Art by Eric Deschamps
Commander deckBUW
Oloro, Ageless Ascetic
Leverage Lich's Mastery and continuous life gain to draw massive amounts of cards while preventing game loss using platinum effects, loss-prevention spells like Angel's Grace, and ability-counterspells like Stifle.
Asked for“i want to build an esper deck around the card Lich's Mastery. The deck should consist of cards that protect the Lich to ensure we dont lose the game immidiately. Include spells that counter triggered abilities and spells that cause us no to lose the game”
Deck anatomy
What this list actually runs on: how cheaply it casts things, and whether it has enough ramp, card draw and interaction to keep up at the table. Each block is one card — hover for its name.
Mana curve · 62 nonland cards
The working parts
Counted from Scryfall’s community card tags, not from the builder’s own labels. A card that does two jobs counts twice, so these add up to more than the deck. The hatched band is a common rule of thumb, not a law — combo decks run leaner, battlecruiser decks heavier.
Colored mana symbols
Commander
1Oloro, Ageless Ascetic
3WUBLegendary Creature — Giant Soldier
Chosen commander for the requested strategy.
Ramp
10
Card Draw
10
Esper Sentinel
WArtifact Creature — Human Soldier
Early creature taxation and card draw
Removal
12
Trickbind
1UInstant
Uncounterable trigger counter for Lich's Mastery lose-game clause
Disallow
1UUInstant
Versatile counterspell that counters activated or triggered abilities
Fierce Guardianship
2UInstant
Free protection counterspell when commander is out
Threats/Wincons
20
Lich's Mastery
3BBBLegendary Enchantment
Core centerpiece card granting hexproof and card draw on life gain
Platinum Angel
7Artifact Creature — Angel
Prevents losing the game even if Lich's Mastery triggers
Gideon of the Trials
1WWLegendary Planeswalker — Gideon
Emblem prevents you from losing the game while controlling a Gideon
Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose
2BLegendary Creature — Vampire Cleric
Turns life gain into opponent life loss
Sanguine Bond
3BBEnchantment
Triggers damage to opponents whenever life is gained
Exquisite Blood
4BEnchantment
Infinite damage/life gain loop paired with Sanguine Bond or Vito
Felidar Sovereign
4WWCreature — Cat Beast
Alternate win condition based on high life total
Queza, Augur of Agonies
1WUBLegendary Creature — Octopus Advisor
Drains opponents whenever you draw a card
Marauding Blight-Priest
2BCreature — Vampire Cleric
Redundant life gain damage pinging
Cliffhaven Vampire
2WBCreature — Vampire Warrior Ally
Additional life gain payoff damaging opponents
Crested Sunmare
3WWCreature — Horse
Creates 5/5 indestructible horses on life gain
Kambal, Consul of Allocation
1WBLegendary Creature — Human Advisor
Drains opponents on noncreature spell casts
Drana and Linvala
1WWBLegendary Creature — Vampire Angel
Denies activated abilities and provides flying threat
Sheoldred, the Apocalypse
2BBLegendary Creature — Phyrexian Praetor
Massive life gain on draw, damaging opponents on draw
Zur the Enchanter
1WUBLegendary Creature — Human Wizard
Tutors key utility enchantments like Solemnity and Phyrexian Unlife
Archangel of Thune
3WWCreature — Angel
Grows team rapidly with Oloro and life gain triggers
Bolas's Citadel
3BBBLegendary Artifact
Casts spells off the top using life, synergizing with life total
Approach of the Second Sun
6WSorcery
Alternative win condition easily drawn into via Lich's Mastery
Utility
10
Phyrexian Unlife
2WEnchantment
Prevents loss from damage, combined with Solemnity prevents all loss
Solemnity
2WEnchantment
Prevents poison counters, pairing with Phyrexian Unlife or Nine Lives
Nine Lives
1WWEnchantment
Prevents damage; paired with Solemnity or trigger counters prevents losing
Greater Auramancy
1WEnchantment
Gives Lich's Mastery and other enchantments shroud
Teferi's Protection
2WInstant
Phases out all permanents and protects life total from damage
Alhammarret's Archive
5Legendary Artifact
Doubles life gain and card draw triggers
Enlightened Tutor
WInstant
Searches directly for Lich's Mastery or protective enchantments
