Heaven or Hell by DrZsasZ

Format: Commander

Commander: Kaalia of the Vast

Bracket: 4

DeckCheck Threat Index: 45

Deck overview

This Mardu deck utilizes Kaalia of the Vast to cheat colossal Angel, Demon, and Dragon permanents directly into combat without paying their mana costs. The early game focuses on deploying 2-mana acceleration, fixing colors, and establishing haste or protection through Lightning Greaves, Swiftfoot Boots, Grand Abolisher, or Mother of Runes. By Turn 4, Kaalia attacks to deploy game-ending threats like Master of Cruelties for single-target lethal damage, Avacyn, Angel of Hope to break parity on Armageddon, or Archfiend of Despair for devastating life-loss multipliers. Backed by an efficient reanimation package including Reanimate and Animate Dead, the deck maintains independent velocity if Kaalia is removed. A premier suite of free and low-cost defensive spells like Deflecting Swat, Flawless Maneuver, and Teferi's Protection ensures that combat steps and board states remain heavily shielded, closing the game within two response cycles.

Decklist (100 cards)

  • 1 Akroma's Will
  • 1 Ancient Copper Dragon
  • 1 Ancient Gold Dragon
  • 1 Animate Dead
  • 1 Arcane Signet
  • 1 Archfiend of Despair
  • 1 Arena of Glory
  • 1 Arid Mesa
  • 1 Armageddon
  • 1 Aurelia, the Warleader
  • 1 Avacyn, Angel of Hope
  • 1 Avacyn, Angel of Horror
  • 1 Balefire Dragon
  • 1 Bitter Reunion
  • 1 Blazemire Verge
  • 1 Bleachbone Verge
  • 1 Blood Crypt
  • 1 Bloodstained Mire
  • 1 Bloodthirster
  • 1 Cataclysm
  • 1 Cavern of Souls
  • 1 City of Brass
  • 1 Clifftop Retreat
  • 1 Command Tower
  • 1 Damn
  • 1 Dark Ritual
  • 1 Dawn's Truce
  • 1 Deflecting Swat
  • 1 Demonic Counsel
  • 1 Demonic Tutor
  • 1 Dragon Tempest
  • 1 Dragonskull Summit
  • 1 Entomb
  • 1 Esper Sentinel
  • 1 Faithless Looting
  • 1 Flawless Maneuver
  • 1 Giver of Runes
  • 1 Godless Shrine
  • 1 Grand Abolisher
  • 1 Hall of the Bandit Lord
  • 1 Hellkite Tyrant
  • 1 Hoarding Broodlord
  • 1 Isolated Chapel
  • 1 Kaalia of the Vast
  • 1 Kaalia, Zenith Seeker
  • 1 Lightning Greaves
  • 1 Lord of the Void
  • 1 Luxury Suite
  • 1 Malakir Rebirth // Malakir Mire
  • 1 Mana Confluence
  • 1 Marsh Flats
  • 1 Master of Cruelties
  • 1 Mother of Runes
  • 2 Mountain
  • 1 Necromancy
  • 1 Necropotence
  • 1 Path to Exile
  • 3 Plains
  • 1 Rakdos, Patron of Chaos
  • 1 Razaketh, the Foulblooded
  • 1 Reanimate
  • 1 Rune-Scarred Demon
  • 1 Sacred Foundry
  • 1 Savai Triome
  • 1 Saw in Half
  • 1 Sephara, Sky's Blade
  • 1 Serra's Emissary
  • 1 Shizo, Death's Storehouse
  • 1 Silent Clearing
  • 1 Smothering Tithe
  • 1 Sol Ring
  • 1 Spectator Seating
  • 1 Starting Town
  • 1 Summon: Bahamut
  • 1 Sunbaked Canyon
  • 4 Swamp
  • 1 Swiftfoot Boots
  • 1 Swords to Plowshares
  • 1 Talisman of Conviction
  • 1 Talisman of Hierarchy
  • 1 Talisman of Indulgence
  • 1 Teferi's Protection
  • 1 Terror of the Peaks
  • 1 The Mind Stone
  • 1 The One Ring
  • 1 The Soul Stone
  • 1 Twinflame Tyrant
  • 1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
  • 1 Valgavoth, Terror Eater
  • 1 Vampiric Tutor
  • 1 Vault of Champions
  • 1 Vilis, Broker of Blood
  • 1 Voice of Victory
  • 1 Wheel of Fortune