"The form of the sigil is just as important as the sigil itself. If its carried on a medallion, its bearer is a master. If its tattooed on the body, its bearer is a slave."
Welcome to the Orzhov Syndicate! I hope you enjoyed my little introduction there. If you did, be sure to say so! My list has a ton of value-generating cards that swing games in your favor. Aside from the obvious infinite combo win condition (I run it because this list is competitive, and Obzedat is very efficient!), there are many alternate win conditions. My favorite has been the T2 Inkmoth Nexus that just creeps them up to 5 or 6 infect, then I end the game by resolving a T6 Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon. As most EDH players will know, Obzedat, Ghost Council is a very resilient commander that cannot be dealt with profitably:
Your opponents have to deal with it at instant-speed, and only on your turn.
Humility is an extremely tricky card to use. If I played a 0 creature Oloro, Ageless Ascetic deck it would be a no-brainer, but with Obzedat you really only want to play this as a pseudo-board wipe. The ideal situation is of course to play it with either Elspeth, Sun's Champion or any other planeswalker.
In order to resolve our win conditions AND to stop our opponents from deploying theirs, we need to run a full gamut of resource bolstering. Depending on your games, Armageddon may or may not be a key card for you to take over the game, assuming you sandbag some lands and can clear the way of an Obzedat alpha-strike. Weathered Wayfarer and Knight of the White Orchid are good reasons to be on the draw in 1v1 games. Gift of Estates, Read the Bones, and Phyrexian Arena give you incremental card advantage.
Play Style
We generally do not want to play more than 5 lands at any time. The exception is for Sorin Markov or another 6-drop you'd like to resolve.
When the coast is clear, cast Obzedat and let him flicker out on end step.
On your next turn...
If your opponents are tapped out: Resolve Armageddon, play a land, and let the beats begin!
If your opponents are not tapped out: Resolve a planeswalker like Elspeth, Sun's Champion or a value enchantment like Painful Quandary.
If you did not have the ideal hand and draws as above, don't worry because we have cards that can stall the game: Meekstone, Blind Obedience, Ghostly Prison - Delay creature attacks Torpor Orb, Hushwing Gryff, Humility - Punish players who rely on puny creatures
Again, BE CAREFUL with Humility and Torpor Orb! It is a very effective card in our deck, and probably life-saving most Green decks, but it also turns off Obzedat!
Future Updates
Thank you for reading my thread! Please comment on anything you've found helpful or with any other suggestions! Here is a tentative to-do list for future updates:
A condensed guide to membership in the Orzhov Syndidate:
Removal Options
Step 1: Wipe the slate clean.
Hallowed Burial, Merciless Eviction, Terminus, Toxic Deluge, Wrath of God
If Step 1 is insufficient, the Syndicate will provide.
Council's Judgment, Vindicate, Aura of Silence, Darksteel Mutation, Nevermore, Mortify, Return to Dust, Swords to Plowshares, Utter End
Win Conditions and Tutors
Step 2: Summon the Ghost Council. They have seen your devotion to the cause and will now grant an audience. For those who had the foresight, they may even achieve the ultimate profit.
Exquisite Blood + Sanguine Bond or Vizkopa Guildmage
An applicant with true resourcefulness may impress.
Demonic Tutor, Diabolic Tutor, Idyllic Tutor, Enlightened Tutor, Dimir House Guard, Sidisi, Undead Vizier, Liliana Vess
The graveyard is merely a resource.
Reanimate, Animate Dead, Replenish
Alternate Win Conditions
Step 3: The Syndicate look favorably on its assets. Go forth, and profit!
Inkmoth Nexus, Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon, Avacyn, Angel of Hope or Sun Titan or Crucible or Worlds + Armageddon
Your fellow devotees will aid in our cause.
Elspeth, Sun's Champion, Liliana Vess, Liliana of the Veil, Sorin, Solemn Visitor, Sorin Markov, Ugin, the Spirit Dragon
Welcome to the Orzhov Syndicate! I hope you enjoyed my little introduction there. If you did, be sure to say so! My list has a ton of value-generating cards that swing games in your favor. Aside from the obvious infinite combo win condition (I run it because this list is competitive, and Obzedat is very efficient!), there are many alternate win conditions. My favorite has been the T2 Inkmoth Nexus that just creeps them up to 5 or 6 infect, then I end the game by resolving a T6 Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon. As most EDH players will know, Obzedat, Ghost Council is a very resilient commander that cannot be dealt with profitably:
That being said, there are some reasons why this may not be the deck for you:
Decklist by Type & Converted Mana Cost
6 Obzedat, Ghost Council
Land (34)
1x Barren Moor
1x Bloodstained Mire
1x Caves of Koilos
1x Command Tower
1x Flooded Strand
1x Godless Shrine
1x Inkmoth Nexus
1x Isolated Chapel
1x Mana Confluence
1x Orzhov Basilica
6x Plains
1x Polluted Delta
1x Reliquary Tower
1x Scoured Barrens
1x Secluded Steppe
1x Shambling Vent
1x Shizo, Death's Storehouse
1x Snow-Covered Plains
7x Swamp
1x Tectonic Edge
1x Temple of Silence
1x Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
1x Windswept Heath
Creature 11
1 Weathered Wayfarer
2 Vizkopa Guildmage
2 Wall of Omens
3 Hushwing Gryff
4 Dimir House Guard
4 Erebos, God of the Dead
5 Sidisi, Undead Vizier
5 Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon
6 Sun Titan
7 Rune-Scarred Demon
8 Avacyn, Angel of Hope
1 Angel's Grace
1 Enlightened Tutor
1 Swords to Plowshares
3 Mortify
4 Return to Dust
4 Utter End
Sorcery 16
1 Reanimate
2 Demonic Tutor
2 Gift of Estates
3 Council's Judgment
3 Idyllic Tutor
3 Lingering Souls
3 Toxic Deluge
3 Vindicate
4 Armageddon
4 Cataclysm
4 Diabolic Tutor
4 Replenish
4 Wrath of God
5 Hallowed Burial
6 Merciless Eviction
6 Terminus
Enchantment 17
1 Bloodchief Ascension
2 Animate Dead
2 Bitterblossom
2 Blind Obedience
2 Darksteel Mutation
3 Aura of Silence
3 Ghostly Prison
3 Karmic Justice
3 Nevermore
3 Oblivion Ring
3 Phyrexian Arena
4 Humility
4 Tainted AEther
5 Exquisite Blood
5 Painful Quandary
5 Sanguine Bond
5 Spreading Plague
3 Liliana of the Veil
4 Sorin, Solemn Visitor
5 Liliana Vess
6 Elspeth, Sun's Champion
6 Sorin Markov
8 Ugin, the Spirit Dragon
Artifact 10
1 Meekstone
1 Sol Ring
2 Orzhov Signet
2 Torpor Orb
3 Crawlspace
3 Crucible of Worlds
3 Darksteel Ingot
3 Tangle Wire
4 Well of Lost Dreams
5 Gilded Lotus
Link to deck @ TappedOut.net
In order to resolve our win conditions AND to stop our opponents from deploying theirs, we need to run a full gamut of resource bolstering. Depending on your games, Armageddon may or may not be a key card for you to take over the game, assuming you sandbag some lands and can clear the way of an Obzedat alpha-strike. Weathered Wayfarer and Knight of the White Orchid are good reasons to be on the draw in 1v1 games. Gift of Estates, Read the Bones, and Phyrexian Arena give you incremental card advantage.
Play Style
If your opponents are not tapped out: Resolve a planeswalker like Elspeth, Sun's Champion or a value enchantment like Painful Quandary.
If you did not have the ideal hand and draws as above, don't worry because we have cards that can stall the game:
Meekstone, Blind Obedience, Ghostly Prison - Delay creature attacks
Torpor Orb, Hushwing Gryff, Humility - Punish players who rely on puny creatures
Again, BE CAREFUL with Humility and Torpor Orb! It is a very effective card in our deck, and probably life-saving most Green decks, but it also turns off Obzedat!
Future Updates
Thank you for reading my thread! Please comment on anything you've found helpful or with any other suggestions! Here is a tentative to-do list for future updates:
EDH - Obzedat, Ghost Council of VALUETOWN BW
Modern - Rack Disruption BR
My Trading Post