I made some modifications to the deck to play this FNM . My field ( Brazil in general) is packed with control decks ( Narset , Tasigur , Vendillon and GAA ) , so the choice to keep Pyroblast and REB on the deck.
The new mulligan rule really makes the deck worst. In the game against Elves I had a bit of luck , buying several sweepers .
I also used some spot removal like Lightning Bolt and thought I'd put some more (I was waiting games against Jenara too). Gaddock Tegg is almost a self win , it completely locks the deck.
I also had problems with Song of the Dryads and Nevermore . Against the first , could cast Wildfire and Nevermore was exiled with Karn .
I believe that I also won due the surprise factor . Nobody expected a MonoRed Control. I think I will have more difficulties in the next FNM .
G1 I locked the game with Winter Orb and Goblin Welder. I got Daretti's ultimate and then cast Karn.
G2 he came very fast. I mull for 5 cards and could not find answer to the elves that multiplied quickly.
G3 I kept a good hand with Anger of the Gods, Lightning Bolt, S. Demise, two mountains, one rock and a Pithing Needle. He filled the table of elves, I've killed everyone, he filled again, killed all over again. After I killed Ezuri with Bolt and Pithing Needle. He recovered, put more elves and I did not buy any WinCon. The round's time is up and we ended up tying. I gave the ultimate Daretti and Ugin last turn ...
Round 2 - vs. Skullbriar
G1 - This game was fantastic! He went down the Skull very fast and started beating. I could kill him once, but he soon recast him , beating again. When I was 10 life and 19 commander damage, could resolve a Jokulhaups with two mountains in hand. I went down mountain, then rocks, Daretti and he could not go back to the game.
G2 was impossible. He went down the Skull, killed with bolt. I could not buy the third land for a few turns and he used a Acidic Slime to destroy more land and win the match.
G3 I killed Skull three times in a row with bolt, demise and anger. I got Ensnaring Bridge which prevented him from attacking Daretti. I used the Ultimate and managed to enter the Mindslaver looping.
Round 3 - vs Narset
G1 started with land Welder. He with tap land, go. I walked fast with Winter Orb. He filed another tap land and gave brainstorm. I went to City of Traitors and Tangle Wire. This virtually ended his game. I waited for the right time pro Daretti but he had FOW ..... So what ??? I replied with a Pyroblast! hahaha
G2 start with land, I came down a rock, in his turn came a Dack Fayden but used a Red Elemental Blast, he did go on tilt. I used a blood moon (only 1 plains and 2 mountains on the deck ) and he was keen to take the match to the end, even when I had already done the Mindslaver loop. It was fun.
Round 4 - vs Marath
G1 I started with land, then after rock Daretti while he had a Lotus Cobra. I used the +2, in his turn attacked the Daretti leaving it to 3 and on my turn I cleaned his board with a Demise. He has tapped out so make a pod and sylvan library and I came back with Winter Orb. He could not time to prevent the ultimate Daretti.
G2 he used Nevermore in Daretti =( and when I got to use the 7 mana artifact to destroy the enchantment, it was too late.
G3 I got a fast turn 2 Blood Moon that destroyed his plans. He turned my Daretti in forest (song or the dryads) but I found a Wildfire to sacrifice my forest and have Daretti back. He gave the game then.
My deck is not yet complete. Still missing Duplicant, Gamble, Magus of the Moon, Kuldotha, Trinisphere) but he behaved well, holding the best decks tonight. I'm glad that I don't face Vendillon because it is a very difficult match for me. And I was lucky not to have any Gaddock today.
I'm trying to remember most interesting cards to the deck but I can not.
The deck is good, I have obtained good results with it. My greatest difficulty are against control (Keranos is a nightmare) and fast aggros (Zurgo , etc).
In the first game , I opened with Birds, then Sylvan Library and Captain Sisay . He tried a quick ramp , but gave no time because I brought Linvala, Sigarda and Jitte before he could get off the MW.
In the second game I started with dorks, but he cleaned my board with anger of the gods. This greatly slowed my game. He got a quick ramp , but I managed to cast Sisay with Hall of the Bandit Lord and take Gaddock that prevented the cast of the cascade spells with MW. The game became caught in the moment that I had a Thrun and monstrous Fleecemane Lion. Time ran out and in his last turn, he managed to make a Marit Lage token with haste, but I had a path to exile to save me and win 1-0.
This game was very fast and very bad for me . In game one, he came with 2 discard spells , Cabal Coffers , Urborg and Hatred. He discarded my ramp, then a path and attacked only once with the dragon using a Hatred to finish the game.
In game two, he hit a Languish at an important time of the game, cleaning my board and his next turn cast the dragon with haste and guess what: A hatred to close the game again . Impossible to hold .
In the first game I started with Elf, then Survival of the Fittest. This spell is incredibly powerful. Discard one Sigarda, catch Karmic Guide. Played the Karmic, reanimate Sigarda, then used a Regrowth to get Karmic and reanimate one Elesh Norn with Lightning Greaves ... gg.
In the second game he came up with those ridiculous hands: Mana, discard, mana Hymn, mana discard again, Lake of the dead, dragon, hit, hit, hit, gg.
In the third game I started with three lands, mull to five. I did not buy the fourth land for a few turns. My luck was that he came not aggressive, so I had time to go down one Thrun, then a Jitte. I killed hisdragon twice and cast Sisay. He had removal in hand but he missed and passed the turn for me without killing her. This gave me time to seek Dromoka DragonLord and equip with Lightning Greaves. Unfortunately, I could not kill him before time runs out and tied 1-1.
As I had no more chance in the tournament, I drop.
It is! But then they burn their lands aswell. Not alot of lists at the moment that are able to recover right now (elfball is completely gone as it seems). And living plane is always to be played after Elesh
I think I can try it! =D
I have a duel commander tournament tomorrow (+ - 30 players). I'll make a report early!
Living Plane with Elesh is a powerful combination . But I see no other situations where you can take advantage. It is a very dangerous card that can ruin your game. If your opponent responds Living Plane with a Toxic Deluge ....
Great man!!! Congrats!!! Your Zurgo's list is awesome! Great to see two 'almost tier 1' decks in the finals. I like Daretti too, but not found a competitive list to me!
1 Mana tithe works? I really don't like this card. That's a horrible draw in late game.
2 Why there's a lonely Sinkhole in the list?
3 I don't have a Damnation. Wrath of God is a good substitution?
Thank you and congrats for the list!
1) Lots of things are terrible late game. Duress, a fattie without Kaalia, Bitterblossom, Counterspell. That doesn't mean you should forgo playing them.
2) Because the tempo this card generates is out of this world. There's also the real probability you just put your opponent on tilt.
3) Wrath of God/Day of Judgment is an alright substitution. It's still that four drop "destroy everything" which is fine. Though the existence of Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth makes Damnation easier to cast (but I've taken great measures in getting the best mana fixing to cast anything you have on time). I think, the only land I could slot in is fetid Heath over Caves of Koilos for a [marginal] castability boost. But I don't think Heath's advantages are worth the $26 price tag when the painland will behave the same in 98% of situations. If you have one lying around then sure, I guess? It just isn't obligatory.
You're totally right!
It's all about tempo. The black counter is amazing too.
I performed some gaming tests with the changes suggested by yujipooji.
I feel the deck was much more dangerous. I not tested against any control, but against midrange and aggros decks the deck is deadly.
Mana 0 rocks giving a surprise effect in Kaalia, which makes almost won game. Hall of bandit is also a very strong card in this deck. Kaalia down in T3 with Haste (Hall of bandit and 0 mana rock) gets to be bizarre.
I played about 10 games against Marath. The win rate improved a lot. With the slower deck and less discard spells, I suffered a lot to keep Kaalia in the field, especially when the Marath came early in the game. With the surprise effect of the rocks, I can not wait he tapped out so down the Kaalia and hitting. Once a huge demon comes into play, everything turns in our favor. Of the 10 games, managed to win six.
I played against Gaddock 5 matches. Reaches pitiful. It starts with small creatures, beating hard. But just discard removals or key parts of the lock, down Kaalia accompanied by Grisel or Balefire Dragon and everything ends.
Against Animar played 5 matches. Every game that got a discard spell early in the game, I won. In the other two I started slow and he quickly combo my ass.
Must perform tests against control decks, which are my greatest fear. I believe that the discard spells will help a lot too.
I have to say thank you and congratulations agains. This is a great topic for a great Commander! <3
Thanks Man =)
I made some modifications to the deck to play this FNM . My field ( Brazil in general) is packed with control decks ( Narset , Tasigur , Vendillon and GAA ) , so the choice to keep Pyroblast and REB on the deck.
The new mulligan rule really makes the deck worst. In the game against Elves I had a bit of luck , buying several sweepers .
I also used some spot removal like Lightning Bolt and thought I'd put some more (I was waiting games against Jenara too). Gaddock Tegg is almost a self win , it completely locks the deck.
I also had problems with Song of the Dryads and Nevermore . Against the first , could cast Wildfire and Nevermore was exiled with Karn .
I believe that I also won due the surprise factor . Nobody expected a MonoRed Control. I think I will have more difficulties in the next FNM .
13 players and 4 rounds
Round 1 - vs Ezuri (Elves)
G1 I locked the game with Winter Orb and Goblin Welder. I got Daretti's ultimate and then cast Karn.
G2 he came very fast. I mull for 5 cards and could not find answer to the elves that multiplied quickly.
G3 I kept a good hand with Anger of the Gods, Lightning Bolt, S. Demise, two mountains, one rock and a Pithing Needle. He filled the table of elves, I've killed everyone, he filled again, killed all over again. After I killed Ezuri with Bolt and Pithing Needle. He recovered, put more elves and I did not buy any WinCon. The round's time is up and we ended up tying. I gave the ultimate Daretti and Ugin last turn ...
Round 2 - vs. Skullbriar
G1 - This game was fantastic! He went down the Skull very fast and started beating. I could kill him once, but he soon recast him , beating again. When I was 10 life and 19 commander damage, could resolve a Jokulhaups with two mountains in hand. I went down mountain, then rocks, Daretti and he could not go back to the game.
G2 was impossible. He went down the Skull, killed with bolt. I could not buy the third land for a few turns and he used a Acidic Slime to destroy more land and win the match.
G3 I killed Skull three times in a row with bolt, demise and anger. I got Ensnaring Bridge which prevented him from attacking Daretti. I used the Ultimate and managed to enter the Mindslaver looping.
Round 3 - vs Narset
G1 started with land Welder. He with tap land, go. I walked fast with Winter Orb. He filed another tap land and gave brainstorm. I went to City of Traitors and Tangle Wire. This virtually ended his game. I waited for the right time pro Daretti but he had FOW ..... So what ??? I replied with a Pyroblast! hahaha
G2 start with land, I came down a rock, in his turn came a Dack Fayden but used a Red Elemental Blast, he did go on tilt. I used a blood moon (only 1 plains and 2 mountains on the deck ) and he was keen to take the match to the end, even when I had already done the Mindslaver loop. It was fun.
Round 4 - vs Marath
G1 I started with land, then after rock Daretti while he had a Lotus Cobra. I used the +2, in his turn attacked the Daretti leaving it to 3 and on my turn I cleaned his board with a Demise. He has tapped out so make a pod and sylvan library and I came back with Winter Orb. He could not time to prevent the ultimate Daretti.
G2 he used Nevermore in Daretti =( and when I got to use the 7 mana artifact to destroy the enchantment, it was too late.
G3 I got a fast turn 2 Blood Moon that destroyed his plans. He turned my Daretti in forest (song or the dryads) but I found a Wildfire to sacrifice my forest and have Daretti back. He gave the game then.
My deck is not yet complete. Still missing Duplicant, Gamble, Magus of the Moon, Kuldotha, Trinisphere) but he behaved well, holding the best decks tonight. I'm glad that I don't face Vendillon because it is a very difficult match for me. And I was lucky not to have any Gaddock today.
Someone has more played with the deck ???
Hello Gao Qiu! =)
I do not think we should reconsider Pyro and REB ...
Our deck has a number of ways to recycle those cards and they greatly improved our match against blue based decks.
I'm in doubt about some cards and want help:
Memory Jar: What is the best situation that this card can be used? I do not know why, but not like it.
Sensei's Divining Top: The card is banned. We have a free slot, suggestions ?
I'm trying to remember most interesting cards to the deck but I can not.
The deck is good, I have obtained good results with it. My greatest difficulty are against control (Keranos is a nightmare) and fast aggros (Zurgo , etc).
Someone has played with the deck?
I played three tournaments since my last post . I will summarize them here:
Commander on august 21
16 players :
Match 01 against Maelstrom Wanderer :
In the first game , I opened with Birds, then Sylvan Library and Captain Sisay . He tried a quick ramp , but gave no time because I brought Linvala, Sigarda and Jitte before he could get off the MW.
In the second game I started with dorks, but he cleaned my board with anger of the gods. This greatly slowed my game. He got a quick ramp , but I managed to cast Sisay with Hall of the Bandit Lord and take Gaddock that prevented the cast of the cascade spells with MW. The game became caught in the moment that I had a Thrun and monstrous Fleecemane Lion. Time ran out and in his last turn, he managed to make a Marit Lage token with haste, but I had a path to exile to save me and win 1-0.
Match 02 against Skithiryx , the Blight Dragon
This game was very fast and very bad for me . In game one, he came with 2 discard spells , Cabal Coffers , Urborg and Hatred. He discarded my ramp, then a path and attacked only once with the dragon using a Hatred to finish the game.
In game two, he hit a Languish at an important time of the game, cleaning my board and his next turn cast the dragon with haste and guess what: A hatred to close the game again . Impossible to hold .
Match 03 against Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon (again)
In the first game I started with Elf, then Survival of the Fittest. This spell is incredibly powerful. Discard one Sigarda, catch Karmic Guide. Played the Karmic, reanimate Sigarda, then used a Regrowth to get Karmic and reanimate one Elesh Norn with Lightning Greaves ... gg.
In the second game he came up with those ridiculous hands: Mana, discard, mana Hymn, mana discard again, Lake of the dead, dragon, hit, hit, hit, gg.
In the third game I started with three lands, mull to five. I did not buy the fourth land for a few turns. My luck was that he came not aggressive, so I had time to go down one Thrun, then a Jitte. I killed hisdragon twice and cast Sisay. He had removal in hand but he missed and passed the turn for me without killing her. This gave me time to seek Dromoka DragonLord and equip with Lightning Greaves. Unfortunately, I could not kill him before time runs out and tied 1-1.
As I had no more chance in the tournament, I drop.
I will make the next report in another post! =D
I think I can try it! =D
I have a duel commander tournament tomorrow (+ - 30 players). I'll make a report early!
There is another topic(PRIMER) full of competitive lists and discussion:
http://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/the-game/commander-edh/forum-1-vs-1-commander-decklists/206319-traditional-commander-kaalia-of-the-vast?page=147#c3684
Hello 3drinks!
You played the FNM with the list?
You're totally right!
It's all about tempo. The black counter is amazing too.
I feel the deck was much more dangerous. I not tested against any control, but against midrange and aggros decks the deck is deadly.
Mana 0 rocks giving a surprise effect in Kaalia, which makes almost won game. Hall of bandit is also a very strong card in this deck. Kaalia down in T3 with Haste (Hall of bandit and 0 mana rock) gets to be bizarre.
I played about 10 games against Marath. The win rate improved a lot. With the slower deck and less discard spells, I suffered a lot to keep Kaalia in the field, especially when the Marath came early in the game. With the surprise effect of the rocks, I can not wait he tapped out so down the Kaalia and hitting. Once a huge demon comes into play, everything turns in our favor. Of the 10 games, managed to win six.
I played against Gaddock 5 matches. Reaches pitiful. It starts with small creatures, beating hard. But just discard removals or key parts of the lock, down Kaalia accompanied by Grisel or Balefire Dragon and everything ends.
Against Animar played 5 matches. Every game that got a discard spell early in the game, I won. In the other two I started slow and he quickly combo my ass.
Must perform tests against control decks, which are my greatest fear. I believe that the discard spells will help a lot too.
I have to say thank you and congratulations agains. This is a great topic for a great Commander! <3