Kaalia, Heaven's Revenge (Dismantled) (EDH / Commander)

*Dismantled in March 2018. I played it too much and was ready to move on. It will make a repeat appearance some day down the road.

This deck is used in a moderately competitive meta.

Deck’s Win Conditions

1. Angel Rush – At full speed the deck can produce at least two large flying creatures per turn to overwhelm an opponent’s defenses.
2. Land Lock – The deck can still cast creatures without lands. Kaalia’s ability allows the deck to continue putting Angels onto the Battlefield and all the ramping tools are mana rocks.

Executing the Angel Rush
• Early Game – The primary goal of the early game is 1) to get a card draw engine on the battlefield and 2) find a method of protecting Kaalia. These are your Tutor Targets.
o Card Draw Engines
 Primary (4) – Phyrexian Arena, Underworld Connections, Mind’s Eye. Tutor into Arena and Connections first. Mind’s Eye tends to draw to much hate in the Early and Mid-game.
 Secondary (1) – Herald’s Horn.
o Protection Methods
 Permanently Indestructible (2) – Kindred Boon, That Which Was Taken
 From Spells and Effects (2) – Lightning Greaves, Swiftfoot Boots.
 Instants to Save Kaalia (1) – Boros Charm.
 Kaalia Pump (1) – Door of Destinies.
• Mid Game – Once both condition of the early game have been met, prepare for your first two Angel turn. An opponent’s natural tendency is to focus on Kaalia. Prepare to punish this reaction. Use the ETB effects of the other angels to protect Kaalia; overlap this protection. Give Kaalia as many indestructible effects as possible from different sources.
o Cast an Angel After-the-Attack – This places the most uncertainty when blocking as it allows you to use removal. They may also view your board and plan for a crack back. Often only attacking with Kaalia doesn’t bring as much hate as declaring with multiple Angels.
o Cast an Angel Before-the-Attack – Only if the Angel’s ETB ability is needed prior to the attack phase.
• End Game - There are typically two methods to push you through potential log jams in the End Game 1) Pillow Forts and 2) Board Wipes
o Pillow Forts – Crawlspace, Ghostly Prison, and Angels. These will slow down and opponent’s counter-attack. They likely don’t have means to stop all of your Angels because of their Evasion trains. The pillow forts and Angels with Vigilance should allow you to win race conditions.
o Creature Board Wipes – Earthquake, Fumigate, Wrath of God. By the end game many of your creatures will be indestructible. Wrath freely and often even if it cleans out a few of your creatures.

Executing a Land Lock
• Early Game – Same as the Angel Rush method.
• Mid Game – There are three objectives to the mid game
o Maintain Board Parity – Don’t become the head of the table. Stay in second but within reach of the top. You want to be a single “Two Angel Turn” behind the leader. Attempt to keep your opponents free of flying creatures that can block Kaalia.
o Find Armageddon – Use one of your tutors to sit on Armageddon.
o Withhold Lands – If you have more than 6 lands on the field, start holding them in your hand.
• Late Game – Drop your Armageddon and find a safe opponent for Kaalia to target. Don’t swing with everything if you don’t need to. Let the fact that you are producing a creature every turn whittle down your opponents. They likely won’t risk yours by attacking into your board.

Mana Strategy
• Primary mana base is WWWRB. This allows for a turn 4 Kaalia and likely a few double Angel turns afterward.
• Fetch Land Chains:
o Fetches (3) - Bloodstained Mire (BR), Arid Mesa (WR), Rocky Tar Pit (BR)
o Dual Land Targets (1) - Smoldering Marsh (BR).

Removal Package
• Exile Non-Land Permanents – Anguished Unmaking, Utter End
• Exile Creature of Enchant - Mortify
• Exile Creature – Path to Exile
• Destroy Creature - Terminate
• Exile Enchant or Artifact – Return to Dust

Archetype Answers
• Tron – Crawlspace.
• Aggro – Ghostly Prison, Crawlspace, Earthquake, Wrath of God, Fumigate.
• Control –
• Combo – Exile Non Land Package (2), Exile Artifact Package (1), Exile Enchantment Package (2).
• Stasis Decks – Exile Non Land Package (2), Exile Artifact Package (1), Exile Enchantment Package (2).
• Mono Color Speed – One of the Akroma Angels.