Kaima, the Fractured Calm

Legendary Creature — Spirit

At the beginning of your end step, goad each creature your opponents control that's enchanted by an Aura you control. Put a +1/+1 counter on this for each creature goaded this way. (Until your next turn, the goaded creatures attack each combat if able and attack a player other than you if able.)

Legality

Format	Legality
1v1 Commander	Legal
Archenemy	Legal
Canadian Highlander	Legal
Casual	Legal
Commander / EDH	Legal
Commander: Rule 0	Legal
Custom	Legal
Duel Commander	Legal
Highlander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Leviathan	Legal
Limited	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Planechase	Legal
Quest Magic	Legal
Vanguard	Legal
Vintage	Legal

Discussion (4)

Gleeock on Pattern Recognition #234 - Commander …

2 years ago

I'm happy that somewhere out there (R&D), they have someone trying to push the viability of newer strategies, & strategies that focus on the multiplayer aspect of this format. I think this same person/team is taking new, creative archetype failures into consideration & finding ways to improve on those failures.

SUBJECTIVE IMO Examples of this: Karazikar, the Eye Tyrant=success, can go toe-to-toe with some more solo fishbowl decks out there. Kardur, Doomscourge=success + budget + frequently keeps up with the more fishbowl strategies. Marisi, Breaker of the Coil=success + somewhat of a pioneer in his field. Kaima, the Fractured Calm=failure - too much design flaw - no ward - massive buildaround - couldn't give him an activated ability to destroy ench? or some spice Tahngarth, First Mate=failure - Creative yes, no oomph to play an impactful game against control, fishbowl, & non-combat meta

Even though I feel some of the failures are a bit tonedeaf when you see some of the other beasts being put out in more established archetypes - it always seems like someone in R&D takes note & circles around to try to address those failings. Goad keeps getting ways around haste, I feel that eventually creature gifting will receive a commander that has a built in workaround for the: "opponent sacs my gift" issue

Gleeock on Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty

2 years ago

Coward_Token Having extensively experimented in that strategy, with Xantcha, Sleeper Agent & Thantis, the Warweaver I totally agree. This Kaima, the Fractured Calm feels like a tone-deaf attempt by someone in R&D who has not playtested this difficult archetype much.. Much like Thantis herself was - though I still love & play that deck. Unless Streets of awesome demons has a buttload of support for this, it will be a swing & a miss. With the power level of plug & play (card draw, land drop) commanders now, they could have given this card some sort of edge.. I'm thinking something like a activated Aura redirect ability, leaves the battlefield destroy auras ability, heck even a {G} destroy your auras on all creatures... or if you wanted to be less nerfed {G}{R} destroy target enchantment... Or something more creative & balanced to add some juice to this guy.

Gleeock on Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty

2 years ago

Coward_Token you are so ridiculously right - Jund is primed to do something new, something in the realm of forced strife or polymorphing... except WoTC are like: "Jund... = needs more sac, Korvold... something new...no, more sac". Yes, I get Thantis was new, I figured though that that would just be a gateway into that whole realm with Jund. WoTC be like: "Hey lets give it to Sultai {G}{B}{U} & make it best at that new effect - lets give tons of innovation to Sultai"

Anyway, lets hope Kaima, the Fractured Calm is just a future gateway concept for a whole new line of Gruul that WoTC is expecting to push a bunch of support to. Right now it is very thin. To be fair, most things that you put an aura on will be something your opponent won't be likely losing in combat though.

Coward_Token on Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty

2 years ago

I wish Kaima, the Fractured Calm had an Rienne, Angel of Rebirth-style ability for Auras that you put on opposing creatures, 'cause when a random board wipe happens, you're not only set back on the goading action but ALSO any counters you've managed to put on Kaima. And the goading will naturally lead to goaded creatures getting killed too.