I'm also interested in a few cards and abilities that trigger when I gain life (Well of Lost Dreams, Ajani's Pridemate, Sanguine Bond). That being said, I am more interested in synergy that uses life as a resource or offers benefits when our opponents lose life.
In the command zone of the deck, I'm not too sure. Per life-gain decks oloro, ageless ascetic seems a bit better, although he isn't legal in duel commander. If one is after his burn/punishment effect then the colors are also a little odd, and he competes with mogis, god of slaughter. Both Kambal and Mogis don't really have a severe impact unless there are additional effects to exploit their damage, and Mogis gets access to furnace of rath/dictate of the twin gods/repercussion effects.
You can absolutely build a strong life-gain strategy around him tho. He does a great job at bricking a lot of non-creature based decks, and is a card that will eventually need to be answered by counter heavy & storm based decks. If one of your friends plays talrand, sky summoner I'm sure they will give you dirty looks for resolving this guy first.
I've seen a few mono-white life-gain based decks that run felidar sovereign/test of endurance, and that new aetherflux reservoir is already making those decks happy. Adding black for additional tutors, recursion via yawgmoth's will, mana via urborg+coffers, and creature answers to help delay the game longer can only make for a stronger deck.
"It is better for all the world if, instead of waiting to execute degenerate offspring for crime or to let them starve for their imbecility, society can prevent those who are manifestly unfit from continuing their kind. The principle that sustains compulsory vaccination is broad enough to cover cutting the Fallopian tubes... Three generations of imbeciles are enough."
--Buck v Bell, 1927. This case, regarding the compulsory sterilization of inmates at mental institutions, has -- somehow -- never been overturned. Just a wee PSA for ya.
Those are great suggestions. I understand that Oloro, Ageless Asectic is a better general. That being said, I really like the lore behind Kambal, Consul of Allocation and I feel he's a very effective hate bear to have in the command zone. Here are some more suggestions I though of:
As mentioned earlier, Wound Reflection is an option. While it is a little high on the mana curve, but it means that Kambal, Consul of Allocation makes our opponents lose 4 life every time they cast a noncreature spell instead of 2 life. Kothophed, Soul Hoarder can take advantage of all that extra life we'll be gaining.
"It is better for all the world if, instead of waiting to execute degenerate offspring for crime or to let them starve for their imbecility, society can prevent those who are manifestly unfit from continuing their kind. The principle that sustains compulsory vaccination is broad enough to cover cutting the Fallopian tubes... Three generations of imbeciles are enough."
--Buck v Bell, 1927. This case, regarding the compulsory sterilization of inmates at mental institutions, has -- somehow -- never been overturned. Just a wee PSA for ya.
What you need are cards like Uba Mask that force your opponents to play spells. Otherwise they'd lose it forever.
I'd also would suggest Sword of War and Peace if he doesn't play his spells you'd deal extra damage with the Sword. If he does well... The advisor could deal extra damage.........
...Huh. That's actually not a bad combo if you can get a couple spells on the Eye.
Casting things stored in the Eye is optional. Your opponent would only need to cast what they feel comfortable losing life to. (That said, you'd get two Kambal triggers if they only wanted to resolve a single spell.)
Casting things stored in the Eye is optional. Your opponent would only need to cast what they feel comfortable losing life to. (That said, you'd get two Kambal triggers if they only wanted to resolve a single spell.)
"It is better for all the world if, instead of waiting to execute degenerate offspring for crime or to let them starve for their imbecility, society can prevent those who are manifestly unfit from continuing their kind. The principle that sustains compulsory vaccination is broad enough to cover cutting the Fallopian tubes... Three generations of imbeciles are enough."
--Buck v Bell, 1927. This case, regarding the compulsory sterilization of inmates at mental institutions, has -- somehow -- never been overturned. Just a wee PSA for ya.
Casting things stored in the Eye is optional. Your opponent would only need to cast what they feel comfortable losing life to. (That said, you'd get two Kambal triggers if they only wanted to resolve a single spell.)
Karlov of the Ghost Council
would be a great addition to this deck, they are very much similar. Wound Reflection+Tree of Perdition unless they changed the rules, would be death at end of turn. Let me look that one up.
Changes in life have always counted as gains/losses
Ha! yup
When the ability resolves, Tree of Perdition’s toughness becomes the targeted opponent’s former life total and that player gains or loses an amount of life necessary so that his or her life total equals Tree of Perdition’s former toughness. Other effects that interact with life gain or life loss will interact with this effect accordingly.
From gatherer...eww.
I like where this is going, I may have to include him in my Atheros deck!
Rolling Horror is cute, not sure if it's strong enough to run. I'm curious if cards like Suture Priest and Blood Seeker are worth running or are they too weak. They can be played a turn before Kambal, Consul of Allocation which is nice.
Bitterblossom doesn't have amazing synergy with Kambal, Consul of Allocation, but it's still Bitterblossom, so it's worth running. It's minimal drawback is even less of a factor with the life gain provided and would fit well into a stax theme. Blind Obedience fits on the stax theme.
Fair, though Crypt Ghast works fine in your game plan anyway, especially if your stax plan goes as far as denying the table lands. Having an inexpensive mana doubler out can help make sure you still have access to mana when the rest of the table doesn't. If you arn't going quite that route, then even his extort is a fine addition to your deck.
I would consider it a pretty egregious mistake to be in B/W and not running Debt to the Deathless, doubly so with your theme. Even non-ramped it beautifully feeds into what your deck wants to be doing. But that's my last defense on that.
Bloodchief Ascension has a nice synergy with "drain for two each time an opponent casts a noncreature spell", and it has a nice effect of biasing Painful Quandary in one direction.
I'm always looking out for ways to hit my opponents for two on their turn because of Bloodchief Ascension.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Card advantage is not the same thing as card draw. Something for 2B cannot be strictly worse than something for BBB or 3BB. If you're taking out Swords to Plowshares for Plummet, you're a fool. Stop doing these things!
I'd say Mindcrank, especially if you're running Bloodchief Ascension (which I think you should be). The incidental mill for using a fetchland or shock, on top of any other time they'd take damage is pretty good for 2 mana against anything but graveyard decks. Goes infinite with BA, too.
I'm also interested in a few cards and abilities that trigger when I gain life (Well of Lost Dreams, Ajani's Pridemate, Sanguine Bond). That being said, I am more interested in synergy that uses life as a resource or offers benefits when our opponents lose life.
What ideas would work well with Kambal, Consul of Allocation at the lead of an EDH deck?
UBRKess, Dissident MageUBR - Controlling Dissidents
GRhonas the IndomitableG - Indomitable Four Drops
WUBOloro, Ageless AsceticWUB - Loot & Renanimate
When I first read kambal, consul of allocation I immediately thought that he was perfectly on curve to play after ayli, eternal pilgrim.
You can absolutely build a strong life-gain strategy around him tho. He does a great job at bricking a lot of non-creature based decks, and is a card that will eventually need to be answered by counter heavy & storm based decks. If one of your friends plays talrand, sky summoner I'm sure they will give you dirty looks for resolving this guy first.
I've seen a few mono-white life-gain based decks that run felidar sovereign/test of endurance, and that new aetherflux reservoir is already making those decks happy. Adding black for additional tutors, recursion via yawgmoth's will, mana via urborg+coffers, and creature answers to help delay the game longer can only make for a stronger deck.
Links to my most current deck lists;
Primary EDH; Rakka Mar Token Perfection, Crosis Mnemonic Betrayal, Cromat Villainous, Judith Gravestorm, Rakdos Empty Storm, Exava Artifacts, Bant Trash, & Fumiko Voltron!
EDH kept at home; Ruzzian Isset & Rakdos LoR!
EDH (nostalgic/pimp/retired) in storage;
Latulla Burns, Akroma Smash, Jeska Voltron, Rakdos Storm, Bladewing Darghans, Lyzolda Worldgorger, Xantcha Steals your Heart, Jori Storm, Wydwen Permission, Gwendlyn Paradox, Jeleva Warps, & Sigarda Brick!
Legacy Showanimator and High Tide!
Tribal 'Whenever Opponents Cast Spells'? Chancellor of the Annex, Chimeric Egg, Isolation Cell, Opal Acrolith, Painful Quandary, Rewards of Diversity, Soldier of the Pantheon, Spelltithe Enforcer, Sunscorch Regent, Warmth, Yawgmoth's Edict. Yeah, four *good* cards ain't gonna cut it.
--Buck v Bell, 1927. This case, regarding the compulsory sterilization of inmates at mental institutions, has -- somehow -- never been overturned. Just a wee PSA for ya.
Mother of Runes can protect Kambal, Consul of Allocation and other threats on the board. Atheros, God of Passage has excellent synergy with Kambal, Consul of Allocation.
As mentioned earlier, Wound Reflection is an option. While it is a little high on the mana curve, but it means that Kambal, Consul of Allocation makes our opponents lose 4 life every time they cast a noncreature spell instead of 2 life. Kothophed, Soul Hoarder can take advantage of all that extra life we'll be gaining.
UBRKess, Dissident MageUBR - Controlling Dissidents
GRhonas the IndomitableG - Indomitable Four Drops
WUBOloro, Ageless AsceticWUB - Loot & Renanimate
Sadly hive mind doesn't 'cast' the copies, just puts them on the stack. Kambal here requires a card to be 'cast.'
Links to my most current deck lists;
Primary EDH; Rakka Mar Token Perfection, Crosis Mnemonic Betrayal, Cromat Villainous, Judith Gravestorm, Rakdos Empty Storm, Exava Artifacts, Bant Trash, & Fumiko Voltron!
EDH kept at home; Ruzzian Isset & Rakdos LoR!
EDH (nostalgic/pimp/retired) in storage;
Latulla Burns, Akroma Smash, Jeska Voltron, Rakdos Storm, Bladewing Darghans, Lyzolda Worldgorger, Xantcha Steals your Heart, Jori Storm, Wydwen Permission, Gwendlyn Paradox, Jeleva Warps, & Sigarda Brick!
Legacy Showanimator and High Tide!
Oh, right. Well, Eye of the Storm then
...Huh. That's actually not a bad combo if you can get a couple spells on the Eye.
Also, if we're mentioning Dark Tutelage, there's of course the ol' Dark Confidant.
--Buck v Bell, 1927. This case, regarding the compulsory sterilization of inmates at mental institutions, has -- somehow -- never been overturned. Just a wee PSA for ya.
I'd also would suggest Sword of War and Peace if he doesn't play his spells you'd deal extra damage with the Sword. If he does well... The advisor could deal extra damage.........
If my post has no tags, then i posted from my phone.
I could imagine him leading BW stax.
What would a BW stax deck have with Kambal, Consul of Allocation at the head.
UBRKess, Dissident MageUBR - Controlling Dissidents
GRhonas the IndomitableG - Indomitable Four Drops
WUBOloro, Ageless AsceticWUB - Loot & Renanimate
Two Score, Minus Two or: A Stargate Tail
(Image by totallynotabrony)
I gotta read these things more closely. Hmm. Possibility Storm?
--Buck v Bell, 1927. This case, regarding the compulsory sterilization of inmates at mental institutions, has -- somehow -- never been overturned. Just a wee PSA for ya.
Eye is "may". They can choose not to cast the spells.
Also optional.
would be a great addition to this deck, they are very much similar.
Wound Reflection+Tree of Perdition unless they changed the rules, would be death at end of turn. Let me look that one up.
Changes in life have always counted as gains/losses
Ha! yup
When the ability resolves, Tree of Perdition’s toughness becomes the targeted opponent’s former life total and that player gains or loses an amount of life necessary so that his or her life total equals Tree of Perdition’s former toughness. Other effects that interact with life gain or life loss will interact with this effect accordingly.
From gatherer...eww.
I like where this is going, I may have to include him in my Atheros deck!
Rolling Horror is cute, not sure if it's strong enough to run. I'm curious if cards like Suture Priest and Blood Seeker are worth running or are they too weak. They can be played a turn before Kambal, Consul of Allocation which is nice.
Bitterblossom doesn't have amazing synergy with Kambal, Consul of Allocation, but it's still Bitterblossom, so it's worth running. It's minimal drawback is even less of a factor with the life gain provided and would fit well into a stax theme. Blind Obedience fits on the stax theme.
UBRKess, Dissident MageUBR - Controlling Dissidents
GRhonas the IndomitableG - Indomitable Four Drops
WUBOloro, Ageless AsceticWUB - Loot & Renanimate
UBRKess, Dissident MageUBR - Controlling Dissidents
GRhonas the IndomitableG - Indomitable Four Drops
WUBOloro, Ageless AsceticWUB - Loot & Renanimate
Various other big X spells do in a pinch as well, but nothing is quite as fun as draining out the whole table.
Yeah, some hatebears could go a long way. Aven Mindcesor for sure.
I'm not sure about Vyrn Wingmare or Thalia, Guardian of Thraben because I would imagine this deck would run many non reature spells.
Is Authority of the Consuls too weak? Seems solid in a stax lifegain build.
UBRKess, Dissident MageUBR - Controlling Dissidents
GRhonas the IndomitableG - Indomitable Four Drops
WUBOloro, Ageless AsceticWUB - Loot & Renanimate
Fair, though Crypt Ghast works fine in your game plan anyway, especially if your stax plan goes as far as denying the table lands. Having an inexpensive mana doubler out can help make sure you still have access to mana when the rest of the table doesn't. If you arn't going quite that route, then even his extort is a fine addition to your deck.
I would consider it a pretty egregious mistake to be in B/W and not running Debt to the Deathless, doubly so with your theme. Even non-ramped it beautifully feeds into what your deck wants to be doing. But that's my last defense on that.
Authority of the Consuls is fine for lifegain, but only really good in a deck that cares about small triggers like Karlov of the Ghost Council. The fact that it only hits creatures is a big negative, making Thalia, Heretic Cathar and Blind Obedience (obedience in particular for your deck) the better options.
I feel that Magus of the Abyss may be worth mentioning. It has very strong synergy with Bitterblossom. As mentioned previously, both Spelltithe Enforcer and Tree of Perdition seems strong.
Debt to the Deathless is definitely on theme.
UBRKess, Dissident MageUBR - Controlling Dissidents
GRhonas the IndomitableG - Indomitable Four Drops
WUBOloro, Ageless AsceticWUB - Loot & Renanimate
I'm always looking out for ways to hit my opponents for two on their turn because of Bloodchief Ascension.
On phasing:
BGW Doran, the Siege Tower BGW
URG Animar, Combo Player URG (needs updating)
WBR Kaalia of the Vast WBR
What are some win conditions for this deck (no more than CMC of 5-6)? Maybe some of the swords (i.e. Sword of Feast and Famine)
UBRKess, Dissident MageUBR - Controlling Dissidents
GRhonas the IndomitableG - Indomitable Four Drops
WUBOloro, Ageless AsceticWUB - Loot & Renanimate