Preface: After a long (almost 18 years) gap of not playing MTG I was brought back by a new group of friends who played. Returning I was immediately drawn to commander. The singleton idea and the multiplayer aspects were a major draw for me. Like most I started with a pre-constructed licensed deck. Mizzix of the Izmagus was the immediate stand out. After several sessions playing him and learning all the new descriptions I began to upgrade the deck. I now have created this deck from the ground up; my first complete build. After several weeks of looking at generals and other decks, I came across Kaalia and immediately knew this would be the deck I built. She was a complete change from my other deck and was a more aggressive creature deck with less instants and sorceries. I researched Kaalia and came across several maxed out vicious decks that had all been built for all out aggression dropping big creatures as fast as possible. I knew I wanted something different. I wanted the options to go all out aggression while still having some solid defenses and control options. I pulled several cards from the older cards I still had access to and began building a deck on pencil and paper. What I am currently at is what I call The Balance Deck. I am still fine tuning the offense and defense of the deck so I am very open to suggestions. **
Deck Theory:** My typical play consist of either a head to head match with my wifes Animar deck or 4-6 player group play. I have built the deck for a nice balance of aggression and all out attack with an option to throw up defenses and deter attackers. Having never built a deck it several builds on paper and test runs on Tapped out before I felt more comfortable and began purchasing cards. Currently I have a large pool of creatures and defensive options, some card draw options, wrath effects, spot removal, and a variety of enhancements that will either provide defense or offense. The overall efficiency of the deck probably takes a hit from the variety but I find it to be a more enjoyable deck for both myself and my play group.
**Land/Mana Base:
**I had absolutely no Idea where to start a mana base for a three colored deck so I turned to the internet. There I found the awesome Tolarian Community college videos on Youtube. My mana base is completely based on his suggestions and usually selects the more budget friendly options. There were several more expensive lands that I already owned after pulling everything out of storage and organizing. The two Darksteel fetchlands included. So far there has been maybe one match where I have struggled to have lands to play but I attributed it to poor shuffling. My mana rocks have also been efficient. Darksteel ingot, manalith, and all the applicable signets, Orzhov, Rakdos, and Boros. So far I dont see many upgrades to my mana base coming outside of potentially finding an Arid Mesa to replace my panorama fetch land. Favorite cards from my lands would be: Smoldering Marsh, Godless Shrine, Sacred Foundry, Nykthos Shrine to Nyx and all time favorite, Maze of Ith.
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Creatures
**: Creatures was probably the hardest area for me to decide on. I started with a list that include 12 - 15 of each type of Demon, Angel, and Dragon. From there I knew I needed to start weeding them out to a reasonable number for the deck. I worked the list down to 10 of each type and was still unsatisfied with the balance of creatures to the rest of the deck. After multiple test I have come down to my current set that seems to work.
Dragons- Dragons were the first set to be cut down. Keeping only three total in the deck. Steel Hellkite, Tyrants Familiar, and Hellkite Tyrant. I decided to keep these three mainly because I liked the abilities they brought to the deck. Steel Hellkite and Tyrants Familiar provide spot removal when attacking and Hellkite Tyrant provides an alternate win condition and a surprise turn of the tables when all artifacts of an opponent get stolen. I still have a few set aside for the deck should I ever decide to rotate them back in.
Angels- Angels have provided a lot of protection, utility, and aggressive options for the deck. Angelic Arbiter is probably the most hated card I have in my deck. My play group is very impatient and as soon as their turns roll around they start casting spells before they remember it will exclude them from attacking. Archangel of Tithes is a sleeper if I am reading her correctly and interpreting it right. I wait for an opponent that is tapped out on mana and swing into attack dropping Tithes onto the field. Her ability says attacking which matches how Kaalia puts them into play. Even if the defender had flying creatures they have no mana to pay the toll for blockers. Aurelia, the Warleader is a nice inclusion even if her ability wont trigger the turn Kaalia brings her into play. The turn afterwards though she gives Kaalia the opportunity to drop to creatures on to the field. Gisela, Blade of Goldnight provides the two sided bonus of encouraging combat between others and less attacks toward myself. Reya Dawnbringer is my main source of graveyard recursion in the deck. I know this is an area that the deck suffers in and it will be the main area of improvement as I go forward. Exquisite Archangel and Resolute Archangel both have a similar function which is pretty straightforward. They get me out of a tight spot when I need them too. Resolute Archangel has a nice combo with Conjurers closet and just bounces out and back in at the end of a turn. When she enters go back to starting health. Avacyn, the Angel of Hope was the last addition to the deck due to price but was a gift so she quickly found a spot. Tariel, Reckoner of Souls is a fun card in the right situations and will get a creature from someone elses graveyard but he is currently on the fence of being replaced.
Demons- Demons quickly became my favorite group of creatures and i debated including only demons at one point but thought the deck played out overly aggressive. Archfiend of Depravity another hated card within my play group. I usually will hold it back until its going to be safe for a turn and clean up the board after entering. He draws a lot of hate from this but I feel it is worth it. Indulgent Tormentor and Bloodgift Demon are card draw and warm bodies on the floor. They become easy targets but having them out 2-3 turns helps fill a hand.Overseer of the Damned is a solid token generator especially if he is out and a board wipe goes off. Everyone board gets cleared and I throw out zombies for every dead creature. He is another decent combo with Conjurers Closet. Ob Nixilis, Unshackled because everyone loves being punished for searching their libraries, right?Harvester of Souls is one that I am still on the fence out currently. He is a decent card draw at times but at others he mostly sits as a deathtouch defender that will be blocking. Lord of the Void is a fun card that can pay off big especially if he can get several hits in.Rune-Scarred Demon is my favorite combo to run with Conjurers Closet. Every end step go search your library for a card that you will need the next turn. Short on creatures grab a creature. Need a enchantment go get it. Strionic Resonator only doubles the fun. Master of Cruelties is the one hit combo from the deck. If he is successful it's awesome, if not I have a first strike deathtouch defender the rest of the game. Demon of Wailing Agonies I am still on the fence about currently. Lieutenant is a decent ability and can help control the opponent's creature population but will probably be replaced soon.
Other Creatures:Queen Marchesa is the only card that we have in the play group to add the monarch option. Plus running the colors she was a fun include. Odric, Lunarch Marshal has turned out to be a very fun creature. With all the abilities the various creatures have its nice to share. Sorin, Grim Nemesis card draw, targeted removal, and crazy number of tokens = fun times.
Non-mana Artifacts: This is another area where I have probably gone way overboard but I enjoy most of the cards I have in. Sword of Light and Shadow/Sword of Fire and Ice are both usually in the deck or at least one of them. Sharing the other with my wifes Animar deck though. Conjurers Closet has become my hands down favorite card in the deck. It combos with so many different cards I knew it had to be included. Even if it is once a turn it can still change the tide.
Darksteel Plate/Lightning Greaves/Swiftfoot Boots/Whispersilk Cloak is protection, protection, protection. Whispersilk on a Master of Cruelties has not happened yet, but its on the list.Worldslayer is in the deck only so that some day Avacyn can wield it and swing in for damage. Defense Grid this was the first card that I came across when I started building the defense side of the deck. It does hinder me but I use very little disruption. Potentially trading for a Grand Abolisher on my side board but unsure. Strionic Resonator double the triggers was an easy add. Norns Annex was a late add to my deck but as soon as I saw it I thought I need more taxes for attacking me.
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Enchantments
**: Enchantments is probably where I have gone overboard but only because I have found so many that I enjoy and add an interesting feature to the match. Currently I have nine enchantments in the deck.Reconnaissance is my favorite sleeper find. Pay zero to pull back an attacker before damage is dealt leads to alway having the fight end the way you want. Swing in with Kaalia and put out another attacker then if one is being blocked by something that will kill it, before damage, untap and pull back that attacker. Underrated card in my opinion, especially with Kaalia and her abilities. Wound Reflection was another big annoyance I threw in here recently. Combo it with Gisela and damage will get out of hand. True Conviction is my biggest maybe card. Its nice when its out and does its thing but I think there may be better options out there. Ghostly Prison works well to deter massive attacks and stacks on top of Archangel of Tithes and Norns Annex. No Mercy because nothing deters attackers more than knowing they will be destroyed if they touch me. Phyrexian Arena is the simple card draw. Kismet (Potentially Blind Obedience) is a huge slowdown for all opponents. Kismet hits the artifacts, creatures and lands where blind obedience trades lands for extort. Currently I have not decided which I prefer. Karmic Justice is a little bonus protection for all non-creatures but I am currently looking to swap it for a Martyrs Bond. Celestial Mantle was a late add and was really only added for the fun. I like the idea of doubling a life total. Combo that with Aurelia and get it to go off twice a turn could be a huge game changer. Still undecided but it's fun.
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Instants/Sorcery:
** After playing a deck that consisted of mainly instants and sorceries this deck has a much smaller amount and only keeps the absolute necessities. Outside of the two tutors that I already had, Steelshapers Gift and Diabolic, all instants and sorceries are combination of board wipes and targeted removal of creatures/artifacts/enchantments.
