A Guide To Teysa Karlov EDH / Commander for Magic: The Gathering

[@danielbakergill]

This concept is so well conceived. The flavor, the interactions, the host. Good video, College Staff.

[@KHDeLange]

Amazing video.

[@bailbolandollbol]

This is almost my deck list and I can say it works a charm but makes you enemy number one on the table

[@ΚριςΚρις-ψ1ε]

Nice deck my wallet screams for mercy

[@zackkelley2940]

Even the price is on theme^^

[@abuelovinagres4411]

This is the most Orzhov Decktech I've ever seen... Because of the high price tag. :v

[@taurincochran3398]

Loved the format of this video. A legendary creature, telling the story of how their deck works? BRILLIANT!

[@ZeusBites]

Teysa Karlov is easily my favorite commander deck that I own! So much so it is the only one that I'm running a revised dual in!

[@21frostfall]

Me watching this in Dec 2020: $7 for a Smothering Tithe? Is that with an Orzhov discount? Great video, guys. I used your Orzhov Scion deck tech for my first EDH deck and now I'm using this one to make it even better. Keep up the great content! Cheers.

[@Xucalfer]

Teysa is my favorite MTG character ever since I read Guildpact.

[@kristennorth3268]

That's why she's my favorite too.

[@crypticmrchimes]

Same! She is honestly why I am an Orzhovan.

[@GoldStorm07]

I consider Cavalier of Night a must-have for a Teysa deck. It has an ETB sacrifice trigger to destroy another creature, and a death trigger to reanimate one of your smaller creatures; both are doubled with Teysa on the battlefield, accruing tons of overall value.

[@randomchineseguy]

“And this channel is owned by Orzhov INC and the debts of viewers like you.”

[@ottoawqatty6210]

The deck is so expensive I'll owe my own soul to the bank by the end of it.

[@njtraces]

or use proxies for CASUAL play

[@NurdLMB]

Imagine if they recommended a Scrubland

[@PonyBoy2792]

You can opt for a more focused build like mtg commander quarters list and I've seen some cEDH budget list which focuses on combo and stax. Budget side coming from the stax and the $$$ being for tutors to set up the combo.

[@henriqueloureiro3932]

Well, we are talking about Orzhov after all, the debt is just to add a flavor

[@Spetaelsk]

I recommend building this deck on a budget. Still packs a punch and seems fun to play, taking out cards like Teferi's Protection, Painter's Servant, No Mercy, Vampiric/Demonic Tutor or any other expensive cards and the deck is still probably about a 5-6 on the powerscale. Cards I would recommend for a more budgetfriendly version: Swords to Plowshares (don't know why this isn't in the list to begin with) Wayfarer's Bauble Sword of the Animist Mind Stone Hedron Archive Diabolic Revelation

[@eliluttrell7637]

Another card for the Orzhov Scion combo is Darkest hour. With a sac outlet and blood artist or similar drain effects, you go infinite death triggers. With both Teysas on board you generate infinite tokens because each sac makes 2.

[@argentpuck]

Holy hell, this deck costs more than Teysa herself would charge.

[@aeonsiege1806]

Just sell your soul dude

[@Cloudpiroth01]

No no you can buy it. **pushes forward a iron quill and an crimson looking ink** Just sign on the line please. We are always looking for new serv- I mean patrons.

[@jasonL287]

I got Olivia to autograph my Tessa Karlov at commanderfest this past weekend. I will cherish it into the afterlife.

[@goberthicks]

Awww, thank you!

[@Doofindork]

So much flavor in this deck. Teysa Orzhov Scion may be the mistress of going infinite, but I feel like this version of Teysa is just much more flavorful and on target. Also overall, just straight up more fun to play. I think I'm going to build one, seeing as the one my friend had was so much fun to pilot.

[@syost16]

I had the honor of playing against Olivia at the DC Commandfest this last week. Had a great time and was a fun deck to play against!

[@grinreaperoftrolls7528]

I love that the professor is still a ghost XD

[@kelvinsoo9456]

Curious thing how did Prof got his hair cut as a ghost? He died with hair remember?

[@HexproofAnarchist]

I absolutely LOVE my Teysa Karlov commander deck! She was my first build and has become quite the powerful and oppressive force!

[@someguy2349]

I can't wait for your new Daxos deck tech! He is such cool new design space for white I'm excited to see what he can do!

[@mattatlas8895]

Love how you presented this decktech. Tge commanders themselves is a much needed and appreciated touch!

[@NT-ys3oh]

I love this in character deck tech- such a cool concept and I really stayed invested the entire time.

[@CommandoANG3L0]

Dear god, there was a time when revel in the riches and smothering tithe were collectively less than $15? I wish I lived in those days.

[@jeepeedurocher]

Ok can we all just say this am amazing way of doing a commander spotlight!! More of these!!!

[@xCheeseHead95x]

The production quality is impeccable.

[@ghostsword6554]

I really love these videos. Cosplayers add so much to a video like this, their love for the characters (and you need that if you plan to spend so much time crafting the cosplay) really radiates through her performance.

[@__________________________Fred]

Had a good chuckle when I saw that man staring at me like that at 10:26 like he knew all my dirty little secrets

[@tookerp]

Oh man she was my first Orzhov card and the reason I fell in love with black/white when I was starting out

[@Xdylan3131]

For the deathmantle combo, you do not need teysa in play. It seems you may have forgotten about the two Mana you get from sacrificing the original wurmcoil, so all you need to do is sacrifice one of the baby wurms and tada you have enough for the deathmantles effect. If you want infinite of both wurm types, just alternate which one you sacrifice each time

[@3Kings_Industries]

I thoroughly enjoyed the cosplay character telling me her utilization. It was like a jr. high biographical report, and very fun and entertaining. More please!

[@thomasjacobsen8277]

Ahhhh....the good ol' days, when Smothering Tithe was only $7 dollars...

[@FUNANIME100]

Was just looking up her as a commander, thanks prof for the video.

[@non-progenitus9951]

Smothering Tithe is such a flavor win in this deck.

[@RagnarokSol]

ever since the last Teysa video, I built mine to a crazy competitive lvl, but now with this i can get that mix of both so thank you :)

[@poisonivy9665]

Ashnod's Altar, Wurmcoil Engine, and Nim Deathmantle go infinite on their own; you don't need your commander on the field for it to work. Sac Wurmcoil making 2 mana, stack the triggers so you get the tokens first. Sac one of the tokens for 2 mana in response to the Deathmantle trigger, you're up 1 token. Continue this process until you feel you have enough tokens or until you've killed your opponents with a Blood Artist effect.

[@jackofhearts7509]

LOVE THIS DECK! I run a reduced budget version of this and always enjoy the synergy, flavour and combo potential. For a budget version of the Orzhov Scion infinite exile, use Darkest Hour instead of. Painter Servant ❤️ super cheap and same effect.

[@angelojohnson9441]

I went to see you at command fest DC Friday Night but didn’t see you. I guess I arrived too late. Hope you had a great time there and to see you next time! I always enjoy these story immersed deck tech videos.

[@NatesiKness]

Does Olivia have another channel where she creates content like this or will this be the channel she creates for? In-character Cosplay Commander Deck Techs is officially my favorite mtg content genre and I NEED more

[@KalElelVigilant]

Plus, she is a GREAT communicator

[@NatesiKness]

That's what I'm sayinggggg

[@patrickheimstra5630]

That was great!😂 The ending was entertaining where the Prof was in an ethereal prison!

[@TheComicBookJoker]

patrick heimstra For those who might be unaware, that was a callback to the Office Hours video with Teysa. If you haven’t watched it, go remedy that.

[@frankverisco4722]

Im impressed by the presentation and thankful for the information!!!!

[@TolarianCommunityCollege]

Glad it was helpful!

[@rodh3699]

I run some of those cards (including Teysa Karlov) in a Teysa, Orzhov Scion deck. Definitely gonna do some testing with Karlov as commander.

[@shuckschuck.5296]

I had no idea that there was an infinite Wurmcoil Tokens combo. I already have Wurmcoil Engine and Ashnod's Altar in my deck, and was on the fence about adding Nim Deathmantle. Now I'll definitely be adding it for sure. Thanks Prof!

[@brianwise5850]

I am so loving this deck. Now where is our favorite instructor for a deck tech of pure evil.

[@NotYourAverageNothing]

4:11 She's actually not necessary for the combo. "Infiniter" is right.

[@tenara-kun5979]

God yes I LOVE Teysa Karlov, seriously a great Commander. Strong with good colors and an amazing effect.

[@jefferymuter4659]

As someone just getting into magic, this was super helpful. My friends play commander and I just dont know what color combos I want to use. This really helped 😁

[@GamerdevilPro]

There is only one thing that I'd wish Teysa Karlov had: Partner with Judith, the Scourge Diva. Those 2 as commanders would be so nice

[@WhatWouldBojackDo]

Have you ever taken a look at Alesha, Who Smiles at Death?

[@GamerdevilPro]

@@WhatWouldBojackDo yeah and it's a completely different playstyle because she has an attack trigger.

[@brianshanahan5274]

I didn't know this partner pair was something I wanted. How dare you haha.

[@rabbithole8858]

This is pretty beastly. Sounds like card kingdom will finish my Teysa deck. Thanks prof!

[@mulch8995]

1:38 I wish these cards were still this cheap

[@furrygarbage2757]

So I have a Teysa deck, and there is one combo that was not mentioned that is pure cancer. Having Yosei, the Morning Star, Teysa Karlov, and the artifact Lifeline gives you an infinite lock on the board that is almost impossible to counter. Here's how it works: Sac Yosei to anything with the aforementioned cards also on the board. Teysa doubles the death trigger, allowing you to tap 10 total permanents (the next turn players land usually) and have the target skip their next 2 untap sets. Lifeline brings back anything that dies at the end of the current turn, so long as there was another creature on the board at the time of death. Yosei comes back. The next player skips their first untap step, you sac Yosei during their upkeep, targeting the next players land, and forcing them to skip their next 2 untap steps. Rinse and repeat. Nothing is cast during the combo, so once stuff hits the board they would need to counter the lifeline activation to stop it. I love this combo, but then again I unironically love stax, so take my oppinion with a grain of salt.

[@shade0mirth]

This looks like the 'nice' version of Teysa Karlov. Being nice lets you keep more friends...

[@furrygarbage2757]

@@shade0mirth True friends will roll with your play style, and will play around it.

[@gabrielemarogna9444]

You may also consider: Ministrant of obligation Corpse knight Pawn of ulamog Smothering abomination And a bunch more stuff that I'm forgetting

[@Jonathan-vp9td]

I have a Teysa deck and it's one of my favorites

[@gysahlgemuse7208]

I have a Teysa deck and out of 12 other it's my least favorite. I spent 200€ on it and I never want to play it again.

[@Jonathan-vp9td]

I'm constantly upgrading my teysa deck

[@TheReaperGriefer]

You can do the wurmcoil combo in any deck, you only need altar, deathmantle and wurmcoil on the battlefield

[@JustforKikX]

Just built a bling version of her, about $2500. Man she slaps.

[@mxkale-k6r]

So, we missed meeting Olivia and the Professor at Commandfest DC, (games were just long and we didn't get to spend much time in the freeplay area with the special guests...) But not on Olivia's decks. When put in a game at random, my husband gets another of the invited guests in his pod and is informed by him that he doesn't know what's in his deck, he'd gotten tired of his own decks and had borrowed one from a friend. On drawing his opening hand off this Yarok deck, he then yells out to the cruel, unfeeling universe, half the room from the deck's owner's earshot: "Olivia, why are these cards in Italian?".

[@robertlozyniak3661]

For flavor?

[@PawzBrownMTG]

She's great at cosplay

[@colinvancampenhout]

$7.21 for smothering tithe? What a time to be alive then, it’s currently like $40 lol

[@jasonmolisani1864]

If I remember correctly, this is only the second time you have had a cosplay EDH deck tech. What are the odds both times would cover my two favorite commanders? Both of my builds are different and were built before these videos, but it was interesting seeing another build. I didn't go for treasures (still run smothering tithe) and focused more on comboing with aristocrat nonsense. There are a couple cards from my list I was sad didn't make an appearance: Debt to the Deathless (great win con if you have a pile of mana/treasures. Also gets points for flavor) Reassembling Skeleton (One of the best creatures to repeatedly sacrifice) Razaketh, the Foulblooded (Sac outlet and tutor in one, need I say more) Thanks for the video!

[@robertsauber8910]

Would this still be considered cosplay and not just acting? I'm not sure where the actual line gets drawn, but when someone performs Shakespeare in theater, it isn't called cosplay. Also, a resolved razaketh typically means game over in this archtype. It's a busted card. Karmic Guide is also a solid card here.

[@jasonmolisani1864]

@@robertsauber8910 Fair enough. Recommending Razaketh isn't too far off of saying Sheoldred would be good. I can't say it would be wrong to run Razaketh in almost any black EDH deck, but this is the only deck I do run him in. If I am going to run a card at his power level i need to be able to justify it to myself as synergistic. Where the divide falls between acting and cosplay is an interesting question. Having not done much of either my opinion may not be well informed. I'd guess the biggest difference is either that one is a job and the other a hobby (at least in most cases). Alternatively, you could argue that cosplay is about taking on an appearance, while acting encompasses more. In the second case, this would be acting.

[@robertsauber8910]

@@jasonmolisani1864 it is most definitely an interesting question. I can see arguments for both sides. I suppose a line would be if you're performing on a stage or a set vs out in public. But then you start encroaching on street performers like the ones on Hollywood's walk of fame. Or maybe the existence of a script is enough to change the classification to acting? Or, the likeliest scenario: I've had too much to drink and i'm waaaay over thinking this.

[@sacosta177]

I love it, speccially ´cause Orzhov is favorite Guild, well done professor

[@simonwillis1529]

As a newbie and not sure of what I’m doin and what cards to use and things this helps nice

[@DarkSwan01]

My favorite of my 2 commander decks I have in my possession and the one I took the time to invest in at some point. Still feeling a bit blah over the fact that I have a lot of creatures that require a lot of mana to play but when it gets going, it goes.

[@kurtisohlhausen1538]

I like that deck idea very much I have a few pieces already and was wanting to build this deck ty prof very showing a deck guide of this

[@akahoshirezosama]

Oh, right, I remember. Teysa owns the Professor. :) I guess this video is brought to you by the ever generous Church of Orzhov. :)

[@mherndez2]

I have a teysa deck built almost just like this one! Except a couple cards. She so much fun!

[@Dothreban]

Awesome commander deck! I have most of these cards too! Thank you for this!

[@TheReaperGriefer]

I feel like watching an episode of the Kill Count Any James A. Janisse fan here??

[@CathrineMacNiel]

This deck starts with a TITLE CARD

[@r34p3r1992]

@@CathrineMacNiel Our deck begins with a crazy black/white commander girl who thinks people are paying her in death, which is technically correct

[@Darkking92200]

Here here!!

[@PinguinoPocho]

I know maybe is not that powerful, but the only planeswalker that im using with her is Liliana Dreadhorde General and not with bad results. Any replacement? (planes too if possible)

[@JohnSeanMolloy]

Awesome, what a great video and so well explained!

[@darkkitsune7757]

This a fantastic way to do deck techs

[@madscientist2621]

I really like this style of deck tech. I think they may be on to something here!

[@Dragoon876]

I had not thought of anointed procession for treasures lol

[@lonerwolf2010]

More of these vids please 🙏🏻🙏🏻 I'm new af and need help like this!!

[@DevilDenRecords]

Uncle karlov still best orzhov commander nothing feels better than a 8/8 commander turn 3 (from a lot of life gain) or hasty 4/4 commander turn 2 Awesome deck tech as usual!

[@themichaelwilcox]

One of my best commanders decks.

[@the1stcalling]

I loved the presentation, but I noticed Olivia’s tense changed between first person (where she referred to herself as Teysa), and third person when she talks about the Nim Deathmantle combo. It’s a small thing, but it would have been cool if instead she said with Teysa, and said with me on board, since she is Teysa in the video! Anyway, that said, I love Teysa Karlov as a commander. Props for making the deck tech here, guys! I really enjoyed this.

[@KalElelVigilant]

Very clever. I see the appeal for long time players, but this kind of combo decks is what keeps me strictly within Pioneer/Standard/Brawl boundaries

[@MichaelMcDonald714]

Commander is a social format made for having fun and doing weird stuff. Just set some boundaries with your playgroup. It’s not that hard.

[@JmannXIII43]

Darkest Hour serves the same purpose as painter's servant when creating potential infinite tokens with teysa orzhov scion, and at a fraction of the price.

[@SilentMannam]

Won't it turn off her ability to Exile? The creature are black now. Or are they both?

[@MichaelMcDonald714]

Correct, it will not function the same. I dunno why everyone is saying that swap is the same thing.

[@ExlaSaro]

TEYSA KARLOV IS STILL MY FAV COMMANDER. SHE IS MY FIRST AND STILL MY FAVORITE!

[@LucruxDCLXVI]

This video is so much fun!

[@MrThomasCWest]

I want to build this deck, but my wallet started to cry when I saw some of the prices on these cards.

[@TonyCook7]

Right hahaha

[@alejandrosaucedo4894]

This is literally my teysa deck minus the painter servant siiiick

[@impora8145]

Conviently I was about to build a Teysa Deck about now, so thanks

[@ghoohg551]

Doesn't Teysa, Orzhov Scion need the creatures to go to the graveyard to make more spirit tokens? So sacrificing the spirit tokens wouldn't make more because they don't go to graveyard?

[@RobynRenarde]

No Mention of Darkest Hour sadly, unless I missed something. The usual go to combo I've seen at tables was Teysa, Darkest Hour and a Sac outlet.

[@adamkruse8453]

This deck is nasty. Definitely gonna build this.

[@TheMightyBattleSquid]

Well that just felt like a flavorful recap of the edhrec top cards...

[@BrightRai]

Nooooo, Prof is reading my mind. I was building this deck already and now that this is uploaded, the cards are now going to spike even more, oof

[@jaelynr.2654]

Darkest Hour also goes infinite with Teysa, Orzhov Scion, except it's cheaper than Painter's Servant (in both cash and mana cost) and significantly harder to remove. (It's an enchantment that costs B, reading "all creatures are black".

[@lukekidd2032]

Wont you net 3 wurn tokens with the wurmcoil combo since you sac itself to add 2 colorless?

[@doragong1233]

I love decks that Irritate people so i had a edh deck idea but i cant thank of a full deck. So i was Wondering if you can thank of a way to get it to work. The Commander is "glissa the traitor" and the other main card is mindslaver and other card simalar to it like Cruel entertainment, worst fears, sorin markov. Sadly I can't think of other cards That Would work in this kind of deck

[@True_Ronin]

Butcher and dictate are my favorites with her.

[@haymakergames4737]

Remove 10 cards save like 450 bucks. Sheeesh. Love the video, Olivia cameo. 😊

[@Chris-Collectible]

Who is a Better Aristocrat Commander Teysa Karlov or Teysa Orzhov Scion

[@GrrizLee]

I'm newer to Magic, and I may heard incorrectly, but did Olivia say that Anointed Procession can be used to double treasure tokens from generating cards like Phyrexian and Ashnod's Altar? Did I hear that correct, if so, how do they create treasures? If I heard incorrectly (which is what I'm guessing), just let me know. I just needed to clarify this because I'm going crazy trying to figure it out haha

[@watchinthetube907]

I had to rewatch that section a couple of times because i had the same confusion but I figured it out: Pitiless Plunderer creates a treasure token when a creature you control dies- you use the altars to sacrifice one of your creatures triggering Pitiless Plunderer to create a treasure token. When Anointed Procession is out, the tokens are doubled.

[@KB-ux3qi]

Great deck! It's just awesome.

[@jameshernandez2243]

Can someone explain to me the painters servant combo to me? I’m a bit lost to how it’s beneficial if it’s only effecting cards not on the field

[@patricklickman9972]

The card is not very well written but it affects everything, including things on the field. It just orders them weirdly: 'cards not on the battlefield, spells, and permanents' means everything in the game. So your spirits are black!

[@Iceyninja99]

I don"t get how Teysa, Orzhov scion goes infinite with her tokens. The death trigger is only with black creatures, but the spirits she creates are white, not black white. Am I missing something?

[@t3hDarkness]

Painter's Servant adds a color to them.

[@silverfang3072]

Teysa is my Commander. I mostly concentrate on an Aristocrat and Reanimator strategy and try to win without attacking. Black Market, K'rrik, Liliana Dreadhorde General, Phyrexian Altar are my best cards in the deck.

[@presenceofthemastermtg5962]

"sindyc... sindyc... Church!"

[@mra6454]

Fun video, and it seems like a deck I would enjoy.

[@jessieballard8498]

Can someone put this deck list together for purchase,

[@adamkruse8453]

I've always wanted to make this deck!

[@mattman8436]

Where do I sign!?!? Cool deck!!