Product Details
Teysa helms this deck, focused on getting the most valueable possible from our creatures lives. And their deaths. Both Teysas, Teysa, Orzhov Scion and Teysa Karlov function well as the face commanders for this deck. It is completely reasonable to switch them and make no other changes. If you are someone who enjoys variety, this deck is an excellent choice.
What Makes Teysa(s) special
First, Orzhov Scion. Teysa rewards us for playing black creatures by giving us a 1/1 whenever they die. Specifically a white creature. We can use three of these creatures (or any other white creature we have) in order to delete any threat forever. This is very potent and gives us a lot of influence on the game.
Teysa Karlov gives our creature tokens a huge buff with vigilance and lifelink. It also elegantly doubles up on all of our death triggers. We have... a lot of death triggers. This could be making two 1/1's with Scion, or double damage from a Vindictive Vampire. This gives us an excellent amount of value as we progress with our aristocrat plan.
Gameplan
Whichever Teysa you end up using, the fundamentals of the deck are still the same. We want to get some cheap value pieces-- ideally token generators and some drain effects, and start churning through our creatures. They show up, they give us value, they die, they give us more value. We essentially repeat this sequence until all of our opponents are dead.
For Orzhov Scion, lean into the control aspect. Play somewhat conservatively and politically. You don't actually want to use her first ability very often, as three creatures is a big price even if they are 1/1 spirits. Offering to not kill something if it attacks someone else is a win-win. Just because you can, does not mean that you are obligated to be the police and letting other people use their removal on each other while you can pick off anything at any time is an excellent spot to be in.
If you don't want to play the political game, Karlov is a better option. Her doubling up on your death triggers mean we just want to lean more heavily into focus on our gameplan and ignoring our opponents more. We don't need a gun to their creatures if we have dozens of vigilance creatures attacking them and draining them even if they do happen to get blocked.
Commander
Teysa Karlov
Creatures
Mentor of the Meek
Teysa, Envoy of Ghosts
Twilight Drover
Remorseful Cleric
Hallowed Spiritkeeper
Welcoming Vampire
Woe Strider
Yahenni, Undying Partisan
Xathrid Necromancer
Teysa, Orzhov Scion
Endrek Sahr, Master Breeder
Solemn Simulacrum
Smothering Abomination
Vindictive Vampire
Carrion Feeder
Bartolome del Presidio
Indebted Spirit
Baron Bertram Graywater
Morbid Opportunist
Reassembling Skeleton
Ministrant of Obligation
Orzhov Enforcer
Blood Artist
Corpse Knight
Zulaport Cutthroat
Syr Konrad, the Grim
Falkenrath Noble
Corpse Augur
Viscera Seer
Imperious Oligarch
Doomed Dissenter
Cartel Aristocrat
Mirkwood Bats
Spells
Benevolent Offering
Utter End
Martial Coup
Increasing Devotion
Austere Command
Despark
Mortify
Dire Tactics
Victimize
Unburial Rites
Rite of Oblivion
Village Rites
Bone Splinters
Spark Harvest
Feed the Swarm
Sign in Blood
Enchantments
Debtors' Knell
Dreadhorde Invasion
Bastion of Remembrance
Muster the Departed
Field of Souls
Vampiric Rites
Artifact
Talisman of Hierarchy
Sol Ring
Orzhov Signet
Mind Stone
Arcane Signet
Lands
Isolated Chapel
Shineshadow Snarl
Desolate Mire
Temple of Silence
Exotic Orchard
Scoured Barrens
Tainted Field
Secluded Steppe
Silverquill Campus
Orzhov Guildgate
Orzhov Basilica
Terramorphic Expanse
Evolving Wilds
