Orzhov Life Tax

A disruptive Orzhov lifegain deck that punishes every creature the opponent plays and drains their life while you strip away their best cards.

Soul Warden, Ajani's Welcome, and Impassioned Orator all generate life-gain triggers. Soul Warden is especially powerful because it triggers even when the opponent casts creatures, so it counters aggressive decks. Every gain of life puts a +1/+1 counter on Bloodthirsty Aerialist and makes Marauding Blight-Priest drain the opponent for 1 life. Duress and Kitesail Freebooter remove board wipes and removal spells before they can break up the engine, while Fatal Push keeps the board clear.

Keep hands with two or three lands and at least one early piece, such as Ajani's Welcome, Soul Warden, Healer's Hawk, or Duress. Mulligan hands with only Swamps and no white source. Avoid hands that are all expensive cards or have no black mana for Duress and removal.

Early: play a one-drop lifegain creature or enchantment, then use Duress and Fatal Push to disrupt the opponent's curve. Midgame: resolve Bloodthirsty Aerialist and Marauding Blight-Priest. Every creature you play, every lifelink hit, and every creature the opponent plays will increase your life, grow your flyers, and damage the opponent. Late: maintain a high life total while attacking with Healer's Hawk and Bloodthirsty Aerialist. Even if the opponent has a large board, Soul Warden and Marauding Blight-Priest drain them down, and your life advantage lets you trade aggressively.

The deck has no true board wipe, so very wide creature strategies can be dangerous. All of the white-producing lands enter tapped, which slows early tempo, so you need to mulligan poorly. Cards that prevent life gain or exile your enchantments and drain creatures are the main threats, so use Duress and Kitesail Freebooter to remove those answers before committing your plan.