I am also gonna suggest Bane of Progress to clean out stuff you'd not want on the board. I know it doesn't kick but could remove some obnoxious stuff

We should replace fork with increasing vengence

dreas94:

1. Broken Bond is good, but it's probably better suited for a landfall deck where it fits the theme better. For one more, we get Krosan Grip and Reclamation Sage, for example.

2. Bane of Progress is not a good idea when you got the likes of Hardened Scales out. That said, you could use it in your own build, but were it a copy of this one, I'd cut back a few artifacts and enchantments to accommodate it. I might be a bit paranoid about casting it at the wrong time.

3. Increasing Vengeance only copies your own spells. Also, with all the kicker costs, that flashback cost is too mana-intensive to work.

Thoughts on adding Blessings of Nature?

you do realize Rishkar's Expertise second effect lets you cast the card for FREE right? so how can you say the second effect reads like flavor text? you only need 6 mana to play Rishkar's Expertise. 6 mana grand total.

nzlkingprawn: unless a copy specifically states that a copy is "cast", copies are not "cast". thats why they don't trigger Hallar, the Firefletcher

also, Elfhame Druid seems like a no brainer here.

BX223Hunter: Ah yes. I'll definitely find room for it. Thanks.

SliverKing90:

The issue I ran into with the Expertise was that you're paying 6 mana already for a great effect, but to pay for the kicker cost makes the spell just that more expensive. I could try it again (and I would). Also, I did have Elfhame Druid in an earlier version, but I cut it when Grow from the Ashes was spoiled. The lack of haste hurts it a bit, but that double green is worth shooting for.

Rishkar's Expertise does not have a kicker...and the lack of haste does not hurt a mana dork. very few mana dorks have haste.

SliverKing90 and flamechampion: Oh, I didn't word it right. Let me rephrase:

If you use Rishkar's Expertise to cast a kicker spell, if you wish to kick the new spell (say, Urza's Rage), you still have to pay that cost. Sometimes, it'll be cheap, but other times it won't be.

In other words, the Expertise will (indirectly) end up becoming a more expensive spell because of the need to pay the kicker cost of the card you cast with Expertise's second effect. That said, I'll try it again. That first effect was the real reason I added it in the first place.

Actually Hallar doesn't use female pronouns, Hallar uses a genderless elvish pronoun.

IPreferBagels: I heard about that, but idk where people got that from. May you please provide the link to the source? I heard there was some lore on Hallar but I never found it.

Phaetion Here's the link to Hallar's bio. - https://78.media.tumblr.com/d82bdbe94e4f86d7ed1a14dc739ffdd5/tumblr_p7cme7ynhV1u9beo8o2_1280.jpg

As for thoughts on the deck itself, I've had luck with cutting down on some of the more mediocre kickers and adding an elfball theme in to ramp and pay the costs. You should also be putting in some more cards that play with counters, as kicking isn't the only way to make Hallar grow. Some cards I think you're missing:

• Joraga Warcaller - Easily the best kicker spell in this deck. Comes down cheap, boosts your commander, and benefits from other +1/+1 counter spells.

• Rishkar, Peema Renegade - Gives Hallar something to do when they can't attack.

• Selvala, Heart of the Wilds - She can easily tap for 6+ mana in this deck.

• Marwyn, the Nurturer - Gets big fast and ramps just as quickly.

• Wirewood Symbiote - Absurdly underrated. At least, it's a way to bounce Hallar that can't be interacted with, as the bounce is a cost and not an ability. At most, it untaps one of your dorks or powerful tappers to double the fun.

• Ivy Lane Denizen - The bulk of your creatures are green, so Hallar will grow quickly with him in play.

• Immaculate Magistrate - Will always put at least 2 counters on Hallar each turn, maybe more. Can get out of hand quickly.

• Kalonian Hydra - Read that effect, then come back to me and tell me it isn't perfect. Go ahead.

• Ring of Valkas - Gives Hallar haste and grows them each of your turns.

• Ancient Animus - Not super flashy, but it pumps your commander and will almost always kill a dude, and only for 2 mana.

• Chandra's Ignition - Always a good board wipe and potential wincon if you have a big elf on board.

Let me know your thoughts on these guys, and hope I at least cleared up the confusion surrounding Hallar's pronouns!

One last suggestion I forgot: Basilisk Collar. Deathtouch + trample = tons of damage getting through, and lifelink just makes Hallar's trigger even more hilarious.

ive-been-degaussed:

1. Thank you for the link. I'll update the description accordingly.

2. Elfball was something I was trying to avoid, mostly because of how very targeted they tend to be. That said, I do agree with you on the mediocre kicker costs coming out. The big question is how many at max. should be run. 10 is too few, imo, and I'm starting to believe the answer here is 20.

3. I'm not sold on Joraga Warcaller because it's he that only gets the counters. His P/T boosting ability is static, not +1/+1 counters. I wasn't sold on Immaculate Magistrate either, but I see where you're coming from. The rest I could definitely try and find room for. Thanks.

What would you suggest as a replacement for the wheel? It is kinda expensive

dreas94: There's a number of green draw spells you could look at. If you want to stick to red, Magus of the Wheel and Wheel of Fate are options, but they're easily telegraphed.

Makes sense, considering building this deck cause I drew an arena rector in my battlebond packs which if i can sell it will pay for a good part of the deck ;)

Finally got to play this deck during a convention. I got to say dayyyyum it is explosive. On turn 5-6 I usually deal 30+ damage into each opponent.

That's exactly why Hallar is a "kill-on-sight" card. ;)

Still considering adding Exoskeleton just cause "Infect is king"

Have you tried/considered adding Snake Umbra? I'm currently brewing Hallar and this cards looks great in this deck. It protects Hallar and at the same time gives you a free Harmonize every time you cast a kicked spell.

dreas94: If you so choose. I avoid infect unless it was difficult to use it to outright kill someone.

18ths: That's some tech. Keen Sense is another one. I retired the deck though, but if I return to it, then I'd definitely consider those.

A good writeup and some nice choices! I made mine and stumbled upon yours.

I will be back for more talk and card choices when I ran my version in paper for a first MtG night with friends.

Protection for Hallar feel like a must have, besides the obvious winroute cards.

I count 'only' 3 cards in your deck that offer protection. This feels low for a deck that relies heavily on his commander to stay alife and grow. What is your experience?