i dont see kiki jiki on the creature list

Sorry, I just did an update and haven't gotten around to updating the description yet. Ultimately, I decided to cut Kiki because it tended to be a dead card (and difficult to cast with the triple R if I am not getting it off of a birthing pod effect). With the removal of Kiki, I also decided it wasn't worth running Tooth and Nail anymore. Thanks for commenting!

Wow i love this deck! I'm returning to MTG after a number of years and i've been looking for a commander to build around for the last few weeks - I think this is something for me. I like the idea of using pod and vannifar to build this deck around. Im thinking of including Protean Hulk for a Ezuri, Claw of Progress and Sage of Hours infinite turn combo, using Yasova's ability to steal creatures to sac with Vannifar/pod! Do you have any suggestions? thanks

Hey! Thanks for the feedback; I'm glad to hear that the deck may have inspired you! I'm playtesting some changes that involve swapping out Vannifar for Helm of Possession, but I haven't gotten any games in yet to test that change. This is only because I'm currently trying out a more value-oriented build. That is a really neat combo! I think it could work here. I did have more of a focus on Birthing Pod/Vannifar combos in my list at one point, which included Kiki-Jiki to combo with Zealous Conscripts. If you want to focus on pod/vannifar, I'd consider running more creature tutors to increase consistency with finding Vannifar/other creatures in the pod chains. Stuff like Green Sun's Zenith, Eldritch Evolution, Natural Order, Tooth and Nail, Fauna Shaman. You could even throw in Neoform, which you could use to sac Yasova herself to get Vannifar, or to get 2 pod effects in 1 turn. I'm not sure of a great way to get 5 xp counters at once with Ezuri... maybe Feed the Pack? It is slow at 6 cmc though, and the timing of the end step to get the tokens doesn't work as nicely with the combat step timing of Ezuri. Spawning Pit would be decent, if you can get some counters on it to instantly spit out tokens for xp counters.

What power level are you looking to play at? Depending on how many cards you want to swap out for the combo, I'd look at cutting some of the generic value cards like Mind's Dilation, Etali, Stolen Strategy, and maybe even things like Insurrection and Mob Rule. I don't have experience with building this as a dedicated combo deck, so this is just my first gut reaction. Also, if you really like the idea of builing around Vannifar, you could just build Vannifar as the commander as well. Also, I couldn't find room in my list for them yet, but you could also use stuff like Bazaar Trader, Conjurer's Closet, and Thassa, Deep-Dwelling to permanently keep the creatures you steal.

Hello, thanks for the response and suggestions. I tried to build around Vannifar as a commander but after playtesting online I found that her playstyle is wayyy to linear for me. I'm looking to have a deck that can win with a combo, but not too fast, and I'm looking for something to deviate to in a game if the combo is no longer an option. Yasova is perfect for this because it allows me to put Vannifar in the list but also use Yasova's ability to steal opponents creatures as a possible way to win if the combo fails.

Regarding the Ezuri + Sage of Hours combo, I agree it's hard to get those 5 XP counters and the combat step timing with Ezuri is awkward like you mentioned, so I probably won't include it in my list. I'm constructing a list right now that wants to win with a Kiki-Jiki combo, and has a stax package included with stuff like Blood Moon and Ruric Thar, the Unbowed. Also, thank you for the Thassa and Neoform recommendations, I will definitely include them!

I'm curious as to why you moved away from the kiki jiki zealous conscript combo. Was it boring to play? Did it work out well?

Anyway, thanks for reading and I hope you have a pleasant day!

Yeah, I think if you are looking for a compact combo to include in Yasova, kiki-jiki is your best option. Zealous conscripts is good enough in the deck that it isn't totally a dead card without Kiki, and Kiki can occassionally generate value on his own.

As to why I moved away from the Kiki combo, it was mostly because I felt like I was becoming too linear by focusing on it a bit too much. I wanted to experiment a bit and branch out to see how a value-oriented build would play out. However, it did work out well, and I would recommend running Glen Elendra Archmage in a Kiki combo list. With either pod or Vannifar, you can sac a 3 cmc creature (even Yasova herself) to get glen elendra. Now the archmage can act as a deterrent, and provide 2 counterspells worth of protection if you need it. However, if you don't need to counter anything (so her persist is still active), then you can sac the archmage to pod, get conscripts, untap the pod, and then sac the archmage again (which came back from persist) to get Kiki. It was very effective, especially considering how Yasova herself can be used to reliably get archmage (or any 4 cmc creature) with a pod effect.