Life of Karlov. looking for feedback

Commander / EDH Counters Lifegain WB (Orzhov)

Drall

Instant (5)

• 1x Beacon of Immortality
• 1x Path to Exile
• 1x Return to Dust
• 1x Sudden Spoiling
• 1x Swords to Plowshares

Sorcery (9)

• 1x Debt to the Deathless
• 1x Demonic Tutor
• 1x Diabolic Tutor
• 1x Essence Harvest
• 1x Exsanguinate
• 1x Fumigate
• 1x Killing Wave
• 1x Righteous Confluence
• 1x Toxic Deluge

Enchantment (8)

• 1x Authority of the Consuls
• 1x Blind Obedience
• 1x Necropotence
• 1x Phyrexian Arena
• 1x Retribution of the Ancients
• 1x Sanguine Bond
• 1x Tainted Remedy
• 1x True Conviction

Artifact (14)

• 1x Aetherflux Reservoir
• 1x Caged Sun
• 1x Demon's Horn
• 1x Loxodon Warhammer
• 1x Orzhov Signet
• 1x Paradise Plume
• 1x Pristine Talisman
• 1x Sol Ring
• 1x Sword of the Animist
• 1x Sword of Vengeance
• 1x Thought Vessel
• 1x Well of Lost Dreams
• 1x Whip of Erebos
• 1x Whispersilk Cloak

Planeswalker (4)

• 1x Ajani Steadfast
• 1x Liliana Vess
• 1x Sorin, Grim Nemesis
• 1x Sorin, Solemn Visitor

Creature (22)

• 1x Ajani's Pridemate
• 1x Angelic Skirmisher
• 1x Athreos, God of Passage
• 1x Blood Artist
• 1x Cliffhaven Vampire
• 1x Crypt Ghast
• 1x Defiant Bloodlord
• 1x Disciple of Bolas
• 1x Grand Abolisher
• 1x Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet
• 1x Kambal, Consul of Allocation
• 1x Obzedat, Ghost Council
• 1x Pestilence Demon
• 1x Serra Ascendant
• 1x Soul Warden
• 1x Soul's Attendant
• 1x Sun Titan
• 1x Sunscorch Regent
• 1x Thief of Blood
• 1x Vampire Nighthawk
• 1x Vizkopa Guildmage
• 1x Wall of Reverence

Land (37)

• 1x Arcane Lighthouse
• 1x Cabal Coffers
• 1x Caves of Koilos
• 1x High Market
• 1x Kabira Crossroads
• 1x Myriad Landscape
• 1x Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
• 1x Orzhov Basilica
• 7x Plains
• 1x Radiant Fountain
• 1x Reliquary Tower
• 1x Rogue's Passage
• 1x Scoured Barrens
• 1x Seraph Sanctuary
• 10x Swamp
• 1x Tainted Field
• 1x Temple of Silence
• 1x Temple of the False God
• 1x Thespian's Stage
• 1x Tower of the Magistrate
• 1x Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
• 1x Vault of the Archangel

Commander (1)

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Sideboard

Enchantment (1)

• 1x Exquisite Blood

Artifact (1)

• 1x MImic Vat

Creature (2)

• 1x Felidar Sovereign
• 1x Pontiff of Blight

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Maybeboard

Instant (1)

• 1x Anguished Unmaking

Enchantment (1)

• 1x Sunbond

Planeswalker (1)

• 1x Sorin, Lord of Innistrad

Land (1)

• 1x Isolated Chapel

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Karlov of the Ghost Council gains all the life without the infinite combos (mostly). I'm mostly playing in a meta where infinite combos are discouraged so I do try to avoid the most of the obvious ones.

Its no secrete that Karlov of the Ghost Council gets really big really fast. So often the danger is not becoming too big a threat too early. Its easy to cast him turn 2 and swing turn 3 with him as an 8/8 commander. That sort of action usually gets the table rallied against you fairly quick.

Ramp is mostly land based and mana doubling with things like Crypt Ghast & Caged Sun. Sol Ring, Thought Vessel, Orzhov Signet, Pristine Talisman Paradise Plume and Sword of the Animist helps fix land and mostly gain small bits of life.

Being in black I'm running a good amount of tutors Diabolic Tutor, Liliana Vess, Demonic Tutor to search answers and win con out of my library. Most often I'll search early game for Coffers & Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth to get the mana ramp going or for protection for Karlov. Whispersilk Cloak is the first artifact ill normally go get.

Things like Tainted Remedy prevent others from gaining life and are an instant kill with Beacon of Immortality. My preference is to be able to clear the whole table at once via Sanguine Bond, Vizkopa Guildmage, or Defiant Bloodlord with one of the large life gain effects.

Removal for creatures is normally done thru Karlov's second ability, Killing Wave(if I've got the life to spend I'll do it and keep Karlov alive, and either wipe the board or hit everyone for a few points), and a few deathdouch creatures. Enchantment / artifacts removal is covered with things like Return to Dust, Swords to Plowshares, & Path to Exile.(Currently on side board)- Mimic Vat helps abuse and recreate the ETB effects and is effective with a good portion of the deck and downright broken with Sun Titan. Thief of Blood is a bit counter productive with Karlov but its amazing at removing all other walkers, and then normally becomes a huge flyer that gets to swing over ground blockers.

Thanks for taking the time to have a look and I'm always open to suggestions. Edit 3, Aug28. Edit 4 Oct 6,

Date added	7 years
Last updated	7 years
Legality	This deck is Commander / EDH legal.
Rarity (main - side)	11 - 0 Mythic Rares 40 - 4 Rares 21 - 0 Uncommons 10 - 0 Commons
Cards	100
Avg. CMC	3.41
Tokens	Copy Clone, Emblem Ajani Steadfast, Emblem Sorin, Solemn Visitor, Knight 2/2 W w/ Vigilance, Vampire 2/2 B, Vampire Knight 1/1 B, Zombie 2/2 B