Karlov Midrange

Commander / EDH* WB (Orzhov)

Killer_Manfred

Lands (37)

• 1x Barren Moor
• 1x Bojuka Bog
• 1x Castle Locthwain
• 1x Caves of Koilos
• 1x Command Tower
• 1x Fetid Heath
• 1x Godless Shrine
• 1x Isolated Chapel
• 1x Kabira Crossroads
• 1x Obscura Storefront
• 1x Orzhov Basilica
• 10x Plains
• 1x Rogue's Passage
• 1x Scoured Barrens
• 1x Secluded Steppe
• 1x Shambling Vent
• 9x Swamp
• 1x Temple of Silence
• 1x Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
• 1x Vault of Champions

Protection/Evasion (10)

• 1x Apostle's Blessing
• 1x Coalition Honor Guard
• 1x Gods Willing
• 1x King of the Oathbreakers
• 1x Mask of Griselbrand
• 1x Mother of Runes
• 1x Rune-Tail, Kitsune Ascendant  ^Flip
• 1x Sejiri Shelter  ^Flip
• 1x Swiftfoot Boots
• 1x Whispersilk Cloak

Disruption (14)

• 1x Austere Command
• 1x Damn
• 1x Day of Judgment
• 1x Kunoros, Hound of Athreos
• 1x Merciless Eviction
• 1x Orzhov Charm
• 1x Painful Quandary
• 1x Path to Exile
• 1x Swords to Plowshares
• 1x The Battle of Bywater
• 1x The Eldest Reborn
• 1x Tragic Arrogance
• 1x Umezawa's Jitte
• 1x Vindicate

Lifegain (12)

• 1x Ashes of the Abhorrent
• 1x Auriok Champion
• 1x Authority of the Consuls
• 1x Blind Obedience
• 1x Blood Artist
• 1x Deathgreeter
• 1x Kambal, Consul of Allocation
• 1x Soul Warden
• 1x Soul's Attendant
• 1x Spectrum Sentinel
• 1x Sunscorch Regent
• 1x Thrull Parasite

Combo-/Life-Payoffs (4)

• 1x Aetherflux Reservoir
• 1x Exquisite Blood
• 1x Sanguine Bond
• 1x Vizkopa Guildmage

Commander (1)

CardAdvantage (12)

• 1x Ambition's Cost
• 1x Ancient Craving
• 1x Archivist of Oghma
• 1x Greed
• 1x Mangara, the Diplomat
• 1x Phyrexian Arena
• 1x Phyrexian Reclamation
• 1x Ranger of Eos
• 1x Reanimate
• 1x Recruiter of the Guard
• 1x Syphon Mind
• 1x Witch of the Moors

Ramp (10)

• 1x Arcane Signet
• 1x Black Market
• 1x Charcoal Diamond
• 1x Commander's Sphere
• 1x Knight of the White Orchid
• 1x Lotho, Corrupt Shirriff
• 1x Marble Diamond
• 1x Orzhov Signet
• 1x Pristine Talisman
• 1x Sol Ring

---

Maybeboard

Other (1)

• 1x Carmen, Cruel Skymarcher

---

This deck relies on incremental lifegain, repeatable evasion, and protection for Karlov to win the game, supplemented by control elements and an extra combo finish with Exquisite Blood + Sanguine Bond-like effects.

Despite being a lifegain deck, it does not care about the amount of life gained itself and instead tries to produce as many individual lifegain triggers as possible to grow Karlov. The life "accidentally" gained this way can be converted into card advantage through cards like Greed.

I am very happy about card recommendations - especially controlling ones with incidental lifegain effects such as Blind Obedience are great! This deck is far from ideal/finished and I have a 50+ card wantlist myself, so feel free to add to it!

Date added	4 years
Last updated	1 month
Legality	This deck is Commander / EDH legal.
Rarity (main - side)	2 - 0 Mythic Rares 40 - 0 Rares 19 - 0 Uncommons 19 - 0 Commons
Cards	100
Avg. CMC	2.79
Tokens	Food, Spirit 1/1 W, Treasure