Kaalia of the Vast - "Competitive Aggro" (Commander / EDH MTG Deck)

Kaalia of the Vast - "Competitive Aggro"

Commander / EDH Angels Competitive Demons Dragons Multiplayer RBW (Mardu)

AlexRuzhyo

Land (35)

Enchantment (4)

Creature (26)

Sorcery (10)

Commander (1)

Artifact (14)

Instant (10)

Maybeboard

Instant (5)

Sorcery (2)

Creature (4)

Land (1)

1x Vault of the Archangel

Enchantment (3)

Artifact (1)

1x Sunforger

Kaalia was my first deck and subsequent foil project. She was the perfect choice for me: I've always had an affinity for her color combination, and her effect was the most practical enabler for my angel fetish.

== ABOUT THIS BUILD ==

This is an aggro variant of Kaalia. The goal is to ramp into and quickly establish a boardstate.

The Creatures - Chosen for their immediate impact on the board-state. They either are of high threat level, present a must-answer situation, or do something the turn they come down. I deliberately tried to avoid mana-intensive abilities, or most "on upkeep", conditional, and "when X attacks" triggers. Creatures like Reya Dawnbringer or Scourge of the Throne rarely get a chance to generate their value so I've avoided such creatures.
The Acceleration - The mana rocks were chosen for both their speed and permanence. Sol Ring or Mana Crypt with any of the 2 CMC Mana Rocks can mean a Turn 2 Kaalia. Mox Diamond and Chrome Mox can provide that extra "oompf" despite the card disadvantage. I've overlooked cards such as Lotus Petal or Pentad Prism because they don't help you in the long-run, or when things turn sour and you need to switch to midrange.
The Removal - Multiple answers in the form of spot removal and selective wraths. Answer threats while keeping yours.
The Lockdown - Once you have an established board-state you can seal the game through MLD cards such as Ravages of War , Armageddon, Cataclysm , or a Winter Orb lock. Sire Of Insanity functions in a similar capacity.
The Long Game - Threats can be replenished through effects from Necropotence, Dragon Mage, Wheel of Fortune, Volrath's Stronghold, Phyrexian Reclamation, Reanimate, Animate Dead, or Karmic Guide.

== GENERAL GUIDANCE ==

While I outlined the reason behind my choices, I haven't given a very good description on when they're best used.

A Good Start - You want Kaalia on board as soon as possible. An ideal hand has the mana sources to drop her on turn two or three, usually with 2-3 lands and 1-2 rocks. If your only mana sources are lands, consider whether or not you can set up for when she does hit the board through Tutors, Lightning Greaves, Swiftfoot Boots, or Necropotence. No matter the situation, it's good to have one or two threats for when she hits the board. In short, envision the first three turns and decide whether or not your hand is worth keeping.
A Kaalia Resolved - Once she's on-board and ready to swing consider the board state. If you have an opponent who can't block on the ground should be a target for Master of Cruelties. Opponents with mana-dorks or other acceleration should be hit with Balefire Dragon, Hellkite Tyrant, Steel Hellkite, Rakdos the Defiler, or Scourage of Kher Ridges to shut down their tempo. Combo decks and troublesome commanders should be shut down with Iona, Shield of Emeria or Linvala, Keeper of Silence. If you're already established in a stable position consider dropping Avacyn, Angel of Hope, Aurelia, the Warleader, Sire Of Insanity, Gisela, Blade of Goldnight, or try to seal the game with one of your MLD spells.

== TIPS, TRICKS, AND THOUGHTS ==

I'll be adding more to the section as it comes to mind.

Necropotence is a house in this format. It's highly recommended you seek it out if you're able to cast it, and will get you there if you can resolve it.
Wheel of Fortune/Dragon Mage can both be tricky. They can definitely pull you out of a rut, but they can do the same for your opponents. I find the best time to use them is when a MLD spell backfires, you think your opponent has a combo in hand, know you have a reanimation spell on the draw, or have absolutely no other options available to you. The damage can be lessened with Sire Of Insanity on the board, but you must also consider the amount of mana your opponents have open.
Angel of Serenity has some "secret tech" available to her. Her primary function is to hold threats "hostage", but the way she's worded gives her a secondary, more permanent use- hitting her with instant-speed removal while her ETB effect's on the stack.

== CURRENT CONSIDERATIONS ==

This section will be updated periodically based on testing.

Non-basic land hate. I'm considering a set of snow basics.
Land hate of my own. Is there room for cards such as Wasteland or eventually Crucible of Worlds?

I'll add more when it comes to mind. Thanks for looking, and I look forward to your suggestions!

Remaining cards to foil: 1 (Fellwar Stone.)

Suggestions

Updates Add

Razaketh, the Floublooded — June 22, 2017

Edit

While I initially read this as "search for a creature card", and typed up an appropriate response, I now realize it is any card. Either way, here's my initial response on why Kaalia may or may not want this.

EDIT: The biggest advantage Razaketh offers is tutoring for a one of the closer (mentioned below), offering a chance to seal the game should the board-state allow. He's a potential auto-include and more valuable than my first impression and written response allude to.

I like Razaketh. I like him a lot. The 8/8 for 8 flying body and powerful effect makes him seem a lot like a color-shifted Avacyn. It's a shame that his ability has the "another" clause in it. With out the clause the potential would be staggering, whether he be cycle himself in response to removal or he be abused similar to Griselbrand in other formats.

For some context, Kaalia seeks to ramp herself out, cheat out flagship creatures, and do everything she can to keep a field presence. Her primary win condition is damage secured through MLD or hand-hate (Sire of Insanity, Armageddon, Cataclysm, Ravages of War, ect), or sometimes a surprise Master of Cruelties or OG Gisela. In this process, Kaalia typically fields one to three other creatures before the game is decided.

It's in this narrow focus, and that "another" clause, that puts Razaketh below the threshold for most Kaalia decks. Lacking the fodder of mana dorks, token generation, and a support caste outside of Mother of Runes, Razaketh is forced to sacrifice either the value engine or the value itself.

Rather than adding to the total damage on board you're taking it away for similar gains, but in this process, you're opening yourself up to more damning removal. Whether they "bolt" Kaalia in response to you sacrificing a fatty, or shut down/counter Kaalia or your search target after you tutor for another fatty. There's also situations where you don't want to or can't sacrifice. Avacyn, for example, may prove too valuable to let go at point.

Without that "another" clause, Razaketh at least offers the chance of cycling himself in response to removal. He has a hefty political threat of "remove me and it only gets worse", giving him some shoe-horned survivability. As it stands, his most poignant use will be a response to removal of other creatures. Want to Path Avacyn? We'll pitch her to the yard, dodging exile, and getting another thread in the process. Want to turn Kaalia into a tree? Nope, but we're going to go grab Master while we're at it. As it stands, I can see him included in the pantheon on the lower end, and alright inclusion on the crux of being nudged out by more potent creatures.

If there is a place for Razaketh in EDH, I believe he can find a home in reanimator or decks with Sneak Attack. There's a ton of synergy with Marshesa (the good one) who often does both and can abuse ETBs while proving fodder for Razaketh's effect.

Imperial Seal and Verdant Catacombs — May 27, 2017

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Amonkhet, Iconic Masters, and Minor Update — April 20, 2017

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Aether Revolt — Jan. 18, 2017

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Changelog — Dec. 31, 2016

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Christmas Eve Thoughts — Dec. 24, 2016

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Ancient Tomb — Nov. 9, 2016

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CMD16 thoughts and a small update. — Nov. 3, 2016

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Some thoughts on Kaladesh and the like. — Sept. 21, 2016

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Small Adjustment — Sept. 3, 2016

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Recent Changes — Aug. 30, 2016

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Reddit Feedback — Aug. 26, 2016

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Playtest Ramblings — Aug. 23, 2016

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Faster Mana — June 30, 2016

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May 11, 2016

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April 18, 2016

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April 12th, 2016 — April 12, 2016

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Top Ranked	Achieved #22 position overall 8 years ago Achieved #1 position in Commander / EDH Angels 5 years ago Achieved #1 position in Commander / EDH RBW (Mardu) 5 years ago
Date added	8 years
Last updated	7 years
Legality	This deck is not Commander / EDH legal.
Rarity (main - side)	31 - 0 Mythic Rares 53 - 0 Rares 9 - 0 Uncommons 4 - 0 Commons
Cards	100
Avg. CMC	3.71
Folders	commander ideas, vistos, banana, check out, Wanna build, Stuff I like, Other people's EDH decks, Kaalia, Cool stuff, For Ideas
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