This decklist is designed for subtle control, relying on 1 and 2-point life swings to wear your opponents down bit by bit while restricting their actions using punisher effects. The deck wants to avoid splashy, swingy cards that trigger alarm bells and draw aggro and removal; this includes large creatures and hard-hitting spells, stuff like Blood Baron of Vizkopa and Debt to the Deathless.
MTGS Wikia Article about "New World Order"
Every time I read a comment about "Well if this card had card draw/trample/haste/indestructible/hexproof/life gain...", I think "You're missing the point." They're armchair developer comments that fail to take into account the card's role in the greater Limited and Standard environment. No, it may not be as good as whatever card you're comparing it to. There's a reason for that. Not every burn spell is Lightning Bolt, nor does it need to be or should be.
PSA to everyone who keeps forgetting about the Reserved List:
You're on a website dedicated to talking about MtG. You're only a few keystrokes away from finding out what cards are on the Reserved List. You're also only a few keystrokes away from finding out why some cards on the Reserved List got foil printings in FtV, as Judge promos, or whatnot, as well as why that won't happen again. Stop doing this.
Those would be "Alarm Bell" cards that tell your opponents you're going for the offensive, thereby drawing aggro from the rest of the board. The idea is to fly under the radar with minimal effects that plink away without triggering red alert while protecting yourself with pillowfort tactics.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
MTGS Wikia Article about "New World Order"
Every time I read a comment about "Well if this card had card draw/trample/haste/indestructible/hexproof/life gain...", I think "You're missing the point." They're armchair developer comments that fail to take into account the card's role in the greater Limited and Standard environment. No, it may not be as good as whatever card you're comparing it to. There's a reason for that. Not every burn spell is Lightning Bolt, nor does it need to be or should be.
PSA to everyone who keeps forgetting about the Reserved List:
You're on a website dedicated to talking about MtG. You're only a few keystrokes away from finding out what cards are on the Reserved List. You're also only a few keystrokes away from finding out why some cards on the Reserved List got foil printings in FtV, as Judge promos, or whatnot, as well as why that won't happen again. Stop doing this.
Indeed, I'll go ahead and add it to the list. Thanks!
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
MTGS Wikia Article about "New World Order"
Every time I read a comment about "Well if this card had card draw/trample/haste/indestructible/hexproof/life gain...", I think "You're missing the point." They're armchair developer comments that fail to take into account the card's role in the greater Limited and Standard environment. No, it may not be as good as whatever card you're comparing it to. There's a reason for that. Not every burn spell is Lightning Bolt, nor does it need to be or should be.
PSA to everyone who keeps forgetting about the Reserved List:
You're on a website dedicated to talking about MtG. You're only a few keystrokes away from finding out what cards are on the Reserved List. You're also only a few keystrokes away from finding out why some cards on the Reserved List got foil printings in FtV, as Judge promos, or whatnot, as well as why that won't happen again. Stop doing this.
I know that you said you want to avoid alarm bell cards, but are you sure running Bloodchief Ascension is a good idea? I know you don't have Mindcrank in the list, but whenever I see the Ascension played, everyone at the table targets that player because they suspect Mindcrank to drop shortly after and will do their best to either get rid of the Ascension or whoever dropped it.
MTGS Wikia Article about "New World Order"
Every time I read a comment about "Well if this card had card draw/trample/haste/indestructible/hexproof/life gain...", I think "You're missing the point." They're armchair developer comments that fail to take into account the card's role in the greater Limited and Standard environment. No, it may not be as good as whatever card you're comparing it to. There's a reason for that. Not every burn spell is Lightning Bolt, nor does it need to be or should be.
PSA to everyone who keeps forgetting about the Reserved List:
You're on a website dedicated to talking about MtG. You're only a few keystrokes away from finding out what cards are on the Reserved List. You're also only a few keystrokes away from finding out why some cards on the Reserved List got foil printings in FtV, as Judge promos, or whatnot, as well as why that won't happen again. Stop doing this.
Why, thank you. I hope to eventually build this list and try it myself. While I do like playing aggro and tempo-combo, the idea of playing a more pillowforty punisher deck and watching my opponents figure out how to attack does intrigue me.
I'm adding High Priest of Penance to the list as it's another good "don't attack me" card. I am considering some wraths like Magister of Worth and End Hostilities. Will of the Council and Council's dilemma cards can allow the Kambal deck to get a little more proactive without drawing all of the aggro, since your opponents are also choosing how to screw each other over.
MTGS Wikia Article about "New World Order"
Every time I read a comment about "Well if this card had card draw/trample/haste/indestructible/hexproof/life gain...", I think "You're missing the point." They're armchair developer comments that fail to take into account the card's role in the greater Limited and Standard environment. No, it may not be as good as whatever card you're comparing it to. There's a reason for that. Not every burn spell is Lightning Bolt, nor does it need to be or should be.
PSA to everyone who keeps forgetting about the Reserved List:
You're on a website dedicated to talking about MtG. You're only a few keystrokes away from finding out what cards are on the Reserved List. You're also only a few keystrokes away from finding out why some cards on the Reserved List got foil printings in FtV, as Judge promos, or whatnot, as well as why that won't happen again. Stop doing this.
I totally on board with your play theory with the Will of the Council / Council's Dilemma mechanics. Council's Judgment is the prime example.
PM me the list without all the numbers and I'll start running this on Cockatrice to get some first hand feedback. I'll be keeping up on this post with any of my feedback.
EDIT:
1 Kambal, Consul of Allocation
1 Soul's Attendant
1 Aegis of the Gods
1 Nyx-Fleece Ram
1 Suture Priest
1 High Priest of Penance
1 Burnished Hart
1 Orzhov Advokist
1 Drana's Emissary
1 Souls of the Faultless
1 Michiko Konda, Truth Seeker
1 Wall of Reverence
1 Fate Unraveler
1 Cliffhaven Vampire
1 Agent of Masks
1 Darien, King of Kjeldor
1 Magister of Worth
1 Teysa, Envoy of Ghosts
1 Elixir of Immortality
1 Sol Ring
1 Orzhov Signet
1 Chromatic Lantern
1 Commander's Sphere
1 Crawlspace
1 Darksteel Ingot
1 Ghirapur Orrery
1 Isolation Cell
1 Norn's Annex
1 Authority of the Consuls
1 Gonti's Machinations
1 Blind Obedience
1 Shadows of the Past
1 Ghostly Prison
1 Karmic Justice
1 Pariah
1 Tainted Remedy
1 Hissing Miasma
1 Underworld Connections
1 Pillory of the Sleepless
1 Underworld Dreams
1 Blood Reckoning
1 Greed
1 Lightmine Field
1 No Mercy
1 One Thousand Lashes
1 Sphere of Safety
1 Consulate Crackdown
1 Righteous Cause
1 Path to Exile
1 Swords to Plowshares
1 Anguished Unmaking
1 Mortify
1 Utter End
1 Kaya, Ghost Assassin
1 Idyllic Tutor
1 Council's Judgment
1 Diabolic Tutor
1 Tragic Arrogance
1 Capital Punishment
1 Merciless Eviction
1 Aether Hub
1 Caves of Koilos
1 Command Beacon
1 Command Tower
1 Concealed Courtyard
1 Fetid Heath
1 Forsaken Sanctuary
1 Godless Shrine
1 Orzhov Basilica
1 Orzhov Guildgate
1 Scoured Barrens
1 Temple of Silence
14 Plains
14 Swamp
I totally on board with your play theory with the Will of the Council / Council's Dilemma mechanics. Council's Judgment is the prime example.
PM me the list without all the numbers and I'll start running this on Cockatrice to get some first hand feedback. I'll be keeping up on this post with any of my feedback.
Palace Siege is another drain card, and can give you a little flexibility if you need some creatures back
Since I'm already running Drana's Emissary and Agent of Masks, Palace Siege might be worth considering. It might even be worth dropping Emissary or Agent for Siege since I either get slightly faster life drain or recursion. And being another enchantment, it helps Sphere of Safety. Citadel Siege might also be worth a look, though I'd probably use the creature-tapping mode most of the time as the +1/+1 counters can quickly start raising that red flag.
Of course, having that gradual life drain effect might ultimately undermine the deck's efforts. The goal is to set up a network of punisher effects that make it so every step your opponent takes, especially against you, brings them closer to defeat.
I think I could stand to drop Emissary and Agent for some more card draw.
Ooh, I just realized Soul's Attendant, Cliffhaven Vampire, and Darien, King of Kjeldor create a beautiful punisher combo where if an opponent's creature hits me, I get that many tokens, gain that much life, then make each opponent lose that much life. My opponents will literally be hurting themselves rather than me at that point (provided they don't knock my life down to 0 before the token and lifegain triggers resolve). I'm thinking Spirit Link and Vampiric Link could be great ways to benefit from my opponent's creatures. Soul Link might not be bad, either.
In retrospect, Kaya might not be the best fit for this deck as her card drawing ability isn't going to make a lot of friends and I've determined it's probably best to stay away from proactive life drain for this deck.
MTGS Wikia Article about "New World Order"
Every time I read a comment about "Well if this card had card draw/trample/haste/indestructible/hexproof/life gain...", I think "You're missing the point." They're armchair developer comments that fail to take into account the card's role in the greater Limited and Standard environment. No, it may not be as good as whatever card you're comparing it to. There's a reason for that. Not every burn spell is Lightning Bolt, nor does it need to be or should be.
PSA to everyone who keeps forgetting about the Reserved List:
You're on a website dedicated to talking about MtG. You're only a few keystrokes away from finding out what cards are on the Reserved List. You're also only a few keystrokes away from finding out why some cards on the Reserved List got foil printings in FtV, as Judge promos, or whatnot, as well as why that won't happen again. Stop doing this.
I'm thinking of removing Aegis of the Gods in favor of Orbs of Warding. Yeah, higher mana cost, but the Orbs can't be removed with a ping (and in fact help protect you from such). The deck has plenty of enchantments to buff Sphere of Safety, and it only takes a few to really put the pressure on your opponent's mana base.
I've swapped Righteous Cause out for Orim's Prayer. Kambal's deck isn't going to be doing a lot of attacking, so Prayer is more efficient than Cause.
I'm considering adding Imposing Sovereign to the deck as another slow down card, though Blind Obedience is probably superior thanks to the addition of artifact slowdown, Extort option, and being an enchantment and thus harder to remove.
MTGS Wikia Article about "New World Order"
Every time I read a comment about "Well if this card had card draw/trample/haste/indestructible/hexproof/life gain...", I think "You're missing the point." They're armchair developer comments that fail to take into account the card's role in the greater Limited and Standard environment. No, it may not be as good as whatever card you're comparing it to. There's a reason for that. Not every burn spell is Lightning Bolt, nor does it need to be or should be.
PSA to everyone who keeps forgetting about the Reserved List:
You're on a website dedicated to talking about MtG. You're only a few keystrokes away from finding out what cards are on the Reserved List. You're also only a few keystrokes away from finding out why some cards on the Reserved List got foil printings in FtV, as Judge promos, or whatnot, as well as why that won't happen again. Stop doing this.
3 Kambal, Consul of Allocation
Creatures
2 Suture Priest
3 Burnished Hart
3 Grim Guardian
3 Drana's Emissary
3 Souls of the Faultless
4 Fate Unraveler
4 Cliffhaven Vampire
5 Agent of Masks
7 Teysa, Envoy of Ghosts
Artifacts
1 Elixir of Immortality
1 Sol Ring
2 Orzhov Signet
3 Chromatic Lantern
3 Commander's Sphere
3 Crawlspace
3 Darksteel Ingot
4 Ghirapur Orrery
4 Isolation Cell
5 Norn's Annex
1 Bloodchief Ascension
2 Blind Obedience
2 Shadows of the Past
2 Underhanded Designs
3 Ghostly Prison
3 Karmic Justice
3 Tainted Remedy
3 Hissing Miasma
3 Underworld Connections
3 Pillory of the Sleepless
3 Underworld Dreams
4 Lightmine Field
4 No Mercy
4 One Thousand Lashes
5 Sphere of Safety
Instants
1 Path to Exile
1 Swords to Plowshares
4 Utter End
4 Kaya, Ghost Assassin
Sorceries
3 Idyllic Tutor
4 Diabolic Tutor
5 Tragic Arrogance
Land
1 Caves of Koilos
1 Command Beacon
1 Command Tower
1 Concealed Courtyard
1 Fetid Heath
1 Forsaken Sanctuary
1 Godless Shrine
1 Orzhov Basilica
1 Orzhov Guildgate
1 Scoured Barrens
1 Temple of Silence
14 Plains
15 Swamp
Every time I read a comment about "Well if this card had card draw/trample/haste/indestructible/hexproof/life gain...", I think "You're missing the point." They're armchair developer comments that fail to take into account the card's role in the greater Limited and Standard environment. No, it may not be as good as whatever card you're comparing it to. There's a reason for that. Not every burn spell is Lightning Bolt, nor does it need to be or should be.
Every time I read a comment about "Well if this card had card draw/trample/haste/indestructible/hexproof/life gain...", I think "You're missing the point." They're armchair developer comments that fail to take into account the card's role in the greater Limited and Standard environment. No, it may not be as good as whatever card you're comparing it to. There's a reason for that. Not every burn spell is Lightning Bolt, nor does it need to be or should be.
Every time I read a comment about "Well if this card had card draw/trample/haste/indestructible/hexproof/life gain...", I think "You're missing the point." They're armchair developer comments that fail to take into account the card's role in the greater Limited and Standard environment. No, it may not be as good as whatever card you're comparing it to. There's a reason for that. Not every burn spell is Lightning Bolt, nor does it need to be or should be.
Now that C16 and AER are out, I want to see what new goodies are available for Kambal.
I'm sorely tempted to include some sac cards like Disciple of the Vault, Zulaport Cutthroat, and Hidden Stockpile. But would the potential sac shenanigans draw too much attention?
I would also consider monarch cards like Protector of the Crown, Marchesa's Decree, and Knights of the Black Rose, but I feel as though being the monarch paints a big ol' bullseye on yourself.
3 Kambal, Consul of Allocation
Creatures
2 Suture Priest
3 Burnished Hart
3 Orzhov Advokist
3 Drana's Emissary
3 Souls of the Faultless
4 Michiko Konda, Truth Seeker
4 Fate Unraveler
4 Cliffhaven Vampire
5 Agent of Masks
6 Darien, King of Kjeldor
7 Teysa, Envoy of Ghosts
Artifacts
1 Elixir of Immortality
1 Sol Ring
2 Orzhov Signet
3 Chromatic Lantern
3 Commander's Sphere
3 Crawlspace
3 Darksteel Ingot
4 Ghirapur Orrery
4 Isolation Cell
5 Norn's Annex
2 Blind Obedience
2 Shadows of the Past
3 Ghostly Prison
3 Karmic Justice
3 Pariah
3 Tainted Remedy
3 Hissing Miasma
3 Underworld Connections
3 Pillory of the Sleepless
3 Underworld Dreams
4 Blood Reckoning
4 Greed
4 Lightmine Field
4 No Mercy
4 One Thousand Lashes
5 Sphere of Safety
5 Consulate Crackdown
5 Righteous Cause
Instants
1 Path to Exile
1 Swords to Plowshares
3 Anguished Unmaking
3 Mortify
4 Utter End
4 Kaya, Ghost Assassin
Sorceries
3 Idyllic Tutor
4 Diabolic Tutor
5 Tragic Arrogance
Land
1 Caves of Koilos
1 Command Beacon
1 Command Tower
1 Concealed Courtyard
1 Fetid Heath
1 Forsaken Sanctuary
1 Godless Shrine
1 Orzhov Basilica
1 Orzhov Guildgate
1 Scoured Barrens
1 Temple of Silence
14 Plains
15 Swamp
Every time I read a comment about "Well if this card had card draw/trample/haste/indestructible/hexproof/life gain...", I think "You're missing the point." They're armchair developer comments that fail to take into account the card's role in the greater Limited and Standard environment. No, it may not be as good as whatever card you're comparing it to. There's a reason for that. Not every burn spell is Lightning Bolt, nor does it need to be or should be.
I'm adding High Priest of Penance to the list as it's another good "don't attack me" card. I am considering some wraths like Magister of Worth and End Hostilities. Will of the Council and Council's dilemma cards can allow the Kambal deck to get a little more proactive without drawing all of the aggro, since your opponents are also choosing how to screw each other over.
3 Kambal, Consul of Allocation
Creatures
1 Soul's Attendant
2 Aegis of the Gods
2 Nyx-Fleece Ram
2 Suture Priest
2 High Priest of Penance
3 Burnished Hart
3 Orzhov Advokist
3 Drana's Emissary
3 Souls of the Faultless
4 Michiko Konda, Truth Seeker
4 Wall of Reverence
4 Fate Unraveler
4 Cliffhaven Vampire
5 Agent of Masks
6 Darien, King of Kjeldor
6 Magister of Worth
7 Teysa, Envoy of Ghosts
Artifacts
1 Elixir of Immortality
1 Sol Ring
2 Orzhov Signet
3 Chromatic Lantern
3 Commander's Sphere
3 Crawlspace
3 Darksteel Ingot
4 Ghirapur Orrery
4 Isolation Cell
5 Norn's Annex
1 Authority of the Consuls
1 Gonti's Machinations
2 Blind Obedience
2 Shadows of the Past
3 Ghostly Prison
3 Karmic Justice
3 Pariah
3 Tainted Remedy
3 Hissing Miasma
3 Underworld Connections
3 Pillory of the Sleepless
3 Underworld Dreams
4 Blood Reckoning
4 Greed
4 Lightmine Field
4 No Mercy
4 One Thousand Lashes
5 Sphere of Safety
5 Consulate Crackdown
5 Righteous Cause
Instants
1 Path to Exile
1 Swords to Plowshares
3 Anguished Unmaking
3 Mortify
4 Utter End
4 Kaya, Ghost Assassin
Sorceries
3 Idyllic Tutor
3 Council's Judgment
4 Diabolic Tutor
5 Tragic Arrogance
6 Capital Punishment
6 Merciless Eviction
Land
1 Aether Hub
1 Caves of Koilos
1 Command Beacon
1 Command Tower
1 Concealed Courtyard
1 Fetid Heath
1 Forsaken Sanctuary
1 Godless Shrine
1 Orzhov Basilica
1 Orzhov Guildgate
1 Scoured Barrens
1 Temple of Silence
14 Plains
14 Swamp
Every time I read a comment about "Well if this card had card draw/trample/haste/indestructible/hexproof/life gain...", I think "You're missing the point." They're armchair developer comments that fail to take into account the card's role in the greater Limited and Standard environment. No, it may not be as good as whatever card you're comparing it to. There's a reason for that. Not every burn spell is Lightning Bolt, nor does it need to be or should be.
PM me the list without all the numbers and I'll start running this on Cockatrice to get some first hand feedback. I'll be keeping up on this post with any of my feedback.
EDIT:
1 Soul's Attendant
1 Aegis of the Gods
1 Nyx-Fleece Ram
1 Suture Priest
1 High Priest of Penance
1 Burnished Hart
1 Orzhov Advokist
1 Drana's Emissary
1 Souls of the Faultless
1 Michiko Konda, Truth Seeker
1 Wall of Reverence
1 Fate Unraveler
1 Cliffhaven Vampire
1 Agent of Masks
1 Darien, King of Kjeldor
1 Magister of Worth
1 Teysa, Envoy of Ghosts
1 Elixir of Immortality
1 Sol Ring
1 Orzhov Signet
1 Chromatic Lantern
1 Commander's Sphere
1 Crawlspace
1 Darksteel Ingot
1 Ghirapur Orrery
1 Isolation Cell
1 Norn's Annex
1 Authority of the Consuls
1 Gonti's Machinations
1 Blind Obedience
1 Shadows of the Past
1 Ghostly Prison
1 Karmic Justice
1 Pariah
1 Tainted Remedy
1 Hissing Miasma
1 Underworld Connections
1 Pillory of the Sleepless
1 Underworld Dreams
1 Blood Reckoning
1 Greed
1 Lightmine Field
1 No Mercy
1 One Thousand Lashes
1 Sphere of Safety
1 Consulate Crackdown
1 Righteous Cause
1 Path to Exile
1 Swords to Plowshares
1 Anguished Unmaking
1 Mortify
1 Utter End
1 Kaya, Ghost Assassin
1 Idyllic Tutor
1 Council's Judgment
1 Diabolic Tutor
1 Tragic Arrogance
1 Capital Punishment
1 Merciless Eviction
1 Aether Hub
1 Caves of Koilos
1 Command Beacon
1 Command Tower
1 Concealed Courtyard
1 Fetid Heath
1 Forsaken Sanctuary
1 Godless Shrine
1 Orzhov Basilica
1 Orzhov Guildgate
1 Scoured Barrens
1 Temple of Silence
14 Plains
14 Swamp
[EDH In Development] Kynaios and Tiro of Meletis | Trostani, Selesnya's Voice | Queen Marchesa | Ruhan of the Fomori | Yahenni, Undying Partisan
[EDH Retired] Ertai, The Corrupted | Sigarda, Host of Herons | Tariel, Reckoner of Souls | Korlash, Heir to Blackblade
[Modern] Stuffy Doll Combo Burn | Demigod of Revenge
Done.
Since I'm already running Drana's Emissary and Agent of Masks, Palace Siege might be worth considering. It might even be worth dropping Emissary or Agent for Siege since I either get slightly faster life drain or recursion. And being another enchantment, it helps Sphere of Safety. Citadel Siege might also be worth a look, though I'd probably use the creature-tapping mode most of the time as the +1/+1 counters can quickly start raising that red flag.
Of course, having that gradual life drain effect might ultimately undermine the deck's efforts. The goal is to set up a network of punisher effects that make it so every step your opponent takes, especially against you, brings them closer to defeat.
I think I could stand to drop Emissary and Agent for some more card draw.
Ooh, I just realized Soul's Attendant, Cliffhaven Vampire, and Darien, King of Kjeldor create a beautiful punisher combo where if an opponent's creature hits me, I get that many tokens, gain that much life, then make each opponent lose that much life. My opponents will literally be hurting themselves rather than me at that point (provided they don't knock my life down to 0 before the token and lifegain triggers resolve). I'm thinking Spirit Link and Vampiric Link could be great ways to benefit from my opponent's creatures. Soul Link might not be bad, either.
In retrospect, Kaya might not be the best fit for this deck as her card drawing ability isn't going to make a lot of friends and I've determined it's probably best to stay away from proactive life drain for this deck.
3 Kambal, Consul of Allocation
Creatures
1 Soul's Attendant
2 Suture Priest
2 Blood Seeker
2 Wall of Souls
2 High Priest of Penance
3 Burnished Hart
3 Orzhov Advokist
3 Souls of the Faultless
4 Michiko Konda, Truth Seeker
4 Fate Unraveler
4 Cliffhaven Vampire
6 Darien, King of Kjeldor
6 Magister of Worth
7 Teysa, Envoy of Ghosts
Artifacts
1 Elixir of Immortality
1 Sol Ring
2 Orzhov Signet
3 Chromatic Lantern
3 Commander's Sphere
3 Crawlspace
3 Darksteel Ingot
4 Ghirapur Orrery
4 Isolation Cell
5 Orbs of Warding
5 Norn's Annex
1 Authority of the Consuls
1 Spirit Link
1 Gonti's Machinations
1 Vampiric Link
2 Blind Obedience
3 Ghostly Prison
3 Karmic Justice
3 Pariah
3 Tainted Remedy
3 Orim's Prayer
3 Hissing Miasma
3 Underworld Connections
3 Pillory of the Sleepless
3 Underworld Dreams
4 Blood Reckoning
4 Greed
4 Lightmine Field
4 No Mercy
4 One Thousand Lashes
5 Sphere of Safety
5 Consulate Crackdown
Instants
1 Path to Exile
1 Swords to Plowshares
3 Anguished Unmaking
3 Mortify
4 Utter End
3 Idyllic Tutor
3 Council's Judgment
4 Diabolic Tutor
5 Tragic Arrogance
6 Capital Punishment
6 Merciless Eviction
Land
1 Aether Hub
1 Caves of Koilos
1 Command Beacon
1 Command Tower
1 Concealed Courtyard
1 Fetid Heath
1 Forsaken Sanctuary
1 Godless Shrine
1 Orzhov Basilica
1 Orzhov Guildgate
1 Scoured Barrens
1 Temple of Silence
14 Plains
14 Swamp
Every time I read a comment about "Well if this card had card draw/trample/haste/indestructible/hexproof/life gain...", I think "You're missing the point." They're armchair developer comments that fail to take into account the card's role in the greater Limited and Standard environment. No, it may not be as good as whatever card you're comparing it to. There's a reason for that. Not every burn spell is Lightning Bolt, nor does it need to be or should be.
Cheers!
Krichaiushii on PucaTrade.
I'm thinking of removing Aegis of the Gods in favor of Orbs of Warding. Yeah, higher mana cost, but the Orbs can't be removed with a ping (and in fact help protect you from such). The deck has plenty of enchantments to buff Sphere of Safety, and it only takes a few to really put the pressure on your opponent's mana base.
I've swapped Righteous Cause out for Orim's Prayer. Kambal's deck isn't going to be doing a lot of attacking, so Prayer is more efficient than Cause.
I'm considering adding Imposing Sovereign to the deck as another slow down card, though Blind Obedience is probably superior thanks to the addition of artifact slowdown, Extort option, and being an enchantment and thus harder to remove.
Every time I read a comment about "Well if this card had card draw/trample/haste/indestructible/hexproof/life gain...", I think "You're missing the point." They're armchair developer comments that fail to take into account the card's role in the greater Limited and Standard environment. No, it may not be as good as whatever card you're comparing it to. There's a reason for that. Not every burn spell is Lightning Bolt, nor does it need to be or should be.
Have you considered Polluted Bonds? It is a great drain card.
Dread is a No Mercy-like card.
If you rely on your creatures Athreos, God of Passage is a good way to either get them back if removed or further drain your opponents' life.
UGTatyova, Benthic DruidUG | RBRakdos the DefilerRB | RNorin the WaryR | BGThelon of HavenwoodBG