Wow. Uncommon dragons. At the very least, the baseline Kaalia is getting three actual good creatures. And there's one red Dragon at common, as I hear.
The white one is interesting, as it doesn't have Flameblast Syndrome as according to it's wording, but it's an effect we want online before we swing, not during. The red one is like a miniature Balefire Dragon. The black one is the least interesting, but still a viable option for said baseline deck.
I found the uncommon dragons underwhelming for a tuned Kaalia build, but Shockmaw Dragon is probably the best of the three that works in Kaalia's colors.
I think Kaalia decks will have their best potential for creature picks in the next expansion. I'll be surprised if no dragon in that set can be used in our decks.
Wow. Uncommon dragons. At the very least, the baseline Kaalia is getting three actual good creatures. And there's one red Dragon at common, as I hear.
The white one is interesting, as it doesn't have Flameblast Syndrome as according to it's wording, but it's an effect we want online before we swing, not during. The red one is like a miniature Balefire Dragon. The black one is the least interesting, but still a viable option for said baseline deck.
With that said, the baseline deck currently only has 15 Kaalia targets. That number needed to come up, but what do you think we end up cutting to make room for it?
Wow. Uncommon dragons. At the very least, the baseline Kaalia is getting three actual good creatures. And there's one red Dragon at common, as I hear.
The white one is interesting, as it doesn't have Flameblast Syndrome as according to it's wording, but it's an effect we want online before we swing, not during. The red one is like a miniature Balefire Dragon. The black one is the least interesting, but still a viable option for said baseline deck.
With that said, the baseline deck currently only has 15 Kaalia targets. That number needed to come up, but what do you think we end up cutting to make room for it?
Additionally, these are all better than some of the current choices too.
Welp the common dragon was spoiled. It's not good (many compare it to a Lava Axe, although I don't completely agree with that assessment). It's still just not good.
I've got a 1v1 EDH tournament with the normal banlist in two weeks, anybody have experience or tips against Geist, GAAIV and Karador? or specific decks i should watch out for?
Geist & GAAIV are Kaalia's toughest match-ups just by nature. Just the nature of the permission beast. Karador will likely play the attrition game much better than we do, and our discard is less-than-effective. Maybe try adding a Ravenous Trap or Rest in Peace? You're already playing Angel of Finality & Rakdos Charm, right?
I want to say Animar is winnable. It's not easy, from my assessments on it (Lightning Bolt is pretty clutch here, or else Chaos Warp or Hallowed Burial it away). Can't comment on Prossh. I don't foresee any difficulty with Teeg. Derevi is...nothing can be done. Even under Abolisher/Grid, Derevi still costs four, has flying, and blocks favourably with Kaalia all day. Additionally they have a better colour palette than we do (sad to admit, but there's no denying Bant > Mardu). You need Pithing Needle for Darevi...but this is the colours that have both Aura Shards, cheap, targeted permission, and enough durdle dudes to trigger Shards at will (and Wargate to find it as well).
I mainly play Oloro esper PW control online (uses multiplayer rules for 1v1) and play Kaalia 1v1 on paper (same rule set minus drawing while on the play).
I can say that Humility wrecks many decks and 4+ creature board wipes and an additional 3-4 noncreature board wipes makes things worse. Unless Kaalia is being recasted 3 times in a row WITH HASTE, blue decks shouldn't really have an issue. Plus running 15 PWs helps prevent Kaalia's trigger.
What hurts me the most:
Getting Kaalia out early while tapped out.
Waiting to stick protection first rather than running out threats (which sooo many people do - play her into open mana). Cards like Defense Grid, Grand Abolisher, Earnest Fellowship
Play hand distruption too early. As in, thoughtseize t1 is ok but if you aren't going to cast a threat that turn or the next, the Ux player has a few turns to draw into an answer or tutor for one.
Side note: I added in my Oloro deck 4 delve cards, so hand distruption (like lily and hymn) don't hurt as much (Dig Through Time, Treasure Cruise, Logic Knot) --- therefore GY hate can go a long way. More relic of prog running around. Also, Tormond's Crypt (which I also added recently) has been pulling its weight A LOT.
I'm playing in a local Duel-Commander event tonight, and I will be bringing Kaalia with me. I'll be testing a handful of cards over others "on the fly", and I'll let y'all know my thoughts on them after the event.
As expected, this is one of our worst match-ups. I feel I played optimally. G1 he's on the play (this is a recurring theme tonight) and I never got much to stick. Cool play when he kicked Into the Roil on Kaalia and I Fork'd it to Wydwen, then resolved Nevermore, naming Wydwen. Still, it wasn't enough as he always had an answer to my threats (I flooded out a good deal too). G2 I lead with a Thoughtseize into Vampire Hexmage (inb4 what? New cards?). Hexmage went the distance, (and blanked the Jace, the Mind Sculptor in his hand) but he ran a Vendilion Clique which was joined by Wydwen in a couple turns. I brought him to seven, then Boros Charm'd his face to bring him to three, but it wasn't enough. Overall I liked Hexmage's performance and I feel like it can get a spot in the deck -- it comes down early, good blocker (first strike) and can get some damage in, and can kill Planeswalkers. It's like our own little Qasali Pridemage.
His deck was a multiplayer deck so I can't really call this tier'd at all. G1 he's on the play versus my t2 Earnest Fellowship, which he can't do anything about all game. I Rakdos'd him, then attacked with Rakdos again, and then a third time to finish him off. G2 I mull once while he meets my t2 Sinkhole and skips his third land drop while I drop double Signets into Liliana of the Veil. He hits his next land drop now (still two lands down) and I drop Kaalia. He responds with a Black Sun for two while I just make land drops and play Kaalia again. His turn he full taps for Diabolic Tutor (getting Black Sun again) but I untap, rip a seventh land, and hardcast Rune-Scarred Demon which finds Master of Cruelties.
Another non-tier'd deck sigh. G1 I Sinkhole'd t2 on the play and then land t4 Kaalia. She lets me know she has an effect for my combat step, so I play Wasteland and take out her dual, and she can't cast the spell. So I attack and lead a Steel Hellkite onto the board, pumping occasionally. She untaps and Murders Kaalia while I bash with Hellkite and add a Bloodgift Demon to the fray. Both go unchecked for the rest of the game. G2 she is on the play again and even hits a t0 Archive Trap after I Enlightened Tutor. However, she is stuck on two lands all game, neither of which produce U. I hit my land drops, then curve Kaalia into Angel of Finality (irrelevant, but was a body here). I attack a couple of times before blind top decking Master of Cruelties for the win.
I won two packs for my 2-1 run, both of which were KTK. First pack had Wooded Foothills & foilIcy Blast, while the second pack had Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker. So that was cool. Below here's the changes I made for this. Some of them need more time though in order to analyze.
Strip Mine --> Mikokoro, Center of the Sea (It was just a thought. No idea if it should have a regular spot, but the idea was to use it like a Temple Bell; draw on their end step so we can use the card first. Just a way to help when we run low on cards).
Surveyor's Scope --> Pithing Needle
Sol Ring --> Mind Stone (Tried this last minute over Commander's Sphere. It did it's job well enough).
Tidehollow Sculler --> Castigate
Thundermaw Hellkite --> Addle (I like this more than Tidehollow Sculler).
Necropolis Fiend --> Griselbrand
Path to Exile --> Mana Tithe
Crackling Doom --> Demon of Wailing Agonies (with the Lighthouse, playing actual edicts doesn't feel as necessary, I think).
Mind Twist --> Vampire Hexmage (Totes a fan of this guy).
Hallowed Burial --> Rest in Peace
Cataclysm --> Helm of Obedience
Necropotence --> Nevermore (This needs a regular spot too).
Chaos Warp --> Fire Covenant
Hellkite Tyrant --> Angel of Despair
Blinding Angel --> Distress
Baneslayer Angel --> Damnation
Vault of the Archangel --> Arcane Lighthouse (I like this change and I believe this will be the regular cut).
I played fewer threats than normal as I didn't know the meta so I wanted more disruption. Not sure how much it helped me since I won against two non-tiers and lost to the one tier'd list.
I hope i get to run into non-tiers :). How good was Nevermore? and what would u consider cutting for it?
Have u had a chance to test Overseer of the Damned and Necropolis Fiend? do u have a preference between the two? I'm slanting towards Necropolis at the moment
I hope i get to run into non-tiers :). How good was Nevermore? and what would u consider cutting for it?
Have u had a chance to test Overseer of the Damned and Necropolis Fiend? do u have a preference between the two? I'm slanting towards Necropolis at the moment
I do not know what I would cut for Nevermore, but it does need a spot, for sure. I enjoyed it in the one game I pulled it. Wydwen had to resort to dealing thirty to me with a V-Clique in order to win.
I think Overseer will be stronger than Necropolis, unless you can reliably kill two things with the Fiend every time you see him. I'm not sure we can since, we're not filling our 'Yard that easily. Right now I'm back to playing Angel of Despair in that spot, which is better because it answers more crap.
Playing non-tiers is easy to win packs with, but it's no fun. I'd rather lose close, hard fought fights because those will teach me more, than win easy matches against bad decks because those don't help me improve.
True2, to improve. but when a Tundra is on the line, hell i'd take out non-tiers all day long if i have to lol
How many threats did you run in the tourney? u mentioned u ran less
Suppose we cast Necropolis Fiend with Kaalia, i think taking out 2 threats should be feasible. The tokens generated by Overseer don't really do much for me. Despair remained in my list and never left, i just love the vindicate on a stick
True2, to improve. but when a Tundra is on the line, hell i'd take out non-tiers all day long if i have to lol
How many threats did you run in the tourney? u mentioned u ran less
Suppose we cast Necropolis Fiend with Kaalia, i think taking out 2 threats should be feasible. The tokens generated by Overseer don't really do much for me. Despair remained in my list and never left, i just love the vindicate on a stick
Well yeah, money is money. Here, it was just packs. One pack/match win. I just happened to rip a Foothills and a Sarkhan from my two.
My threats were Rakdos, Bloodgift, Master, Despair, Sire, Rune-Scarred, Grisel, Yosei, Finality, Wailing Agonies, & Steel. Of course there was a few bears in Abolisher, Bob, & Hexmage. Finality didn't do a lot, but that is likely because I didn't run into any graveyard decks (although there was a Grenzo combo with Worldgorger there). A lot of cards I didn't draw, the main ones were Rune-scarred, MoC, Wailing Agonies, Steel, Hexmage, & Finality. I tutoured for Sire once, which got Seize'd.
As for Fiend, I just don't see how we're consistently filling the 'Yard, when we have cards such as Scrying (which was countered every time I cast it). Like I can fill up the 'Yard early on with my fetches and discard spells. But that's not near as reliable as XUB, or Burn decks filling the 'Yard for a Treasure Cruise.
Because I primarily use it to deal with a commander, which you can't really do in Duel-Commander. Although it remains one of our best answers to Animar, it still under performs here in that role as it'd read "2R: Put Animar in the command zone and give them a free permanent to replace it." As you'd imagine, that's not very good for us. Hallowed Burial was replaced by Damnation, but the only time I drew it was versus Wydwen, where it just isn't good (it was discarded to Liliana).
I didn't get enough testing on the Demon. I saw it a lot, but like I said, two decks were bad and not a fair representation, and versus Wydwen I never cast it. it is good off Kaalia but otherwise it is subpar.
Thanks for the reply, i had no idea Duel Commander was without the ability to tuck your commander. makes sense, evens the playing field for colors with less or no tutors
3drinks, well done on smashing face. By playing Kaalia, I would bet that people will tune their decks so that their decks become better and then eventually you'll have the close games that you want. Your presence actually improves your meta game, so well done for showing the monstrosity of Kaalia.
With that being said, is it smart to just simply maindeck Pyroblast and Red Elemental Blast? It seems that the only decks that would beat Kaalia consistently enough are blue based tempo decks. So proactively having answers and/or vindicates seems pretty good, and in the games that you aren't playing blue based (which I would bet to be unlikely), I think you win faster than them. I think it would be ok to draw two dead cards to improve the harder matches. Did they allow side-boarding at this tourney you went to? I hope that they do. I play multi-player and there is ALWAYS two blue-based decks at the table at any time so Pyroblast and its cousin are nver, ever dead so my observations might be a little skewed.
Steel Sabotage'ng Orbs of Mellowness since 2011.
The white one is interesting, as it doesn't have Flameblast Syndrome as according to it's wording, but it's an effect we want online before we swing, not during. The red one is like a miniature Balefire Dragon. The black one is the least interesting, but still a viable option for said baseline deck.
Steel Sabotage'ng Orbs of Mellowness since 2011.
I think Kaalia decks will have their best potential for creature picks in the next expansion. I'll be surprised if no dragon in that set can be used in our decks.
With that said, the baseline deck currently only has 15 Kaalia targets. That number needed to come up, but what do you think we end up cutting to make room for it?
www.commandercast.com
Commandercast on Tumblr!
My EDH/Commander List:
Wedges:
Numot, the Devastator RWU
Damia, Sage of Stone GUB
Niv-Mizzet, Dracogenius
Olivia Voldaren
Additionally, these are all better than some of the current choices too.
Steel Sabotage'ng Orbs of Mellowness since 2011.
Steel Sabotage'ng Orbs of Mellowness since 2011.
Steel Sabotage'ng Orbs of Mellowness since 2011.
Appreciate the reply, yes i am running both those cards
Steel Sabotage'ng Orbs of Mellowness since 2011.
Steel Sabotage'ng Orbs of Mellowness since 2011.
I can say that Humility wrecks many decks and 4+ creature board wipes and an additional 3-4 noncreature board wipes makes things worse. Unless Kaalia is being recasted 3 times in a row WITH HASTE, blue decks shouldn't really have an issue. Plus running 15 PWs helps prevent Kaalia's trigger.
What hurts me the most:
Side note: I added in my Oloro deck 4 delve cards, so hand distruption (like lily and hymn) don't hurt as much (Dig Through Time, Treasure Cruise, Logic Knot) --- therefore GY hate can go a long way. More relic of prog running around. Also, Tormond's Crypt (which I also added recently) has been pulling its weight A LOT.
I buy HP and Damaged cards!
Only EDH:
Sigarda, Host of Herons: Enchantress' Enchantments
Jenara, Asura of War: ETB Value Town
Purphoros, God of the Forge: Global Punishment
Xenagos, God of Revels: Ramp, Sneak, & Heavy Hitters
Ghave, Guru of Spores: Dies_to_Doom_Blade's stax list
Edric, Spymaster of Trest: Donald's list
Steel Sabotage'ng Orbs of Mellowness since 2011.
First Round vs Wydwen, the Biting Gale (0-2).
As expected, this is one of our worst match-ups. I feel I played optimally. G1 he's on the play (this is a recurring theme tonight) and I never got much to stick. Cool play when he kicked Into the Roil on Kaalia and I Fork'd it to Wydwen, then resolved Nevermore, naming Wydwen. Still, it wasn't enough as he always had an answer to my threats (I flooded out a good deal too). G2 I lead with a Thoughtseize into Vampire Hexmage (inb4 what? New cards?). Hexmage went the distance, (and blanked the Jace, the Mind Sculptor in his hand) but he ran a Vendilion Clique which was joined by Wydwen in a couple turns. I brought him to seven, then Boros Charm'd his face to bring him to three, but it wasn't enough. Overall I liked Hexmage's performance and I feel like it can get a spot in the deck -- it comes down early, good blocker (first strike) and can get some damage in, and can kill Planeswalkers. It's like our own little Qasali Pridemage.
Second Round vs Erebos, God of the Dead (2-0).
His deck was a multiplayer deck so I can't really call this tier'd at all. G1 he's on the play versus my t2 Earnest Fellowship, which he can't do anything about all game. I Rakdos'd him, then attacked with Rakdos again, and then a third time to finish him off. G2 I mull once while he meets my t2 Sinkhole and skips his third land drop while I drop double Signets into Liliana of the Veil. He hits his next land drop now (still two lands down) and I drop Kaalia. He responds with a Black Sun for two while I just make land drops and play Kaalia again. His turn he full taps for Diabolic Tutor (getting Black Sun again) but I untap, rip a seventh land, and hardcast Rune-Scarred Demon which finds Master of Cruelties.
Third Round vs Mirko Vosk, Mind Drinker (2-0).
Another non-tier'd deck sigh. G1 I Sinkhole'd t2 on the play and then land t4 Kaalia. She lets me know she has an effect for my combat step, so I play Wasteland and take out her dual, and she can't cast the spell. So I attack and lead a Steel Hellkite onto the board, pumping occasionally. She untaps and Murders Kaalia while I bash with Hellkite and add a Bloodgift Demon to the fray. Both go unchecked for the rest of the game. G2 she is on the play again and even hits a t0 Archive Trap after I Enlightened Tutor. However, she is stuck on two lands all game, neither of which produce U. I hit my land drops, then curve Kaalia into Angel of Finality (irrelevant, but was a body here). I attack a couple of times before blind top decking Master of Cruelties for the win.
I won two packs for my 2-1 run, both of which were KTK. First pack had Wooded Foothills & foil Icy Blast, while the second pack had Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker. So that was cool. Below here's the changes I made for this. Some of them need more time though in order to analyze.
Strip Mine --> Mikokoro, Center of the Sea (It was just a thought. No idea if it should have a regular spot, but the idea was to use it like a Temple Bell; draw on their end step so we can use the card first. Just a way to help when we run low on cards).
Surveyor's Scope --> Pithing Needle
Sol Ring --> Mind Stone (Tried this last minute over Commander's Sphere. It did it's job well enough).
Tidehollow Sculler --> Castigate
Thundermaw Hellkite --> Addle (I like this more than Tidehollow Sculler).
Necropolis Fiend --> Griselbrand
Path to Exile --> Mana Tithe
Crackling Doom --> Demon of Wailing Agonies (with the Lighthouse, playing actual edicts doesn't feel as necessary, I think).
Mind Twist --> Vampire Hexmage (Totes a fan of this guy).
Hallowed Burial --> Rest in Peace
Cataclysm --> Helm of Obedience
Necropotence --> Nevermore (This needs a regular spot too).
Chaos Warp --> Fire Covenant
Hellkite Tyrant --> Angel of Despair
Blinding Angel --> Distress
Baneslayer Angel --> Damnation
Vault of the Archangel --> Arcane Lighthouse (I like this change and I believe this will be the regular cut).
I played fewer threats than normal as I didn't know the meta so I wanted more disruption. Not sure how much it helped me since I won against two non-tiers and lost to the one tier'd list.
Steel Sabotage'ng Orbs of Mellowness since 2011.
Have u had a chance to test Overseer of the Damned and Necropolis Fiend? do u have a preference between the two? I'm slanting towards Necropolis at the moment
I do not know what I would cut for Nevermore, but it does need a spot, for sure. I enjoyed it in the one game I pulled it. Wydwen had to resort to dealing thirty to me with a V-Clique in order to win.
I think Overseer will be stronger than Necropolis, unless you can reliably kill two things with the Fiend every time you see him. I'm not sure we can since, we're not filling our 'Yard that easily. Right now I'm back to playing Angel of Despair in that spot, which is better because it answers more crap.
Playing non-tiers is easy to win packs with, but it's no fun. I'd rather lose close, hard fought fights because those will teach me more, than win easy matches against bad decks because those don't help me improve.
Steel Sabotage'ng Orbs of Mellowness since 2011.
How many threats did you run in the tourney? u mentioned u ran less
Suppose we cast Necropolis Fiend with Kaalia, i think taking out 2 threats should be feasible. The tokens generated by Overseer don't really do much for me. Despair remained in my list and never left, i just love the vindicate on a stick
Well yeah, money is money. Here, it was just packs. One pack/match win. I just happened to rip a Foothills and a Sarkhan from my two.
My threats were Rakdos, Bloodgift, Master, Despair, Sire, Rune-Scarred, Grisel, Yosei, Finality, Wailing Agonies, & Steel. Of course there was a few bears in Abolisher, Bob, & Hexmage. Finality didn't do a lot, but that is likely because I didn't run into any graveyard decks (although there was a Grenzo combo with Worldgorger there). A lot of cards I didn't draw, the main ones were Rune-scarred, MoC, Wailing Agonies, Steel, Hexmage, & Finality. I tutoured for Sire once, which got Seize'd.
As for Fiend, I just don't see how we're consistently filling the 'Yard, when we have cards such as Scrying (which was countered every time I cast it). Like I can fill up the 'Yard early on with my fetches and discard spells. But that's not near as reliable as XUB, or Burn decks filling the 'Yard for a Treasure Cruise.
Steel Sabotage'ng Orbs of Mellowness since 2011.
Lastly, why was Chaos Warp replaced by Fire Covenant?
Very solid pulls, congrats 3drinks
Because I primarily use it to deal with a commander, which you can't really do in Duel-Commander. Although it remains one of our best answers to Animar, it still under performs here in that role as it'd read "2R: Put Animar in the command zone and give them a free permanent to replace it." As you'd imagine, that's not very good for us. Hallowed Burial was replaced by Damnation, but the only time I drew it was versus Wydwen, where it just isn't good (it was discarded to Liliana).
I didn't get enough testing on the Demon. I saw it a lot, but like I said, two decks were bad and not a fair representation, and versus Wydwen I never cast it. it is good off Kaalia but otherwise it is subpar.
Steel Sabotage'ng Orbs of Mellowness since 2011.
I haven't yet because I literally just played my first Duel-Commander game last night.
Steel Sabotage'ng Orbs of Mellowness since 2011.
With that being said, is it smart to just simply maindeck Pyroblast and Red Elemental Blast? It seems that the only decks that would beat Kaalia consistently enough are blue based tempo decks. So proactively having answers and/or vindicates seems pretty good, and in the games that you aren't playing blue based (which I would bet to be unlikely), I think you win faster than them. I think it would be ok to draw two dead cards to improve the harder matches. Did they allow side-boarding at this tourney you went to? I hope that they do. I play multi-player and there is ALWAYS two blue-based decks at the table at any time so Pyroblast and its cousin are nver, ever dead so my observations might be a little skewed.
UB Dralnu, Lich Lord
RBW [Primer]-Kaalia of the Vast
BUG [Primer]-Tasigur, the Golden Fang
GWU [Primer]-Arcades, the Strategist
WUB Primer-Aminatou, the Fateshifter
UBR Nicol Bolas, the Ravager