Last year in Richmond, during the Gatecrash sealed event, I picked up a cool altered Kaalia for 5 tokens. I decided it was time to build an EDH deck. It was the worst EDH deck ever built. Now, one year later, EDH is my favorite format and Kaalia is my favorite deck. This thread will be buried forever, but I've decided to update this post for whoever happens upon it seeking advice.
Standard BBlack AggroB Modern CAffinityC Legacy RBlood Moon PainterR EDH WBRKaaliaRBW RWTajicWR GWTrostaniWG WGRBUSliversUBRGW RUGRiku, of Two ReflectionsGUR
Hey, EDH is an amazing format. You won't regret it!
From what I see on your decklist and wishlist, Enlightened Tutor is not needed as you don't seem to rely on Artifacts and Enchantments. Besides fetching an Eldrazi Conscription, you don't have that great target for it. That will save you 30 bucks.
Skeletal Scrying is an amazing card draw, don't underestimate it.
You don't have a way to abuse Crucible of Worlds, so I don't see a reason you should fork the cash for it. The only thing is it + Ghost Quarter or other land destruction, but even in this case you might not want to go that path.
Jolkuhaups and Armageddon won't earn you friends. I would stay clear of the land destruction route, especially if your group is not cutthroat. Think about how lame it is if you're mana screwed. Now think about how your buddies feels when they are ALL mana screwed and you did it to them.
I would suggest replacing the cluestones and Marble Diamond for the signets from the original Ravnica.
Tragic Slip is underwhelming in the format. You want your removal to hit multiple threats or to hit a variety of threats. Pick Day of Judgement or Life's Finale instead.
Finally, you have way too many expensive spells and very few things to play early on. You'll find out you either need more mana rocks or something to keep you in the game early.
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Currently Building:
WUBGR - Enchantment Realms - WUBGR
An all-enchantment EDH deck: 0 creatures, 0 artifacts, 0 instants and sorceries.
My friends run Niv/Curiosity, Jhaora, and the Bant angel lady. They're pretty cutthroat and love to go infinite by around turn 6/7, and one of 'em likes to counter everything. I know going in that I'm going to lose a lot, but that doesn't mean I'm not going to try... and I think that means land destruction.
If I go land destruction, and I do want to, I'll want the crucible. Also, Cataclysm which I forgot to put in the want list.
Some of the stuff I threw into my deck was just so I'd have a deck to play. Sunblast Angel for instance, definitely does not do well with Kaalia. I'll take the majority of it out for the stuff on the cheap list (I'll probably just drop the 10$ for all of it)
What are the most important cards I don't own, do you think?
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Standard BBlack AggroB Modern CAffinityC Legacy RBlood Moon PainterR EDH WBRKaaliaRBW RWTajicWR GWTrostaniWG WGRBUSliversUBRGW RUGRiku, of Two ReflectionsGUR
How are friends comboing? Infinite tokens, infinite turns, infinite non-creature damage? If you know what you're going to target, there are other solutions.
I'm not the expert on mana denial, but if you go that route and in those colors these might help:
Just be careful that some of these might hurt you. If you need ideas, you might check my pillow fort decklist (link in signature). It uses a different strategy, but has the ability to stop a lot of infinite combos.
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Currently Building:
WUBGR - Enchantment Realms - WUBGR
An all-enchantment EDH deck: 0 creatures, 0 artifacts, 0 instants and sorceries.
Also I think Mass LD is vital in this deck and the best way to make it successful. If you don't have it you'll get run-over by permission decks or green ramp.
This is not a suggestion if your doing this on a strict budget but one of the new cards from dragons maze Master of Cruelties seems like it can be a powerhouse for Kaalia. Especially with Rogue's Passage, just a thought.
Went to FNM, didn't compete just traded. Picked up an Iona + Baneslayer in a trade for some Innistrad duals.
This is my current decklist, and the maybeboard has been changed a bit.
One issue I'm having, is finding some of these cards in stock. If I hadn't traded for Iona and Baneslayer, my shop wouldn't have had them...
I actually do like a lot of these budget suggestions!
I'll probably head to a store that caters more to EDH players to pick up a list of cheap stuff.
As for Sunblast Angel... that's the joke
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Standard BBlack AggroB Modern CAffinityC Legacy RBlood Moon PainterR EDH WBRKaaliaRBW RWTajicWR GWTrostaniWG WGRBUSliversUBRGW RUGRiku, of Two ReflectionsGUR
If you're interested, I have a well-written Primer on this commander in my sig. And, while it is intended for 1v1, I do make several options for moving to a multiplayer mode, and on top of that I have a tuned "Baseline" decklist using just commons, uncommons, and the commander itself, which is perfect for someone starting out to get a feel for what the deck can do without dropping large sums of money on the deck as a whole in case it turns out to be something they don't want to pursue after all/in case someone doesn't have the $$$ to make a fully powered Kaalia deck and wants to upgrade as they go at their own pace.
Winter Orb would be another good addition to mana denial, IMO. I'd cram in more mana-rocks if you intend to blow up the lands or keep them from untapping.
Boseiju will keep your sorcery speed lando from getting countered. At that point you only have to worry about resolving and protecting your general. The most successful Kalia decks I've seen have been either full on stax or just chock full of creatures and ramp.
Kaalia of the Vast
1 Kaalia of the Vast
Creatures
1x Aegis Angel
1x Angel of Despair
1x Angel of Serenity
1x Angelic Skirmisher
1x Aurelia, the Warleader
1x Avacyn, Angel of Hope
1x Balefire Dragon
1x Baneslayer Angel
1x Bloodgift Demon
1x Bogardan Hellkite
1x Disciple of Bolas
1x Dragon Tyrant
1x Eternal Dragon
1x Gisela, Blade of Goldnight
1x Harvester of Souls
1x Hellkite Charger
1x Hellkite Tyrant
1x Iona, Shield of Emeria
1x Karmic Guide
1x Kokusho, the Evening Star
1x Lord of the Void
1x Rakdos the Defiler
1x Rune-Scarred Demon
1x Sire Of Insanity
1x Thunder Dragon
Planeswalkers
1 Liliana Vess
Artifacts
1x Boros Signet
1x Champion's Helm
1x Chromatic Lantern
1x Darksteel Ingot
1x Darksteel Plate
1x Lightning Greaves
1x Orzhov Signet
1x Rakdos Signet
1x Sol Ring
1x Debtors' Knell
1x Fervor
1x Greed
1x Phyrexian Reclamation
Instants
1x Boros Charm
1x Chaos Warp
1x Cloudshift
1x Condemn
1x Dawn Charm
1x Mortify
1x Rakdos Charm
1x Swords to Plowshares
1x Terminate
1x Wear // Tear
Sorceries
1x Akroma's Vengeance
1x Ambition's Cost
1x Ancient Craving
1x Armageddon
1x Diabolic Revelation
1x Increasing Ambition
1x Merciless Eviction
1x Obzedat's Aid
1x Terminus
1x Torrent of Souls
1x Unburial Rites
1x Vandalblast
1x Wrath of God
Lands
1x Akoum Refuge
1x Barren Moor
1x Blood Crypt
1x Bojuka Bog
1x Boros Guildgate
1x Command Tower
1x Evolving Wilds
1x Exotic Orchard
1x Graven Cairns
4x Mountain
1x Opal Palace
1x Orzhov Basilica
1x Orzhov Guildgate
4x Plains
1x Rakdos Guildgate
1x Reliquary Tower
1x Rogue's Passage
1x Rugged Prairie
1x Rupture Spire
1x Sacred Foundry
3x Swamp
1x Temple of the False God
1x Terramorphic Expanse
1x Thespian's Stage
1x Transguild Promenade
1x Vault of the Archangel
1x Vivid Crag
1x Vivid Marsh
1x Vivid Meadow
It's still not finished, like any good EDH deck it probably never will be. I have many other EDH decks, but this EDH deck is mine.
BBlack AggroB
Modern
CAffinityC
Legacy
RBlood Moon PainterR
EDH
WBRKaaliaRBW
RWTajicWR
GWTrostaniWG
WGRBUSliversUBRGW
RUGRiku, of Two ReflectionsGUR
Long live the Legion
From what I see on your decklist and wishlist, Enlightened Tutor is not needed as you don't seem to rely on Artifacts and Enchantments. Besides fetching an Eldrazi Conscription, you don't have that great target for it. That will save you 30 bucks.
Skeletal Scrying is an amazing card draw, don't underestimate it.
You don't have a way to abuse Crucible of Worlds, so I don't see a reason you should fork the cash for it. The only thing is it + Ghost Quarter or other land destruction, but even in this case you might not want to go that path.
Jolkuhaups and Armageddon won't earn you friends. I would stay clear of the land destruction route, especially if your group is not cutthroat. Think about how lame it is if you're mana screwed. Now think about how your buddies feels when they are ALL mana screwed and you did it to them.
I would suggest replacing the cluestones and Marble Diamond for the signets from the original Ravnica.
Tragic Slip is underwhelming in the format. You want your removal to hit multiple threats or to hit a variety of threats. Pick Day of Judgement or Life's Finale instead.
There are better cheap alternatives than Mask of Avacyn. Pick a Sword of Vengeance instead.
Finally, you have way too many expensive spells and very few things to play early on. You'll find out you either need more mana rocks or something to keep you in the game early.
WUBGR - Enchantment Realms - WUBGR
An all-enchantment EDH deck: 0 creatures, 0 artifacts, 0 instants and sorceries.
GBUWR - The Necrotic Teenager and its 1,000,000 Combos - GBUWR
A deck built around Necrotic Ooze and its many friends.
My friends run Niv/Curiosity, Jhaora, and the Bant angel lady. They're pretty cutthroat and love to go infinite by around turn 6/7, and one of 'em likes to counter everything. I know going in that I'm going to lose a lot, but that doesn't mean I'm not going to try... and I think that means land destruction.
If I go land destruction, and I do want to, I'll want the crucible. Also, Cataclysm which I forgot to put in the want list.
Some of the stuff I threw into my deck was just so I'd have a deck to play. Sunblast Angel for instance, definitely does not do well with Kaalia. I'll take the majority of it out for the stuff on the cheap list (I'll probably just drop the 10$ for all of it)
What are the most important cards I don't own, do you think?
BBlack AggroB
Modern
CAffinityC
Legacy
RBlood Moon PainterR
EDH
WBRKaaliaRBW
RWTajicWR
GWTrostaniWG
WGRBUSliversUBRGW
RUGRiku, of Two ReflectionsGUR
Long live the Legion
I'm not the expert on mana denial, but if you go that route and in those colors these might help:
Planar Birth is fun if they run very few basic lands.
Flagstones of Trokair
Blood Moon
Aura of Silence
Suppression Field
Stony Silence
Defense Grid for the guy with the counters.
Trinisphere
The indestructible artifact lands from the original Mirrodin.
Just be careful that some of these might hurt you. If you need ideas, you might check my pillow fort decklist (link in signature). It uses a different strategy, but has the ability to stop a lot of infinite combos.
WUBGR - Enchantment Realms - WUBGR
An all-enchantment EDH deck: 0 creatures, 0 artifacts, 0 instants and sorceries.
GBUWR - The Necrotic Teenager and its 1,000,000 Combos - GBUWR
A deck built around Necrotic Ooze and its many friends.
Also I think Mass LD is vital in this deck and the best way to make it successful. If you don't have it you'll get run-over by permission decks or green ramp.
Check my Sig Decklist for more ideas.
Rafiq of the Many UWG
Sedris, the Traitor King URB
Kaalia of the Vast RWB
Savra, Queen of Golgari GB
Trostani, Selesnya's Voice GW
Eight-and-a-Half-Tails EquipmentW
"Oh..snap..Curiosity came out...I think I'll win, though, instead of you..."
Also, Sunblast Angel kills Kaalia. No good.
Signature and Avatar by Inkfox Aesthetics
Went to FNM, didn't compete just traded. Picked up an Iona + Baneslayer in a trade for some Innistrad duals.
This is my current decklist, and the maybeboard has been changed a bit.
One issue I'm having, is finding some of these cards in stock. If I hadn't traded for Iona and Baneslayer, my shop wouldn't have had them...
I actually do like a lot of these budget suggestions!
I'll probably head to a store that caters more to EDH players to pick up a list of cheap stuff.
As for Sunblast Angel... that's the joke
BBlack AggroB
Modern
CAffinityC
Legacy
RBlood Moon PainterR
EDH
WBRKaaliaRBW
RWTajicWR
GWTrostaniWG
WGRBUSliversUBRGW
RUGRiku, of Two ReflectionsGUR
Long live the Legion
Steel Sabotage'ng Orbs of Mellowness since 2011.
Boseiju will keep your sorcery speed lando from getting countered. At that point you only have to worry about resolving and protecting your general. The most successful Kalia decks I've seen have been either full on stax or just chock full of creatures and ramp.
Sydri's Magical Castle WUB
Chainer, Dementia Master: "Bring out your dead!" BBB
Riku Because Copying Decimate URG
Xira Arien, Jund StaxBRG
The Sylvan-Primordial-PlasmBUG
Trostani ComboGW
Vizkopa Guildmage - Peasant VariantBW