EDH Optimizer
Karlov of the Ghost Council
Legendary Creature — Spirit Advisor · WB
Color identity: Black · White · Orzhov
Karlov of the Ghost Council is Orzhov (black and white): its deck can only run cards of those colors plus colorless ones.
Rules text:
Whenever you gain life, put two +1/+1 counters on Karlov.
{W}{B}, Remove six +1/+1 counters from Karlov: Exile target creature.
Reference price of the card: €11.58
Average lands in decks for Karlov of the Ghost Council: 34
Lifegain+1/+1 CountersVoltronComboLifedrainControlAristocratsSelf-Damage
Build your Karlov of the Ghost Council deck step by step, with in-depth analysis and AI optimization of your list.
🛠️ Build a deck for Karlov of the Ghost Council 📥 Analyze my deck🎲 How the average Karlov of the Ghost Council deck starts over 4,000 games
The list people actually play (the 99 most-included cards, with its average land count), simulated with the EDH Optimizer engine: hands, mulligans, lands, curve and commander. It does not model opponents; it measures whether the plan gets going.
Deck health of the average list: B (69/100)
- Consistency26
- Speed77
- Interaction39
- Resilience84
- Closing100
See the cards of the average deck · 99 cards, 34 lands (23 nonbasic, 6 Plains, 5 Swamp)
Soul Warden · Soul's Attendant · Authority of the Consuls · Sol Ring · Arcane Signet · Kambal, Consul of Allocation · Swords to Plowshares · Suture Priest · Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose · Elas il-Kor, Sadistic Pilgrim · Auriok Champion · Blind Obedience · Aetherflux Reservoir · Anguished Unmaking · Daxos, Blessed by the Sun · Orzhov Signet · Path to Exile · Sanguine Bond · Heliod, Sun-Crowned · Serra Ascendant · Sunscorch Regent · Talisman of Hierarchy · Phyrexian Arena · Blood Artist · Exemplar of Light · Pristine Talisman · Voice of the Blessed · Exquisite Blood · Guide of Souls · Mother of Runes · Archangel of Thune · Marauding Blight-Priest · Lightning Greaves · Lunarch Veteran // Luminous Phantom · Elenda's Hierophant · Swiftfoot Boots · Well of Lost Dreams · Archivist of Oghma · Black Market Connections · Damn · Enduring Tenacity · Haliya, Guided by Light · Starscape Cleric · Toxic Deluge · Bolas's Citadel · Ajani's Welcome · Esper Sentinel · Creeping Bloodsucker · Despark · Night's Whisper · The Gaffer · Shadowspear · Bloodthirsty Conqueror · Cleric Class · Generous Gift · Lotho, Corrupt Shirriff · Sign in Blood · Spectrum Sentinel · Giver of Runes · Lurrus of the Dream-Den · Smothering Tithe · Amalia Benavides Aguirre · Dawn of Hope · Lunar Convocation · Vizkopa Guildmage · Command Tower · Isolated Chapel · Caves of Koilos · Godless Shrine · Scoured Barrens · Tainted Field · Fetid Heath · Vault of Champions · Rogue's Passage · Vault of the Archangel · Shattered Sanctum · Bojuka Bog · Marsh Flats · Brightclimb Pathway // Grimclimb Pathway · Orzhov Basilica · Shineshadow Snarl · Temple of Silence · Concealed Courtyard · Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth · Silent Clearing · Bleachbone Verge · Radiant Fountain · Shizo, Death's Storehouse
🃏 Recommended cards for Karlov of the Ghost Council
The highest-synergy cards in decks for Karlov of the Ghost Council, with their inclusion rate.
| Card | Inclusion | Synergy |
|---|---|---|
| Soul Warden | 89% | +72% |
| Soul's Attendant | 83% | +71% |
| Authority of the Consuls | 81% | +64% |
| Kambal, Consul of Allocation | 71% | +57% |
| Auriok Champion | 58% | +55% |
| Suture Priest | 65% | +52% |
| Daxos, Blessed by the Sun | 54% | +49% |
| Aetherflux Reservoir | 54% | +46% |
| Sunscorch Regent | 48% | +44% |
| Heliod, Sun-Crowned | 48% | +43% |
| Voice of the Blessed | 46% | +42% |
| Serra Ascendant | 48% | +42% |
| Blind Obedience | 57% | +41% |
| Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose | 61% | +41% |
| Pristine Talisman | 46% | +41% |
| Guide of Souls | 45% | +40% |
| Exemplar of Light | 46% | +39% |
| Archangel of Thune | 42% | +37% |
| Mother of Runes | 45% | +36% |
| Lunarch Veteran | 38% | +34% |
| Scoured Barrens | 55% | +33% |
| Sanguine Bond | 49% | +31% |
| Exquisite Blood | 45% | +30% |
| Well of Lost Dreams | 36% | +29% |
💰 The best cards for your Karlov of the Ghost Council deck, by budget
Three tiers based on the maximum price PER CARD you are willing to pay. Paste your list and hit Optimize: you pick that cap and the AI only suggests swaps that fit under it.
Tier 1 · Budget up to €2/card
The most value for almost nothing. Coming from a precon? Start here.
- Soul Warden
- Suture Priest
- Daxos, Blessed by the Sun
- Sunscorch Regent
- Voice of the Blessed
- Pristine Talisman
Tier 2 · Balanced up to €10/card
The real step up: pieces that are no longer cheap but still sensible.
- Soul's Attendant
- Authority of the Consuls
- Kambal, Consul of Allocation
- Auriok Champion
- Blind Obedience
- Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose
Tier 3 · No cap no cap
The cards your price cap was hiding from you.
- Aetherflux Reservoir
- Heliod, Sun-Crowned
- Serra Ascendant
- Archangel of Thune
- Exquisite Blood
- Shadowspear
Reference prices (cheapest English printing). They change daily.
♾️ Known combos with Karlov of the Ghost Council
- Sanguine Bond + Exquisite Blood → Infinite lifegain triggers, Infinite lifeloss, Infinite lifegain
- Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose + Exquisite Blood → Infinite lifegain triggers, Infinite lifeloss, Infinite lifegain
- Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose + Bloodthirsty Conqueror → Infinite lifegain triggers, Infinite lifeloss, Infinite lifegain
- Sanguine Bond + Bloodthirsty Conqueror → Infinite lifegain triggers, Infinite lifeloss, Infinite lifegain
- Exquisite Blood + Enduring Tenacity → Infinite lifegain triggers, Infinite lifeloss, Infinite lifegain
- Bloodchief Ascension + Mindcrank → Infinite mill, Near-infinite lifegain, Near-infinite lifegain triggers, Near-infinite lifeloss
Other commanders
Frequently asked questions
What is Karlov of the Ghost Council's color identity?
Karlov of the Ghost Council is Orzhov (black and white): its deck can only run cards of those colors plus colorless ones. Color identity comes from every mana symbol on the card, including those in the rules text, not just the casting cost.
What turn does Karlov of the Ghost Council come down, and how often does the deck get stuck?
In the average Karlov of the Ghost Council deck (the 99 cards most played with it, with 34 lands), simulated 4,000 times, the commander comes down on turn 2.2 on average and is on the battlefield before turn 7 in 100 % of games. It misses at least one land drop in the first six turns 36 % of the time and floods 19 %. Deck health: B (69/100).
How many lands should a Karlov of the Ghost Council deck run?
Real Karlov of the Ghost Council decks run 34 lands on average. That is a starting point, not a rule: a lower curve can shave one or two, big-mana builds want more. The EDH Optimizer simulator tells you, over 10,000 games, how often you get mana screwed or flooded with your exact count.
What are the best cards for Karlov of the Ghost Council?
The three highest-synergy cards are Soul Warden, Soul's Attendant, Authority of the Consuls. This page lists the top 24 with their real inclusion rate in Karlov of the Ghost Council decks.
What combos does Karlov of the Ghost Council have?
Karlov of the Ghost Council has 6 known combos. The most popular one is Sanguine Bond + Exquisite Blood. Note that two-card combos raise your deck's bracket, so it is worth knowing which ones you are running before you sit down.
How much does a Karlov of the Ghost Council deck cost?
You can start cheap: Soul Warden, Suture Priest, Daxos, Blessed by the Sun are under €2 each. The "Level up" section on this page splits the best cards into three price caps PER CARD (up to €2, up to €10 and no cap), and the optimizer only suggests swaps that fit the cap you pick.