Soul Taxes

Commander / EDH*

BeachMage

Land (36)

• 1x Bojuka Bog
• 1x Cabal Coffers
• 1x Caves of Koilos
• 1x Command Tower
• 1x Concealed Courtyard
• 1x Evolving Wilds
• 1x Fetid Heath
• 1x Godless Shrine
• 1x Grand Coliseum
• 1x Isolated Chapel
• 1x Mana Confluence
• 1x Orzhov Basilica
• 7x Plains
• 1x Reliquary Tower
• 1x Scavenger Grounds
• 1x Scoured Barrens
• 1x Shambling Vent
• 1x Strip Mine
• 7x Swamp
• 1x Tainted Field
• 1x Temple of Silence
• 1x Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
• 1x Vault of the Archangel
• 1x Westvale Abbey  ^Flip

Artifact (11)

• 1x Alhammarret's Archive
• 1x Expedition Map
• 1x Mind Stone
• 1x Orzhov Cluestone
• 1x Orzhov Locket
• 1x Orzhov Signet
• 1x Phyrexian Processor
• 1x Sol Ring
• 1x Tainted Sigil
• 1x Thran Dynamo
• 1x Worn Powerstone

Sorcery (16)

• 1x Ambition's Cost
• 1x Ancient Craving
• 1x Debt to the Deathless
• 1x Fumigate
• 1x Killing Wave
• 1x Merciless Eviction
• 1x Night's Whisper
• 1x Pain's Reward
• 1x Promise of Power
• 1x Read the Bones
• 1x Repay in Kind
• 1x Reverse the Sands
• 1x Sign in Blood
• 1x Terminus
• 1x Toxic Deluge
• 1x Vindicate

Instant (12)

• 1x Angel's Grace
• 1x Anguished Unmaking
• 1x Beacon of Immortality
• 1x Devour in Shadow
• 1x Disenchant
• 1x Enlightened Tutor
• 1x Faith's Shield
• 1x Hatred
• 1x Mortify
• 1x Swords to Plowshares
• 1x Unexpectedly Absent
• 1x Utter End

Commander (1)

Creature (15)

• 1x Burnished Hart
• 1x Children of Korlis
• 1x Crypt Ghast
• 1x Defiant Bloodlord
• 1x Evra, Halcyon Witness
• 1x Exquisite Archangel
• 1x Hex Parasite
• 1x Platinum Angel
• 1x Resolute Archangel
• 1x Serra Avatar
• 1x Treasury Thrull
• 1x Tree of Perdition
• 1x Twilight Prophet
• 1x Vizkopa Guildmage
• 1x Wall of Blood

Enchantment (10)

• 1x Exquisite Blood
• 1x Ghostly Prison
• 1x Greed
• 1x Near-Death Experience
• 1x Phyrexian Arena
• 1x Phyrexian Unlife
• 1x Sanguine Bond
• 1x Smothering Tithe
• 1x Solemnity
• 1x Tainted Remedy

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Kambal, Consul of Allocation breathes life into the stale world of taxing opponents. This deck weaponizes life gain as a powerful resource. Unlike other orzhov and esper commanders, Kambal makes a dramatic effect on each individual spell cast. Taxing your opponents' life total at every opportunity is the central theme.

Powerful enchantments transfer all this life gain into creatures or punishment for other players. They also fit the mold of the deck's typical win conditions. Angelic Accord can easily trigger a 4/4 angel on each player's turn with Kambal in play. Authority of the Consuls and Blind Obedience fit thematically with an oppressive treasury burdening the citizens. Both cards slow down the game speed and gain life. Sanguine Bond aims the life gain as direct life loss to a troublesome taxpayer. Exquisite Blood + Sanguine Bond form an infinite life draining combo that instantly kills the table. The ability for these enchantments to win the game will draw out the table's most punishing removal.

Luckily, the deck has a recursive reanimator subtheme. Athreos, God of Passage is an excellent commander in their own decks. However, they add great value by bringing back life draining creatures turn after turn. Disciple of Bolas + Gray Merchant of Asphodel + Kokusho, the Evening Star are some of the strong ETB drain creatures. The idea is to stay comfortably high on life to thwart pesky aggressive decks.

Rhox Faithmender doubles life gain. Life doubling assists in getting an easy Felidar Sovereign or a Test of Endurance victory. Orzhov colors pack some of the best removal in magic. This is necessary to stop creature based strategies. Multiple board wipes and versatile single targeted removal protect from hate the deck draws.

New and old artifacts interact with life gain in very advantageous ways. Well of Lost Dreams adds a strong draw engine. Alhammarret's Archive is another card that doubles life and more importantly card draw. Kaladesh provided Kambal another win condition through Aetherflux Reservoir . It isn't unreasonable to be in the hundreds for life total. In conclusion, the deck interacts with massive life gain to punish opponents in explosive game ending plays. Debt to the Deathless because even the dead pay what they owe.

Date added	7 years
Last updated	5 years
Key combos	Exquisite Blood + Sanguine Bond Disciple of Bolas + Gray Merchant of Asphodel + Kokusho, the Evening Star
Legality	This deck is not Commander / EDH legal.
Rarity (main - side)	13 - 0 Mythic Rares 46 - 0 Rares 15 - 0 Uncommons 12 - 0 Commons
Cards	101
Avg. CMC	3.66
Tokens	City's Blessing, Demon */* B, Human Cleric 1/1 BW, Minion X/X B, Treasure
Folders	life tax commander, Interesting Builds, Retired Decks 2017