This is my first constructed commander deck. I purchased the Heavenly Inferno deck before I even knew what the Commander format was. Luckily future friends had just started playing the format and helped me out. Any suggestions are welcomed and appreciated. Also if you like the deck show it with a vote please.
Kaalia
Kaalia of the Vast is a well known commander and for good reason. Gives probably the best options for removal and tutor spells. Kaalia's mana cost of is just low enough that she can see some early game plays and be very aggressive. Acting as a free Elvish Piper but during the declare attacker step and attacking is a very powerful ability. Even better, the creatures Kaalia cheats into play don't go on the stack and can't be countered. However the strategy behind Kaalia is very transparent and will put a target on your back from the start.
Creatures
Angels, Demons, and Dragons are among some of the strongest creatures in all of Magic:the Gathering. Not all just big bodies but some have great value in their mechanics as well. It was a challenging task to slim down the horde of powerful options.
Akroma, Angel of Wrath:Possibly the most iconic angel. Big body and a lot of key word abilities.
Angel of Despair:Vindicate in the form of an angel.
Angel of Serenity:Removing three threats, even if only temporary, is valuable. Whats more is she can get us back somthing back if there is room for it.
Angelic Arbiter:Solid body and can be a pain for opponents to deal with.
Aurelia, the Warleader:Casting while Kaalia is out threats opponents and can end games quickly.
Avacyn, Angel of Hope:Not much to be said about this card. Just slap her down and watch "Hope" escape your opponents.
Baneslayer Angel:I play her for her value. Her cost is cheap for her 5/5 body in the air with duel protection. Lifelink is valuable too since opponents will try to take you out.
Gisela, Blade of Goldnight:She wins games with overwhelming damage and looks good doing it.
Gisela, the Broken Blade:Kind of like a smaller Baneslayer Angel.
Iona, Shield of Emeria:Shut down opposition naming a common color at the table or pick on a mono color player and shut them out of the game.
Karmic Guide:Return creatures from the grave. Creatures with Enter the Battlefield triggers are good targets.
Linvala, Keeper of Silence:Fairly easy to play without Kaalia's trigger and disrupts the opponents, especially ones using commanders with activated abilities.
Bloodgift Demon:
Phyrexian Arena in the form of a 5/4 Demon.
Lord of the Void:Exile seven of their cards and put a creature into play. Exile something they tutored to the top of their deck for extra flavor.
Master of Cruelties:If your playing a Kaalia deck you should not worry about hurting feelings. Attack an open opponent and OHKO them.
Rakdos the Defiler:Again, Kaalia doesn't play nice. Most times it is a "one off" card but it sends an opponent so far back they usually never recover.
razaketh, the foulblooded
:Instant speed Demonic Tutor. Sacrificing a creature might seem like a tough price since most of the creatures are large but it wins games. So way worth it.
Rune-Scarred Demon:Demonic Tutor is so good. It's also a 6/6 Flying Demon.
Sire Of Insanity:Why? we want our hand. True, but, if Kaalia and at least one Angel, Demon, or Dragon(usually a 5/5 or above)are present on the battlefield this is usually a win condition.
Balefire Dragon:A good beater who often nukes target opponents board.
Dragon Mage:Wheel of Fortune on wings. Good for refilling my hand with threats.
Hellkite Tyrant:Never won with the auto win but still worth playing to snatch some mana rocks.
Steel Hellkite:Since our fatties are usually coming in for free open mana for removal is likely. If I don't want it there I pay and wave good bye.
Utvara Hellkite:If opponents don't answer him quick he can carry a game.
Tutors
It can never be expressed enough how valuable it is to be able to get exactly what you want or need when you want or need it.
razaketh, the foulblooded
, Rune-Scarred Demon, Demonic Tutor,Grim Tutor, Increasing Ambition, and Vampiric Tutor are my best tutor spells because they can seek any card. A pair of boots is usually the primary target of Enlightened Tutor but it can get any artifact or enchantment for the situation.
Draw
Usually at some point Kaalia will not have any targets in hand. Our tutor spells can help a bit but I run a few spells to replenish my hand and hope to give Kaalia sufficient ammunition. Bloodgift Demon and Phyrexian Arena are good for drawing additional cards and are consistant. Wheel of Fortune and Dragon Mage are good for filling up my hand and possibly disrupting opponent's strategies. Probably the most reliable for restocking my hand is Necropotence. Probably my second most prioritized target for tutors. First being Lightning Greaves. Fill up the hand at end of turn but be careful.
Accelerants
I want to slap Kaalia on the battlefield as soon and often as I can. I usually aim to get Kaalia out by turn 3. As mentioned before has little to no ramp options so mana rocks are my main method of acceleration. Boros Signet, Orzhov Signet, Rakdos Signet cost to use but get me ahead by one and helps fix my mana. Talisman of Indulgence can tap for or get or for a little sting. Chromatic Lantern taps for a mana of any color and gives lands the same ability. This is particularly useful for lands like Maze of Ith and Hall of the Bandit Lord. Fellwar Stone is a cheap rock. Mana Crypt and Mox Diamond are cheaper rocks and really get you ahead. And finally Sol Ring is in every deck.
Haste
An important part of the deck is Haste. Kaalia is going to get removed from the board. She just attracts opponents removal spells like a magnet. So haste helps me make sure I have better chances of using Kaalia's trigger and cheat something nasty on the board. Lightning Greaves is my primary target for tutor spells. Haste and Shroud for cheap and good. Swiftfoot Boots is good too but it doesn't equip for . Since most every creature has flying Dragon Tempest is a cheaper Fervor that can deal a little damage. Hall of the Bandit Lord gives haste too but for 3 life.
Removal
As mentioned in the beginning, have the best "kill it" spells around. Angel of Despair, Angel of Serenity, Balefire Dragon, and Steel Hellkite are creatures that offer some method of removal while being bruisers at the same time.
Anguished Unmaking, Mortify, Path to Exile, Swords to Plowshares, Utter End, and Vindicate are spot removal spells, all but one at instant speed, and cost effective. And indestructible isn't an issue as most of these spells exile their targets.
Wrath of God is the go to wipe. Merciless Eviction Is an answer to Indestructible threats. Armageddon is often victory when it resolves.
Protection
With most of the creatures costing so much it's important to keep Kaalia on the field. Probably even more so than most other commanders. Grand Abolisher prevents any sneaky plays on our turn and Mother of Runes can give anything protection on the fly. Sword of Feast and Famine gives protection from and untaps my lands when I hit. It's not really in the deck for its protective ability but it's a nice bonus. Boros Charm and
Teferi's Protection
protect me from wipes. Maze of Ith can prevent large threats from dealing damage to me or even remove Kaalia from combat keeping her safe from potential blockers. And I mentioned the two pair of Boots up above under Haste inducers.
Recursion
The amount of removal some players use can be staggering. As a result a lot of things go to the Graveyard...often. We have access to so why waste a perfectly good creature. Reanimate and Animate Dead are staples of revival. Phyrexian Reclamation is especially good. It can be used multiple times and puts them in hand for Kaalia to use. Karmic Guide is free animation with kaalia. I like to sac Rune-Scarred Demon to
razaketh, the foulblooded
for a tutor and bring Rune-Scarred Demon back with Karmic Guide. With Phyrexian Reclamation in play it is a very effective engine.
Combos/Synergies
Not all are combos but very good synergy. Just some things that might be wise to be aware of in a game.
Kaalia of the Vast+Rakdos the Defiler
Since Rakdos is put in play via Kaalia's ability the first effect of Rakdos' isn't triggered because he wasn't declared an attacker. If Rakdos deals damage our opponent has to sac half their board. This is usually a win 1v1. In multiplayer it can still be huge and take somebody out of the game.
Kaalia of the Vast+Master of Cruelties
Ok, so this is a classic table flip combo. Normally Master of Cruelties can only attack alone. In addition, if it does deal damage they take no damage but their life is reduced to 1 instead. If he hits play via Kaalia's effect the attack alone condition is ignored and if he and kaalia hit, the opponent's life is reduced to 1 from Master of Cruelties's First Strike. Then Kaalia slaps for 2 damage resulting in instant death.
Kaalia of the Vast+Armageddon
Having your lands all destroyed probably sucks. But who needs mana when you can drop beefcakes in for free on the swing? Too bad for your opponents.
Avacyn, Angel of Hope+Armageddon and/or Wrath of God
Grin while your opponent loses either all their creatures and/or lands and you lose nothing.
Aggravated Assault+Sword of Feast and Famine
Basically an instant win if your opponent can't block or prevent the damage dealt by the creature equipped with feast and famine. You hit, untap your lands, pay mana for additional battle phase, and repeat.
I hope you enjoyed the read and again any suggestions and questions are welcome. I hope to see feedback and if you make any suggested additions please try to give me an idea of what I should take out. And if you have any good suggestions for a side deck I would be interested in hearing those too.
You can check out my other Decks:For Demacia!
