Kambal, Taxes of Life

Commander / EDH Combo Competitive Infinite Combo Lifegain WB (Orzhov)

saber4734

Creature (25)

• 1x Archangel of Thune
• 1x Ayli, Eternal Pilgrim
• 1x Bishop of Rebirth
• 1x Bloodgift Demon
• 1x Cliffhaven Vampire
• 1x Containment Priest
• 1x Deathbringer Liege
• 1x Defiant Bloodlord
• 1x Divinity of Pride
• 1x Drana's Emissary
• 1x Dread Presence
• 1x Erebos, God of the Dead
• 1x Felidar Sovereign
• 1x Grand Abolisher
• 1x Gray Merchant of Asphodel
• 1x Indulgent Tormentor
• 1x Karlov of the Ghost Council
• 1x Mother of Runes
• 1x Murderous Rider
• 1x Obzedat, Ghost Council
• 1x Rune-Scarred Demon
• 1x Serra Ascendant
• 1x Thalia, Heretic Cathar
• 1x Tree of Perdition
• 1x Virtus the Veiled

Instant (8)

• 1x Anguished Unmaking
• 1x Crib Swap
• 1x Forsake the Worldly
• 1x Hero's Downfall
• 1x Path to Exile
• 1x Swords to Plowshares
• 1x Utter End
• 1x Vampiric Tutor

Land (31)

• 1x Bojuka Bog
• 1x Caves of Koilos
• 1x Fetid Heath
• 1x Godless Shrine
• 1x Isolated Chapel
• 1x Mana Confluence
• 1x Marsh Flats
• 1x Mortuary Mire
• 1x Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
• 1x Orzhov Basilica
• 8x Plains
• 1x Rogue's Passage
• 1x Scoured Barrens
• 7x Swamp
• 1x Tainted Field
• 1x Temple of Silence
• 1x Temple of the False God
• 1x Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth

Artifact (11)

• 1x Aetherflux Reservoir
• 1x Darksteel Plate
• 1x Elixir of Immortality
• 1x Isolation Cell
• 1x Lightning Greaves
• 1x Mana Crypt
• 1x Mindcrank
• 1x Sensei's Divining Top
• 1x Sol Ring
• 1x Thran Dynamo
• 1x Well of Lost Dreams

Planeswalker (3)

• 1x Ob Nixilis Reignited
• 1x Sorin, Grim Nemesis
• 1x Sorin Markov

Commander (1)

Enchantment (11)

• 1x Authority of the Consuls
• 1x Bloodchief Ascension
• 1x Cruel Reality
• 1x Exquisite Blood
• 1x Oblivion Ring
• 1x Parasitic Impetus
• 1x Phyrexian Arena
• 1x Revenge of Ravens
• 1x Sanguine Bond
• 1x Test of Endurance
• 1x Underworld Dreams

Sorcery (10)

• 1x Damnation
• 1x Debt to the Deathless
• 1x Demonic Tutor
• 1x Diabolic Tutor
• 1x Exsanguinate
• 1x Fumigate
• 1x Merciless Eviction
• 1x Oketra's Last Mercy
• 1x Torment of Hailfire
• 1x Vindicate

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Maybeboard

Creature (7)

• 1x Doomed Necromancer
• 1x Grave Titan
• 1x Magus of the Will
• 1x Raving Dead
• 1x Sun Titan
• 1x Thalia's Lancers
• 1x Treasury Thrull

Planeswalker (1)

• 1x Ajani Goldmane

Artifact (5)

• 1x Candelabra of Tawnos
• 1x Cursed Rack
• 1x Prototype Portal
• 1x Sisay's Ring
• 1x Skullcage

Instant (1)

• 1x Go for the Throat

Sorcery (3)

• 1x Death Grasp
• 1x Remorseless Punishment
• 1x Wrath of God

Enchantment (2)

• 1x Subversion
• 1x Tainted Remedy

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Kambal, Consul of Allocation

Kambal may not look it but he is incredibly powerful. All of the Aether in Ghirapur is under Consulate control, and they are the ones who decide who has access to it and at what price. As the Consul of Allocation, Kambal is one of the most powerful figures in the city of Ghirapur. Sure there are other members of the Consulate as well, all of whom have roughly equal authority in governing the city. But in issues of Aether distribution, Kambal's word is law. If you want Aether, you have to go through him and he's not about to let you have it for free.

I chose Kambal as my commander because noncreature spells are a must have in any format but abundant in EDH. This deck is designed to make full use of Kambal's ability. Getting Kambal out early is the first step and a very easy one since he is a three drop. He can be vulnerable to removal but being a three drop he isn't hard to recast. And in keeping true to Kambal's flavor text this deck has plenty of "friends" to help Kambal do his job.

Kambal hasn't seen upgrades since 2017. So today we're going to add some cards released over the past 3 years.

New Planeswalkers Added

• Ob Nixilis Reignited Card draw, creature destruction and more drain if you get his ultimate off.
• Sorin Markov This Planeswalker is a must have in any EDH deck and typically spells death.

Notable Creatures

• Archangel of Thune A recent addition and her ability works well with Kambal, Consul of Allocation.
• Cliffhaven Vampire and Drana's Emissary Both notable creatures that help with the life drain.
• Serra Ascendant A MUST HAVE in any white deck. Get him out early and you're off to a great start.
• Tree of Perdition This card becomes an instant target for removal. So you either get the ability off or at least you've drawn out removal spells.

Additional Life Drain

• Debt to the Deathless Works great in group format but has helped win me games in 1v1 as well.
• Exsanguinate Does the same as the card mentioned above just not as good.
• Isolation Cell This will tax your opponents for casting creatures.
• Painful Quandary This will also tax your opponents for life or cards.
• Revenge of Ravens Just something to make your opponents think twice about attacking.
• Underworld Dreams Everyone draws cards. And in EDH they draw even more. This can get ugly.

Infinite Combos

• Bloodchief Ascension + Mindcrank
• Sanguine Bond + Exquisite Blood
• Cliffhaven Vampire + Exquisite Blood

Notable Combos

• Sanguine Bond + Oketra's Last Mercy

Additional Win Conditions

• Felidar Sovereign
• Test of Endurance
• Aetherflux Reservoir I can't tell you how many times I've used this. Even if I die the next turn it is hilarious. And if someone gets pissed I just say google Pyrrhic Victory.

Card Draw

• Alhammarret's Archive
• Phyrexian Arena
• Sensei's Divining Top
• Well of Lost Dreams

Tutors

• Demonic Tutor
• Diabolic Tutor
• Vampiric Tutor

I'm a sucker for some removal

The deck is also designed to have enough removal so that you can keep your opponents board in check while building your own board. Everything from Swords to Plowshares, Path to Exile, Vindicate, Damnation, Day of Judgment and much more.

This deck will undergo periodic updates as new cards become relevant. (Suggestions are welcome)

Final thoughts

This deck functions well 1v1. However, it is lacking in group game.

Top Ranked	Achieved #68 position overall 7 years ago
Date added	7 years
Last updated	6 months
Exclude colors	URG
Legality	This deck is Commander / EDH legal.
Rarity (main - side)	11 - 0 Mythic Rares 45 - 0 Rares 25 - 0 Uncommons 4 - 0 Commons
Cards	100
Avg. CMC	3.43
Tokens	Emblem Ob Nixilis Reignited, Shapeshifter 1/1 C, Vampire Knight 1/1 B
Folders	Commander Decks, Black/White, Commander/EDH, EDH Decks, Fun stuff, Commander, Other Decks worth checking out, EDH, Interesting Commander Decks, Cool EDH
Based on	life and death CMDR kadhia EDH