Kalitas and His Dead Friends (Post Rotation)

Standard* Shockwave115

SCORE: 12 | 44 COMMENTS | 5160 VIEWS | IN 5 FOLDERS


Awenna says... #1

Might be too slow against aggro. They'll burn most of their cards before your deck kicks in and don't care of occasional discards. The deck does have a nice amount of removal which'll help, but I'd consider throwing something wall-like in.

January 17, 2016 11:21 a.m.

Shockwave115 says... #2

Thanks for the advice Awenna! I'll definitely look for a way to address that issue.

January 17, 2016 11:34 a.m.

ZBRMusic says... #3

Why no Duress?

January 20, 2016 1:16 p.m.

ZBRMusic says... #4

Also, I think Witness the End is too slow. Maybe consider changing it for Mind Rot? You will not get the life loss, but in a deck like this, your primary concern should be emptying your opponent's hand.

January 20, 2016 1:19 p.m.

Shockwave115 says... #5

Thanks ZBRMusic! I think swapping in Mind Rot is a great idea. I like Duress a lot but I just don't know what I should replace.

January 20, 2016 3:09 p.m.

ZBRMusic says... #6

Perhaps over Unnatural Endurance and/or go down 1 or 2 Transgress the Mind?

January 20, 2016 4:15 p.m.

Massivel says... #7

Graveblade Marauder wont work well in this rotation, cause alot of players are using delve cards and they will empty out their graveyards, plus Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet wont let you get many creatures into his graveyard if he is in play

January 21, 2016 7:26 p.m.

Shockwave115 says... #8

Not really sure what you mean Massivel. Graveblade Marauder does extra combat damage to my opponent based on creatures in my graveyard, and while I do have two Empty the Pits I still feel like its worth using as a blocker if nothing else. The addition of new delve cards just makes Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet even more useful since they won't have as many cards in their graveyard to exile.

January 21, 2016 9:13 p.m.

ZBRMusic says... #9

Also, remember that Kalitas says "an opponent controls" which will reduce their chances of using delve optimally. Considering his exiling ability, maybe you could run a set of Wasteland Strangler for additional removal? The two of them have a nice little synergy going.

January 22, 2016 7:50 a.m.

ZBRMusic says... #10

Here's a few more suggestions :)

-2 Transgress the Mind

-1 Empty the Pits

+2 Murderous Cut

+1 Duress

January 22, 2016 7:53 a.m.

AzureMage says... #11

Mortuary Mire could create some effective trades:

  • Play Fleshbag Marauder, you sac a value creature (Carrier Thrall, Shambling Goblin), your opponent sacs X. You can then block with the Marauder and play it again next turn via the Mire for extra value
  • Play Marauder while you have Carrier Thrall and Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet, you sac Carrier and get a Scion token, your opponent sacs X and you get a 2/2 Zombie, play Mire to put Carrier back on top of your deck, play him again next turn and sac to pump Kalitas and get another Scion token
  • Opponent swings, you block a creature with Kalitas, they both die, you gain life, then play Mire so you can play Kalitas again next turn

And I agree with ZBRMusic on the Murderous Cut suggestion, it's 2gud.

January 22, 2016 8:38 p.m.

AzureMage says... #12

Languish is a nice boardwipe for a lot of Abzan/Ally decks, too. Works well with Kalitas after you pump him once.

January 22, 2016 8:42 p.m.

Shockwave115 says... #13

Thanks for the feedback ZBRMusic and AzureMage, I really do appreciate it! As of now I've added in 2 Murderous Cut and 2 Mortuary Mire. I like the idea of using Languish in this deck a lot, but I feel like I have enough removal already and I'm not sure what I would take out to use it. I suppose I could swap out 2 Grasp of Darkness but what do you guys think?

January 23, 2016 10:01 a.m.

AzureMage says... #14

Grasp is too good to take out, it's 2CMC that can kill anything that isn't a Defender on turn 2. Maybe drop Empty the Pits down to 1 and add 1 Languish, since you have 2 Dark Petition that can search for whatever you need mid to late game.

I think this deck could use some draw spells. I'd consider cards like Altar's Reap, Demonic Pact, and Dark Deal.

January 23, 2016 11:36 a.m.

Shockwave115 says... #15

I like the idea of swapping an Empty the Pits with a Languish so I'll do that now. I actually have thought about adding Dark Deal myself but right now I'm just not sure what I'd be willing to drop for it. I think my main concern now should be play testing the deck and going from there.

January 23, 2016 11:55 a.m.

Shockwave115 says... #16

Never mind, dropped the 2 Mind Rot for 2 Dark Deal. Thanks again AzureMage!

January 23, 2016 1:21 p.m.

AzureMage says... #17

No problem! I really like decks like these, so I'm glad I could be of some use. I might put it together in MTGO and test it out myself!

January 23, 2016 2:31 p.m.

WavingAtFat says... #18

Add a Sideboard of more hand Disruption just in case You meet Control, and all Your Removal becomes useless. Also, consider Wasteland Strangler

January 24, 2016 5:53 p.m.

AzureMage says... #19

Wasteland Strangler works well with Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet and Transgress the Mind, too.

This is one of those times where you really have to adapt to your local meta. Transgress and Kalitas work well against Abzan Company and Four-Color Rally, where Transgress gets rid of Collected Company and Kalitas exiles everything so they can't use Rally the Ancestors.

January 24, 2016 8:31 p.m.

deadgroove says... #20

Feel like Bloodsoaked Champion is a superior choice to Shambling Goblin

January 24, 2016 8:32 p.m.

AzureMage says... #21

January 24, 2016 9:17 p.m.

Shockwave115 says... #22

So far I've really enjoyed this deck and I can't tell you guys enough how much I appreciate the feedback! I wouldn't mind working on a general sideboard now but I've never actually played at an FNM so I'm not really sure where to take it since I don't know my local meta. I've also been considering splashing in some white for Sorin, Solemn Visitor. General opinions and ideas?

January 25, 2016 2:36 p.m.

AzureMage says... #23

You could wait for OGW to come out on MTGO and play online. The deck is less than 10 Tix without Kalitas, I can't imagine it being much more than 10 with him in.

And I think splashing for Sorin is a great idea. With all the value you get out of your creatures dying, throwing Lifelink onto them just makes them that much better. And Sorin can spit out vampires to sac with Kalitas, and his Emblem really helps against creature-based decks that aren't Four-Color Rally. 4 of Caves of Koilos or Shambling Vent would be enough white sources if you're only putting in Sorin, I think.

January 25, 2016 4:14 p.m.

Shockwave115 says... #24

Thanks AzureMage! I'll leave the deck as is just until I get around to ordering Sorin and the lands.

January 27, 2016 2:57 p.m.

AzureMage says... #25

No problem. Again, I love these kinds of decks that are budget but effective. I just hope Kalitas isn't too expensive when OGW goes live on MTGO. I really want to put this together.

January 27, 2016 7:37 p.m.

Please login to comment