Best Lifegain Commanders for EDH

Lifegain strategies in Commander focus on accumulating life points and leveraging them for powerful advantages. Modern lifegain commanders excel at converting excess life into card advantage, creature tokens, and direct damage to opponents, making them a formidable force in EDH.

Best Colors for Lifegain Decks

W mana

White is the primary color for life gain effects and has the most consistent life gain triggers.

W mana
B mana

Orzhov (White-Black) combines life gain with life drain effects, turning your advantage into opponent disadvantage.

W mana
G mana

Selesnya (White-Green) focuses on creature-based life gain and using life to power up creatures.

How Do Lifegain Decks Win in Commander?

Lifegain decks excel through a specific playstyle and win conditions. Here's how they work:

✓ Build a strong defensive position with consistent life gain triggers.

✓ Convert excess life into powerful advantages through commander abilities.

✓ Chain together multiple life gain sources to create explosive turns.

✓ Use life total as a resource to power game-winning effects.

✓ Protect key pieces while steadily draining opponents.

Best Cards for Lifegain EDH Decks

Aetherflux Reservoir

A primary win condition in lifegain decks, turning excess life into a powerful weapon.

Well of Lost Dreams

Converts lifegain into card advantage, helping find more resources and combo pieces.

Soul Warden

Provides consistent lifegain triggers from creatures entering the battlefield.

Rhox Faithmender

Doubles all life gain, accelerating your strategy significantly.

Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose

Turns lifegain into opponent life loss, providing a reliable win condition.

How to Build a Lifegain Commander Deck

Essential Components for Your Lifegain Deck

  • Start with 8-10 reliable lifegain sources like Soul Warden and Soul's Attendant
  • Include 5-6 powerful lifegain payoffs such as Aetherflux Reservoir and Well of Lost Dreams
  • Add 3-4 lifegain doublers like Rhox Faithmender and Alhammarret's Archive
  • Run 10-12 pieces of card draw to find your key pieces consistently
  • Pack 6-8 removal spells to protect your strategy
  • Consider 4-5 recursion effects to get back important pieces

Win Conditions for Your Lifegain Deck

  • Direct damage with Aetherflux Reservoir - Convert excess life into massive damage
  • Combat damage with creatures powered by lifegain - Use effects like Archangel of Thune
  • Draining opponents with effects like Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose - Steady life drain strategy
  • Combo finishes using infinite life gain loops - Combine pieces like Heliod and Walking Ballista

Recommended Commanders

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Frequently Asked Questions

What makes a good Lifegain commander?

The best lifegain commanders typically provide consistent access to the strategy's core mechanics. Look for commanders that build a strong defensive position with consistent life gain triggers.

How do Lifegain decks win?

Lifegain decks win through a combination of Aetherflux Reservoir, Well of Lost Dreams, Soul Warden, and other synergistic pieces that lifegain strategies in commander focus on accumulating life points and leveraging them for powerful advantages.

What are the best colors for Lifegain?

White is the primary color for life gain effects and has the most consistent life gain triggers. However, Orzhov (White-Black) combines life gain with life drain effects, turning your advantage into opponent disadvantage.