Figured you had good reasons for not including them. Thanks for the descriptive breakdowns!

Griselbrand. Gris. El. Brand. Why aren't you running him? Refill your hand all day, every day. Swing in for 7 damage and 7 life. Bring him right in with Kaalia! I can't think of any reason why a sane person wouldn't want this in a Kaalia of the Vast deck.

@jaiaisaiah - Probably because Griselbrand is banned in Commander. This list is the normal ban list, not duel commander

@Spirits What do you think of Rakdos, Lord of Riots? If he gets in for free he might let you hard cast stuff at cheap discount. I just threw him in my list so I haven't tested him out yet, thought it was an interesting choice

Hey jaiaisaiah,

Iyenrithe is correct, Griselbrand is Grisel-banned, on the Commander Banlist.

He is awesome though.

I don't mind Rakdos, Lord of Riots, he's a respectable 6/6 Trample, however, in playtesting, I've found he doesn't work as expected, and becomes somewhat situational.

I found that if I was able to Kaalia of the Vast resolve him, I would have rather resolved another more controlling A/D/D in his place, and clearly Kaalia of the Vast isn't being controlled. If I'm not able to cheat him in, I've found that he just sits in my hand anyway, even though he's CMC 4, it can be deceiving. Also, my overall plan isn't to cast creatures from my hand, something like Quicksilver Amulet can do that without restriction if needed. Once he is out, he only helps me commit more to my board position, which, in Kaalia of the Vast it can become far too easy to over commit in many scenarios. If things are going well and he's attacking and dealing damage, I probably don't need to cast another creature, or in any case, Kaalia of the Vast is probably still able to play them anyway.

I really do like Rakdos, Lord of Riots, I played him for about 1 year. I just never found his specific static abilities were strong enough to make the final cut in the deck. He is quite a reasonable, wouldn't think anyone crazy for running a Rakdos, Lord of Riots, 6/6 Flying Trample is amazing, and in certain situations you may find yourself, he will be a powerful ally.

Your deck looks really impressive, +1 from me!

Seize the Day might be fun with this used on Kaalia of the Vast when she comes out this bringing another dragon demon or angel in same turn. It even has flashback so if countered you have another shot at it.

Thanks for the kind comment cmbr.

Thanks for the suggestion SolomonsEfreet. The standard combat phase trick in Kaalia of the Vast is Hellkite Charger or Aggravated Assault + Sword of Feast and Famine to make the Infinite Combat Phases. All the cards are good on their own as well, Sword of Feast and Famine gives nice protection to a Kaalia of the Vast. Seize the Day is good because it is fairly low CMC and the flashback is even cheaper, it's tough to find 3 A/D/D in hand to really utilize it's power, where as the infinite attack phases, assuming can't be interrupted allows a potential win.

I do currently run Adarkar Valkyrie + Aurelia, the Warleader + Goblin Bombardment which also allows me to take Infinite Combat Phases.

I just got a Kaalia precon myself , and am looking how to build it now. I'm curious why you don't run Worldgorger Dragon if you already run Animate Dead?

I'm looking to build a budget multiplayer version of this deck. Which cards are MUST HAVE's, and what might be some cheap ($$$) alternatives to some of the more expensive cards included in your list?

Hi Herbysmoke, sorry missed your message there.

The reason I don't play Worldgorger Dragon even though I have Animate Dead is a couple reasons:

1) Far too dangerous, with Worldgorger Dragon ETB on the Stack, the Worldgorger Dragon is removed from play, either a targeted removal like a Swords to Plowshares, Terminate, or a Cyclonic Rift, basically anything that triggers his LTB onto the stack before the ETB resolves. In this case, you return nothing first, then exile everything.

2) Worldgorger Dragon on his own doesn't do anything. He needs a Piranha Marsh or something with an ETB Damage triggered ability, or he needs something to do with the Infinite Mana, like an Aurelia's Fury. You also probably want to stack a Necromancy and maybe a Dance of the Dead with him as well. My guess is 5 cards to make Worldgorger Dragon a viable option. Significantly changes the deck, would lose some of my Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker pieces.

3) On his own, he's not really that viable. As a combo, he's great, without the combo pieces in place, he's not that great. That's what finally led to the demise of Maralen of the Mornsong in the deck too, hate cards that are a dead draw on their own without the necessary combo pieces in place yet.

He's a viable win con, and if you have the Unburial build in for him, you can gear your deck around the Animate Dead/Necromancy type build, and be very effective. Chose not to go that direction with my take on Kaalia of the Vast

Hi Oroborus91,

Yes!! There are many ways to cut costs in Kaalia of the Vast, you can easily cut $600 to $650 in lands alone. To keep the consistency you may need to trade fetching/dual lands in for some enters tapped scry lands, but even if you lose 1-3 turns of speed, it is still viable. Ash Barrens.

There is a great article on some to the creatures, Kaalia of the Vast - The Benchwarmers. I found it quite a fun article when I read it, and the big Avacyn, Angel of Hope and Rune-Scarred Demon with big red "CUT" printed on them is pretty funny. There are many great A/D/D that have low financial value that are quite excellent!

Could go in a dragon direction with Oros, the Avenger or protection in Deathless Angel. Admonition Angel can be superstar in the right build, Archangel Avacyn  ^Flip is down in price, Archfiend of Depravity is a barg-oon, Bruna, the Fading Light can give you a nice Brisela, Voice of Nightmares. Ob Nixilis, Unshackled is awesome, Maralen of the Mornsong. Reya Dawnbringer can also be quite powerful.

Really creature wise your only losing Avacyn, Angel of Hope, Linvala, Keeper of Silence, Balefire Dragon that are over $10. Some of the other guys like Dark Confidant and Serra Ascendant or Stoneforge Mystic are really just fluff and can easily be changed out.

Same with the artifacts, Mana Crypt and Chrome Mox easily cut, I would keep the Chromatic Lantern though.

Hope some ideas here or in the article.

So How do we feel about Bloodsworn Steward?I have been trying, proxied for now since he isn't out yet, but so far a slight bit above 60% of the time he is relevant. My deck is bent more towards B, I was wondering how a fellow Kaalia player, especially playing more R bent feels a out him?

I am not a fan of 4 CMC in the deck due to its nature to compete with casting Kaalia, However it adds a 2 needed stats to Kaalia. Haste and Anthem.

And if you do feel it's decent what would you remove.I dropped Grim Tutor for now.

Hi Lorderos23,

Bloodsworn Steward as a CMC4 with (only 20% of deck is ) in it's cost for a 4/4 Flying, NON-A/D/D creature doesn't feel right. Feels too slow, can't be cheated in with Kaalia of the Vast trigger ability, and really only benefits Kaalia of the Vast. Especially replacing Grim Tutor, I would rather Grim Tutor + Lightning Greaves for CMC5 instead. The Grim Tutor could also pull a combo piece if Dragon Tempest or Lightning Greaves are in play. I wouldn't run this guy.

He is right up there with Angel of Deliverance, almost good but not quite enough.

I also cut him as well. I just wanted to see if the had any use in R bent decks, so I could pass along the knowledge.I usually cut Grim Tutor to test cards, To see if I would ever want to tutor for this card. If so I start working on a slot for it.

Lorderos23,

Agreed Angel of Deliverance just doesn't quite make the cut. CMC8 for 6/6 is really aggressive and such a specific condition to exile 1 creature (post combat damage), isn't that spectacular.

Makes sense Grim Tutor is an easy sub out. I'm working on testing Tainted Pact right now, I've paired out my basics so that I have no duplicate cards in the deck, going to see how that goes.

Hi spirit, my first EDH deck is Kaalia from the pre-con and I'm really interested in getting Kik-Jiki in here after checking your deck out. I don't really have recommendations, just wanted to give this deck some love.

If you don't mind checking out my deck (Kaalia's Flying Circus), I was wondering how to incorporate Kiki-Jiki without throwing the entire deck off-balance. I can think of a few cards I'm already planning to cut (Reya, Skyblinder Staff, etc.) but I'm working on a budget so I have to get creative with Tutor options (like Sunforger).

Thanks again for linking the deck!

Okay, I am new to all this stuff can you please explain to a newbie how those combos are infinite I am missing something in how the angels become infinite and how the goblin bombardment causes infinite damage et al, please explain??

Hi wdmchale,

Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker + Restoration Angel | Infinite Haste Angels:

1. Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker targeting Restoration Angel

2. Restoration Angel Token Copy (Haste from Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker) enters the battlefield, target Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker with the triggered ability

3. Exile Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker and return him to the battlefield, he returns untapped, and he has Haste because he has the static ability Haste built-in

4. Repeat steps 1 through 3 as many times as you want, and attack each opponent with 1,000,000 3/4 Flying Haste Token Angels!

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

1. Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker targeting Reveillark making a Token Copy of Reveillark

2. Active Goblin Bombardment and Sacrifice Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker doing 1 damage to a player (or creature)

3. Activate Goblin Bombardment and Sacrifice the Token Copy of Reveillark (Not the original Reveillark) doing 1 damage to a player (or creature)

4. Reveillark leaves the battlefield triggered ability targets Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker, you can also bring back any other creature in the graveyard with power 2 or less as well (Grand Abolisher, Stoneforge Mystic, Etc.)

5. Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker returns to the battlefield, he returns untapped, and he has Haste because he has the static ability Haste built-in

6. Repeat steps 1 through 5 as many times as you want, and for as much damage to each creature and player as you like!

Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker + Karmic Guide + Goblin Bombardment | Infinite Damage + Infinite Haste Angels:

1. Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker targeting Karmic Guide

2. In Response (WHILE the Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker activated ability is still on the Stack), Activate the Goblin Bombardment and Sacrifice the Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker doing 1 damage to a player (or creature)

3. The Karmic Guide Token Copy enters the battlefield (Haste from Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker) and targets Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker with its triggered ability

4. Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker returns to the battlefield, he returns untapped, and he has Haste because he has the static ability Haste built-in

5. Repeat steps 1 through 4 as many times as you want, doing as much damage as you like, and creating as many Karmic Guide Token Copy Angels with Haste as you like (You can also Goblin Bombardment the Karmic Guide Token Copies if you like)

Karmic Guide + Reveillark + Goblin Bombardment | Infinite Damage:

1. Activate the Goblin Bombardment and Sacrifice the Karmic Guide doing 1 damage to a player (or creature)

2. Activate the Goblin Bombardment and Sacrifice the Reveillark doing 1 damage to a player (or creature)

3. The Reveillark leaves the battlefield ability triggers and targets the Karmic Guide (and any other creature with power 2 or less in addition)

4. The Karmic Guide returns to the battlefield, and targets the Reveillark with his enters the battlefield triggered ability and returns the Reveillark to the battlefield.

5. Repeat steps 1 through 4 as many times as you want, and for as much damage to each creature and player as you like!

Buried Alive + Reanimate or Animate Dead or Whip of Erebos | Tutor Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker + Restoration Angel + Karmic Guide Infinite Haste Angels:

1. Cast Buried Alive and put Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker, Restoration Angel and Karmic Guide in the graveyward

2. Cast Reanimate or Animate Dead or Activate Whip of Erebos returning the Karmic Guide to the battlefield

3. Karmic Guide enters the battlefield ability triggers targeting the Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker returning the Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker to the battlefield (Built-in Haste)

4. Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker targeting the Karmic Guide. When the Karmic Guide Token Copy enters the battlefield, target the Restoration Angel with the Karmic Guide Token Copy enters the battlefield triggered ability, returning the Restoration Angel to the battlefield

5. Restoration Angel enters the battlefield ability triggers targeting the Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker who is Exiled and then returns to the battlefield, he returns untapped, and he has Haste because he has the static ability Haste built-in

6. You now have the Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker + Restoration Angel | Infinite Haste Angels Combo in place, so you can continue from there making as many Restoration Angel Token Copies as you like and attack each player with 1,000,000 Restoration Angel 3/4 Flying Haste Tokens

These are all the combos I have (I used to have more but honed in on these). Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker + Restoration Angel is the primary combo, and Reveillark is usually more of a Mid-range game strategy. A Razaketh, the Foulblooded usually can pull enough mana sources and Buried Alive to active that combo.

If you need any help understanding the "Synergies", "Maybeboard Synergies", or "Alternative Synergies Considered (But not used in this deck)" please let me know I will be happy to explain.

When I had Adarkar Valkyrie in the deck I played these, but I found I didn't need the extra combos, and Adarkar Valkyrie doesn't work properly with Kaalia of the Vast because it enters tapped, and her ability required .

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

This is a very simple 2 card combo, but I found the converted mana cost WAY to high for a turn 3/4 win:

Sanguine Bond + Exquisite Blood + Damage or Life Gain | Infinite Damage + Life Gain

A common combo in Kaalia of the Vast is:

Hellkite Charger or Aggravated Assault + Sword of Feast and Famine | Infinite Combat Phases

Cheers.

Just wondering the inclusion of Dark Confidant...wouldn't it be too risky with all the high cmc cards you have?

Hi Enral,

You would think Dark Confidant would be an issue, but in most cases he is not.

Metrics vs. 98 other random card draws:

0 CMC = 39%

1 CMC = 11%

2 CMC = 15%

That means 65% of the time he is hitting you for 0,1,2, 39% 0, that's very effective

3 CMC = 8%

4 CMC = 6%

79% of the time he is hitting less than 4 for the draw, only 14% 3 or 4

5 CMC = 7%

6 CMC = 4%

7 CMC = 7%

8 CMC = 2%

9 CMC = 1%

21% of the time he will hit for more than 5 for the draw, but only 3% of the time more than 7

Other considerations:

He's a 2/1 blocker that may mitigate more or as much damage as he deals to you overall

He gives a fast (turn 1 often), card advantage to combo on turn 3/4 win, he can't kill you that fast even in a worst case, also meaning he's hit you with Avacyn, Angel of Hope, Razaketh, the Foulblooded (Win), Iona, Shield of Emeria (Probably Win)

8% of the time he will draw you a tutor which you can pull a lifelink (eg. Whip of Erebos) or kill (eg. Razaketh, the Foulblooded) to mitigate his damage

10% of the time he will draw you a kill spell, if your in need to remove him

1% of the time he will draw you a Sensei's Divining Top which for you control how much you get hit for (after untap step)

4% of the time he will draw you lifelink to mitigate his damage

1% of the time he will draw you 1/2 damage (Gisela, Blade of Goldnight) mitigation

24% of the draws you can eliminate or mitigate all are part of his damage

In Summary, 65% you pay less than 2 life for the draw, plus 13% (I included only spells >2 CMC from the above noted 24%, totaling 78%!

78% of the time he hits you for 2 life or less, or draws you a way to mitigate the damage he does! Pretty good for and card advantage.

It's awesome when he hits you with a Razaketh, the Foulblooded because then you usually win the game and sacrifice the Dark Confidant to do it!

I would run him if you are playing Kaalia of the Vast, you'll see what I mean!

Sometimes he draws out early control spells like Path to Exile which means there is less control out there when you resolve Kaalia of the Vast

Have you ever considered Reconnaissance as a means to protect Kaalia from blockers?

Hi PacoBob,

Definitely have thought about Reconnaissance, it also has the added ability (AFTER combat damage assignment step) of untapping Kaalia of the Vast + the Angel/Dragon/Demon brought into play that turn. Basically everyone hits hard and has vigilance, and can retreat from attacks if needed. It's a great card would never criticize anyone opting to play it. For myself, I think Flying is enough evasion, plus this is build for multi-player so there's usually a green if I need to protect her. Because her trigger is "when attacks" she's already done the work by the time they can block, so it usually doesn't matter at that point anyway. My focus is on haste enablers, like Dragon Tempest and Lightning Greaves.

Hi,

Great looking deck. I was wondering though, since you have so many creatures in your deck with fantastic triggered abilities, why not add Strionic Resonator to copy these? Especially for Kaalia's ability, this seems very valuable. I'm very curious.

Happy gaming!

Hi NV_1980,

I have extensively tested the Strionic Resonator with Kaalia of the Vast here are some observations and thus why it doesn't make the deck.

Observations:

Mardu doesn't have a lot of great drawing, you can try and force draw, but if that's the strategy then play Grixis instead . Some longer games, until we get recursion online may be running card to card sadly.

Because of the lack of draw, if Kaalia of the Vast isn't being hyper-controlled, I already find that OFTEN I attack, and have no A/D/D to play as-is, if there was a way (there is: Wheel of Fortune/Dragon Mage/Etc.) to consistently draw into multiple A/D/D, it might be viable, even with the creature count I am running, it's already too lean without doubling the Kaalia of the Vast triggers.

If you don't have an A/D/D Strionic Resonator is a dead draw, I'd probably rather draw another A/D/D in that case. It has two requirements that are too difficult, those being 1) It need a Kaalia of the Vast on the battlefield, not being controlled 2) It needs A/D/D in hand (Even if it's just 1 with a useful ETB) to be free cast by Kaalia of the Vast. If both these conditions aren't true Strionic Resonator just sits there. Maralen of the Mornsong is another example like this, was a lock down queen for me, but when I draw her without a Stranglehold it was a dead draw, and found it had to come out ultimately.

It's rare, like almost NEVER, that I cast any Angels/Dragons/Demons that have ETB triggered abilities to abuse from my hand. If you're at the point your hard casting A/D/D you've already lost. If you are casting them, you won't be having to spare for the Strionic Resonator anyway.

Strionic Resonator makes you over-commit. If it's running effectively then you're already leading, If it's a dead draw you're already behind. As a mid-range strategy it doesn't change your fate. If Kaalia of the Vast is being controlled it just stalls you further, if she is not controlled, then it over-commits you and walk into a Terminus or such.

I'm trying to cast Kaalia of the Vast turn 2, 3, or 4 with haste. I'll never have an extra on those turns to double her or a A/D/D triggered ability. If I'm waiting until turn 6-7 to attack with Kaalia of the Vast probably other Commander's are in combo mode, or control/blockers/Etc. or so extreme it's not going to work. I need to have her swing an attack and drop in a controlling A/D/D before other decks establish their plan.

Kaalia of the Vast IS the mid-range strategy. Tutoring Buried Alive + Reanimate is the primary Win-Con. Buried Alive: Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker + Karmic Guide + Restoration Angel, Reanimate > Karmic Guide > Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker (Copy Karmic Guide) > Restoration Angel > Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker and attack with Infinite Haste Restoration Angel copies. I don't need cards that's support/strengthen my mid-range strategy.

I would suggest there are only 6 prime targets (6/99=6%, or if you assume it's turn 5 39.5% to have one of the 6): Angel of Despair, Angel of Serenity (Situational? 6 Targets?), Karmic Guide (Situational, 2 Targets?), Lord of the Void, Rakdos the Defiler, Rune-Scarred Demon.

Secondary targets (4/99=4%) Balefire Dragon (6 didn't kill all the creatures?), Ob Nixilis, Unshackled (Turn 6 still tutoring and have 2 creatures or care about life?), Restoration Angel (2 targets?), Reveillark (4 power 2 or less creatures in graveyard?). Lastly poor targets Avacyn, the Purifier (6 damage to my stuff too!), Stoneforge Mystic (Only have 2 equipment), Thundermaw Hellkite (Is the 1 extra damage doing anything?)

Rune-Scarred Demon or an early Rakdos the Defiler are the only really really valuable targets, and a Angel of Despair. Rune-Scarred Demon is hopefully completing your primary win-con, and Rakdos the Defiler if I have the extra mana something's gone very wrong already (This is a multi-4 player build not a 1v1).

I don't have any real-recurring blink built in, If I built this around flicker, I would use it, like that Eldrazi Displacer/Kaalia of the Vast decks, but I'm not built as such. Strionic Resonator + Brago, King Eternal + Sol Ring is a primary win-con in my Brago, the Banisher deck, so it is powerful, no doubt.

That's just some of my thoughts I had through the testing. When a card sits dormant on the battlefield for me too often, or it puts me in an over-committed board position that gets controlled, that's when I know it's not quite right.

In a Dragon Mage, Wheel of Fortune, Reforge the Soul it would be a key card. The reason I don't play those is because I found that 1) I was holding control spells and having to discard them, 2) There are better decks at recurring graveyards that mine, and I was basically causing myself pain, 3) I was restocking everyone's hands so that they can draw a control card for Kaalia of the Vast and I was never keeping her on the battlefield only. If I'm running that I feel I'm playing a fun Kaalia of the Vast, I wan't a competitive Kaalia of the Vast.

Hope some of the insights explain sort-of what I'm thinking. But I have lot's of strange analysis I've done like why I don't run Aurelia, the Warleader, and why Reveillark is going to come out for something. And why Steel Hellkite is out. I also run weird cards like Steelshaper's Gift can't understand why other's dont want a second Lightning Greaves that costs , I do.

Cheers!

Cool deck! Do you have any recommendations for a non-combo based Kaalia deck?