Kaalia of the Vast - "Competitive Aggro"
Commander / EDH
SCORE: 172 | 85 COMMENTS | 131473 VIEWS | IN 157 FOLDERS
Razaketh, the Floublooded —June 22, 2017
While I initially read this as "search for a creature card", and typed up an appropriate response, I now realize it is any card. Either way, here's my initial response on why Kaalia may or may not want this.
EDIT: The biggest advantage Razaketh offers is tutoring for a one of the closer (mentioned below), offering a chance to seal the game should the board-state allow. He's a potential auto-include and more valuable than my first impression and written response allude to.
I like Razaketh. I like him a lot. The 8/8 for 8 flying body and powerful effect makes him seem a lot like a color-shifted Avacyn. It's a shame that his ability has the "another" clause in it. With out the clause the potential would be staggering, whether he be cycle himself in response to removal or he be abused similar to Griselbrand in other formats.
For some context, Kaalia seeks to ramp herself out, cheat out flagship creatures, and do everything she can to keep a field presence. Her primary win condition is damage secured through MLD or hand-hate (Sire of Insanity, Armageddon, Cataclysm, Ravages of War, ect), or sometimes a surprise Master of Cruelties or OG Gisela. In this process, Kaalia typically fields one to three other creatures before the game is decided.
It's in this narrow focus, and that "another" clause, that puts Razaketh below the threshold for most Kaalia decks. Lacking the fodder of mana dorks, token generation, and a support caste outside of Mother of Runes, Razaketh is forced to sacrifice either the value engine or the value itself.
Rather than adding to the total damage on board you're taking it away for similar gains, but in this process, you're opening yourself up to more damning removal. Whether they "bolt" Kaalia in response to you sacrificing a fatty, or shut down/counter Kaalia or your search target after you tutor for another fatty. There's also situations where you don't want to or can't sacrifice. Avacyn, for example, may prove too valuable to let go at point.
Without that "another" clause, Razaketh at least offers the chance of cycling himself in response to removal. He has a hefty political threat of "remove me and it only gets worse", giving him some shoe-horned survivability. As it stands, his most poignant use will be a response to removal of other creatures. Want to Path Avacyn? We'll pitch her to the yard, dodging exile, and getting another thread in the process. Want to turn Kaalia into a tree? Nope, but we're going to go grab Master while we're at it. As it stands, I can see him included in the pantheon on the lower end, and alright inclusion on the crux of being nudged out by more potent creatures.
If there is a place for Razaketh in EDH, I believe he can find a home in reanimator or decks with Sneak Attack. There's a ton of synergy with Marshesa (the good one) who often does both and can abuse ETBs while proving fodder for Razaketh's effect.