Your deck inspired me to break out my old Kaalia deck and redesign her. I'm now playing in a very competive meta and uploaded the deck onto mtgo for more testing. I must admit I have liked the results so far. I included Adarkar valk and zealous concripts for even more infinite combos. I'm wondering where you decided to draw the line for infinite combos compared to card quality/ synergy. Also interested how you like the new demon sower of discord? I've enjoyed reading your opinions and insights on the deck. Thanks for the inspiration and happy hunting

Hi Wickked,

Thanks for the kind comment.

Here's a rough guide / thought process I use when evaluating cards / combos / synergies:

1) Assumption: One player (possibly myself), will try and Combo on Turn 3/4, and generally by 5 at least

Realization: I don't have a lot of disruption, so will rely on Commanders built to prevent others and take advantage

Some disruption: A Tainted Pact into a Iona, Shield of Emeria in response to a Show and Tell has worked.

A Teferi's Protection might buy me another turn to try and Combo or Eliminate the issue player.

2) Assumption: I'm Tier 3 (I truly believe Kaalia of the Vast is tier 2.5 built like this), yet seem to be a threat

Realization: Use their bias against them, they think I'm just Aggro/Pub Brawl, might leave me open here and there.

Yes, I'll still Master of Cruelties a Stax or Disruption or Tier 1 Commander, but...

3) Assumption: I'm not a Stax player, I'm trying to go fast too, don't be that guy

Realization: I have some Stax type plays, but I'm not a Stax player, whenever possible go for the win, often you win

A Turn 3 Rakdos the Defiler can slow down a combo that relies on ramp. Same with a Turn 2 Damnation

An early Ob Nixilis, Unshackled can put a combo player in range of a Gisela, Blade of Goldnight swing.

4) Assumption: Razaketh, the Foulblooded almost always wins me the game.

Realization: Don't let others (like Animar, Soul of Elements) use him against me. Resolve and Win.

5) Assumption: I'm not going to output 40 x 3 (4-player pod assumed) = 120 by Turn 5

Realization: If I can do 40 damage by turn 5 and eliminate a player, and rely on others disruption, I can Combo on Turn 6/7

6) Evaluation: Does this card help me win the game by Turn 7? If no, then I usually exclude it

Does this card help me Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker + Restoration Angel | Infinite Haste Angels, because that's usually how I am going to win anyway.

Is this card good, WITHOUT the other combo pieces? Example: Stranglehold is good on it's own, prevents win-cons and can stax (no searching) a Fetch land or Tutor. Maralen of the Mornsong provides an effective and lasting Synergy (won't say Combo, No more drawing for others), BUT Maralen of the Mornsong without a Stranglehold is not good WITHOUT the other combo piece. Maralen of the Mornsong can in fact give the win to the next player in turn.

Adarkar Valkyrie Evaluation:

1) She doesn't trigger with Kaalia of the Vast, because Adarkar Valkyrie enters tapped, also doesn't have haste, and requires to use. What that means is I have to wait 1 whole turn before she can be used vs. something like a Razaketh, the Foulblooded or Rune-Scarred Demon.

2) At CMC6, I'm probably not playing by turn 5, but it is in the realm of possibility. However, without Haste (Dragon Tempest, Lightning Greaves, Swiftfoot Boots) its too slow.

3) What are the other combo cards, and do they meet the test that they are good without Adarkar Valkyrie

Adarkar Valkyrie + Thornbite Staff + Creature + Goblin Bombardment | Infinite Damage

Thornbite Staff + Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker also works with Goblin Bombardment or Angel of Despair

Thornbite Staff has a CMC2 but a Equip (which SUCKS), but Equip on Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker, and it's Sorcery speed.

Goblin Bombardment protects my creatures from theft, and also enables other combos, including it can be used Post-Combat with a Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker + Restoration Angel incase of Fog.

Adarkar Valkyrie + Village Bell-Ringer + Goblin Bombardment | Infinite Damage

Village Bell-Ringer also works with Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker. On his own though, not very sexy without the Combo pieces.

Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker + Adarkar Valkyrie + Goblin Bombardment | Infinite Damage

Karmic Guide + Adarkar Valkyrie + Lightning Greaves or Dragon Tempest + Goblin Bombardment | Infinite Damage

Adarkar Valkyrie + Aurelia, the Warleader + Goblin Bombardment | Infinite Combat Phases

Took me a long time to take Aurelia, the Warleader, can get into that discussion later.

Adarkar Valkyrie + Zealous Conscripts + Goblin Bombardment | Infinite Damage

Zealous Conscripts + Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker also works.

Zealous Conscripts on it's own is also pretty good, he has Haste built in, can take an opponents permanents, can untap your permanents (like Adarkar Valkyrie or Sol Ring etc). He's not an A/D/D is his only down side, so with a CMC5 am I going to play him before Turn 5? Tough to say.

I'm going to Buried Alive : Karmic Guide + Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker + Restoration Angel not Zealous Conscripts (Although I could I guess?) for Reanimate

I'm probably going to tutor Restoration Angel because I can 1) Free cast with Kaalia of the Vast, 2) She is Instant speed (Flash), 3) She is CMC4 vs. Zealous Conscripts. So it becomes, do i need Zealous Conscripts. If I'm running Adarkar Valkyrie as well, then yes. Honestly Zealous Conscripts has been on the cusp for a long time, he is VERY good, probably better than Reveillark (who I almost never combo with), the only benefit to Reveillark is he brings back Grand Abolisher so I can actually pull off the combo without Disruption.

I'd almost always rather tutor Buried Alive or Reanimate or a missing piece, than a Adarkar Valkyrie. He really provides the same combo structure, but slower, same with Zealous Conscripts. If I'm hoping to just have a higher probability of drawing into a Zealous Conscripts to complete my combo I'm starting with an Assumption that isn't going to make my Turn 5 window usually. I need to Tutor/Win.

Combat Celebrant, Felidar Guardian, Sparring Mummy, Thornbite Staff, Village Bell-Ringer, Zealous Conscripts, Fiend Hunter, Karmic Guide, Lightning Crafter, Restoration Angel, Reveillark, Changeling Hero, Changeling Berserker all work with Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker, some need Sac, many don't.

Not sure if I answered your Zealous Conscripts question, but the best answer I can give is, I don't need him, I don't want to draw him, and he just does the job of Restoration Angel. Certainly you need alternatives, incase of Exile or Removal, I decided on Reveillark because he has other upside (downside is needs a Sac outlet), but Zealous Conscripts is quite reasonable and has utility on his own so I like him probably will make his way back in, at a higher CMC than someone like Village Bell-Ringer though who has no utility on his own, but IS turn 5 probable, but without Buried Alive probably neither works anyway, so why not just Restoration Angel and win?

The truth is any of them are viable options, it's about the supporting cards, the "wheel of support" you put around each of them, if there's multiple synergies then it's always good to have. Remember though, you only need to Combo once to win, the reality is, if your Disrupted, someone else will likely combo before you get a second chance anyway in cEDH. In standard EDH, you may have the time to draw cards into a Zealous Conscripts or hard cast a Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker but probably not in cEDH.

Adarkar Valkyrie was in, she didn't work with Kaalia of the Vast and I never tutored Adarkar Valkyrie, and it needed Haste (Lightning Greaves/Dragon Tempest) and in most cases needed a Sac Outlet, so it ended up getting cut when Aurelia, the Warleader left. Adarkar Valkyrie I just found too difficult to manage, and 1 turn too slow.

I will say, if you are running Adarkar Valkyrie and Zealous Conscripts, definitely run Faithless Looting, maybe even Gamble. This differs than something like a Reanimator, If i could have more Reanimate (also use Animate Dead, Yawgmoth's Will which I view as CMC2 because I usually have a Fetch land to recur) then I LIKE drawing into those. When I draw a Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker in my opening hand, I always Mulligan, and when I draw him in play I really really really regret having Faithless Looting out of the deck because I can't tutor it, and now I'm hoping to tutor a Goblin Bombardment and Reanimate a Buried Alive | Karmic Guide + Reveillark. In this situation a Zealous Conscripts isn't helping you anyway. On occasion I draw Restoration Angel but then I Buried Alive : Grand Abolisher and then Reanimate Karmic Guide then Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker then Grand Abolisher then Flash cast Restoration Angel and have the Grand Abolisher pretty much guaranteeing me the win. It's definetely higher CMC to hard was him, but still less than Zealous Conscripts.

My deck is still a work in progress though, I wish I had more time to play and really advance it with playtesting, but In theory, MOST of the time I would prefer a Tutor to another instance of a card I can tutor that is worse. Like Anguished Unmaking and Utter End are the same but CMC1 more, but I don't run Utter End because instead I draw a tutor, and search for Anguished Unmaking if that's what I really need, otherwise I tutor Reanimate or Buried Alive and go for the win.

I'm always testing the new guys too, sometimes they roar, sometimes they fail. Razaketh, the Foulblooded for sure, is the best (sometimes Iona, Shield of Emeria) in a while, If I could have all Razaketh, the Foulblooded that would be very cool.

Another thing I've learned, I built Kaalia of the Vast because I liked Gisela, Blade of Goldnight and Griselbrand (I really miss him, pretty angry about that one), but try not to be attached to certain cards, even if you like it, make sure it properly synergies. Stranglehold + Maralen of the Mornsong was my favorite for so long, I would always Tutor a Baneslayer Angel first to counter the damage (Lyra Dawnbringer would probably be the target now), but had to let it go because Maralen of the Mornsong couldn't keep up. Same with Liliana Vess. Even Aurelia, the Warleader, I won a draft event with him, so valued him highly, but I just didn't have the right supporting cards in there for him.

The next A/D/D I'm going to try is Archfiend of Despair, I just don't know how to take advantage of his second ability properly, I mean him and a Gisela, Blade of Goldnight obviously, he does double my damage, meaning 120 damage is now 60 damage so makes that a potential strategy, but still not sure how to do 60 by turn 5/6 to 3 different targets, but perhaps, have to test him. I feel Archfiend of Despair has more upside than Sower of Discord because of his Lifegain prevention, but together the 2 are ok, I'm just not sure, he reduces 120 to 80 where Archfiend of Despair reduces it to 60. I will note, if you build other Loss of Life into the deck, like Liliana's Caress and Dragon Mage and Wheel of Fortune type abilities, both Sower of Discord and Archfiend of Despair, but even then Sower of Discord is "Damage", remember, "Damage" causes "Loss of Life" but doesn't work the other way, "Loss of Life" isn't "Damage". Hmm probably will not even test Sower of Discord, CMC6 for 6/6, no Flample, and no immediate threat/ETB off Kaalia of the Vast other than potentially 8 damage (Sower of Discord 6 + Kaalia of the Vast 2) is outside my current strategy too much.

I can win on Turn 1: Swamp + Mana Crypt + Buried Alive and a Chrome Mox (and a card to Imprint) + Reanimate, is an example, but it rarely happens. There are some other Janky ways with Sol Ring and Ancient Tomb and stuff too, but not consistently. Always looking for ways to improve here. (CMC1 Reanimate or High Mana Conversion Stones)

Turn 2, there's quite a few different ways to get there, including Kaalia of the Vast attacking, usually needs a Razaketh, the Foulblooded in hand to pull the combo pieces, mana rocks, and Goblin Bombardment because usually Combo AFTER the combat phase, so the Infinite Haste Angels don't really help me out that much.

Turn 3/4 is really where I want to combo, and am looking to build further consistency, like Gamble or Beseech the Queen (maybe but it only tutors Reanimate usually for , so where does the for Reanimate come from). Does Zealous Conscripts or Adarkar Valkyrie check this box? Not really, which is probably why they are out. But honestly, I still have a bunch of junk, like Reveillark, Gisela, the Broken Blade maybe, Lord of the Void, Teferi's Protection it's really dumb this card doesn't have Split Second, Boros Charm too situational, see lots of stuff that could be Zealous Conscripts.

What I really wish for, 1) A good A/D/D that has Goblin Bombardment built-into it, like a Murderous Redcap of A/D/D, 2) More CMC1 Reanimate, 3) More CMC1 or CMC2 Tutors, I'll checkout your deck but if you don't have Tainted Pact it is CRITICAL to finding solutions, although means your lands are $1,000,000 but luckily no so HEY still cheaper than a Volcanic Island. 4) More effective mana rocks. I've looked at Mox Diamond a million times, can't decide if it helps/hurts in the average case (not just the Turn 1 case), like as a before Turn 5.

Rakdos the Defiler has been my friend, when I'm not doing well he often helps me out lol. Dance of the Dead is a possiblity, because it doesn't matter that Karmic Guide is tapped, but Karmic Guide is pro black so the interaction sucks even more (already sucks with Animate Dead but the triggers work).

I'll check out your deck a little later, and provide any feedback I can.

Hopefully, somewhere in this rambling I answered your questions.

PS: I hate that Kess, Dissident Mage (and some others) can win on Turn 0, win before it's even their turn, that sucks!

I'm curious what your thoughts about the new demon doom whisperer and the new tutor Mausoleum secrets. The demon seems like a must include. Not sure if the tutor is too situational.

Hi Wickked,

Doom Whisperer looks good, can filter away instant speed at EOT, and then draw what you need. Can also put cards in graveyard, and then recur into a Reanimate. Worth playtesting.

Mausoleum Secrets, Hmm. I'll evaluate when I'm tutoring how many creatures I have, If I Buried Alive it works fine to grab Reanimate or Animate Dead. If I need to pull my Buried Alive, then need 3, but If I have 1, I can pull my Vampiric Tutor, so might work, and it's instant speed. Together with Doom Whisperer can just pay life to load the graveyard to what I need, and then tutor to the card (if Doom Whisperer hasn't found it yet). Could work, might be situational, needs testing.

Hello Spirits! I wanted to know why you opted to use Damnation over Wrath of God.

At 4 cmc, often it leaves me with just enough mana to cast a tutor or combo off with a black spell, so I opt for Wrath because it doesn't need me to use up said black mana.

So what is your reasoning?

Hi UR2L8,

Probably because I had a Damnation at the time. Tutor for for sure is viable (Vampiric Tutor, Imperial Seal, Reanimate), but also good for, Swords to Plowshares, Path to Exile, Steelshaper's Gift, Enlightened Tutor, also good for Gamble.

Damnation or Wrath of God both are so have pretty good control over which lands (or Mana Crypt). Most lands are anyway, some are yes. I think I generally pull more lands, and Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth, so more likely to be able to play Damnation Turn 2 vs. Wrath of God (why ramp lands) on Turn 2, another reason went that way.

I loved my Kaalia of the Vast. But I absolutely hated playing her in 4 man pods. It was always the same. Oh YoU'Re PLayInG KaALiA, beTtER kILl yOu fIrST. I just dick on people with Ezuri, Claw of Progress and Sage of Hours now. Lol.

Hi LuciferDarkstar,

Kaalia of the Vast is absolutely fun, playing giant, High CMC A/D/D!

I've seen the high threat level, even when there are Prossh, Skyraider of Kher or Kess, Dissident Mage or other high profile fast commanders like Breya, Etherium Shaper, but I also enjoy being attacked by 3 players so doesn't bother me. Doesn't make sense, as a primary aggro commander, shouldn't get that much attention.

I usually try and go for win T3-5 and hope not to get interrupted, if I can aggro a Kess, Dissident Mage to slow them down from combo by 1-2 turns, I can just hope I don't get disrupted. Still have an okay midrange if the game goes slower too.

I have a Mizzix of the Izmagnus too but enjoy playing the Tier3-4 commanders like my Arahbo, Roar of the World and taking down Tier 1 Commanders.

I also play $50 Budget commander (a few decks), that changes the dynamic and slows the game down for sure.

Spirits Oh, she's a huge threat for sure. Not saying she isn't. Just isn't any fun when I'm dead in the water before she even comes out most games. 1v1 I rarely lose with her though. My playgroups for multiplayer are just much more difficult for her to really shine. But I'm thinking of trying to make her work with Helm of the Host. My only issue is the converted cost combined with the equip cost, but I think if I can make it work with a modified decklist it could be really brutal.

UR2L8,

I was reading this Pursuit of Knowledge Article, and am trying out Toxic Deluge over Damnation. I've seen it in action many times, I originally went destroy because I had lots of Indestructible (Boros Charm, Archangel Avacyn  ^Flip, Etc) but now that I have almost none, I think Toxic Deluge will outperform Damnation or Wrath of God.

Spirits, I appreciate you updating me!

Also, thanks a lot for pointing me towards that article, I'll look it over. I think I can see why Toxic Deluge has caught your attention with it being CMC3 and only needing a single while also getting around indestructible and the like.

I imagine the life spent to wipe the board will be negligible, but we already have plenty of negligible life loss in the deck alongside entering the game with a target on our back. It makes me wonder just how much we can rely on our life total as a resource.

Children of Korlis seems cheeky, and goes off the beaten path of Combo / Aggro.

I also wanna hear your thoughts on Wheel of Fortune, Mausoleum Secrets, and Batwing Brume

I mention Wheel of Fortune because strangely enough, I've been running out of cards in my hand and have been going into Top Deck mode a little more than I'd like. I see it can have some synergy with the Reanimator side of the deck too.

Mausoleum Secrets gets my attention for being an instant tutor that works with our grave as well, with a fair selection of low CMC black cards to chose from.

And lastly, Batwing Brume for the potential to flip the game upside down if our opponents pull a Kiki Combo or something similar. It's similar to Teferi's Protection but with the potential to eliminate a player.

ALSO, how well is Angelic Arbiter working for you? I rarely find a spot where his ability actually stops the opponent from doing something substantial. A lot of the combos I see here won't even use the combat phase and vice versa.

Hi UR2L8,

Yes life is a premium, paying life to go fast. Will see how Toxic Deluge goes or if it can't be cast when needed.

Children of Korlis was fabulous in my Alesha, Who Smiles at Death because I could recur him, much life Selfless Spirit. Lately I've been thinking I need Selfless Spirit and Hatred in here as well.

Wheel of Fortune/Reforge the Soul/Dragon Mage/Wheel of Fate/Chandra Ablaze/Magus of the Wheel are all viable. I play more Orzhov () and splash the Mardu , so usually I won't be pulling too many read lands with fetches. Also, with a Liliana's Caress type build or a Surveil/Dredge and true Reanimator Living Death/Living End type builds it would be very powerful.

In my build, I always feel like once I get Kaalia of the Vast stabilized where I can start dropping the A/D/D from my hand, when I would Dragon Mage to recharge, it would just give my opponents a solution to whatever, Iona, Shield of Emeria or Avacyn, Angel of Hope or Etc., instead of trying to slow the board state down. I just feel this is better suited to a Nekusar, the Mindrazer or Yidris, Maelstrom Wielder or The Locust God, Etc. type Commander.

Probably could make it effective in a true reanimator with Sire Of Insanity and Liliana's Caress (type effects, draw/discard) though.

I'm unsure about Mausoleum Secrets (Situational/Late game), similar feelings towards Gamble (-1 card advantage and randomness) and Beseech the Queen (Situational/Late game). I think Mausoleum Secrets would be good with Selfless Spirit and Children of Korlis in the deck though. Hmm. I will play test it a bit, see how effective it is.

Batwing Brume is okay, I'm not sure it makes the cut, not really synergistic. Holy Day is still there too, and Angel's Grace can combo easily with a few different spells, so both feel better.

Angelic Arbiter isn't great against some decks like, Izzet () or Grixis (+) but against commanders like Xenagos, God of Revels or any Haste Commander builds actually, or Blightsteel Colossus. Since we get attacked quite a bit too, it also helps mitigate lots of that damage. Like do you want to cast Cultivate or attack with those 3/3's or whatever, do you want to swing your infect and cast nothing this turn? He's been good, won't replace him anytime soon.

Hey UR2L8,

I've got Mausoleum Secrets in for testing now, and put a Street Wraith in as well to give it a better chance. Hoping it will pull me a Reanimate or a Vampiric Tutor or Demonic Tutor when I need it.

I had a discussion about Crucible of Worlds being a mana rock, the theory was that Crucible of Worlds is , supported by 9 Fetch lands (Marsh Flats et al), Ash Barrens, and probably even Mox Diamond, let's say, cast on turn 3 (7 cards + 3 draw), has a Hypergeometric probability of X>1 (Having a land in the graveyard) of 71%. Turn 2 would be 67%, Turn 4 would be 75%. My argument is that how many times do I miss a Turn 3 land drop? Not often I feel. Turn 4? Maybe but hopefully not. Turn 5 would be 78% only as well. Once the Crucible of Worlds connects with a Fetch Land, it's going to Fetch you a land every turn thereafter, which not only ramps, but also filters your deck so you draw less lands and more ADD. My argument is still, assuming I don't miss Turn 3 land drops frequently, with close to 100% certainty, Chromatic Lantern will ramp me 1 mana (and be use-able immediately that turn), vs. a 71% chance of recurring ramp with the Crucible of Worlds. Thinking if I should evaluate it. Obviously in Kaalia of the Vast land destruction it's a staple card, but thinking is it worth it in any 3 or 4 color commander deck.

Good freaking God! This deck is freaking nuts! Great build!

Hi AngelicOverseer88,

Comments much appreciated!

Hey Spirits

When you going Crucible of Worlds route, would it mess the manabase up too much to try out a Vesuva or Thespian's Stage to combo with Flagstones of Trokair and grab a bunch of Plains? It's save a smidge of life and act as another fetch essentially.

UR2L8,

That's a cool interaction, hadn't thought of that. I tend to stay away from lands like Vesuva that ETB tapped (unless their stand-alone ability is amazing), this one enters tapped, and requires an "enabler" land. In the scenario I have a Flagstones of Trokair it works great (but remember too that Flagstones of Trokair also puts the plains in tapped.). It's much less utility (especially T1-T4 when trying to win) than a Fetch land. Plus no tutors for land to pull the combo (like Expedition Map) even if I draw into 1 or 2 pieces of it. Crucible of Worlds + Vesuva + Flagstones of Trokair too much random drawing needed, and Vesuva isn't strong enough to stand on it's own.

Thespian's Stage enters untapped for colorless, so it's a bit better. Still has the same 3-card combo requirements, and it's CMC to pull the plains. Warped Landscape can do it for same price (but only 2 targets in my build), Terminal Moraine, Myriad Landscape, Esper Panorama, Etc. Only pull basic, which i don't have many because of Tainted Pact.

Too much uncertainty for me to test. if i had lots of basics could run the Panoramas that pull , , or .

Thank you so much for putting together this list. It's been a huge help in putting me on the right track towards my own build, Which I had to make a few budget options and choices based on my play group. Here's my "Budget Version", I haven't gotten around to the description yet but I will be sure to include a link here if that's alright.

I'm curious about your opinion on a few cards though if you have the time. Such As:

• Archangel of Tithes
• Lord of the Void
• Archfiend of Despair
• Entomb

Thanks again, Cheers.

Hi HunterXDante,

Thanks for the comment. I'll take a look at your deck and share some feedback on your page.

Archangel of Tithes is ok, 3/5 flying for CMC4 isn't terrible. The stax isn't board changing. Assists with go-wide strategies, unless their tokens also tap for mana, but usually those are Impact Tremors type hits anyways. I don't think he strong enough with all the impressive A/D/D available. I'd rather have the Rakdos the Defiler in many situations, he seems weak (I know, I struggled with him for VERY long), but he can slow down Grixis/Izzet decks just long enough that I can combo before they do. Or if I'm mana screwed or something, or Kaalia of the Vast being controlled, he can keep the board even. Creates an ok lock with Volrath's Stronghold sometimes too. Master of Cruelties can do the job against Grixis/Izzet usually too, but if they have a Baleful Strix or Bitterblossom or something you're going to lose to a Show and Tell + Omniscience combo without a tutored Rakdos the Defiler.

Lord of the Void is amazing, I just took him out last week to test Mausoleum Secrets supported with a Street Wraith (why play 99 card commander when you can play 98 card commander with 38 life :). He was great when versus Eldrazi decks, or even Mono Green/Big Green Commanders. The reason he eventually got cut is because of his lack of Trample. Flample would be an auto-include, found he wasn't connecting enough and inconsistently.

Archfiend of Despair also is great, I've been putting him in an out testing various new cards. Thought he would act like a Gisela, Blade of Goldnight but didn't work that way. Rarely does Life matter that much in Commander (Combo commander), but sometimes it does, Selesnya for example, Often he slows down combat between opponents, unless they get the strategic advantage. I try and combo instead of damage, if my primary strategy was damage, he would be an auto-include. Very good. His CMC8 was the ultimate reason I didn't go with him, would never tutor him (better options available) and didn't support my primary win-con (but very helpful for secondary).

Entomb I'm just not sure what to pull with it? It does support Mausoleum Secrets and can be cool early Iona, Shield of Emeria with a Reanimate for example. If you're playing Entomb (and a reanimation sub-theme) definitely play Gamble as well. I just feel I don't have enough early recursion to really take advantage of an Entomb. Chances are if you do the hyper-geometric probability is low for it's utility, someone like Kess, Dissident Mage LOVES this card.

I was reading this article, Superior Numbers - Land Counts by Dana Roach

Following this, I did some playtests... only 10!

Note: A very small sample size has a high margin of error, and is less likely to be a representation of the population for which I'm making an inference, knowing this, it is simply a quick and simply study evaluation.

Missed T3 Land Drop

Missed T3 Land Drop | 2 of 10 or 20%

Alt. Mana Source Available | 1 of 2 or 50%

Average Turn Win | 5

Played T3 Land Drop

Played T3 Land Drop | 8 of 10 or 80%

Alt. Mana Source Available | 5 of 8 or 63%

Average Turn Win | 5.25

There was a mention in the article, "Additionally, cEDH decks tend to run leaner land counts thanks to the decks having generally lower curves and shorter game lengths, and there are plenty of cEDH decks showing up in the database."

In the article it only evaluates 4 cEDH decks, the average land count was only 28 with 9 mana rocks. Very low avg CMC of 1.83.

It shows my avg CMC is 3.48, If I remove the ADD I don't plan on casting from hand, avg CMC is 2.20. Lower if I remove Street Wraith which is cycling.

As of today, I have 36 Land (mana producing), and 7 mana rocks.

In the article, it also discusses a formula by Nate Burgess:

Number of Lands = 31 + amount of colors in commander's color identity + commander CMC, with 0-CMC mana rocks counting as lands.

So 31 + 3 () + 4 () = 38 lands

I have 36 lands and 2 -CMC rocks ( Chromatic Lantern + Mana Crypt ), so I'm right on target based on this formula.

The 20% missed T3 land drops was concerning, but it didn't overall effect the avg. turn to win, only 1 of 10 cases I had less than 3 mana on T3 as well.

I have some testing cards in the deck right now. I'm not certain adding more lands is the right way to go, since cEDH has fewer lands. Mox Diamond is a reasonable -CMC rock, I'm also considering Crucible of Worlds that would allow recurring casts of the Fetch lands.

I'm also considering Combat Celebrant and Hatred instead of the Reveillark secondary win-con since it's quite high CMC, and also needs the same enablers, which can be a benefit as I am tutoring those enablers anyway.

Interesting article, going to do a sample size of 100 tests when I have some time, see how often I'm actually missing that T3 land.

Out of curiosity, have you tried playing with indulgent tormentor in place of bloodgift demon or even doom whisperer? I know bloodgift demon automatically gives you that card draw but with indulgent I feel has its perks. You're most likely to get the draw without the life loss or draw without having to pay to surveil. I know you mentioned you shy away from damage so maybe someone wouldn't be afraid to pay 3? But you might get a sac, who knows. Would like to know your thoughts.

Hi weezel,

Indulgent Tormentor is definitely not as useful as Bloodgift Demon , true it saves the 1 life, however, it doesn't guarantee the draw, and isn't under your control, which for me adds too much randomness, reducing the overall consistency of play.

If you're delayed, mana screwed, or have no A/D/D in hand with a Kaalia of the Vast ready to go, opponents recognize your stalled, and will continue your agony for 3 life. Perhaps if you have an Alliance, or there is an opponent low in life you can target, then you may be able to ensure the draw, but it is highly situational. In cases where an opponent is sacrificing a creature to prevent your draw, it won't be a creature that matters to the board state anyways, they would rather just let you have the draw.

Too much uncertainty to protect the 1 life, I would rather pay 1 life and guarantee the draw. If an opponent is low life, our I'm 1 damage output that turn shy of killing them, or they are tapped out and I need my life for other tutors, I can always target an opponent, surrender my draw to them, and do the 1 damage to an opponent.

Doom Whisperer is a very powerful tutor, he can recursively (assuming you have life), dig through your library, throwing, Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker , Restoration Angel , and Karmic Guide into the graveyard (at the end of an opponents turn), then puts the Reanimate or Animate Dead ... etc. ontop of your library to draw on your turn, and win! If you do happen to Surveil into something that you can't afford to lose, like a Reanimate or a Animate Dead , something like that, stop Surveiling, draw, then continue Surveilling on your turn pre-combat main phase.

Sure Doom Whisperer is no Razaketh, the Foulblooded , but he doesn't have the downside of the sacrifice, and he is CMC5, so he can potentially win you the game cast from your hand, + ( Reanimate ) is a plausible turn 4/5 alt. win-con if you get the right Surveil. Often I'll surveil to a Tutor (Like Buried Alive ), or to a game changing A/D/D like Master of Cruelties or Iona, Shield of Emeria ... etc. in cases where I have Kaalia of the Vast ready to attack on my turn.

I would avoid the uncertainty of Indulgent Tormentor , stick to a sure thing. If your finding your games are going longer and need more life, you can always augment on the Lifegain/Lifelink strategy, I have quite a bit built in, but there is more, like a Vault of the Archangel as one example. Nearheath Pilgrim would be another I can think of off the top of my head. I used to have more but with EDHREC.com being so popular I removed many of my suggestions.

Thanks for the comments!

Hi Spirits, Have you considered running Helm of Obedience/Leyline of the Void or Rest in Peace? It's a fun combo I've used in a couple decks.

spirit

I completely agree, The importance of automatic card draw is key to any game, drawing through your deck for those win cons. You have an interesting build; I wanted to try it out, So I was putting it together and The only 2 card I didn't have on hand was Doom Whisperer . Which is why I mentioned Indulgent Tormentor , I felt it was the only next similar card despite its drawbacks(uncertainty/randomness) and Grim Tutor which I replaced with Diabolic Tutor and threw in an Ancient Tomb to make up for that extra CMC cost it adds. I'm considering taking out Diabolic Tutor and adding in Gamble instead. Still unsure if I'd like to gamble with my hand.

The other difference I made was adding Mox Diamond in place of Fellwar Stone . Is having your lands more important, Would it be crucial to discard one? I feel Fellwar Stone is situational, well not situational I guess more of a sideboard card along with Mox Diamond . They Can both be sideboard cards, They can both easily be added in before the game if you're knowing who you're up against.

Another consideration I'm thinking was Mishra's Bauble . You mentioned why play 99 commander when you can play 98. Well why play 98 when you can play 97? I know Street Wraith Synergizes with Mausoleum Secrets and Mishra's Bauble doesn't really have any synergy but It gets you that card draw for 0. You can sync it with a tutor such as Vampiric Tutor or Imperial Seal . What are your thoughts about that? I appreciate the reply by the way, very detailed and the explanations you give for your reasons, puts it all into perspective.