Weaponized life gain in Legacy.
The idea came from a respect the sheer power level of Karlov of the Ghost Council and the advent of Aetherflux Reservoir.
Soul Sisters has been a thing for a long time but never really made it into Legacy, and I recognize that there is probably good enough reason for that.
I do think cards like Karlov give the deck a little more Legacy viability. The card can be a 20/20 by turn 3!
The deck revolves around life gain and card draw attempting to drop out your hand as quickly as possible. Sylvan library triggers are meant to be taken quite liberally as 8 life isn't much when you're dropping your fifth soul sister on the board.
The deck includes many large beaters:
3 Karlovs
2 Scoozes
2 Serra Ascendants
As well as a very ample ability to go wide with your 1 drops.
A notable win con as well as life gain accessory is Aetherflux Reservoir, not only is the 50 life attainable but the storm lifegain can help you slide through your deck with Sylvan libraries. There are times when you have two libraries in play and the correct move is to pay 16 life and draw 4 more cards because you will end up netting more life gain.
The reason for the split between Soul warden and soul's attendant which are both essentially the same card is purely to diversify the names of my permanents for things like maelstrom pulse, bile blight, d sphere and the like. (Only need 4 of the white ones in this build due to the 4 sylvan libraries.) The reason why I have 4 Essence Wardens is because Gaea's cradle and dryad arbor inherently give me more green mana and since they're very valuable in the deck, the green soul sisters fit the mana base better.
I know one of the most controversial pieces is Aetherflux Reservoir, it's a four drop artifact which is pricey for Legacy but I think if the shell is right which I'm intending to make this, a storm life gain plus burn for 50 on a stick can be incredibly useful. Say I Sylvan library for three, get three spells, I've already gained back 6 of the life lost. If those spells are all creatures and I have 3 soul sisters, I gain 9 life. Say I play two creature spells and the third card is a land which I don't draw with Sylvan, I have two Soul sisters in play, I gain 3 life from Aetherflux and 2 life from the sisters paying for the sylvan library. There are legitimately times playtesting the deck where you have three Sylvan libraries in play, you're at 32, and the correct play is to lose 20 life, draw 6 cards, drop them and gain 24 life. Aetherflux's 50 life burn ability seems like the biggest reason to include it but the storm lifegain is what enables you to slide through the deck with Sylvan libraries. It's why I started with two, moved up to 3, and am now sitting on 4 Sylvan libraries.
(Note, without the sylvan libraries topdecking soul sisters and lands is not a place you want to be.)
If I was to cut the aetherfluxes though, I'd also cut two Sylvans and add more creature tutoring like maybe 3 ranger of eos and one recruiter of the guard.
Anyway, let me know what you think and I hope you enjoy.
