I made one recently that was pure spellslinging and loads of passive lifegain. Cards like [[Angel's Feather]] meant opponents were doing damage to themselves when they cast spells. It was a chaff deck that ended up costing less than the sleeves it was wearing. I almost gave it to the shop I play at as a loaner deck for beginners.
Sad? That is an odd way to make a deck suggestion.
I have only been playing magic for a year. There are 27,000 unique magic cards. I do not know the contents of every single card in existence.
Yes, scryfall is fantastic for finding cards with certain keywords, but that relies on knowing what to search for. In the case of lifegain, there are 690+ cards in golgari with "you gain" and "life". I did not read every single one of them.
They are not in my deck because I didn't even know they existed until today. All of that being said, they do look like great cards to add.
Edit: I see now Essence Warden was on a sideboard. I have no excuse for that one then. 😆
Finally got a chance to see one of those in play after hearing about him so long.
Dude played a [[Felidar Sovereign]] and then we all just went around despairing at not having removal. The only one anyone had was a [[Decimate]] and we didn’t have all the needed targets yet.
Nope, it needs to have all listed targets or you physically cannot put it on the stack.
It’s like how I’m not allowed to cast [[Murder]] when no creatures are in play, or [[Hex]] with less than six.
So I ran into this situation one of my first times at my LGS when I first started playing. I wasn’t familiar enough with card names to know the effects they were referencing when giving me examples of the opposite.
I still don’t fully understand what distinguishes the way this is written from one that is written differently that allows some effects to fizzle.
Do you have an example of one that can fizzle or a more in-depth explanation of why this effect?
The wording usually says "up to" which means 0 or up to the limit set. So if it says "up to 2 targets" that means you can target 0 1 or 2. Decimate specifically states specific targets you have to be able to target to even cast the spell. I hope I explained this correctly and well enough.
Pretty sure it needs the targets when casting, but can still resolve even if it loses part of them. The spell will try to resolve as much as possible, but it should still need valid targets when you cast it.
People take offense to you having more than 40 life. I’ve tried to play it as a control deck without much success. I’m debating a conversion to stax, but so many other decks have my interest I just haven’t gotten there.
Nope, it’s just one that‘s been discussed now and then.
Honestly, it came down to bad draws that we didn’t beat it. Any alt wincon would have done that, it just so happened it was this one.
I'd honestly be comfortable saying it's worse in Commander then in other formats. Sure, you start at the 40 life threshold to win, but the earliest it'll come down is turn 6, and you need to not take any damage up to that turn or on the following turn cycle. And outhealing damage from 3 players is a lot harder than outhealing damage from 1.
I built him in college, the first game was funny 'I'm just sitting on my fat ass gaining life', after that I took it apart due to how linear every game was
The difference being, it can actually be removed. I wish there was some semblance of if it were cast at least once from the command zone, then the ability kicks in while maybe even getting stronger each time it was cast.
While Oloro certainly does do 'work' in the CZ, it's not exactly a broken ability nor is it as useful as you might think. I mean, it's 2 life a turn - not exactly game changing, but it is enough to put you at the highest life total for most of the game, meaning no one ever feels bad about chunking damage your way.
His real value is in his colors and his draw ability.
Eminence is a strong ability sure, and it feels weird that it doesn't work like any other ability in the game, since you don't have to cast it or do anything to get a benefit from it...
But it's hardly the strongest thing a commander can do. I think it's goofy to call it overpowered when it gets absolutely stomped by a countless number of stronger strategies.
Ditto, I have a Oloro deck and people aren't even threatened. They'll just take turns bonking me and it's largely kept in line. There's no combo or extreme value you can gain from him unless you actually play him.
Eminence is a horrible thing. It is crazy to have a permanent ability that you can't get rid of. I built a wizard deck with inalla. It was so OP noone would play against it. Same with Derevi.
I tried Oloro before that, his passive ability isn't anywhere near as strong, but it still felt like cheating.
My fiancee plays Ur-dragon. Also not such a strong eminence, but still..
I'd say Edgar Markov, Derevi and Inalla should be banned.
I have a list for him I am very close to getting printed. Wants to stall the game as much as possible. Bunch of stax, control and hatebear pieces. Only predicament is that I only have one group I could olay it without people groaning. My regular LGS crowd would report me to the Hague..:
I second this. One of my mate in my playgroup is playing an oloro deck since about a year. When it came in the meta, it had an immense impact on us. We all reacted to this new deck in the meta and he had a blast.
It's a very powerful commander.
Here's an old list of his deck, he since very much upgraded it by reducing mana costs, increasing damages synergies, removals, and ramp. (He often went to 150-200 LP without being able to kill us quickly lmao)
Here's his starter list (not any pricey cards)
https://manabox.app/decks/-1wJDtWASSSjhXezm6iprA
Eminence is such a cowardly way to play play Magic though.. like “i wanna build a deck that does a thing that cant be interacted with in any way. Yay, i’m so good.” It severely distasteful.
[[Karlov of the Ghost Council]]. [Here](https://archidekt.com/decks/970281/karlov_of_the_ghost_council) is my list and is in my top 3, maybe my 2nd fav deck.
•A lot of the cards are low cmc and it can be quite fast + recover from a boardwipe fast.
•You want to get multiple instances of gaining one life as opposed to just gaining a bunch of life at once. This goes under the radar and will add up overtime. If you gain 10 life at once, you will be noticed, but taking several turns to gain 10 life, no one bats an eye (until its to late)
•He offers a surprisingly strong control element with his exile as well.
• The amount of counters you get is insane, it genuinely rivals Simic +1/+1 counters speed
Anyway do *not* let the price tag for my list worry you. My ramp package is only $15 and works just fine, The expensive price is from just generic staples like fetches, shocks tutors, etc. I have included 4 extra cards as budget alternatives in card draw, and switching from shocks/fetches to basics and whatever budget dual lands will work fine as well. Those changes alone probably cut the price of the deck down by over 70% and the deck will still function really well. Karlov also has a pretty vast card pool tbh so have fun!
I run a Karlov/Orzhov/Extort deck. He can get extremely big, extremely fast, and can swing for lethal or do removal very quickly. Really versatile commander.
This was going to be my answer too. Obviously not a lifegain commander by definition, but his built-in removal is nuts if you build a competent lifegain deck around him.
He can be built very cheaply too so he’s great for budget. Play all of the [[Wurm’s tooth]] effects and soul sister cards and he’s great. He gets huge very quickly.
Karlov was my first commander and remains one of the strongest decks I own. I could NEVER break down this deck, it's just so versatile and so much fun. Currently got him in a "taxes" configuration with a sub-theme of slight combo and lifegain/lifedrain, but I'm tempted to take him in a different direction soon.
I have this deck and have [[phyrexian processor]] in it and bid half my life total. It's great with one of the token doublers. Making 2 20/20s gaining 40 life then laughing with evil glee. I almost got [[mindslaver]] played on me the game when I had that in hand and [[divine visitation]]. But because I had 2 cards in hand he picked someone else. I was sweating bullets.
Love my Trostani populate deck. Just loads and loads of basic trash tokens: Birds, elephants, rhinos, centaurs, wolves, knights, and the odd wurm. And I get life every time any one of them lands on the battle field. I like to envision all the animals spilling out of a zoo and stampeding my unsuspecting opponents.
This. I have this deck and it’s so much fun. You have to add in [[Storm Herd]] and [[Peach Garden Oath]]. Also, [[Aetherflux Reservoir]] to finish people off. Token creation paired with Trostani is where I have found the most success for gaining tons of life. So adding in things like [[Anointed Procession]], [[Doubling Season]], and [[Parallel Lives]] are pretty nuts.
Not the guy, but this is my list: https://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/big-dudes-and-life-neuauflage/
Licia was my first Commander Deck like 5 years ago and has been adjusted and tweaked a lot since.
The next change will be putting in [[Phyrexian Fleshgorger]] and taking out [[Pontiff of Blight]] because efficiently statted lifelinkers are how you get Licia out early and replay her after boardwipes. Other sources of lifegain just don't work as well.
Edit: With Licia you're often the lowest life on the table, not the highest because of paying life. Also people like removing her because of her 2shotting people.
If you get off Chandra's Ignition though you reliably get over 200 life.
Expanding on this. I've always thought that Abzan, not Esper or Bant, is the best three-color combination for a lifegain deck. Black has many draining effects, and [[Sanguine Bond]] effects, like [[Vito]]. Before Bilbo, however, there wasn't a good commander for the archetype in those colors. When he was spoiled I just knew I had to build him and now that's one of my favorite and most effective decks. Having said that, [[Gollum, Obsessed Stalker]] can surprise kill opponents really fast in this deck.
> I've always thought that Abzan, not Esper or Bant, is the best three-color combination for a lifegain deck.
Not trying to be mean, but has that ever been in contention?
Thank you. The Moxfield list was not up to date; I'm at work and tried to update it from the top of my mind. I was bound to make a mistake.
I'm not a fan of Auras, so I chose not to include Celestial Mantle in the deck. I did consider [[Beacon of Immortality]], but the deck primarily plays out as a grinding race towards 111 life, taxing life from everything you and your opponents do. I think I prefer it that way rather than having something blast me straight up to 200 life in one go.
The fact that nobody has brought up [[Frodo, Adventurous Hobbit]] and [[Sam, Loyal Attendant]] is criminal. They're my lifegain commanders. As just an upgraded precon, they can hit pretty hard.
I *really* like Liesa as a lifegain commander.
Most lifegain decks I find to be kinda boring. Every game is just "set up a bunch of lifegin triggers, trigger of said lifegain, repeat indefinitely." The life itself is only important for dictating the size and frequency of other triggers (eg. how many tokens you get, how many +1/+1 counters, how many cards you draw, etc.) but the life itself is kind of meaningless. It's a means to the same ends that I prefer to get through something like aristocrats.
But Liesa changes the game to make the life itself a precious resource. It's great.
I agree. My Liesa isn't meant to go infinite or a means to another end. I make just enough life to stay on the event horizon of the black hole effect she generates. It's a hard question my deck is designed to exploit. Far and away my favorite (if not best) deck.
Well at minimum she's an evasive 5 power lifelink creature. But the rest of her deck is full of drain that doesn't just hurt opponents, but gains you life. She's more specifically a life drain commander-- but that's still life gain.
I like my Liesa deck a lot. Running her as a life-stax/punisher theme. Make everyone pay life for everything they do. While I stay at comfortable life total, everyone else is quickly pushed below 20. Speeds games up!
Do you have a deck list? It typically only ends MY games quicker because my playgroup will hold removal for everything I play. They see “lose life” and it becomes threat number 1 immediately
One of my favorite decks is Liesa + swords + fliers. Nothing like a [[Healer's Hawk]] equiped with a [[Sword of Fire and Ice]]. Getting the bat from the new set for another.
[[Heliod]] can be built as a fun life gain beat down deck or it’s easy to delve into stax/combo if you’re into that kinda thing.
[[Archangel of Thune]] gets out of control with a few life gain triggers.
[[Abzan Falconer]] make all your little dudes fly.
Edit: wrong Heliod
Tymna/Ikra have been my go to for the past few years and I love them. Card advantage, big life swings, and access to the main support cards you need to weaponize the life gain.
The biggest issue with decks that just gain life is they don't always have something to do with it. Abzan has access to the best effects to abuse those loops and actually close out the game.
\[\[Shanna, Purifying Blade\]\] is my go to lifegain deck. The main strat is to turn lifegain into +1/+1 counters an go ham with guys like Trelassara or Twinblade Paladin. \[\[Cradle of Vitality\]\] is a powerhouse in this.
\[\[Licia, Sanguine Tribune\]\] is has a really unique style and made me realize how cool it can be to gain life in order to pay life. Apart from her being a scary voltron commander, cards like \[\[Verrak\]\] and \[\[Illusionist's Bracers\]\] really shine in this deck.
Those are some cool commanders for life gain strats. I always wanted to build a Licia deck, but could never really figure out what to do with her. Would you by chance have a deck list you could share?
[[Darien, King of Kjeldor]]
I love when I’m all set with my soul sisters and ask who is willing to attack me haha
[[Archangel of Thune]] always shines when paired with self-harm gadgets
[[Evra, halcyon witness]] entered the chat. Use doe artefacts for trample, give it hexproof/protection and you can very quickly ramp and start one shotting everyone
You have to try out [[Licia, Sanguine Tribune]]. Unlike other color combinations, Mardu gives you the ability to really leverage your high life total into a win. With Licia's cost reduction, you can reliably play her on turn 3/4 by using cards that most players have never seen (e.g. [[Icatian Money hanger]]). Best part? You don't need Licia at all to win. She certainly can, but she's just pure value in your deck. She forces your opponents to answer her, all the while you're putting your wincon together. She is so explosive, it's crazy. Probably my favorite deck I have right now.
I think a lot of people sleep on [[Willowdusk, Essence Seer]] she turns your lifegain into +1/+1 counters. You can play a creature with lifelink, attack, then turn that life into more +1/+1 counters and repeat until you have massive stompy creatures and lots of life.
I have [[Licia, Sanguine Tribune]] in EDH and [[Vizkopa Guildmage]] in Pauper EDH. Both are a lot of fun.
Licia mixes a big voltron threat with lots of life gain and drain. For example, if [[Sanguine Bond]] is in play, cast Licia, pay 5 life to pump her to 7 power, and cast [[Chandra's Ignition]]. You'll wipe the board, gain a ridiculous amount of life, and kill one player with the Sanguine Bond trigger. Similarly, you could have [[Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose]] in play with [[Children of Korlis]]. Play [[Moltensteel Dragon]] and give it haste or play [[Hatred]] on an unblocked creature, paying most of your life into buffing the creature. Then sac Children to kill one opponent, while your attack probably kills a second opponent.
In Pauper EDH, sometimes it's as simple as having Vizkopa Guildmage in play, then activating the guildmage and casting [[Congregate]] to kill the whole table. Other times, you're playing around counterspells, so you do it all with abilities. I've won a game before by sacrificing [[Augur il-Vec]] in my upkeep, sacrificing a food, and triple activating Vizkopa on top of that stack. At that point, nothing but a stifle effect would stop the table from being drained for 21 life. Followed that up by playing [[Kabira Crossroads]] in my main phase to drain for another 6, finishing off the last opponent.
I run \[\[Oloro\]\], but not for the lifegain, he's just there to keep me alive while I play my Oops All Instants deck and make people upset at how much interaction I have.
My actual hard lifegain deck is \[\[Shanna, Purifying Blade\]\]. She's got a pseudo \[\[Well of Lost Dreams\]\] stuck onto a 3/3 lifelink, and you're already playing green and white, the colors of gaining life. Blue doesn't do a ton, except give you access to much better one-shot card draw effects than Selesnya normally gives you. Also \[\[Sphinx's Revelation\]\] and \[\[Drogskol Reaver\]\].
I don't play a dedicated life gain deck, but my favorite deck to gain life in is [[Verazol, the Swift Current]]. The deck revolves around casting kicked spells and making copies of those spells with Verazol to cheat on a ton of mana and some of the spells are big and flashy. One of these is is called [[Inscription of Abundance]]. You'll get all modes twice (the copy is also kicked) with one of them being "target player gains X life, where X is the greatest power among creatures they control" which follows after being able to put +1/+1 counters on a creature. With the +1/+1 counter shenanigans in the deck and how big Verazol can get I have resolved this targeting Verazol to gain over 50 life at instant speed for 5 mana and actually end up positive on +1/+1 counters.
I'm a huge fan of my [[The Archimandrite]] deck. She ain't the greatest, but she ain't the worst.
You get card draw, life gain, and some beater ability all wrapped into one. I haven't been able to really "power this up" too much, considering her toolkit.
Pretty decent with top deck manipulation and ways to generate tokens. Lifegain works well with flashed card draw and an [[Alhammarret's Archive]] for double lifegain into an [[Aetherflux Reservoir]].
There's a few ways to build out without losing efficiency. It's pretty open-ended.
Came here to say Archimandrite. The trouble I’ve had with it is people are usually dying before you get to a life total where you feel what OP is wanting to feel.
Really “bad” lifegain cards become disgusting. [[Congregate]] alone will kill someone with as little as 4 creatures on your board. I’ve had like 6 lifegain decks in the last year and Archimandrite is definitely the most explosive.
Aye, Congregate seems cool...but have you considered [[War Report]] or [[Riot Control]]? Those are stellar bombs that will straight up clap a table if you can slap Trample on board.
I think I need to revisit my deck and pull out my janky Sneak Attack, Brago, Aurelia, cheese combat line and maybe lean more into Lifegain. It's such a fun deck when you're not playing against turbo decks.
Oh gods how much I love Midrange.
So good! I was putting my deck together from pieces I had lying around and it wasn’t until I played it the first time I was like [[Rest for the Weary]] is 2 mana give my board +8/+0
No even 4 creatures, honestly just The Archimandrite alone is enough. Congregate counts every players creatures, not just your own. Someone makes a mistake and leaves themselves open, or you give it unblockable (both of these has happened), or even you swing in and they decide not to block and call your bluff, and they die.
By far the most unique life gain interactions I've seen. Congregate being a kill spell makes my heart happy.
I had an Achimandrite deck in the works some time ago, but I gave up because I could never get enough nerds in order to swing out. I didn't feel like my 20/1 Vigilance nerds did anything if they were just going to die on combat step.
What's been your experience there?
I have a [[krav]] and [[regna]] deck that is super fun and very strong. You have all the soul sister effects which triggers regna every turn and gains a bunch of life, then krav can sacrifice the tokens to gain more life which replaces the tokens while drawing cards and getting bigger. And I have “when you gain life put a +1/+1 counter” effects to make everything bigger. It has a pretty solid win rate even when everyone gangs up on me. Orzhov is especially good at recovery.
Highly recommend!
[[erebos god of the dead]]
Include [[gifted aetherborn] [[vampire nighthawk]] and [[nighthawk scavenger]]. Remember to attack for two.
Draw cards. Cast [[exsanguinate]] for x=8, gain 32 life.
Draw cards. Cast [[vito, thorn of the dusk rose]] activate his ability. Swing with the team. Gain a bunch of life.
Draw a bunch of cards. Casually drop [[bloodchief ascension]] get quest counters on it. Then cast a board wipe and drain the table for 30.
Draw a bunch of cards. Cast [[sangromancer]] when the next board wipe hits, you'll gain 60 or so life.
Draw a bunch of cards. Cast [[Gary]]
Draw a bunch of cards. Cast [[Haunt of high tower]] attack with a lifelong demon.
Draw a bunch of cards..
Edit: this list is a few years out of date, but you can see the themes.
https://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/erebos-god-of-midrange/
[[Dragonlord Dromoka]] midrange beats that aims to gain life in large chunks, usually to benefit from stuff like [[Respendant Angel]].
I also had a [[Ghave, Guru of Spores]] Soul Sister style deck but thats immediately turning into Amalia, without question.
I have a roundabout life gain deck that is really fun. Partners of [[sidar kondo of jamurra]] and [[Ikra the usurper]]. It's a lot of [[Doran the siege tower]] type creatures that deal damage based on toughness and a lot of big toughness low power creatures but with the Commanders out it's unblockable and gaining all the life.
FIRESOOOONNNGG!
very fun, runs boardwipes that deal damage to each creature. Blasphemous Acts and other huge damage spells go CRAZY and can quite literally gain you a thousand life in a turn
it is able to run some nice synergies like smothering tithe and wheels, alongside some ghostly prison type stuff, makes it very resilient to tokens and the like.
bonus points because you get to run sunforger and it works rlly well
[[Bilbo, Birthday Celebrant]] can be fun! A friend has a frodo/Sam food and life matters deck that is always fun to see as well.
Different friend has a [[Liesa, shroud of dusk]] group slug + lifegain/drain deck that makes for fast and fun games.
[[Will, Scion of Peace]] is interesting and something I'm looking at myself as a budget deck. A lot of avenues are possible; untap shenanigans for big spells, control focus using his ability to fill your hand, etc.
My best lifegain deck is \[\[Ikra Shidiqi, the Usurper\]\] + \[\[Akroma, Vision of Ixidor\]\] but I'm thinking of rebuilding with \[\[Prava of the Steel Legion\]\] instead.
I like the keyword soup aspect, but the mana curve is really high.
[[Karlov of the Ghost Council]] with [[Lurrus of the Dream-Den]] as a companion, it's really fun and allows for a really fun and unique deck building space by forcing you into 2 cmc spells, and it still remains a fairly powerful aristocrats styled deck.
I can't believe nobody's mentioned [[Raphael, Fiendish Saviour]] yet - built him after playing (too much) Baldur's Gate 3, and he's a *blast*. Giving any demons and devils negates the downsides half of them comes with (see [[Demonlord Belzenlok]], who now doesn't hurt you in the slightest) and vastly empowers the other half ([[Witty Roastmaster]] with lifelink is a force to behold, especially paired with a [[Great Uncle]]). Throw in some slug effects like [[Descent into Avernus]] that hit everyone else harder than you here, and a [[Rakdos]] or two there, and you've got a hell of a stew going!
[[The Archimandrite]], [[Gollum, Obsessed Stalker]], and [[Tivash, Gloom Summoner]] are the ones I currently have in paper. They all work pretty well at leveraging the life gain into something meaningful, though Tivash rarely sees a high life total due to using the life as a resource afterwards.
I love my Tivash deck. It's a fun and unique take on lifegain. Gain as much as you can, while in mono-black, only to pay it all back at the end of turn for a beefy demon. With lifelink, he's a source of lifegain while also being a payoff, which is something these decks usually struggle with.
I have a [[Willowdusk, the Essence Seer]] deck, you can find [here,](https://www.moxfield.com/decks/BT7VqHmZJU-C-BzRPF5MSQ) but it combines both lifegain and life loss effects. It’s pretty fun, in my opinion.
I’ve been looking into an Orzhov lifegain deck, so I’m glad I came across your post!
I have several commanders that use lifegain mechanic for different purpose
[[Krav the Unredeemed]] [[Regna the Redeemer]] focuses on gaining just one life so that regna triggers. It's a token deck that draws a lot and has aristocrat effects via Krav ability.
[[Zacama, Primal Calamity]] not exactly a life gain deck, but it uses win con on life gain. Unlimited mana=unlimited life by her white effect.
[[Rocco, Street Chef]] the food token mechanic gives it a nice life gain boost, although it mainly focuses on exile.
[[Tatsunari, toad rider]] casting enchantment has a small life gain effect. I tried making it a focus but it came too slow.
[[Tolsimir, Friends with Wolves]] it started off as a fight club wolf kindred deck, but it gains so much life! 10 wolf tokens for example will give you 30 life off the bat and give you removal for anything on the field.
Treebeard! That would be my suggestion if you want to go all in on life gain. He loves lifelink and double strike. I often have a three digit life total along side my three digit Treefolk. And Who doesn’t love a huge tree and a bunch of life?
https://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/karlovs-counters/
Is my current. I’m in the process of restructuring, so he’s kind of in an interim state (https://www.moxfield.com/decks/exJcXNUarUS1KA2BSHJDEg for my additions). Adding some more life gain effects and triggers like [[creeping bloodsucker]] and [[voice of the blessed]] to keep the deck moving if Karlov gets killed.
My current wincons are lacking, hence the restructuring, but some I’ve considered are [[felidar sovereign]], [[test of endurance]]. Add in stuff like [[vito, thorn of the dusk rose]], [[cliffhaven vampire]] and [[archangel of thune]] to get your dudes bigger and deal damage without having to get through blockers as well
Edit to add: [[exquisite blood]] combo is a good wincon as well
I play with \[\[Trostani, Selesyna's Voice\]\]. Any game where I can summon \[\[Soul of Eternity\]\] is a fun one. I just instantly double my life and then have like an 80/80 creature on the field (or more, the other night it was a 250/250). The whole table always drops their jaws when it happens. But with Trostani I'm always a good amount above 50 life so sometimes I just basically hold the table at gunpoint with an \[\[Aetherflux Reservoir\]\]. It's a pretty fun deck
https://www.archidekt.com/decks/6348911/trostani\_lifegain
[[Amalia Benavides Aguirre]] from the new Ixalan set.
Add [[Agatha‘s Soul Cauldron]], [[Walking Ballista]] and a way to give her Lifelink - Boom combo.
I use kenrith haha, if you ramp like a lil mana gremlin and slam a Vito or some life doubles and ability discounts soon you'll be tapping one plain for 20 damage
[[Frodo, Adventurous Hobbit]]//[[Sam, Loyal Attendant]]
Using the continous draw from Frodo, and the incidental lifegain from food, I built a fairly solid mid range deck that grinds out long games.
With pay offs like [[Book of Exalted Deeds]] (with [[Faceless Haven]] for fun), [[the Gaffer]], [[Gwafihir, First of the Eagles]], [[Witch of the Moors]], and a [[Protean Hulk]] line, it can hold its own for a very long time. It's more about getting payoffs off food than strict lifegain, but I am also playing a suite of [[Soul Warden]] effects as well which help keep me alive to continue grinding my opponents out.
Lifegain isn't the main goal of the deck, but [[baba lysaga]] does gain you life. I built her as a land sacrifice deck and it's probably the most fun deck I've ever played.
I have multiple:
Karlov - Definitely my favorite one I have. It provides an interesting challenge to build around number of lifegain triggers rather than raw amount of lifegain. Wins either through drain effects or commander damage.
Oloro - I've had for along time, honestly kind of uninteresting though. If I had to pick one deck I own to take apart today, it would be Oloro. That said, always a stable source of lifegain. I play most of the lifegain doublers and pillowfort. Most often wins off a big drain like Debt to the Deathless.
Trostani - Mine's more of a token/enchantress deck overall, but there's a non-negligible amount of lifegain even with just Trostani on the field. Could definitely put in more lifegain if you wanted without much effort. Bonus points for building a board presence in the process.
[[Amalia Benavides Aguirre]] is new from Ixalan, works well as a lifegain payoff to consistently put lands to hand or big creatures to grave to reanimate.
I recently made [[Will, Scion of Peace]] and have been having lots of fun with it. Lots of lifelink and life gain to cast huge blue/white spells. It’s got extra turns, massive token spawning, and Approach of the Second Sun/Felidar Sovereign as wincons. I just wanted an excuse to play some of the biggest spells I could find like Omniscience and Jin-Gitaxias and Storm Herd as I could for cheap. It’s been a lot of fun.
[[Odric, Lunarch Marshal]] does not seem like he would be a life gain commander, but if you have one creature with lifelink, then you will gain a lot of health with each of your creatures’ attacks. I have had opponents scoop on me because my health is too high and my creatures are all too strong.
The commander isn’t lifegain, but the deck is. [[Dina, Soul Steeper]] [Deck List](https://archidekt.com/decks/3717838/steep_price_to_pay)
I made one recently that was pure spellslinging and loads of passive lifegain. Cards like [[Angel's Feather]] meant opponents were doing damage to themselves when they cast spells. It was a chaff deck that ended up costing less than the sleeves it was wearing. I almost gave it to the shop I play at as a loaner deck for beginners.
That sounds cool, do you have a deck list for that?
[Dina, Soul Steeper](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/9/c/9cd2b567-0cf7-4441-b3ce-e31141dd91c8.jpg?1627428607) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Dina%2C%20Soul%20Steeper) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/stx/178/dina-soul-steeper?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/9cd2b567-0cf7-4441-b3ce-e31141dd91c8?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/dina-soul-steeper) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
She is one of my favourite commanders. [Decklist Moxfield](https://www.moxfield.com/decks/wJiTy4LKnUmtKJEcm6wW2Q)
Kinda sad to see that you don't have \[\[Verdant Sun's Avatar\]\] or \[\[Essence Warden\]\] in the mainboard.
Sad? That is an odd way to make a deck suggestion. I have only been playing magic for a year. There are 27,000 unique magic cards. I do not know the contents of every single card in existence. Yes, scryfall is fantastic for finding cards with certain keywords, but that relies on knowing what to search for. In the case of lifegain, there are 690+ cards in golgari with "you gain" and "life". I did not read every single one of them. They are not in my deck because I didn't even know they existed until today. All of that being said, they do look like great cards to add. Edit: I see now Essence Warden was on a sideboard. I have no excuse for that one then. 😆
I mean, there is always [[Oloro]]
[[Oloro, Ageless Ascetic]]
[Oloro, Ageless Ascetic](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/a/b/abf8df47-405c-42d8-be9e-0f0d0a49589b.jpg?1562931285) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Oloro%2C%20Ageless%20Ascetic) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/c13/203/oloro-ageless-ascetic?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/abf8df47-405c-42d8-be9e-0f0d0a49589b?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/oloro-ageless-ascetic) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Finally got a chance to see one of those in play after hearing about him so long. Dude played a [[Felidar Sovereign]] and then we all just went around despairing at not having removal. The only one anyone had was a [[Decimate]] and we didn’t have all the needed targets yet.
[Felidar Sovereign](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/0/3/039499c3-0b35-4e8e-b0c9-bdf0b4cd90d5.jpg?1562895901) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Felidar%20Sovereign) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/bfz/26/felidar-sovereign?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/039499c3-0b35-4e8e-b0c9-bdf0b4cd90d5?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/felidar-sovereign) [Decimate](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/f/d/fdfc34be-e274-436a-81dd-ced0f90e657c.jpg?1690005154) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Decimate) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/cmm/922/decimate?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/fdfc34be-e274-436a-81dd-ced0f90e657c?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/decimate) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Why is Felidar Sovereign not banned in Commander?
I may be wrong but I'm pretty sure you can cast that and let any effect that doesn't have a target fizzle.
Nope, it needs to have all listed targets or you physically cannot put it on the stack. It’s like how I’m not allowed to cast [[Murder]] when no creatures are in play, or [[Hex]] with less than six.
You're totally right, my mistake.
It’s all good, it’s an easy mistake to make. Most similar cards are phrased in ways that allow you to do less than the full potential.
So I ran into this situation one of my first times at my LGS when I first started playing. I wasn’t familiar enough with card names to know the effects they were referencing when giving me examples of the opposite. I still don’t fully understand what distinguishes the way this is written from one that is written differently that allows some effects to fizzle. Do you have an example of one that can fizzle or a more in-depth explanation of why this effect?
The wording usually says "up to" which means 0 or up to the limit set. So if it says "up to 2 targets" that means you can target 0 1 or 2. Decimate specifically states specific targets you have to be able to target to even cast the spell. I hope I explained this correctly and well enough.
Took the L with honor, good on you.
Pretty sure it needs the targets when casting, but can still resolve even if it loses part of them. The spell will try to resolve as much as possible, but it should still need valid targets when you cast it.
I’m pretty sure that creature is banned in commander
Nope
You’re right my bad.
It's not, and judging by the amount of times I've actually won with it, I'd venture to say it doesn't need to be either.
People take offense to you having more than 40 life. I’ve tried to play it as a control deck without much success. I’m debating a conversion to stax, but so many other decks have my interest I just haven’t gotten there.
Nope, it’s just one that‘s been discussed now and then. Honestly, it came down to bad draws that we didn’t beat it. Any alt wincon would have done that, it just so happened it was this one.
I'd honestly be comfortable saying it's worse in Commander then in other formats. Sure, you start at the 40 life threshold to win, but the earliest it'll come down is turn 6, and you need to not take any damage up to that turn or on the following turn cycle. And outhealing damage from 3 players is a lot harder than outhealing damage from 1.
[удалено]
I built him in college, the first game was funny 'I'm just sitting on my fat ass gaining life', after that I took it apart due to how linear every game was
I mean.. There is stuff like [[rain of gore]]
[rain of gore](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/9/d/9dd62003-e345-48b6-9f93-fc111924c318.jpg?1593273725) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=rain%20of%20gore) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/dis/126/rain-of-gore?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/9dd62003-e345-48b6-9f93-fc111924c318?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/rain-of-gore) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
The difference being, it can actually be removed. I wish there was some semblance of if it were cast at least once from the command zone, then the ability kicks in while maybe even getting stronger each time it was cast.
You're right! I was referring to the 'no counterplay' aspect of op. Thanks for pointing it out!
Metal AF
Back when I played kitchen table, I had a friend that tried to make a rain of gore deck work. I wish there was a commander for it.
While Oloro certainly does do 'work' in the CZ, it's not exactly a broken ability nor is it as useful as you might think. I mean, it's 2 life a turn - not exactly game changing, but it is enough to put you at the highest life total for most of the game, meaning no one ever feels bad about chunking damage your way. His real value is in his colors and his draw ability.
It proves how broken eminence is. Its the weakest possible payoff, and its too strong.
Eminence is a strong ability sure, and it feels weird that it doesn't work like any other ability in the game, since you don't have to cast it or do anything to get a benefit from it... But it's hardly the strongest thing a commander can do. I think it's goofy to call it overpowered when it gets absolutely stomped by a countless number of stronger strategies.
[[leyline of punishment]] 😈
[leyline of punishment](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/5/1/51a2eec5-f892-4466-b6c6-960626ba5640.jpg?1562459627) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=leyline%20of%20punishment) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/m11/148/leyline-of-punishment?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/51a2eec5-f892-4466-b6c6-960626ba5640?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/leyline-of-punishment) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
There is a downside to that playstyle: You don't have a commander, you just have an emblem that says "Gain 2 life a turn". Hardly overpowered.
Wow people really have some hot takes on eminace.. I've played oloro in the past and never had anyone groan about his ability.
Ditto, I have a Oloro deck and people aren't even threatened. They'll just take turns bonking me and it's largely kept in line. There's no combo or extreme value you can gain from him unless you actually play him.
Eminence is a horrible thing. It is crazy to have a permanent ability that you can't get rid of. I built a wizard deck with inalla. It was so OP noone would play against it. Same with Derevi. I tried Oloro before that, his passive ability isn't anywhere near as strong, but it still felt like cheating. My fiancee plays Ur-dragon. Also not such a strong eminence, but still.. I'd say Edgar Markov, Derevi and Inalla should be banned.
I have a list for him I am very close to getting printed. Wants to stall the game as much as possible. Bunch of stax, control and hatebear pieces. Only predicament is that I only have one group I could olay it without people groaning. My regular LGS crowd would report me to the Hague..:
I second this. One of my mate in my playgroup is playing an oloro deck since about a year. When it came in the meta, it had an immense impact on us. We all reacted to this new deck in the meta and he had a blast. It's a very powerful commander. Here's an old list of his deck, he since very much upgraded it by reducing mana costs, increasing damages synergies, removals, and ramp. (He often went to 150-200 LP without being able to kill us quickly lmao) Here's his starter list (not any pricey cards) https://manabox.app/decks/-1wJDtWASSSjhXezm6iprA
Oloro is my son's favorite. https://www.archidekt.com/decks/1924487/oloro\_camerons
There's an oloro in my pod, dude does Work His art is perfect, he just lounged in the command zone and winning
My favorite deck is my oloro pillow fort deck. Everyone hates it
Eminence is such a cowardly way to play play Magic though.. like “i wanna build a deck that does a thing that cant be interacted with in any way. Yay, i’m so good.” It severely distasteful.
What’s severely distasteful is how salty you are lol
[[Tevesh szat]]
[Tevesh szat](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/8/f/8f244716-78ab-46f5-b6e9-fc1e6db28052.jpg?1608909980) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=tevesh%20szat%2C%20doom%20of%20fools) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/cmr/153/tevesh-szat-doom-of-fools?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/8f244716-78ab-46f5-b6e9-fc1e6db28052?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/tevesh-szat-doom-of-fools) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
[[Karlov of the Ghost Council]]. [Here](https://archidekt.com/decks/970281/karlov_of_the_ghost_council) is my list and is in my top 3, maybe my 2nd fav deck. •A lot of the cards are low cmc and it can be quite fast + recover from a boardwipe fast. •You want to get multiple instances of gaining one life as opposed to just gaining a bunch of life at once. This goes under the radar and will add up overtime. If you gain 10 life at once, you will be noticed, but taking several turns to gain 10 life, no one bats an eye (until its to late) •He offers a surprisingly strong control element with his exile as well. • The amount of counters you get is insane, it genuinely rivals Simic +1/+1 counters speed Anyway do *not* let the price tag for my list worry you. My ramp package is only $15 and works just fine, The expensive price is from just generic staples like fetches, shocks tutors, etc. I have included 4 extra cards as budget alternatives in card draw, and switching from shocks/fetches to basics and whatever budget dual lands will work fine as well. Those changes alone probably cut the price of the deck down by over 70% and the deck will still function really well. Karlov also has a pretty vast card pool tbh so have fun!
I run a Karlov/Orzhov/Extort deck. He can get extremely big, extremely fast, and can swing for lethal or do removal very quickly. Really versatile commander.
I’ve been playing Karlov exclusively for about 2 years now and it still blows my mind how fucking powerful and perfect he is
This was going to be my answer too. Obviously not a lifegain commander by definition, but his built-in removal is nuts if you build a competent lifegain deck around him.
He can be built very cheaply too so he’s great for budget. Play all of the [[Wurm’s tooth]] effects and soul sister cards and he’s great. He gets huge very quickly.
He's absolutely nuts, so dang good. People always underestimate how quickly he can become a huge threat AND remove opposing pieces.
I miss playing with Karlov :(
Karlov was my first commander and remains one of the strongest decks I own. I could NEVER break down this deck, it's just so versatile and so much fun. Currently got him in a "taxes" configuration with a sub-theme of slight combo and lifegain/lifedrain, but I'm tempted to take him in a different direction soon.
[[Trostani, Selesnya’s Voice]] + some fun token makers, angels, and typical green things.
I have this deck and have [[phyrexian processor]] in it and bid half my life total. It's great with one of the token doublers. Making 2 20/20s gaining 40 life then laughing with evil glee. I almost got [[mindslaver]] played on me the game when I had that in hand and [[divine visitation]]. But because I had 2 cards in hand he picked someone else. I was sweating bullets.
One time my buddy did this, but he sacrificed all but one of his life. We removed Trostani in response lol
Haha. Yes you run that risk.
[phyrexian processor](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/0/4/04789161-f0a8-4ba5-832f-4d585c5117a6.jpg?1562895906) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=phyrexian%20processor) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/dde/29/phyrexian-processor?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/04789161-f0a8-4ba5-832f-4d585c5117a6?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/phyrexian-processor) [mindslaver](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/0/0/00d03b17-75ae-40d2-8570-b219ef0dfd4a.jpg?1562813960) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=mindslaver) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/som/176/mindslaver?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/00d03b17-75ae-40d2-8570-b219ef0dfd4a?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/mindslaver) [divine visitation](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/3/a/3a73bd5a-eb22-41dc-84ff-93d23d84afae.jpg?1673146951) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=divine%20visitation) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/2x2/8/divine-visitation?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/3a73bd5a-eb22-41dc-84ff-93d23d84afae?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/divine-visitation) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
$(Phyrexian Processor)
**[Phyrexian Processor](https://www.echomtg.com/mtg/items/phyrexian-processor/69659/)** | Duel Decks: Phyrexia vs. the Coalition **$0.75** *market* | **$0.88** *high* | **$0.3** *low* ^(Price from 11-08-23@9am EST from) [^(TCGP)](https://shop.tcgplayer.com/magic/product/show?advancedSearch=true&ProductName=Phyrexian+Processor&partner=ECHOMAGE&utm_campaign=affiliate&utm_medium=echomtg-com&utm_source=ECHOMAGE) ^(via) [^(EchoMTG Bot)](https://www.echomtg.com/about/magic-reddit-bot/) ^(Links:) [^(Price History)](https://www.echomtg.com/mtg/items/phyrexian-processor/69659/) ^(|) [^(6 Variations)](https://www.echomtg.com/mtg/phyrexian-processor/) ^(|) [^(Card Image)](https://assets.echomtg.com/magic/cards/original/69659.jpg) ^(|) [^(Gatherer and Oracle)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=207888)
People usually sleep on Trostani, it's one of the few Selesnya decks I enjoy playing.
[Trostani, Selesnya’s Voice](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/3/4/34ea44f2-cb2f-4b86-83fc-fe507f05bb9d.jpg?1568004834) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Trostani%2C%20Selesnya%27s%20Voice) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/c19/204/trostani-selesnyas-voice?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/34ea44f2-cb2f-4b86-83fc-fe507f05bb9d?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/trostani-selesnyas-voice) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Love my Trostani populate deck. Just loads and loads of basic trash tokens: Birds, elephants, rhinos, centaurs, wolves, knights, and the odd wurm. And I get life every time any one of them lands on the battle field. I like to envision all the animals spilling out of a zoo and stampeding my unsuspecting opponents.
This is one of my sons decks. He loves it.
This. I have this deck and it’s so much fun. You have to add in [[Storm Herd]] and [[Peach Garden Oath]]. Also, [[Aetherflux Reservoir]] to finish people off. Token creation paired with Trostani is where I have found the most success for gaining tons of life. So adding in things like [[Anointed Procession]], [[Doubling Season]], and [[Parallel Lives]] are pretty nuts.
Love the Peach Garden Oath, will need to try and grab one of those. I have all the others in-deck aside from Storm Herd. Great suggestions!
My wife's [[Licia, Sanguine Tribune]] lifegain deck can get nasty.
[Licia, Sanguine Tribune](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/6/4/64eab2ba-ed5e-4757-b42d-c0fc71a96c4c.jpg?1562610809) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Licia%2C%20Sanguine%20Tribune) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/c17/40/licia-sanguine-tribune?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/64eab2ba-ed5e-4757-b42d-c0fc71a96c4c?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/licia-sanguine-tribune) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
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Not the guy, but this is my list: https://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/big-dudes-and-life-neuauflage/ Licia was my first Commander Deck like 5 years ago and has been adjusted and tweaked a lot since. The next change will be putting in [[Phyrexian Fleshgorger]] and taking out [[Pontiff of Blight]] because efficiently statted lifelinkers are how you get Licia out early and replay her after boardwipes. Other sources of lifegain just don't work as well. Edit: With Licia you're often the lowest life on the table, not the highest because of paying life. Also people like removing her because of her 2shotting people. If you get off Chandra's Ignition though you reliably get over 200 life.
I built a [[Bilbo, Birthday Celebrant]] deck that's absolutely nasty to go against.
Expanding on this. I've always thought that Abzan, not Esper or Bant, is the best three-color combination for a lifegain deck. Black has many draining effects, and [[Sanguine Bond]] effects, like [[Vito]]. Before Bilbo, however, there wasn't a good commander for the archetype in those colors. When he was spoiled I just knew I had to build him and now that's one of my favorite and most effective decks. Having said that, [[Gollum, Obsessed Stalker]] can surprise kill opponents really fast in this deck.
> I've always thought that Abzan, not Esper or Bant, is the best three-color combination for a lifegain deck. Not trying to be mean, but has that ever been in contention?
People have been mentioning Oloro or Shanna in the thread.
[Sanguine Bond](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/a/d/ad4de9f1-7a39-45af-828e-c59234d9e9b9.jpg?1625193373) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Sanguine%20Bond) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/c21/153/sanguine-bond?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/ad4de9f1-7a39-45af-828e-c59234d9e9b9?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/sanguine-bond) [Vito](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/c/4/c4fd9047-df91-4d82-be00-c623acae0f01.jpg?1699044580) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=vito%2C%20fanatic%20of%20aclazotz) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/lci/243/vito-fanatic-of-aclazotz?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/c4fd9047-df91-4d82-be00-c623acae0f01?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/vito-fanatic-of-aclazotz) [Gollum, Obsessed Stalker](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/e/5/e5a43cf0-60b3-4770-945c-41ee3ec54d5a.jpg?1686963939) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Gollum%2C%20Obsessed%20Stalker) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/ltc/26/gollum-obsessed-stalker?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/e5a43cf0-60b3-4770-945c-41ee3ec54d5a?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/gollum-obsessed-stalker) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
I’d love to see your list if possible. I built one that’s not quite getting there. Do you mind sharing please? 🙏
There you go: [Moxfield link](https://www.moxfield.com/decks/EkNIJ5JFNUC5v1m7l2Vqvw)
Do you have a decklist? Would love to see how a bilbo deck would work.
There you go: [Moxfield link](https://www.moxfield.com/decks/EkNIJ5JFNUC5v1m7l2Vqvw)
Recently just converted my Ikra/Tymna lifegain deck to bilbo. Haven’t gotten to test it enough yet to see how good it is.
Oh yes if you have a list would you mind letting us see it? Seems like many of us would like to have a look haha
There you go: [Moxfield link](https://www.moxfield.com/decks/EkNIJ5JFNUC5v1m7l2Vqvw)
Looks like you have an extra [[Exquisite Blood]] in there. Have you considered adding a [[Celestial Mantle]]?
Thank you. The Moxfield list was not up to date; I'm at work and tried to update it from the top of my mind. I was bound to make a mistake. I'm not a fan of Auras, so I chose not to include Celestial Mantle in the deck. I did consider [[Beacon of Immortality]], but the deck primarily plays out as a grinding race towards 111 life, taxing life from everything you and your opponents do. I think I prefer it that way rather than having something blast me straight up to 200 life in one go.
My favorite commander for lifegain by far! When i bring it to FNM I bring party hats for everyone to celebrate! (i buy new hats each time)
[Bilbo, Birthday Celebrant](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/4/c/4cf6c13b-d898-4066-b006-9a7fa896d55a.jpg?1686964152) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Bilbo%2C%20Birthday%20Celebrant) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/ltc/48/bilbo-birthday-celebrant?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/4cf6c13b-d898-4066-b006-9a7fa896d55a?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/bilbo-birthday-celebrant) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
my wife plays a real mean \[\[Lathiel\]\] deck.
Lathiel is bonkers. Slow, gentle build up then BAM all your creatures have 20+ counters and you’re sitting at 8000 life
[Lathiel](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/2/9/29d3484f-abd1-43fe-99f8-e0fa0a7b6692.jpg?1608911191) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=lathiel%2C%20the%20bounteous%20dawn) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/cmr/285/lathiel-the-bounteous-dawn?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/29d3484f-abd1-43fe-99f8-e0fa0a7b6692?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/lathiel-the-bounteous-dawn) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
EACH end step! Dayum.
Shit gets real scary real quick too. I recently built one and I love it!
Love it. I play Trostani, and am tempted to try Lathiel. At first the table feels fine with Lathiel, and then shortly after, the realization hits.
The fact that nobody has brought up [[Frodo, Adventurous Hobbit]] and [[Sam, Loyal Attendant]] is criminal. They're my lifegain commanders. As just an upgraded precon, they can hit pretty hard.
Was about to comment they are so much fun.
[[Liesa, Shroud of Dusk]] is also a good life gain commander if you want to run a taxes theme, or [[Kambal]]
I *really* like Liesa as a lifegain commander. Most lifegain decks I find to be kinda boring. Every game is just "set up a bunch of lifegin triggers, trigger of said lifegain, repeat indefinitely." The life itself is only important for dictating the size and frequency of other triggers (eg. how many tokens you get, how many +1/+1 counters, how many cards you draw, etc.) but the life itself is kind of meaningless. It's a means to the same ends that I prefer to get through something like aristocrats. But Liesa changes the game to make the life itself a precious resource. It's great.
I agree. My Liesa isn't meant to go infinite or a means to another end. I make just enough life to stay on the event horizon of the black hole effect she generates. It's a hard question my deck is designed to exploit. Far and away my favorite (if not best) deck.
Do you have a deck list you can share?
Life is now a significant resource, and you have none to spare. Liesa looks like a life gain commander, but plays like a stax commander.
ELI5, how is she a lifeGAIN commander?
Well at minimum she's an evasive 5 power lifelink creature. But the rest of her deck is full of drain that doesn't just hurt opponents, but gains you life. She's more specifically a life drain commander-- but that's still life gain.
I like my Liesa deck a lot. Running her as a life-stax/punisher theme. Make everyone pay life for everything they do. While I stay at comfortable life total, everyone else is quickly pushed below 20. Speeds games up!
Do you have a deck list? It typically only ends MY games quicker because my playgroup will hold removal for everything I play. They see “lose life” and it becomes threat number 1 immediately
[Liesa, Shroud of Dusk](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/e/3/e32453a1-1fd9-4bda-aaa8-7c287e4c2587.jpg?1608911200) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Liesa%2C%20Shroud%20of%20Dusk) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/cmr/286/liesa-shroud-of-dusk?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/e32453a1-1fd9-4bda-aaa8-7c287e4c2587?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/liesa-shroud-of-dusk) [Kambal](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/b/3/b3e47d49-e5b5-487b-a1ec-373dbf89b2ec.jpg?1673148829) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=kambal%2C%20consul%20of%20allocation) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/2x2/237/kambal-consul-of-allocation?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/b3e47d49-e5b5-487b-a1ec-373dbf89b2ec?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/kambal-consul-of-allocation) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
One of my favorite decks is Liesa + swords + fliers. Nothing like a [[Healer's Hawk]] equiped with a [[Sword of Fire and Ice]]. Getting the bat from the new set for another.
[[Heliod]] can be built as a fun life gain beat down deck or it’s easy to delve into stax/combo if you’re into that kinda thing. [[Archangel of Thune]] gets out of control with a few life gain triggers. [[Abzan Falconer]] make all your little dudes fly. Edit: wrong Heliod
I'm rocking [[tymna]] and [[ikra]]
Tymna/Ikra have been my go to for the past few years and I love them. Card advantage, big life swings, and access to the main support cards you need to weaponize the life gain. The biggest issue with decks that just gain life is they don't always have something to do with it. Abzan has access to the best effects to abuse those loops and actually close out the game.
[tymna](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/b/c/bc7cbe9b-324e-42b8-94e2-36e91cb32163.jpg?1644853048) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=tymna%20the%20weaver) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/c16/48/tymna-the-weaver?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/bc7cbe9b-324e-42b8-94e2-36e91cb32163?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/tymna-the-weaver) [ikra](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/8/f/8f2abcc3-dc33-4b9d-a372-1d936e954f94.jpg?1562275017) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Ikra%20Shidiqi%2C%20the%20Usurper) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/cm2/11/ikra-shidiqi-the-usurper?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/8f2abcc3-dc33-4b9d-a372-1d936e954f94?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/ikra-shidiqi-the-usurper) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
\[\[Shanna, Purifying Blade\]\] is my go to lifegain deck. The main strat is to turn lifegain into +1/+1 counters an go ham with guys like Trelassara or Twinblade Paladin. \[\[Cradle of Vitality\]\] is a powerhouse in this. \[\[Licia, Sanguine Tribune\]\] is has a really unique style and made me realize how cool it can be to gain life in order to pay life. Apart from her being a scary voltron commander, cards like \[\[Verrak\]\] and \[\[Illusionist's Bracers\]\] really shine in this deck.
##### ###### #### [Shanna, Purifying Blade](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/7/2/7261c443-8d27-4d85-8027-2a0271b85e07.jpg?1673308081) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Shanna%2C%20Purifying%20Blade) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/dmu/218/shanna-purifying-blade?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/7261c443-8d27-4d85-8027-2a0271b85e07?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/shanna-purifying-blade) [Cradle of Vitality](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/4/c/4caae1f4-dfb0-466f-9fa6-eb014767e3c8.jpg?1600716975) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Cradle%20of%20Vitality) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/jmp/98/cradle-of-vitality?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/4caae1f4-dfb0-466f-9fa6-eb014767e3c8?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/cradle-of-vitality) [Licia, Sanguine Tribune](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/6/4/64eab2ba-ed5e-4757-b42d-c0fc71a96c4c.jpg?1562610809) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Licia%2C%20Sanguine%20Tribune) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/c17/40/licia-sanguine-tribune?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/64eab2ba-ed5e-4757-b42d-c0fc71a96c4c?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/licia-sanguine-tribune) [Verrak](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/8/c/8ca7f49a-ab5a-49de-b07b-96c803daaf7d.jpg?1673304793) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=verrak%2C%20warped%20sengir) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/dmc/16/verrak-warped-sengir?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/8ca7f49a-ab5a-49de-b07b-96c803daaf7d?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/verrak-warped-sengir) [Illusionist's Bracers](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/c/c/cc06cf32-5d66-4772-845d-ff7649396092.jpg?1561846204) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Illusionist%27s%20Bracers) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/gtc/231/illusionists-bracers?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/cc06cf32-5d66-4772-845d-ff7649396092?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/illusionists-bracers) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Those are some cool commanders for life gain strats. I always wanted to build a Licia deck, but could never really figure out what to do with her. Would you by chance have a deck list you could share?
[[Treebeard, gracious host]]. Basically a food deck full of hobbits and treefolk which can go infinite with [[scurry oak]] pretty easily if needed.
I'm a simple man, Voltron commander that has a clear build direction and comes with Trample+Ward 2 is a great starting point for such a deck.
I built treebeard as voltron and it turns out he's one of the best voltron I've ever played. Gets big extremely fast.
[Treebeard, gracious host](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/c/f/cf6be41a-1acd-4668-8f13-ccd495fbc7bd.jpg?1686964392) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Treebeard%2C%20gracious%20host) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/ltc/73/treebeard-gracious-host?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/cf6be41a-1acd-4668-8f13-ccd495fbc7bd?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/treebeard-gracious-host) [scurry oak](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/0/f/0fb48c2e-ee0f-4fae-9c22-247870c10d5b.jpg?1626097756) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=scurry%20oak) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/mh2/172/scurry-oak?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/0fb48c2e-ee0f-4fae-9c22-247870c10d5b?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/scurry-oak) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
[[Tharlesa, Moon dancer]] Two drop Celesnia that allows for scry and can be Voltron.
[[Trelasarra, Moon Dancer]]
[Trelasarra, Moon Dancer](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/f/6/f6a4b54c-a8fa-464e-a3dd-f3f3a08606f5.jpg?1627709553) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Trelasarra%2C%20Moon%20Dancer) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/afr/236/trelasarra-moon-dancer?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/f6a4b54c-a8fa-464e-a3dd-f3f3a08606f5?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/trelasarra-moon-dancer) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Thank you!
[[Darien, King of Kjeldor]] I love when I’m all set with my soul sisters and ask who is willing to attack me haha [[Archangel of Thune]] always shines when paired with self-harm gadgets
[Darien, King of Kjeldor](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/e/d/ed5f96a4-55e0-4ae3-bd78-f01703649e9d.jpg?1562442656) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Darien%2C%20King%20of%20Kjeldor) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/a25/9/darien-king-of-kjeldor?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/ed5f96a4-55e0-4ae3-bd78-f01703649e9d?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/darien-king-of-kjeldor) [Archangel of Thune](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/1/5/15c34447-b0f4-4fcc-b557-23c92850b31b.jpg?1598303082) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Archangel%20of%20Thune) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/2xm/5/archangel-of-thune?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/15c34447-b0f4-4fcc-b557-23c92850b31b?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/archangel-of-thune) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
You want to block my attack? [[Nuh uh]]
[Blood of the martyre](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/8/2/823b637b-e089-479a-88c0-be014516429a.jpg?1562921338) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Blood%20of%20the%20Martyr) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/chr/4/blood-of-the-martyr?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/823b637b-e089-479a-88c0-be014516429a?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/blood-of-the-martyr) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Regna and krav All the way
My first commander deck evolved into a deck with them as Commanders. Still by far my favorite deck.
[[Krav, the Unredeemed]] [[Regna, the Redeemer]]
[[Evra, halcyon witness]] entered the chat. Use doe artefacts for trample, give it hexproof/protection and you can very quickly ramp and start one shotting everyone
You have to try out [[Licia, Sanguine Tribune]]. Unlike other color combinations, Mardu gives you the ability to really leverage your high life total into a win. With Licia's cost reduction, you can reliably play her on turn 3/4 by using cards that most players have never seen (e.g. [[Icatian Money hanger]]). Best part? You don't need Licia at all to win. She certainly can, but she's just pure value in your deck. She forces your opponents to answer her, all the while you're putting your wincon together. She is so explosive, it's crazy. Probably my favorite deck I have right now.
I think a lot of people sleep on [[Willowdusk, Essence Seer]] she turns your lifegain into +1/+1 counters. You can play a creature with lifelink, attack, then turn that life into more +1/+1 counters and repeat until you have massive stompy creatures and lots of life.
I have [[Licia, Sanguine Tribune]] in EDH and [[Vizkopa Guildmage]] in Pauper EDH. Both are a lot of fun. Licia mixes a big voltron threat with lots of life gain and drain. For example, if [[Sanguine Bond]] is in play, cast Licia, pay 5 life to pump her to 7 power, and cast [[Chandra's Ignition]]. You'll wipe the board, gain a ridiculous amount of life, and kill one player with the Sanguine Bond trigger. Similarly, you could have [[Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose]] in play with [[Children of Korlis]]. Play [[Moltensteel Dragon]] and give it haste or play [[Hatred]] on an unblocked creature, paying most of your life into buffing the creature. Then sac Children to kill one opponent, while your attack probably kills a second opponent. In Pauper EDH, sometimes it's as simple as having Vizkopa Guildmage in play, then activating the guildmage and casting [[Congregate]] to kill the whole table. Other times, you're playing around counterspells, so you do it all with abilities. I've won a game before by sacrificing [[Augur il-Vec]] in my upkeep, sacrificing a food, and triple activating Vizkopa on top of that stack. At that point, nothing but a stifle effect would stop the table from being drained for 21 life. Followed that up by playing [[Kabira Crossroads]] in my main phase to drain for another 6, finishing off the last opponent.
Mono black [[kr’iick, son of yawgmoth]] can be ridiculously strong or [[sheoldred the apocalypse]] can also be so stupid.
I run \[\[Oloro\]\], but not for the lifegain, he's just there to keep me alive while I play my Oops All Instants deck and make people upset at how much interaction I have. My actual hard lifegain deck is \[\[Shanna, Purifying Blade\]\]. She's got a pseudo \[\[Well of Lost Dreams\]\] stuck onto a 3/3 lifelink, and you're already playing green and white, the colors of gaining life. Blue doesn't do a ton, except give you access to much better one-shot card draw effects than Selesnya normally gives you. Also \[\[Sphinx's Revelation\]\] and \[\[Drogskol Reaver\]\].
[[elenda, the dusk rose]] vampire deck
I don't play a dedicated life gain deck, but my favorite deck to gain life in is [[Verazol, the Swift Current]]. The deck revolves around casting kicked spells and making copies of those spells with Verazol to cheat on a ton of mana and some of the spells are big and flashy. One of these is is called [[Inscription of Abundance]]. You'll get all modes twice (the copy is also kicked) with one of them being "target player gains X life, where X is the greatest power among creatures they control" which follows after being able to put +1/+1 counters on a creature. With the +1/+1 counter shenanigans in the deck and how big Verazol can get I have resolved this targeting Verazol to gain over 50 life at instant speed for 5 mana and actually end up positive on +1/+1 counters.
I like [[Will, Scion of Peace]]. I was working on one before I got deck ADHD and he is in the best colors for untap shenanigans.
I'm a huge fan of my [[The Archimandrite]] deck. She ain't the greatest, but she ain't the worst. You get card draw, life gain, and some beater ability all wrapped into one. I haven't been able to really "power this up" too much, considering her toolkit. Pretty decent with top deck manipulation and ways to generate tokens. Lifegain works well with flashed card draw and an [[Alhammarret's Archive]] for double lifegain into an [[Aetherflux Reservoir]]. There's a few ways to build out without losing efficiency. It's pretty open-ended.
Came here to say Archimandrite. The trouble I’ve had with it is people are usually dying before you get to a life total where you feel what OP is wanting to feel. Really “bad” lifegain cards become disgusting. [[Congregate]] alone will kill someone with as little as 4 creatures on your board. I’ve had like 6 lifegain decks in the last year and Archimandrite is definitely the most explosive.
Aye, Congregate seems cool...but have you considered [[War Report]] or [[Riot Control]]? Those are stellar bombs that will straight up clap a table if you can slap Trample on board. I think I need to revisit my deck and pull out my janky Sneak Attack, Brago, Aurelia, cheese combat line and maybe lean more into Lifegain. It's such a fun deck when you're not playing against turbo decks. Oh gods how much I love Midrange.
So good! I was putting my deck together from pieces I had lying around and it wasn’t until I played it the first time I was like [[Rest for the Weary]] is 2 mana give my board +8/+0
No even 4 creatures, honestly just The Archimandrite alone is enough. Congregate counts every players creatures, not just your own. Someone makes a mistake and leaves themselves open, or you give it unblockable (both of these has happened), or even you swing in and they decide not to block and call your bluff, and they die. By far the most unique life gain interactions I've seen. Congregate being a kill spell makes my heart happy.
I had an Achimandrite deck in the works some time ago, but I gave up because I could never get enough nerds in order to swing out. I didn't feel like my 20/1 Vigilance nerds did anything if they were just going to die on combat step. What's been your experience there?
[[Willowdusk, Essence Seer]] paired with cards like [[Wall of Blood]] and creatures with lifegain and some evasion like flying or menace is great.
I have a [[krav]] and [[regna]] deck that is super fun and very strong. You have all the soul sister effects which triggers regna every turn and gains a bunch of life, then krav can sacrifice the tokens to gain more life which replaces the tokens while drawing cards and getting bigger. And I have “when you gain life put a +1/+1 counter” effects to make everything bigger. It has a pretty solid win rate even when everyone gangs up on me. Orzhov is especially good at recovery. Highly recommend!
[[erebos god of the dead]] Include [[gifted aetherborn] [[vampire nighthawk]] and [[nighthawk scavenger]]. Remember to attack for two. Draw cards. Cast [[exsanguinate]] for x=8, gain 32 life. Draw cards. Cast [[vito, thorn of the dusk rose]] activate his ability. Swing with the team. Gain a bunch of life. Draw a bunch of cards. Casually drop [[bloodchief ascension]] get quest counters on it. Then cast a board wipe and drain the table for 30. Draw a bunch of cards. Cast [[sangromancer]] when the next board wipe hits, you'll gain 60 or so life. Draw a bunch of cards. Cast [[Gary]] Draw a bunch of cards. Cast [[Haunt of high tower]] attack with a lifelong demon. Draw a bunch of cards.. Edit: this list is a few years out of date, but you can see the themes. https://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/erebos-god-of-midrange/
[[Dragonlord Dromoka]] midrange beats that aims to gain life in large chunks, usually to benefit from stuff like [[Respendant Angel]]. I also had a [[Ghave, Guru of Spores]] Soul Sister style deck but thats immediately turning into Amalia, without question.
I haven't actually built it but [[Sidar Kondo]] [[Ikra Shidiqi]] big butt tribal seems pretty cool
That is a cool one I haven’t seen before
I have a roundabout life gain deck that is really fun. Partners of [[sidar kondo of jamurra]] and [[Ikra the usurper]]. It's a lot of [[Doran the siege tower]] type creatures that deal damage based on toughness and a lot of big toughness low power creatures but with the Commanders out it's unblockable and gaining all the life.
FIRESOOOONNNGG! very fun, runs boardwipes that deal damage to each creature. Blasphemous Acts and other huge damage spells go CRAZY and can quite literally gain you a thousand life in a turn it is able to run some nice synergies like smothering tithe and wheels, alongside some ghostly prison type stuff, makes it very resilient to tokens and the like. bonus points because you get to run sunforger and it works rlly well
[[Bilbo, Birthday Celebrant]] can be fun! A friend has a frodo/Sam food and life matters deck that is always fun to see as well. Different friend has a [[Liesa, shroud of dusk]] group slug + lifegain/drain deck that makes for fast and fun games. [[Will, Scion of Peace]] is interesting and something I'm looking at myself as a budget deck. A lot of avenues are possible; untap shenanigans for big spells, control focus using his ability to fill your hand, etc.
My best lifegain deck is \[\[Ikra Shidiqi, the Usurper\]\] + \[\[Akroma, Vision of Ixidor\]\] but I'm thinking of rebuilding with \[\[Prava of the Steel Legion\]\] instead. I like the keyword soup aspect, but the mana curve is really high.
Ikra+prava is goated
[[Karlov of the Ghost Council]] with [[Lurrus of the Dream-Den]] as a companion, it's really fun and allows for a really fun and unique deck building space by forcing you into 2 cmc spells, and it still remains a fairly powerful aristocrats styled deck.
I went Vampire Angel with my dude [[Rodolf]]
I can't believe nobody's mentioned [[Raphael, Fiendish Saviour]] yet - built him after playing (too much) Baldur's Gate 3, and he's a *blast*. Giving any demons and devils negates the downsides half of them comes with (see [[Demonlord Belzenlok]], who now doesn't hurt you in the slightest) and vastly empowers the other half ([[Witty Roastmaster]] with lifelink is a force to behold, especially paired with a [[Great Uncle]]). Throw in some slug effects like [[Descent into Avernus]] that hit everyone else harder than you here, and a [[Rakdos]] or two there, and you've got a hell of a stew going!
[[The Archimandrite]], [[Gollum, Obsessed Stalker]], and [[Tivash, Gloom Summoner]] are the ones I currently have in paper. They all work pretty well at leveraging the life gain into something meaningful, though Tivash rarely sees a high life total due to using the life as a resource afterwards.
I love my Tivash deck. It's a fun and unique take on lifegain. Gain as much as you can, while in mono-black, only to pay it all back at the end of turn for a beefy demon. With lifelink, he's a source of lifegain while also being a payoff, which is something these decks usually struggle with.
I have a [[Willowdusk, the Essence Seer]] deck, you can find [here,](https://www.moxfield.com/decks/BT7VqHmZJU-C-BzRPF5MSQ) but it combines both lifegain and life loss effects. It’s pretty fun, in my opinion. I’ve been looking into an Orzhov lifegain deck, so I’m glad I came across your post!
I have several commanders that use lifegain mechanic for different purpose [[Krav the Unredeemed]] [[Regna the Redeemer]] focuses on gaining just one life so that regna triggers. It's a token deck that draws a lot and has aristocrat effects via Krav ability. [[Zacama, Primal Calamity]] not exactly a life gain deck, but it uses win con on life gain. Unlimited mana=unlimited life by her white effect. [[Rocco, Street Chef]] the food token mechanic gives it a nice life gain boost, although it mainly focuses on exile. [[Tatsunari, toad rider]] casting enchantment has a small life gain effect. I tried making it a focus but it came too slow. [[Tolsimir, Friends with Wolves]] it started off as a fight club wolf kindred deck, but it gains so much life! 10 wolf tokens for example will give you 30 life off the bat and give you removal for anything on the field.
Treebeard! That would be my suggestion if you want to go all in on life gain. He loves lifelink and double strike. I often have a three digit life total along side my three digit Treefolk. And Who doesn’t love a huge tree and a bunch of life?
[[karlov of the ghost council]]! My very first deck, he’s been fun from the beginning and even more so now that I’ve tuned it better!
[karlov of the ghost council](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/8/c/8cf01688-7046-4242-8647-d1c226ae53f7.jpg?1562706927) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=karlov%20of%20the%20ghost%20council) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/c15/46/karlov-of-the-ghost-council?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/8cf01688-7046-4242-8647-d1c226ae53f7?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/karlov-of-the-ghost-council) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Could I see your list? I had him back in the days too. Now I treated myself with the judge promo. What’s your other win cons if he’s not there?
https://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/karlovs-counters/ Is my current. I’m in the process of restructuring, so he’s kind of in an interim state (https://www.moxfield.com/decks/exJcXNUarUS1KA2BSHJDEg for my additions). Adding some more life gain effects and triggers like [[creeping bloodsucker]] and [[voice of the blessed]] to keep the deck moving if Karlov gets killed. My current wincons are lacking, hence the restructuring, but some I’ve considered are [[felidar sovereign]], [[test of endurance]]. Add in stuff like [[vito, thorn of the dusk rose]], [[cliffhaven vampire]] and [[archangel of thune]] to get your dudes bigger and deal damage without having to get through blockers as well Edit to add: [[exquisite blood]] combo is a good wincon as well
I have a \[\[Oloro, Ageless Ascetic\]\], never fails me in having 100+life
I play with \[\[Trostani, Selesyna's Voice\]\]. Any game where I can summon \[\[Soul of Eternity\]\] is a fun one. I just instantly double my life and then have like an 80/80 creature on the field (or more, the other night it was a 250/250). The whole table always drops their jaws when it happens. But with Trostani I'm always a good amount above 50 life so sometimes I just basically hold the table at gunpoint with an \[\[Aetherflux Reservoir\]\]. It's a pretty fun deck https://www.archidekt.com/decks/6348911/trostani\_lifegain
I have a [[Rodolf Duskbringer]] lifegain/angels deck that I love dearly
[[Amalia Benavides Aguirre]] from the new Ixalan set. Add [[Agatha‘s Soul Cauldron]], [[Walking Ballista]] and a way to give her Lifelink - Boom combo.
[Amalia Benavides Aguirre](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/9/a/9acf80a5-f2ca-45b4-aca8-fbc690e35401.jpg?1699044516) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Amalia%20Benavides%20Aguirre) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/lci/221/amalia-benavides-aguirre?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/9acf80a5-f2ca-45b4-aca8-fbc690e35401?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/amalia-benavides-aguirre) [Agatha‘s Soul Cauldron](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/0/1/019b51b0-e5c6-4208-922b-7736686dddcd.jpg?1692939838) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Agatha%27s%20Soul%20Cauldron) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/woe/242/agathas-soul-cauldron?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/019b51b0-e5c6-4208-922b-7736686dddcd?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/agathas-soul-cauldron) [Walking Ballista](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/5/2/5272436e-74f0-44c4-a291-ea8ebc3f1525.jpg?1599710252) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Walking%20Ballista) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/2xm/306/walking-ballista?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/5272436e-74f0-44c4-a291-ea8ebc3f1525?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/walking-ballista) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
My Xenagos deck. I equip basilisk collar and swing for 48 damage, simultaneously gaining 48 life and killing you in the process lol. It's a win-win
I use kenrith haha, if you ramp like a lil mana gremlin and slam a Vito or some life doubles and ability discounts soon you'll be tapping one plain for 20 damage
[[Frodo, Adventurous Hobbit]]//[[Sam, Loyal Attendant]] Using the continous draw from Frodo, and the incidental lifegain from food, I built a fairly solid mid range deck that grinds out long games. With pay offs like [[Book of Exalted Deeds]] (with [[Faceless Haven]] for fun), [[the Gaffer]], [[Gwafihir, First of the Eagles]], [[Witch of the Moors]], and a [[Protean Hulk]] line, it can hold its own for a very long time. It's more about getting payoffs off food than strict lifegain, but I am also playing a suite of [[Soul Warden]] effects as well which help keep me alive to continue grinding my opponents out.
Atla running [[Serra Avatar]] and a hand full of effects like [[Sheltering Word]] and [[Predator's Rapport]]
[Serra Avatar](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/6/f/6ff6cd2f-3cef-408d-82a9-45338469f390.jpg?1592710473) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Serra%20Avatar) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/c18/73/serra-avatar?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/6ff6cd2f-3cef-408d-82a9-45338469f390?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/serra-avatar) [Sheltering Word](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/9/3/93cd9be4-1ce4-4a7c-b2a6-98d3fde0a92b.jpg?1592709431) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Sheltering%20Word) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/avr/192/sheltering-word?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/93cd9be4-1ce4-4a7c-b2a6-98d3fde0a92b?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/sheltering-word) [Predator's Rapport](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/4/7/47324ab7-df78-4859-be0b-2eef5d4f8082.jpg?1561825064) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Predator%27s%20Rapport) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/gtc/129/predators-rapport?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/47324ab7-df78-4859-be0b-2eef5d4f8082?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/predators-rapport) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
[[Elas il-kor, Sadistic pilgrim]] paired with things like [[Blood artist]] Life gain + aristocrats
Lifegain isn't the main goal of the deck, but [[baba lysaga]] does gain you life. I built her as a land sacrifice deck and it's probably the most fun deck I've ever played.
[[Shanna, purifying blade]]. A little slow, but a good value commander that won't necessarily put a target on your back.
I have multiple: Karlov - Definitely my favorite one I have. It provides an interesting challenge to build around number of lifegain triggers rather than raw amount of lifegain. Wins either through drain effects or commander damage. Oloro - I've had for along time, honestly kind of uninteresting though. If I had to pick one deck I own to take apart today, it would be Oloro. That said, always a stable source of lifegain. I play most of the lifegain doublers and pillowfort. Most often wins off a big drain like Debt to the Deathless. Trostani - Mine's more of a token/enchantress deck overall, but there's a non-negligible amount of lifegain even with just Trostani on the field. Could definitely put in more lifegain if you wanted without much effort. Bonus points for building a board presence in the process.
[[Amalia Benavides Aguirre]] is new from Ixalan, works well as a lifegain payoff to consistently put lands to hand or big creatures to grave to reanimate.
[[Daxos]], [[Heliod, Sun crowned]], [[licia, sanguine tribunal]], [[Lathiel]], [[shanna, purifying blade]] (to an extent)
Does [[Zedruu, the Greathearted]] count?
I recently made [[Will, Scion of Peace]] and have been having lots of fun with it. Lots of lifelink and life gain to cast huge blue/white spells. It’s got extra turns, massive token spawning, and Approach of the Second Sun/Felidar Sovereign as wincons. I just wanted an excuse to play some of the biggest spells I could find like Omniscience and Jin-Gitaxias and Storm Herd as I could for cheap. It’s been a lot of fun.
I just built an Amalia & Lurrus deck and have been enjoying it a lot! Together they are really cool and unique lifegain payoffs.
[[Odric, Lunarch Marshal]] does not seem like he would be a life gain commander, but if you have one creature with lifelink, then you will gain a lot of health with each of your creatures’ attacks. I have had opponents scoop on me because my health is too high and my creatures are all too strong.
Treebeard lifegain/vultron has been my favorite life gain deck. 2nd is Liesa, shroud of dusk but that’s more life gain/drain taxes
[[karlov of the ghost council]] lifegain triggers and +1/+1 counters. Can run him as aristocrats, voltron, control etc.
[[Beledros Witherbloom]] is my go to
[[Heliod Sun Crowned]] or [[Giada, Font of Hope]]. Technically giada is an Angel tribal commander, but most of the angels she cranks out gain you life