This is my pet deck. Every time I sit down to play Commander, I try to play this at least once. Karlov can get big and out of control, fast.

Plenty of Soul Sisters and their ilk in the deck (Soul Warden, Soul's Attendant, etc.) as well as the creatures that benefit fron life gain (Ajani's Pridemate, Archangel of Thune, Crested Sunmare, etc.). A couple extort cards that add utility (Crypt Ghast and Blind Obedience).

For card draw, I focused on cards that deal with lifegain or loss of life (such as Tymna the Weaver, Cosmos Elixir, Necropotence, etc.).

For targeted removal, we have the lifelinker, Vona, Butcher of Magan as well as a suite of instants/sorceries (Anguished Unmaking, Vindicate, etc.).

For planeswalkers, we're running Ajani, Strength of the Pride for his token creation and Sorin, Grim Nemesis for his card draw and targeted removal.

I run a lot of utility lands. Most notably Arcane Lighthouse for creatures I can't target with Karlov's ability, Rogue's Passage for my big creatures to swing through, Vault of the Archangel for the lifelink/deathtouch, and Witch's Clinic for massive lifegain from Karlov.

As for artifacts, you can't go wrong with Bolas's Citadel. Casting cards off the top of your library in a deck with lifegain is a no brainer. Swiftfoot Boots and Lightning Greaves for Karlov protection as well as Whispersilk Cloak for added unblockability. Shadowspear for trample/lifelink and Whip of Erebos for the lifelink but on all your creatures.

For enchantments, I run both Authority of the Consuls and Blind Obedience for their tapdown/lifegain effects. Smothering Tithe for the ramp.

All sorceries are board wipes, except for one targeted removal spell and one Grim Tutor.

There are a few win conditions in the deck. You have the obvious combat damage strategy from the commander or any of the other creatures that get larger from lifegain. Then we have the "win at X life cards" such as Felidar Sovereign and Test of Endurance. Next, the CLASSIC Sanguine Bond/Exquisite Blood combo (with bonus Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose). If you manage to gain enough life, Aetherflux Reservoir is also a good game ender, even better paired with Exquisite Blood.

The deck has been foiled (as much as it can be) as of 06/11/2021. I am open to critiques and/or suggestions.

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95% Casual

Competitive

Date added 6 years
Last updated 2 weeks
Legality

This deck is Commander / EDH legal.

Rarity (main - side)

12 - 0 Mythic Rares

52 - 0 Rares

14 - 0 Uncommons

5 - 0 Commons

Cards 100
Avg. CMC 3.15
Tokens Ajani's Pridemate, City's Blessing, Companion Zone, Soldier 1/1 W w/ Lifelink, Treasure
Folders Decks to think about, Current Decks, Commander, Next in line to print
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