Kaalia of the Vast | Upping the Average

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[@caidenfelkey6328]

“I’m only afraid of two things in this world: Exiling my graveyard and commitment” -Joey (a married man)

[@strider2175]

As someone that plays a version of this deck, I would recommend swapping out Terminate for Rakdos Charm. Same mana cost, but the ability to kill an opponent that dropped a mass of tokens, destroy a problematic artifact, or (don't hate me Joey 😥) blow up an opponent's graveyard at instant speed make this the much better option.

[@EDHRECast]

You have activated one of Joey's 2 fears, but this is a great recommendation, so you are forgiven

[@jpickens189]

Abrade is another great option that covers the same bases.

[@dannyphantom1036]

So how is this Deck going ? does it well ? Because I am thinking about making a version of this deck but I am not sure if this Deck runs enough ramp

[@strider2175]

@@dannyphantom1036 Haven't been playing much EDH with COVID, but my version does struggle with it. If I don't get my artifacts or Tithe out early, I'm hoping to just play on curve. Going to relook at it with the newest cards, there's much more Treasure generation these days (really want to get a Dockside Extortionist too).

[@aricross3258]

@@strider2175 if you haven’t gotten dockside yet the precon is cheaper than the card in most places I’ve seen

[@dexgamponia6777]

Kaalia has risen up on the ranks of the top commanders list on EDHREC. Any chance of doing an Upping the Average Redux on her? She's got new toys to play with and it would be nice if you could share some of your opinions on the new batch of angels, demons and dragons that were added to her recommendations list, like Liesa 1.0 and 2.0, Piru, just to name a few.

[@suntitan4419]

This is a awesome part of this channel keep up the great work

[@willevil1439]

All the "budget" cuts that aren't lands, are actually just huge upgrades that make way more sense.

[@theoriginalmew2889]

I was looking at my razeket when he started talking about it like...wait your expensive 😳

[@scottcampbell9515]

I want to hit "thumbs up" more than once here. I love it! She was my first Commander.

[@rodgerlang884]

An Upping the Average for my favorite deck. Thank you greatly, this was informative and gave me the impetus to tear her down and make sure I have her all set up properly. It's been too long since I took a proper look through my deck

[@bernieklau8063]

BEST SERIES EVER! Would love edric.

[@thomaskretz7888]

Been looking at videos to try optimizing my Kaalia build and this has been the most useful. Well done!

[@talathiaholmes1771]

Been running kaalia for years with nearly this identical line up. Fave deck of all time

[@guardbreak4034]

These series is amazing! Thank you

[@danaroach29]

Great work as always!

[@Sunshi92]

I love this content and I would love to see the scarab god, which was a recent reprint. Thanks for your work!

[@cepragassen]

platinum angel has always protected me as i become the archenemy

[@armbelbernal7794]

Ever since I played commander kaalia is one of my favorite commander.. And I always love the reanimate/necromancy + worldgorger + cauldron familiar combo 😆😆

[@dtopa7524]

I like Ilharg as a backup version of Kaalia. Sure the creatures don't stick around, but its a great way to keep your opponents busy and blow their removal while you wait to re-cast Kaalia a second (or third) time.

[@Otako371]

I love these! keep it up Joey, these are freaking sick

[@tserrofz9]

Thank you for doing Kaalia

[@TheOneAndOnlyCrawl]

Some (mostly) inexpansive cards I would throw in the mix: Dragon Mage ---- Reloads your hand when it deals damage Nightmare Shepherd -- Since there is barely any reanimation theme in this deck, we don't care if creatures get exiled + we get a 1/1 token that triggers etbs and still gets the full effect when it attacks or deals damage etc or other static abilities. Sire of Insanity -- Because it's my favorite card. Also when you get ahead, it makes it very hard for others to catch up if they have to rely on topdecks Strionic Resonator -- because some effects can't trigger often enough

[@Audico2]

With the amount of Smothering Tithes running around, i don't see Dragon Mage being that good.

[@drt4527]

@@Audico2 Dragon Mage is easily one of the best cards in a Kaalia deck. If there is a situation where it would be bad to wheel, the answer is simple - don't attack with Dragon Mage.

[@drt4527]

I'd like to mention Jewelled Amulet as budget-friendly pseudo mana rock, that makes a good turn 1 play, that is a good way to guarantee dropping Kaalia early (Simian Spirit Guide, is also good). I often find that you have to choose between casting either a mana accelerant or a haste enabler (greaves, dragon tempest etc) on turn 2. This opens up the possibility of turn 3 Kaalia with Haste

[@Audico2]

@@drt4527 Idk, i've tried using it before, but he's always just there not attacking. If it works for you, more power to ya, but never worked on my pods.

[@MitsuSC]

@@Audico2 so why not run one yourself? That and a Hellkite Tyrant can get you the game. You can cheat it into play with a Sneak Attack or a Quicksilver Amulet before your next upkeep. No one will pay 14 mana for you to not put Treasures unless it’s a green deck or have infinite mana.

[@Carolyn510]

Great time to find this vid. Starting to brew up Kaalia.

[@evanfarnung8873]

Nice, just in time for my lunch break

[@connermcclarren5234]

It would be great to see you do someone like Alela, Artful Provocateur!

[@raab04]

Wow I’m really surprised no one else runs counterspells in theirs! Well everyone listen up and I’m about to completely change your life with Kaalia FOREVERRR... Mana Tithe Pyroblast Rebuff the Wicked Thank you, that is all. You’re welcome!

[@aklepatzky]

No tibalts trickery?

[@olafthemoose9413]

I'm a big fan of General's Enforcer in Kaalia. 2 drop that protects kaalia and hates on graveyards. Super cheap too.

[@HeyHeyHeyJoJoJo]

Kaalia is my Baby. I personally play her as a legendary creature tribal, with a lot of protection and recursion. So she can keep on playing even in the lategame. I also use quicksilver amulet and thran temporal gateway. Cheating out the big boys in opponents endstep ist quite strong in this deck

[@johnlawyer4954]

I have a kaalia player in my playgroup and it's a goal of mine to have all 42 lands in my tatyova deck armageddoned by him

[@kandjar]

Three cards I feel should be in Kaalia and are missing here: - Rakdos Charm: So versatile, efficient, deals with Token decks and graveyard shenanigans (sorry Joey). - Dolmen Gate: A 2-drops artifact to protect Kaalia when she's attacking! - Sneak Attack: This can be used to close a game quickly; or to enable ETB/response to a threat; but also helps replacing Kaalia if she got removed too many times by your angry opponents.

[@Baatosanabe]

This is awesome. Thank you for your work. If you could, I would love to see Melek

[@brytonjorgensen8457]

Out of the four commander decks I have Kaalia is my favorite. It's satisfying when I pull off a win against 3 people lol

[@MP-om9fj]

I prefer Scourge of Kher Ridges as a fun budget alternative to Balefire as well, dealing 2 damage to everything on the board absolutely eats token decks without having to swing and you can keep paying into it and Kaalia is safe in the air. If need be he can body many flyers as well

[@marreco167]

Would like to see the scarab god in one of these videos. He is very versatile and fun to play. Aaand he just got reprinted so many people might be looking to build one. I would like to see how I can improve mine!

[@guillermobrachowagner7687]

I really enjoy this series! Could Kethis, the Hidden Hand be the next one?

[@talathiaholmes1771]

That sudden tempo change mid match is very effective in beating blue counters

[@jamesblack3586]

I recomend bigger card draw spells such as promise of power or necrologica,i would also like to point out world slayer and decree of anilation for mass land destruction and if you can aford it hell kite charger and aggeravated assault pairs real well with a sword of feast and famon

[@jhomastefferson3693]

Yo, I'm a little older of a player at this point. I put kaalia together from a daretti deck, multiple Kahn's block packs and a few choice buys back in 2015. You need boros charm, sunforger, and steelshapers gift. Steelshapers gift is a budget stoneforge mystic in instant form. Sunforger is nutty. Just absolutely nutty. And boros charm lets you make your board indestructible at instant speed. With an aggro deck like this, one protection from a board wipe can spell the end for your opponent. Also sunforger. It lets you cast any red or white instant with below cmc4 in your deck for red and white, and you get to search it out. Every turn you can pop a path, then a swords to plowshares. It's dirty but I was in a very competitive playgroup - with Marath, Oloro, Sheoldred, and a Sliver Overlord, and Daretti just didn't keep up.

[@commanderbydaenen]

Kaalia, as an insane ramp commander, dumps their hand really fast. So I always recommend Dragon Mage as a way to refill your hand. I often tutor for this card as way to churn through my deck and find more creatures.

[@TioFranTV]

Demon of Dark Schemes works stangely well with kaalia, yes, he kills her unless you buff her, but the amount of creatures you can reanimate, with the token wip you made, worth it

[@AVACYN1]

1. Cut 2/3 point removal and add protection like: Deflecting Swat, Flawless Maneuver and Boros Charm 2. Add more creatures with removal etb like Overseer of the Damned

[@jpickens189]

Armageddon is so good you should also be running cataclysm, ravages of war, and winter orb.

[@jlateralus21]

No one will play against you lol

[@jpickens189]

@@jlateralus21 IDK, I occasionally get some foolish mortals to play with me.

[@georgevardis6849]

Very nice and helpful videos. Thanks so much. But as I saw in the rulings the trigger of Aurelia the warleader and other creatures that have whenever.. Attacks doesn't work.. Sadly...

[@ty_sylicus]

I've always wanted a Kaalia deck but never got around to it. Maybe 2021 is the year?

[@Gladius714]

I really love Bastion Protector on my kaalia deck

[@martinarnold4999]

Looking for advice on best list not concerned bout price where good spot for competitive brews?

[@dragullongblackfang8073]

important to notice the atk rule is one of the two reason kalia like eff get cutted from my deck for well faster option

[@b4Dm0m3nt]

„I am only afraid of 2 things. Exiling my graveyard and commitment.“ as someone whos favorite deck is a Zombie tribal deck i feel that

[@cortez4eva69]

Any chance you could revisit this commander? Would love to hear your thoughts

[@troylambert1601]

I know it has the potential to be very risky, but I think Dragon Mage is a worthy include. Kaalia tends to empty out her hand very quickly.

[@rubyseverinwhitworth9066]

i think it would be cool to see you do Sydri Galvanic Genius (not just because i want to build her)

[@Arohan71]

I have a Sydri deck and I too would love to see it.

[@mn6334]

I put together a version of the Commanders Brew Mana Rock Tribal deck with her. Seems like it'll be fun if I ever get to play it...

[@joerotar2613]

I’d like to see that one too. I just started building a Sydri deck and think it’s be a fun one to run.

[@bernabes8424]

I've always wanted to do Darksteel tribal with her

[@dustinjackson8270]

Not budget but there is also teferi’s protection for boardwipes along with flawless maneuver

[@ChaosHat]

I'd love to see artifacts Alela or Rowan and Will Kenrith superfriends!

[@georgezamyatin]

I’m kinda late to this but how many angels demons and dragons (number count) should the deck have?

[@attackkataka6599]

Mass land destruction is really underrated, in 3-4 color decks it is a bit of a salt card but in white decks that don’t get any help late game they are perfect and should be played more

[@GamerTT00]

Yeah, I have a God eternal Oketra deck and MLD is one of my main wincons, I play them too in my Sigarda Voltron deck and Kaalia. I think the bad reputation it has is due to players just cast them for the lolz

[@danielclindsey1977]

You forgot Blinding Angel as a way to hold down opposing aggro decks.

[@Onepump21]

Resolution archangel has saved me more times than I can count. When im being im low on health I either try to tutor for her or if she's in my hand just play her. She'll hit the battlefield and you'll go back to your starting life total. Pretty nifty if i say so myself. Phyrexian arena I use for card draw and my sensei's diving top. My planeswalker is sorin markov which has the -3 ability to target opponents life total becomes 10. Quicksilver amulet is always good to cheat in creatures. And as removal goes i run mostly exile so my opponents can't use their nasty creatures again. But lmk if any of this helps anyone. Or would like to know more about what I have in my deck just @ me. I have spent alot time and effort into my kaalia deck and it is my most prized possession.

[@TI2uE]

Would love to see your deck

[@EvlEgle]

I see no problem with Armageddon in this deck. But this deck needs a teferi's protection to. armageddon + TP is amazing winmore.

[@jeremiahnadeau6403]

I have soo many toys for kaalia these days I am thinking about doing a random rollutte of the creatures tribes because I can't decide on a firm lineup

[@MiguelRamirez-fi5ib]

Would you play single combat in this deck?

[@ty_sylicus]

Please do AURELIA, the Warleader! My first EDH from 2012.

[@Rulerzac23]

great video, please make one of alesha who smiles at death, Is my favorite commander, thanks!!

[@joshualewis9363]

What do you think about Helm of Hosts? I know it costs a bit to equip, but you could potentially get more expendable Kaalias to pump out creatures if you got a full hand of them or possibly get more Aurelias for multiple combats phases, right? Since the tokens aren't legendary, combo with mirror march and/or molten echoes and you get temp expendable Kaalias and/or Aurelias for combats. Forgive me if there are conflicting rules with the above. I'm pretty new to MTG and have only recently been interested in getting more involved. My friend let me play with his Kaalia Anthology deck my first time playing and I've been in love with Kaalia ever since.

[@joshualewis9363]

How would multiple Aurelias work btw? Could you attack with three at once and get three additional attack phases or would you have to add an attacking Aurelia to each attack phase to keep the extra phases going until you run out of Aurelias that haven't attacked at least once?

[@joshualewis9363]

Nevermind on Mirror march and molten echoes. They don't work on tokens, but would probably work if Mirror Gallery was in play.

[@cristianurbina9187]

I would love for you to make a yarok deck since whenever I grew it is mostly good stuff and no way to win

[@Grooove_e]

Here in 2022 ya gotta have Isshin in that deck

[@firestormingfox4169]

Dragon Mage, and Vilis are both good adds

[@bryantsanchez103]

Is there an updated video for this deck?

[@mn6334]

11:50 #ReprintTheRamp

[@dperisty1]

Can you make a Kaalia cEDH without concern for budget?

[@notabotm9923]

Master of cruelties is an auto include unless running this in cEdh and even then I’d argue for it because of value. With kaalia it will knock an opponent out of the game entirely if cheated into play. Plus I’d run more reanimation and fuel my graveyard. Hitting underworld breach or sevinne’s reclamation is huge to throw some demons on the field quickly or worldgorger dragon combo with animate dead.

[@cheeveka3]

That moment when everyone is shocked when I play Ad Nauseam when Kaalia is my commander 😂🤣

[@IINCURSIIO]

If you have Avacyn out, play Armageddon! That’s how I see it

[@johnlawrence7506]

I know it goes against the theme, but without Notion Thief can this deck REALLY be called a Nekusar deck?

[@MP-om9fj]

Would love Mayael

[@szymondziedziel9145]

Grate content!!please do proshh!!!!

[@BlakeFaeMorton]

I don't really feel like this deck needs this much permanent removal when really it thrives off Player removal. And, a good way to do that if you have a high enough density of extra combat steps and double strike is Phyresis and Tainted Strike. ...or maybe I just love Infect too much.

[@danacoleman4007]

it's impossible to love infect too much!

[@ShepardofGoats]

Dragon Wizard seems really good here, as a way to refill the hand when running out of gas.

[@dylangavron3729]

Correct me if I'm wrong - wouldn't creature abilities that proc on "when [creature] attacks" NOT proc when Kaalia brings them in? My understanding is that "attacks" specifically means when a creature is declared as an attacker, which doesn't happen from Kaalia's ability, as they enter the battlefield already attacking. If that's true, then how would the Master of Cruelties combo work in this deck? Sure it can attack with her, but its last ability wouldn't proc on that attack. Right?

[@dylangavron3729]

I think found an answer. '508.3d: An ability that reads “Whenever [a creature] attacks and isn’t blocked, . . .” triggers during the declare blockers step, not the declare attackers step. See rule 509.5g.' So it doesn't matter that Master of Cruelties isn't on the battlefield for the Declare Attackers step because its ability triggers during Declare Blockers. This makes the combo with Kaalia work.

[@nTwixy]

Rune-Scarred demon could maybe fit in somewhere

[@dus65]

why does Drakuseth not trigger with Kaalia?

[@Gladius714]

Because it already comes in attacking. In order for it to trigger, it needs to be declared as an attacker during battle. It's a weird rule but the same goes for other creatures like Utvara Hellkite.

[@ShredAimlessly92]

I wish there was a double faced card for Armageddon and Wrath Of God, so I can just flip the card before each game depending on who I’m playing with

[@Suhrvivor]

That's Catastrophe.

[@jaywinner328]

I completely disagree with cutting Phyrexian Reclamation only to put in 1 shot card draw. The ability to constantly bring back some big baddie seems much more potent than a drawing 2 cards.

[@Darcmerc]

Regarding the tutors: What I usually see is my opponent only tutoring twice. The first tutor for Avacyn, the second for Armageddon. If no one can stop that, it's over anyways. That's basically how my friend plays the deck and I hate it. This deck alone warped my deckbuilding to combat this deck massively, pushing the power of our meta. Now I got a pretty fast Arixmethes Sea Monster tribal deck, that basically cares less about sea monsters and more about getting Arixmethes out, on the field and using overrun effects to kill the Kaalia player in a single strike. Making me the arch enemy. :D

[@theonedraven8007]

ive found kaalia has a horrid early game, ive added in things like Segovian, grand abolisher, seraph of the scales, azra oddsmaker,

[@mattc4284]

I like that you suggest Crux of Fate, but sort of on the same note I’m surprised you didn’t mention Earthquake or Magmaquake. Both seem like they could be good for Kaalia as they can wipe every non-flyer and also dish out some damage to players and planeswalkers respectively

[@Zerschnitzler77]

pls inalla next

[@tr1pl333]

Sneak attack

[@wisdomsoptional6357]

"Burn the witch! Burn her!" Will never not be my reaction when someone pulls a Kaalia out to play with at my table. #sorrynotsorry

[@jonathanconner3948]

I love a sunforger package for mid/late game protection if the early game beat down gets disrupted. Also ups the value of equipment tutors.

[@teddytho]

some of the cards you mentioned that seem weird like phyrexian reclaimation work as combo pieces. maybe that's why it showed in the deck?

[@jlateralus21]

Anybody cut the Dragons and just make a flying Angel and Demons deck?

[@djdrack4681]

horn of greed and debt to the deathless I've found to be priceless cards in my kaalia build. I also run Linvala, Keeper of Silence. Each give kaalia a bit more of value-town/utility, which is good because she is a glass cannon. I've won more games with Debt to the deathless than with Master of Cruelties. Linvala can hurt you, but can disrupt the board for other even more which keeps you ahead. Celestial mantle and Coat of arms can be great sideboard items to consider for certain playgroups. If you're mostly one of the 3 tribes coat should be an autoinclude as it gets outta hand quickly. I haven't added the new stuff that's been put into it recently but here is the main bulk of it (It is a budget friendly kaalia. or 'was' when I put it originally together, some things have gone up in price.) tappedout.net/mtg-decks/death-from-above-to-your-butt/

[@janindrak6334]

oh wait a second...you can drop three creatures into play with her ability at once? or am I missing something? it is stated here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qZq9dWiXhMqNiNE

[@fromization1]

No, only one

[@tr1pl333]

Thieves tools. 👍

[@markvandergiessen3158]

You lost me at swapping out Razaketh. That's the most powerful demon in the deck and a wincon in itself. He is not that expensive and absolutely amazing.

[@pavma7]

Armageddon is a great card for this deck but it's also the worst csrd for the deck because it's so unfun to play against.

[@rodgerlang884]

I highly advise Quicksilver Amulet for her as well. If she leaves the table it’s a really good backup to not have to hard cast those big creatures

[@stevenluoma1268]

@5:45 yall need to run removal then lol why is that thing alive that long

[@demarge1065]

arelia doesn't proc the turn she is cheated into play, dragon mage is a great dragon to refuel kaalia which she easily runs out of gas.

[@leo-paulteboul1376]

Everytime I watch a video of yours I wonder... are you related to Max Miller from Tasting History??? www.youtube.com/@TastingHistory

[@danielclindsey1977]

15:23 "In no way a competitive commander..." You should visit the official Kaalia cEDH discord before making those claims.

[@Teohhhh]

this dude is talking at 1.5x speed

[@ic0n67]

dude ... remember your audience ... you can't make sports ball references all willy-nilly in a magic video. But the all three of us that caught it .... you smash for pay dirt, not the red zone. The red zone is the 20 yards in front of the goal line. If you'r goal is to smash the red zone you are basically saying you want to go hard towards your goal, but be content with not actually scoring.