Hi Ferai147,

Helm of Obedience + Rest in Peace is definitely a viable combo. I'm running graveyard recursion as my primary win-con, so doesn't work in my build, they would just either contradict what I was doing, or be dead draws. Also, no point in having 2 (you definitely want an alt. win-con, but not one that draws dead. If you take out the graveyard recursion, I'm not sure what type of build would be best, but something that benefits/synergy with the other pieces for that win-con.

Hi weezel, I might just not play him. I don't have a Mox Diamond so haven't been able to test it, and a little pricey to just buy if I'm not sure it will make the deck. I've tried proxy testing it a bit when I can, I still can't decide if the faster mana (it removes a mana too, if it was any card would be an include, because it's a land, its tougher) is worth it. It nets more mana if played Turn1 then let's say causing you to miss the Turn3 land drop. However, on turn 5 when you draw it, it's probably a dread draw.

Gamble is good, any 1 mana tutor is great. Better than Diabolic Tutor . It would be better in a more graveyard recursion, or a way to pull cards from graveyard, but it's still a CMC1 tutor that has a high probability of pulling the card you need, think if you tutor Reanimate and it happens to discard Iona, Shield of Emeria that's still ok! Just don't want to lose the reanimate, because then your tutoring a Yawgmoth's Will or Animate Dead .

I like Fellwar Stone better than the Boros Signet because it's CMC1, but its a little random too. Probably if I had a Mox Diamond i would play that over the Fellwar Stone . Hoping they print the supporting color Talisman of Indulgence . I'll give Mishra's Bauble a try, I really dislike the delay on the draw, and not sure how useful looking at my? library will be, don't have much to scry it away, but could be a look before a fetch land. It's not bad though, if it draws into an instant tutor like Vampiric Tutor thats nice because then can use it on opponents turn. Excellent Suggestion.

Also weezel, make sure that if you're including a Tainted Pact (most valuable tutor), usually to a Master of Cruelties with a Kaalia of the Vast triggered ability on the stack, or into a Razaketh, the Foulblooded and sac the Kaalia of the Vast to pull my win-con, however, you can only have 1 of each basic land Plains , Swamp , Mountain (I don't even play the Mountain ), otherwise your Tainted Pact can ground itself out if you pull 2x Plains for example.

Thought I would mention incase you handn't had that experience yet. CMC2 Instant Tutor though, it's critical. Also, I played Ancient Tomb for a very long time, ended up moving it to my Arahbo, Roar of the World deck. It never really worked properly. Everything in is or , or like Grand Abolisher . It does help with the Buried Alive cast though! I found other than Chrome Mox , the rocks were giving me enough mana, needed the lands to produce the colors. If you exclude all the A/D/D that I never cast, my CMC is 2.00 avg, 1.92 avg if I remove the Reveillark which may become a Combat Celebrant or Hatred or something, I don't know yet, re-evaluating my alternate win-con, I never use the Reveillark .

What are your thoughts on Crucible of Worlds , with a Fetch land it can get to hard casing A/D/D, but still feels too slow? What do I need all that mana for anyway.

spirit

You might be right about Mox Diamond being a dead draw after turn 5, I didn't think about that. I'll still give it a shot and see how it plays out. I haven't given this deck a test run yet. I been focusing more on a few other decks that I been trying to complete. It almost feels like a never ending battle. I don't think one can really say "this deck is complete" but more like "I'm currently satisfied with this build" ha!

Hatred I dont want to go as far as to say this card is an auto include in everything black, but its almost damn near close to be. I feel it can be a great political card, as in, Make truths with someone for a round (you don't touch me, I wont touch you) to eliminate a bigger threat at the table. Regardless if its Regular or Commander Damage but then you can combine that with Combat Celebrant Maybe put Hatred on Kaalia of the Vast

I also feel it's starting to get a little iffy here. Are you trying to get an alternative win con? Combat Celebrant is a damn nice card (I have it and was actually waiting for you to post some test run results about it) but I feel if you're going to play that card, you gotta somehow be ready to win because you're going to be the target when the table goes around and if you're not ready to win, hopefully you have some support to untap it or protect it the next go around.

But again, if you aren't playing Aurelia, the Warleader then why play Combat Celebrant Is it the lower CMC cost that Combat Celebrant carries? But then you can argue, Aurelia, the Warleader technically can cost nothing if you cheat it out with Kaalia of the Vast granite you'll have to wait a turn for that combat trigger. I really don't know what to that because I dont know how you're going to go about it. Maybe my thought process of playing it is completely different than your way? who knows, I can also be over thinking all this, hahaha which is a bad habit of mine.

Crucible of Worlds works great in conjunction with fetch lands. Definitely can get to hard casting those A'D'D but I feel it will also slow down the tempo of your current build. Sure you can tutor it but is that tutor taking away from a more crucial card that will end the game sooner?

I feel Crucible of Worlds would work better in a stax build. Using Ghost Quarter , Wasteland then the support of Ravages of War , Armageddon etc...Throw in all your talisman and signets along with Winter Orb , Orb of Dreams , Mana Vault , Mox Opal , Thorn of Amethyst Paradox Engine and especially Inspiring Statuary plus so much more.

For me, it starts taking on a different build adding Crucible of Worlds which can also be fun but I dont know man, Kaalia of the Vast there are a few different builds you can make with her. Its nice to hear opinions from other people because everyones perspective is different but the only real way is to just throw it in and try it out? It might work or it might not.

Hi weezel,

I was thinking about my Reveillark alternative win-con's,

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

Karmic Guide + Reveillark + Goblin Bombardment | Infinite Damage

It's also recursive with Grand Abolisher or Dark Confidant etc, in addition to Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker and Karmic Guide

The downside is, it's CMC5 (), and needs sac outlet and Enabler Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker or Karmic Guide .

Hatred is CMC5 () and just needs Kaalia of the Vast but also likes guys like Baneslayer Angel , Gisela, Blade of Goldnight , Gisela, the Broken Blade , Lyra Dawnbringer , Serra Ascendant or Whip of Erebos .

Was thinking, it's a different win-con (only 1 player too in some cases), but other than being high CMC, would allow me to cheat in an A/D/D and Commander Damage kill a player if left unblocked as well (Instant speed).

Combat Celebrant is enticing because of his CMC3 (), other than his obvious Exert ability which can land 2 A/D/D in 1 turn, do some mass damage with someone like Balefire Dragon or Gisela, Blade of Goldnight , but his real power is that he doesn't need the sac outlet.

Combat Celebrant + Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker | Infinite Combat Phases

Potentially a win-con with someone like, Avacyn, Angel of Hope , Demonlord Belzenlok , Doom Whisperer , Hellkite Tyrant , Razaketh, the Foulblooded , Etc. unless there is something large enough to block the Trample indefinitely. Doesn't matter if Combat Celebrant is blocked, just making the copy, allows for the next attack to occur. Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker never gets in harms way.

I'm sure there are more ways to abuse him, Splinter Twin obviously, which doesn't work with Buried Alive but can replace Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker in most/all? combos too. could tutor Splinter Twin pretty easily. Idyllic Tutor for example could also pull me an Animate Dead etc, feel there could be some good build out around Combat Celebrant for combos, and just his natural talent when attacking with large A/D/D.

Early on, when I played Adarkar Valkyrie , I also played Aurelia, the Warleader for:

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

Adarkar Valkyrie also gave me:

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

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

I just found neither Adarkar Valkyrie or Aurelia, the Warleader properly ETB triggered with Kaalia of the Vast , and I was never tutoring either of them because they aren't that impactful, so ended up removing Adarkar Valkyrie and then later Aurelia, the Warleader to focus more on the primary win-con with Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker + Restoration Angel .

Crucible of Worlds more inline with a classic Kaalia of the Vast , which the Infinite Combat phases + Land Destruction is part of the reason (as well to a degree the amount of hate Kaalia of the Vast receives as a commander), is why she fell to Tier 3, from Tier 2.5 previously. If I have a Grand Abolisher I don't care, but if I don't, sometimes there is surprise when they have 40 life and think they are unkillable by Kaalia of the Vast and leave themselves open and I can swoop in on T4 with the Restoration Angel horde!

It's been a long time since I needed to resort to Reveillark , either I've won, or someone else has combo'd before I really get to a point of attempting a Reveillark win. Combat Celebrant , I feel like I could also use, Entomb / Gamble , example:

Entomb > Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker + Mausoleum Secrets > Reanimate . With a Combat Celebrant and anything to attack with, I'm good to go. ( Entomb makes Mausoleum Secrets more valuable to me too). He also doesn't get haste from Dragon Tempest either, so that's another negative.

He can't really Turn 1 so that's kinda why I was thinking more along the lines of Hatred even without augmenting the Lifelink. Life also fuels my speed, Draw/Mana/Tutor, so not sure of the impact to my game post Hatred .

Dark Ritual , Simian Spirit Guide , Mox Diamond all increase T1 potential, but I always worry about, outside of T1 do they have much value. Dark Ritual can cast a Necropotence so it has some benefit and with other cards Buried Alive + Reanimate .

My current challenge is Faithless Looting , I think it needs to go back in, have to decide what to remove. In games where I draw my Karmic Guide or Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker I'm usually like T9 because I have to actually cast them and at CMC5, it's just not realistic with the other costs ( Buried Alive CMC3 and Reanimate CMC1) thats, CMC9, never going to happen. A Faithless Looting makes it CMC5 only. Faithless Looting also has some nice synergies if I don't have an A/D/D in my hand and Kaalia of the Vast is ready to go.

I agree, when is a deck every truly complete. Ever time I play I learn something new about my deck, or a Razaketh, the Foulblooded comes a long and takes over top dog spot in my decklist, and makes Griselbrand being Griselbanned a little easier to take.

spirit

Dude, when I wrote my response, I was getting ready to pump some iron so I was loaded up on caffeine. My mind was going a kazillion miles per second and I completely forgot Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker was in the deck Face palm That's why I was confused about Combat Celebrant and making remarks like "I hope you're ready to win" haha but now it all makes sense. I'm surprised I wrote what I wrote.

I have a few questions, obviously not playing the deck yet but just by what I see:

1. How beneficial has Mausoleum Secrets been. Has it been consistent? Has it been hit or miss? Has there been times where its just been too late to use? pointless in a sense?

2. What card would you replace Faithless Looting for? I like the idea, its almost cycling in a sense. Getting rid of a card to draw 2 and to discard 2. Either, ones you been holding onto or don't have a need for at the time. You're almost reducing the deck count by that card. Its a nice move.

3. I'm unsure about Entomb > Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker + Mausoleum Secrets + Reanimate . Yes the outcome is nice but I feel the process is too timely. If you have None of those, are you really going to tutor for each one? I like the original Buried Alive > Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker + Karmic Guide + Restoration Angel then BAM Reanimate . That just seems faster and quite simple. The other just seems more of a timely set up just to take advantage of a potential Combat Celebrant .

I could be wrong and definitely be overlooking something here though.

I very much so like the idea of using both Simian Spirit Guide and Dark Ritual . Simian Spirit Guide in a sense is reducing your deck count by 1 with the added bonus of a which also synergises with Mausoleum Secrets but then again, I also feel its one of those cards where it works perfect if you have it during the right time. As turns progress, is it really going to be beneficial or is it taking a slot of another more impactful card? I feel the same with Dark Ritual . What if Necropotence is already out way before you have Dark Ritual ? What slot is dark ritual taking away from? All great cards that work perfect at the right time. I'm probably over thinking it and making it more complicated then it needs to be.

The play is get to your stuff quick. Discard stuff you aren't using to draw what you need to. Every card should be impactful, should all do something to benefit the game/next move. Whether its having you discard to draw, tutor or whatever it may be. The last thing you want is to be stuck with a card where you're like "Ehh, I dont really need this anymore" or "now I cant use this" or "I wish I didnt have this in my hand" but that's why we play games, to test out cards to see if they make the cut or not.

I do like Hatred though. I would lean towards that route first over Combat Celebrant and do some test runs that way. Just because its quicker and doesn't take the time to set up as Combat Celebrant would need. Then if you aren't liking it for whatever reason then try out Combat Celebrant I also like the benefit of Faithless Looting . I like the idea behind Dark Ritual and Simian Spirit Guide I just like the benefit of Simian Spirit Guide reducing the deck count without the cost of life or mana to actually add mana. I haven't played the deck yet, but you have. You know the gameplay more with your deck. so certain things might seem more plausible to you rather than me.

Hey weezel,

Great discussion. Thanks!

Mausoleum Secrets usually just pulls me Reanimate . So far I've only had it once and not been able to tutor with it, so it does happen. It's still in testing, so far it's been ok. Without a sac outlet hard to guarantee a creature in the graveyard that early, honestly though, probably won't end up staying in the deck.

Probably replacing Mausoleum Secrets with Faithless Looting , maybe Stoneforge Mystic , not sure, always difficult.

Entomb doesn't have much synergy outside of Mausoleum Secrets , so yes would just be building around the Combat Celebrant its definitely not the way to go, as he's still a little slow. I figured he also helps when I have Restoration Angel in my hand, Buried Alive the Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker + Karmic Guide + Combat Celebrant . If Karmic Guide or Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker in my hand he doesn't work, only replaces Restoration Angel .

Simian Spirit Guide isn't quite as good as Street Wraith , he draws a card, where Simian Spirit Guide although good with Mausoleum Secrets , the isn't highly useful, doesn't draw a card so it's really just a mana. On Turn 5 probably a dead draw, unless a 2/2 is impactful for CMC3, like having a Diabolic Intent or something of that nature, Dark Ritual the is a bit more useful, but same issue, can be a dead draw later. T1 to T3 it's probably still good. Both of these increase the odds of a T1 win, but I always think they are too detrimental later like T4-T6.

spirit

Definitely! Hopefully I can get some games in this weekend, that way I can get a better understanding of how the deck preforms. Without playing, theres not much value I can add.

So I have to ask, Why the inclusion of Faithless Looting in the first place? Has card draw been an issue? Just looking for the benefit of a quick draw or are you looking to get things dumped into your graveyard?

If you're looking for draw throughout the game, the only other card I could think of would be Greed . Almost ends up costing the same as Faithless Looting . If its just quick draw you're after and you're contemplating on removing either Mausoleum Secrets or Stoneforge Mystic , if both really arent benefiting you then replace one with Faithless Looting and the other with Mishra's Bauble . Those are your two quick draws at low CMC but I dont know? Just a suggestion.

Hi weezel,

The key benefit of Faithless Looting is to be able to get a Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker or Karmic Guide or Restoration Angel out of your hand into the graveyard. Whenever I draw one of these guys in my hand, it makes my life miserable. I can't Buried Alive them, so Faithless Looting for CMC1 puts them into my graveyard where I can then Reanimate CMC1 . The other benefits, like cycling cards if you don't have an A/D/D with a Kaalia of the Vast is just an additional benefit, or helps with finding a mana so less T3 land drops missed, etc.

Mishra's Bauble , the reason Mishra's Bauble doesn't work properly, is that drawn on T5, for 2 Life, Street Wraith replaces itself (immediately), whereas, a T5 Mishra's Bauble I do nothing T5 and then get 2 cards on T6 which is probably too late because 2 other players went infinite on T5 themselves. Urza's Bauble is similar to Mishra's Bauble if you prefer that effect.

spirit

I kind of had a feeling it was to get some cards into the graveyard. Hmmm... Ever reconsidered Wheel of Fortune , I know it was mentioned before. Each has their pro's. I guess the favor would go to Faithless Looting for being able to quickly draw and dump two cards of your choice and then abusing flashback if needed; rather than discarding your whole hand.

Has there been any times where you're just "I dont need any of these in my hand" I guess that's where Wheel of Fortune comes in. Whichever route you go, keep us updated. Hopefully I can finally get some games in this weekend, get a better feel.

Hi weezel,

I would caution going down a Wheel of Fortune route. I've never played Wheel of Fortune specifically, but Dragon Mage I've tested. Sometimes, depending on the array of commanders your up against, when I finally get a Kaalia of the Vast resolved, and either Haste/Protected where opponents can't deal with her, I definitely don't want to put 7 cards in my hand, and then put 21 possible solutions for Kaalia of the Vast in others hands. Also, assuming I'm tutoring my win-con, Buried Alive , Reanimate , etc. the Wheel of Fortune becomes useless to me because I have no way to recover those cards (Except Yawgmoth's Will ) from the graveyard, and I've spent mana and life to get them into my hand. Giving your opponent the solution to controlling you mostly won't help you, some situations, sure, but mostly no.

If you build around the graveyard recursion, it would be viable, or go down a Liliana's Caress type structure where draw/discard costs players life, or you control their graveyards with Leyline of the Void type effects, I think they would be good, there's many of those, like Magus of the Wheel , Reforge the Soul , Wheel of Fate . If your looking to disrupt other players by making them discard their tutor results, your probably getting Force of Will on your Wheel of Fortune anyway.

So not enough synergy with it, definitely don't like reloading opponents hands and handing them a solution to whatever I'm doing, like here's 21 chances at a solution for Iona, Shield of Emeria you can't deal with, or solution for Avacyn, Angel of Hope , or solution for Kaalia of the Vast + Lightning Greaves for example.

Faithless Looting is better because you control the discard, keep the combo pieces, and gets combo pieces you've accidentally drawn into the graveyard. Yesterday I did cast Restoration Angel Flash, blocked an attacking Dark Confidant and then on my turn Buried Alive ( Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker , Karmic Guide , and Razaketh, the Foulblooded ) then Reanimate for the win. There was an Executioner's Capsule in play, but Breya, Etherium Shaper tapped out and couldn't activate, so took my shot.

What up spirit

Any new gameplays/ ideas you can report on? I seen you replaced Terminate with Faithless Looting I got around to playing the deck (Keeping in mind, I put Gamble inplace of Grim Tutor , Reya Dawnbringer inplace of Hellkite Tyrant and Faithless Looting inplace of Mausoleum Secrets )

I played a total of five games, two of which were 1 on 1's. The two that were 1 on 1's, both were won on turn Five, One on first main phase and the other on second main phase. The other three group games won on turn 8, 9 and 10 (Although I technically lost, we kept the game going to see when i'd win. The turn 8 and 9 loss was due to the player going infinite 1 turn before me. turn 10 win was a legit win, it was just one long controlling game)

The group games were a bit difficult, especially when you're against counter heavy/controlling decks. Found myself needing more card draw/tutoring. And that doesn't at all justify anything yet. I still need more gameplay.

I did miss some land drops in two out of those three group games. A turn 5 land drop in one game and a turn 5 and 6 in another game. I think I'm going to keep Gamble and if I can find Grim Tutor for a decent price, add that in as well. Was going to add in cruel tutor over Grim Tutor but tutoring straight to the hand is more beneficial than to the top of the deck. I'm also going to put back in Mausoleum Secrets as I always found myself needing either Reanimate or Animate Dead .

I'm also contemplating on replacing Orzhov Signet with Orzhov Cluestone , Mardu Banner or a simple yet affective Commander's Sphere just to take advantage of that card draw if needed. All in the air, I definitely do not have enough game time with the deck yet but I will say one thing, its very fun to play!

Hey weezel,

Very cool. Did you win any of the games? Wasn't sure if you mean you won on turn 5 in the 1v1's or if the game was won. If you were going for it on T5, and winning, that's pretty good.

Depending on the Commanders in the pod, Breya, Etherium Shaper for example, Hellkite Tyrant can be quite useful (remember he has Trample to get around the Thopter army). Reya Dawnbringer is too slow, if you want the recursion, go with Adarkar Valkyrie can be responsive (protecting whats getting controlled), and has combos:

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

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

Reya Dawnbringer doesn't trigger properly and just puts your threat assessment higher when trying to combo. Maybe with a Rune-Scarred Demon and a Goblin Bombardment she would be ok, but I would probably still go with the Adarkar Valkyrie to protect Kaalia of the Vast .

Will take a while to learn how to play too, Master of Cruelties can be a powerful ally, with Instant tutor Tainted Pact . Remember, Master of Cruelties puts their life to 1 in the "declare blockers" step, and Kaalia of the Vast hits them for 2 damage eliminating the player, usually remove the highest threat or faster commander first.

Gamble is great, CMC1 tutor. I just worry on T5 it's not going to be helpful because Mardu doesn't draw well enough, so the probability of discarding the card you Tutor is very high. On T1 or T2 it's great, plus its , which if you play Badlands T1 is fine, but usually I try and build first. Still a great substitute card! Very playable in any version.

Multi-Player commander, the best commanders only win 50% of the time. Usually how it goes, is 1 person goes for it, gets Force of Will or Pact of Negation , then the next goes, same, then finally someone goes. Usually, if I have it, I go for it, figure I'll win more often that way than lose.

If your going to play Mardu , play to it's strengths, avoid putting in high CMC tools to make it into .

Orzhov Signet = + = CMC - = Total Cost , can be played off a Mana Crypt or Sol Ring as well.

Orzhov Cluestone = - or = Total Cost . Can't easily be played off other rocks, and doesn't convert colorless into colored mana either which Kaalia of the Vast needs. CMC to draw 1 card, and sacrifice your mana source is bad business, too situational, and slows you down in the 80% rule, ignore the 20%, like T5 when it can draw you a card for CMC!!! Yikes.

Mardu Banner is even worse!!! See Orzhov Cluestone and make it draw you a card for CMC, very bad business.

Commander's Sphere is borderline playable, because:

CMC - = Total Cost then Sacrifice to draw (No additional cost or required). If you think a slower rock is needed, Commander's Sphere is the only playable one of those listed, don't do that please!

Just have to accept that your never going to have good draw, choose a commander with is the best, if that's what you want, then you are just going to Show and Tell a lot. Commander usually ends where everyone is about the same T3-T5. Often if your the first to try, you get countered, Sometimes you get lucky and a Kess, Dissident Mage tries to Show and Tell an Omniscience and you successfully get it with a free cast Angel of Despair and they can't Enter the Infinite to get the Force of Will to hand, and hopefully they were tutoring their win-con and can't stop you when you go!

I usually attack the control player Serra Ascendant is always awesome T1, it puts them on a timer, like 4 turns or so, and sometimes it disrupts their tutoring, pulling Slaughter Pact / Toxic Deluge or like trying to overload a Cyclonic Rift instead of going for it themselves in some cases, thats a win for me, even if I don't win. Unless there are unbalanced decks in the pod, by T5-T6 everyone should be ready to go, or 1-2 turns from going anyway, just who successfully do it. Sometimes I strategically wait till someone tries to win and gets countered, but I play aggressive, I usually just go for it asap lol. If I can combo T2, usually people have been playing mana sources and don't have the mana to commit to a Counterspell of any kind. I did get Pact of Negation on turn 2 and the player had no way to pay the cost and was eliminated lol, luckily that game I had a Yawgmoth's Will and went the next turn, oh, remember with Yawgmoth's Will , it's CMC - play a fetch land from your graveyard = CMC. Always remember to play that land from the graveyard!

Never did you have the mana or need the Reveillark I bet in any of the games? Also, the Whip of Erebos is a little slow for recursion, but it can be impactul in longer control games.

Grim Tutor is pricy, just because of the set printed in which sucks, needs a Judge Foil reprint.

I usually try and hit the control player with a Rakdos the Defiler as well, it really slows them down, or they have to control Rakdos the Defiler and then usually can't control when you go for the win. Give it time, will take you a bit to figure out your tutor progression. A Lightning Greaves scares people, and a Razaketh, the Foulblooded is almost always a win (unless you cast the Kaalia of the Vast that turn with Haste, then I usually drop in Ob Nixilis, Unshackled first, stops tutoring for lands, tutoring for win-con's etc, or if they do, puts them close enough to kill with damage!). Be aggressive with Doom Whisperer try to Surveil win with it, sometimes it doesn't work, sometimes it hits! All you need is the Buried Alive or Reanimate depending on the situation. One time I didn't have enough life to win with Razaketh, the Foulblooded so I tutored Whip of Erebos then attacked with Razaketh, the Foulblooded and then won after.

Oh also, Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker + Restoration Angel obviously can attack and win, but sometimes, Post-Combat Main Phase, I just tutor Goblin Bombardment and sacrifice all the angels to win (instead of from attacking damage).

Anything you found ineffective? I wouldn't worry about T5-T6 land drops, hopefully you have a mana rock, so casting Kaalia of the Vast with Lightning Greaves for CMC should still be possible. If she CMC, then the game going very long, and others just killing instead of tutoring/going for the win.

If you win, 40%-50% of 4-player pod games you have a strong deck. Theres a link to some statistical spreadsheets in this article Pursuit of Knowledge - Intro, The word data is the hyperlink, other than Adun Oakenshield (for some unknown reason to me), the best commanders only win like 50% even if they are $7,000 vs $350 opponents.

spirit

Oh let me clarify, the two 1 on 1 games I did win. Same win both times on T5 with Buried Alive > Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker + Karmic Guide + Restoration Angel | Reanimate

The group play with the T10 win, I wasn't drawing anything. No tutors, no card draw. It was just almost pure mana every time with a couple removals and a couple A/D/D. So was mainly attacking with Kaalia of the Vast . During This game play, I had drawn into a Restoration Angel and a Reveillark before my tutors. I think it was either on T8 or T9 when I had put them both onto the field. T10 I drew into a Buried Alive > Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker + Karmic Guide + Razaketh, the Foulblooded , Then I targeted Reveillark with my own Terminate to bring Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker and Karmic Guide back onto the battlefield and since Restoration Angel was already on the field, game finally ended.

So to answer your question, Yes I did use Reveillark

Also now that you mention using a fetch land out of the graveyard with Yawgmoth's Will , I would have won the game that I lost (but played until I won on T8, thinking back it was now T7) I Would have went infinite on T5. It had never dawned to me to use a fetch out of the graveyard. That was one of the games where I missed my T5 and T6 drop(other player went infinite on T7 and I finally did on T8, or technically I guess the end of T7, confusing it with T8) and needed only One more Mana to win, with a Yawgmoth's Will in my hand the whole time.

You live and you learn. That's the thing about playing with new set ups, just have to get used to them. At least now I know for next time.

But it's definitely going to take me quite a few game plays to get used to the deck and how it works, exactly what you mentioned. That much I understand; it's not going to be a perfect game every time. I'm sure i'll have misplays.

I'm on the fence about Whip of Erebos , I like the idea of having both life link and recursion part but I feel like Necromancy might work quicker. I cannot remember which game play I was in where I had a card, forgot which one, it was either Whip of Erebos or Yawgmoth's Will and I was telling myself "I wish this was Necromancy " (my Animate Dead was countered so I drew into one of those cards and was thinking to myself what other recursion card was there that could be cheaper than those)

I know i'm not answering in the order you asked but the reason I played Reya Dawnbringer in place of Hellkite Tyrant was because I didn't have it, which I thought I did.

I only played five games, so it's hard for me to answer about anything being ineffective. I'll need some more game play to give you a legitimate report. The only thing I came across was the whole maybe having Necromancy in play over Whip of Erebos . That's about it for now.

since I don't have Hellkite Tyrant , I might throw in Combat Celebrant in the meantime and see if I could take advantage of that. Don't know if i'll play with Entomb , not sure what card i'd replace it for. I like the target removals that are/were in it, I don't think i'll be removing any of those as of now. During one of the games, one of the pods did have Breya, Etherium Shaper and those removals were coming in hand.

Awesome weezel,

Sounds like it went well. Must have been Whip of Erebos in your hand because Yawgmoth's Will you just cast for CMC3, play a fetch land, fetch a and Reanimate or in your case Animate Dead (unless it was counter/exiled with something like Dissipate .

Oh another thing I'll mention, with Animate Dead it still works correctly, but the triggers/timing is important because the Karmic Guide is Protection: Black, the Animate Dead can still target it in the graveyard, but once it becomes an Aura, the Pro: Black removes it, with that on the stack (which inevitably kills the Karmic Guide ), stack the Animate Dead LTB first, then the Karmic Guide ETB, resolve the ETB, and then respond with the Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker activated ability, then resolve the Copy Karmic Guide ETB to return the Restoration Angel , then the Restoration Angel ETB to flicker the Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker then you can finally let the Animate Dead LTB resolve making you sacrifice the Karmic Guide . You'll have the exact same process with a Necromancy .

With Reveillark you can always pay the Evoke cost, which is a little higher I know, but it sacrifices itself, to trigger its LTB to return the Karmic Guide + Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker .

I always think about Entomb it's just wrong for this build. I didn't end of liking Teferi's Protection , it really needs Split Second, but it can be a fill in, it's not terrible, it can stop board wipe / control / sorcery speed combos / lethal / infect.

Let me know if you have any other insights.

spirit

What up man, anything new to report?

I just wanted to give an update. So after playing maybe a total of 20 games without the following cards: Hellkite Tyrant and Grim Tutor . I can say the deck is averaging T5 wins. Sometimes T3,T4 and T6 but generally, the average is T5.

Gamble Surprisingly, has been working in my favor with tutoring, each time. This has been the most played tutor out of the bunch.

Combat Celebrant has been put inplace of Hellkite Tyrant but I still havent been able to abuse Combat Celebrant yet. I was going to add in Hatred in its place but at least for me, during my gameplays I wouldn't have enough life to knock someone out with it. Plus I feel its similar to Master of Cruelties + Kaalia of the Vast combo.

So now my thoughts are adding another win con. Is it a good idea? I dont know but since I haven't filled the gap of Hellkite Tyrant , it leads me to explore some options.

I'm thinking of adding in Felidar Guardian inplace of Combat Celebrant which takes the original place of Hellkite Tyrant and taking out either Steelshaper's Gift or Stoneforge Mystic for Altar of the Brood

So it'll be Restoration Angel + Felidar Guardian + Altar of the Brood = Infinite mill

You can still: Buried Alive | Karmic Guide + Restoration Angel + Felidar Guardian

Reanimate on Karmic Guide > Felidar Guardian > Restoration Angel then back and forth flickering between the two, all while Altar of the Brood is on the board

It's just an idea, a suggestion, another way to win but I don't know. What are your thought's about it, like I said, just trying to come up with other ideas. Hell, in the end I might just throw in Hellkite Tyrant and be done. Who knows.

Hi weezel,

Unfortunately haven't been able to play much this past couple weeks outside of my budget commander league (under $50).

Turn 5 seems about right, here's some of the goldfishing stats:

05/02/17 | Avg. Turn 5.7

10/03/17 | Avg. Turn 5.0

01/25/19 | Avg. Turn 5.7 | Combo 40% | Synergy 20% | Damage 40%

02/01/19 | Avg. Turn 5.0 | Combo 50% | Synergy 20% | Damage 30%

Turn 1 is definitely not as frequent as I would like, but the cards to make Turn 1 more consistent make T2-5 less consistent in most cases. Dark Ritual is one that's pretty good all purpose and a T1 enabler if you want to improve your average.

I'm going to put Gamble back in, probably taking out Terminate but going to do a full evaluation.

Hatred + Baneslayer Angel or Gisela, Blade of Goldnight or Gisela, the Broken Blade or Lyra Dawnbringer or Serra Ascendant all work good.

Gisela, Blade of Goldnight doubles the benefit, and Kaalia of the Vast only needs 19 life to be lethal with Commander damage.

Any lifelink can swing for the fences, except Serra Ascendant he's not that effective because he loses the +5 but still doesn't matter because he lifelinks.

I picked up a Hatred last weekend, going to try it and will let you know. I really dislike it's CMC5, feels too slow.

Felidar Guardian is just another Restoration Angel and putting in Altar of the Brood just for one particular interaction (no other benefits), isn't a good process. I would just tutor the Restoration Angel + Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker . Altar of the Brood could replace the Goblin Bombardment if you wanted to test this interaction, works the same way basically.

Hellkite Tyrant is amazing, steals mana rocks, kills Breya, Etherium Shaper , etc.

Combat Celebrant I feel has ok synergy with Kaalia of the Vast , but I usually don't have that many A/D/D to drop in anyway. Wouldn't tutor him over the primary either. Why I like him is the CMC3. Worldgorger Dragon is another possibility for win-con, but takes some balls and a Piranha Marsh (Or Altar of the Brood !)

I'll let you know when I have some evaluation on Combat Celebrant or Hatred .

looks like most of this chat is between weezel and Spirits, however i would like to put my 2 cents in... Running Gisela and not Bruna IS blasphemy, shame on you. Great build otherwise though ;D

Hi LordKunai,

Thanks for the comment! Bruna, the Fading Light puts the suck in suck.

Brisela, Voice of Nightmares is awesome...

But Bruna, the Fading Light is SO BAD it ruins it.

• Triggered ability doesn't work with Kaalia of the Vast , must be "cast"

• CMC7 () is underwhelming for a 5/7 Flying, Vigilance

• Too slow for cEDH

• Gisela, the Broken Blade should be In-Play or In-Graveyard

• Delayed triggered ability leaves both Gisela, the Broken Blade and Bruna, the Fading Light unprotected until end step

• When you finally have a Brisela, Voice of Nightmares it's already opponents turn

• Brisela, Voice of Nightmares doesn't win you the game

• Brisela, Voice of Nightmares doesn't have Trample, Hexproof (somewhat protected from CMC3 spells), or Indestructible

Several games I found Bruna, the Fading Light was functionally useless for me in almost all circumstances.

I found I don't need Brisela, Voice of Nightmares to win, but I've found I hate a Bruna, the Fading Light lol.

Haha Spirits, I was TOTALLY kidding. it makes perfect sense. Just feel bad for the sisters hahaha. honestly couldnt you just get rid of Gisela, the Broken Blade too and put in one of your sideboard options? i mean 4/3 flying, first strike, lifelink for 4cmc IS decent but. i feel like there could be something more versatile in its place right?

Hey LordKunai,

He's definitely on the cusp, I spend life like it's mana, so it's comfortable having some lifegain. Definitely Baneslayer Angel is getting close to cut as well. We'll see what new A/D/D come with War.

I found 22 A/D/D the buoyancy level, less than that, a high % of time you connect with a Kaalia of the Vast attack with nothing to play for free.

I could make good arguments for: Archangel Avacyn  ^Flip shouldn't strike herself, Lord of the Void needs trample, Steel Hellkite .

It's a balance, trying to get better consistency on Win-Con below turn 5, it's been a tough barrier to break though.

weezel been a great help playtesting some of the cards, since I haven't had too much time lately outside my Budget commander league 2x a week to play.

Damnation I need more indestructible (like Archangel Avacyn  ^Flip), Teferi's Protection needs Split second or to be . I'm probably replacing Terminate with Gamble , and I've picked up a Hatred to try, but then I need MORE Lifelink. Hatred + Lifelink creature is Superstar, so he won't come out if Hatred is in.

Assumed you were kidding LordKunai, poor Bruna, the Fading Light , if only they had given her an ETB!

Might try an alternate combo piece instead of Reveillark like a Combat Celebrant but not sure. Hoping some cool new Dragons come out with Nicol Bolas, Dragon-God coming out.

Spirits, Well... her light IS "fading" after all xD Honestly love your deck build, just wondering how frequently has the life-spending got you into trouble in your playtesting?

Hey LordKunai,

Life is rarely a concern, one game I didn't have enough life to Razaketh, the Foulblooded the necessary mana sources + Goblin Bombardment (Post-Combat engagement so couldn't attack with the Infinite Restoration Angel that turn). I did end up recovering on the next turn anyway, by pulling (at the time), Whip of Erebos and then Lifelinking a Razaketh, the Foulblooded swing giving the life needed to tutor the win.

I did have one game with a failed Doom Whisperer Surveil, usually he just Surveil's into the win, but that one time he really screwed me. Lost that game to an Infinite win-con anyway, so he didn't lose me the game, just didn't win me the game.

Other than that, it's rarely been a problem, one time I didn't want to Anguished Unmaking when I normally would have, but again, didn't cost me the game.

It's really Turn 5 steady, sometimes Turn 1-3, sometimes 7-8, but averages out in that 4-6 range consistency. weezel has been consistency running around there too, gave him some tips on supercharging some plays that he may not of thought of that I learned through play experience, so hoping he can improve his stats. I really want this deck to be consistent Turn 4.5 (not 5), that is my goal. That said, I'm not willing to sacrifice everything to have a higher % of Turn 1. Let's say I'm 6% (ish) for Turn 1 now, not going to throw away Turn 6 wins, to go to an 8% Turn 1, need some balance.

It's fun deck, who doesn't like big A/D/D. Much more fun in my opinion than a The Gitrog Monster for example.

so as you could probably tell Spirits I have a Kaalia of the Vast deck as well and was wondering what suggestions you may have considering I don't have, nor can i afford to drop the money on, some of the high priced mana rocks. With that in mind, what suggestions would you have for me? should I run signets or something else? also, should I plan for a longer game by subbing out some of your faster win-cons for more later game stuff? or should I keep it mostly the same? God I wish I had pulled a Mana Crypt from my Eternal masters box... Pulled some other great cards like a foil Wasteland , Force of Will , and a Sneak Attack (amongst other things). OH well :)

Yo i am a Kaalia player as well. My deck is also combo, but i dipped down heavy on cmc and and focused more on light stax and razaketh lines. I was using kiki at one point but ultimately I felt i was running myself thin with too many wincons. I love your deck, why not run Torch Courier and Generator Servant over Swiftfoot?

Hi Sir_Flash,

In Mardu () it's easier to Tutor (and lower CMC) for Artifacts like Lightning Greaves than creatures. Steelshaper's Gift & Stoneforge Mystic . Also Swiftfoot Boots & Lightning Greaves both provide Hexproof (Shroud) which also helps, and they are recursive (Equipments), whereas Torch Courier and Generator Servant are one time (Although Generator Servant also ramps, but Kaalia of the Vast only has not anyway).

Imperial Recruiter is about the only way to tutor them successfully, and it's CMC3.

Creatures also a little easier (generally) to remove than artifacts too.