of Thune
• 1x Ayli, Eternal Pilgrim
• 1x Blood Artist
• 1x Bontu the Glorified
• 1x Cliffhaven Vampire
• 1x Defiant Bloodlord
• 1x Drana's Emissary
• 1x Eight-and-a-Half-Tails
• 1x Erebos, God of the Dead
• 1x Gray Merchant of Asphodel
• 1x Kambal, Consul of Allocation
• 1x Kingpin's Pet
• 1x Kothophed, Soul Hoarder
• 1x Patron of the Kitsune
• 1x Ravos, Soultender
• 1x Resplendent Mentor
• 1x Sangromancer
• 1x Soul Warden
• 1x Soul's Attendant
• 1x Sunscorch Regent
• 1x Thrull Parasite
• 1x Tithe Drinker
• 1x Treasury Thrull
• 1x Tymna the Weaver
• 1x Vizkopa Guildmage
• 1x Vona, Butcher of Magan

Sorcery (4)

• 1x In Garruk's Wake
• 1x Merciless Eviction
• 1x Sublime Exhalation
• 1x Toxic Deluge

Land (37)

• 1x Blighted Steppe
• 1x Bojuka Bog
• 1x Caves of Koilos
• 1x Command Tower
• 1x Concealed Courtyard
• 1x Isolated Chapel
• 1x Kabira Crossroads
• 1x Mortuary Mire
• 1x New Benalia
• 1x Opal Palace
• 1x Orzhov Basilica
• 1x Orzhov Guildgate
• 1x Orzhova, the Church of Deals
• 7x Plains
• 1x Radiant Fountain
• 1x Rogue's Passage
• 1x Scoured Barrens
• 1x Shambling Vent
• 8x Swamp
• 1x Tainted Field
• 1x Temple of Silence
• 1x Temple of the False God
• 1x Vault of the Archangel
• 1x Westvale Abbey  ^Flip

Enchantment (10)

• 1x Arguel's Blood Fast  ^Flip
• 1x Ashes of the Abhorrent
• 1x Authority of the Consuls
• 1x Blind Obedience
• 1x Campaign of Vengeance
• 1x Greed
• 1x Palace Siege
• 1x Phyrexian Reclamation
• 1x Sanguine Bond
• 1x Sunbond

Commander (1)

Artifact (13)

• 1x Aetherflux Reservoir
• 1x Cauldron of Souls
• 1x Commander's Sphere
• 1x Dowsing Dagger  ^Flip
• 1x Fellwar Stone
• 1x Loxodon Warhammer
• 1x Orzhov Cluestone
• 1x Orzhov Keyrune
• 1x Pristine Talisman
• 1x Sol Ring
• 1x Sun Droplet
• 1x Tablet of the Guilds
• 1x Whip of Erebos

Instant (4)

• 1x Dazzling Reflection
• 1x Orzhov Charm
• 1x Return to Dust
• 1x Utter End

Planeswalker (3)

• 1x Kaya, Ghost Assassin
• 1x Liliana Vess
• 1x Sorin, Lord of Innistrad

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Sideboard

Sorcery (1)

• 1x Sadistic Sacrament

Enchantment (1)

• 1x Exquisite Blood

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Maybeboard

Enchantment (4)

• 1x Legion's Landing  ^Flip
• 1x Mortuary
• 1x Polluted Bonds
• 1x Purgatory

Instant (1)

• 1x Hatred

Sorcery (1)

• 1x Bond of Agony

Land (4)

• 1x Cabal Coffers
• 1x Isolated Chapel
• 1x Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
• 1x Seraph Sanctuary

Artifact (1)

• 1x Profane Memento

Creature (3)

• 1x Crypt Ghast
• 1x Kokusho, the Evening Star
• 1x Pontiff of Blight

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Karlov of the Ghost Council uses multiple life-gain sources (extort, lifelink, triggers, etc.) to get big in order to exile opponent's threat creatures or swing for commander damage. This deck isn't about gaining tons of life so much as it's about tons of life-gain triggers and abilities.

Life-gain Triggers

Aetherflux Reservoir
Angelic Skirmisher
Archangel of Thune
Ashes of the Abhorrent : Shuts off a lot of grave-play too.
Authority of the Consuls : Slows down your opponents' boards while beefing up Karlov
Blood Artist
Bontu the Glorified
Campaign of Vengeance
Dazzling Reflection : Blunt your opponents' attack or use it on Karlov when enchanted with Sunbond
Drana's Emissary : Consistent, reliable life-gain triggers are nice
Gray Merchant of Asphodel : Fun combo for massive life-gain/drain with all of the pieces from the Exquisite Blood Combo.
Kabira Crossroads
Kambal, Consul of Allocation : Pretty nuts when paired with the Soul Sisters or Authority of the Consuls
Kaya, Ghost Assassin : Great utility
Kingpin's Pet
Loxodon Warhammer
Moment of Heroism
Orzhov Keyrune
Orzhova, the Church of Deals : Mostly in for flavor
Palace Siege : Regular life-gain or creature reclamation.
Patron of the Kitsune
Pristine Talisman : Instant-speed life-gain in a pinch.
Sangromancer
Radiant Fountain
Retreat to Hagra : Obviously, I usually pick the life-gain/drain option.
Sangromancer
Scoured Barrens
Shambling Vent
Sorin, Lord of Innistrad : Make lifelinking chumps and steal opponents' creatures
Soul Warden
Soul's Attendant
Sun Droplet : Great deterrence in multiplayer
Tablet of the Guilds
Tithe Drinker
Treasury Thrull
Tymna the Weaver
Vault of the Archangel
Vizkopa Guildmage
Whip of Erebos

Also to take advantage of gained life:

Aetherflux Reservoir : Besides life-gain, this artifact is a great alternate finisher, since my life total regularly sits at 60+ when this deck gets rolling.
Ajani's Pridemate
Arguel's Blood Fast  
Archangel of Thune : In addition to lifelink, she lets Karlov get 3 counters instead of 2 for each life-gain trigger.
Ayli, Eternal Pilgrim : Karlov's backup to exiling threats.
Exquisite Blood combo: Combos with Cliffhaven Vampire , Defiant Bloodlord , Vizkopa Guildmage , Sanguine Bond for infinite life-gain/drain.
Erebos, God of the Dead
Greed
Kothophed, Soul Hoarder : Typically nets me a lot of cards, especially after a boardwipe. Gotta play with him carefully if I'm at a low life total, though.
Phyrexian Reclamation
Sunbond : Pumps Karlov up REALLY FAST.
Toxic Deluge : Can often play when Karlov is out and already massive.
Thrull Parasite : great for chipping away at planeswalkers
Tymna the Weaver : Really good in the early game or post-boardwipe when I can hit 2+ opponents in a turn.
Vona, Butcher of Magan

Date added	7 years
Last updated	5 years
Exclude colors	URG
Legality	This deck is Commander / EDH legal.
Rarity (main - side)	10 - 0 Mythic Rares 34 - 2 Rares 24 - 0 Uncommons 17 - 0 Commons
Cards	100
Avg. CMC	3.54
Tokens	Emblem Sorin, Lord of Innistrad, Human Cleric 1/1 BW, Plant 0/2 G, Vampire 1/1 B w/ Lifelink
Folders	Commander