Overview:

This Kaalia of the Vast deck is a focused aggro-combo build that leverages its commander's ability to cheat out high-impact Angels, Demons, and Dragons. While packing strong threats and protection, it lacks infinite combos and relies heavily on combat damage for wins. The deck shows optimized elements through efficient tutors and free interaction but suffers from commander dependency and limited recovery tools.

Primer:

Core Strategy:
This deck aims to resolve Kaalia by turn 3-4 using fast mana (Dark Ritual, Sol Ring) and swing immediately to deploy game-ending threats like Avacyn, Angel of Hope or Terror of the Peaks. Backup plans include hardcasting big creatures with treasure generators (Ancient Copper Dragon) and using Helm of the Host for value. The deck wins through overwhelming board presence and damage amplifiers like Gisela, Blade of Goldnight.

Key Phases:

1. Explosive Start (T1-3):
   • Prioritize mana rocks and protection (Mother of Runes, Esper Sentinel)
   • Use Vampiric Tutor/Demonic Tutor to find Kaalia enablers or key threats

2. Midgame Domination (T4-6):

   • Deploy Kaalia with haste enablers (Lightning Greaves, Dragon Tempest)
   • Cheat out staxy threats like Linvala, Keeper of Silence or Archfiend of Despair
   • Activate Razaketh, the Foulblooded for critical combo pieces

3. Endgame Closures:

   • Overwhelm with Aurelia, the Warleader extra combats
   • Lock out opponents via Teferi's Protection + board wipe recovery
   • Utilize Hellkite Tyrant as alternate wincon

Mulligan Priorities:

• Keep hands with 3 lands + 1-2 ramp pieces
• Prioritize protection (Flawless Maneuver, Deflecting Swat) over raw threats
• Reject hands without early plays or color fixing

Key Tips:

• Sequence threats to bait removal before committing Kaalia
• Use Phyrexian Reclamation to recycle key demons/angels
• Ancient Brass Dragon enables graveyard recursion for rebuilds

Avoid Traps:

• Overextending before establishing protection
• Keeping high-CMC hands without acceleration
• Wasting tutors on non-critical pieces

Weaknesses:

Critical:

• Commander removal vulnerability (no innate hexproof/indestructible)
• Limited recovery from mass exile effects (Farewell, Merciless Eviction)

Moderate:

• Struggles against flying hate (Aetherize, Settle the Wreckage)
• Weak to stax pieces taxing attacks (Propaganda, Ghostly Prison)

Minor:

• Mitigated by Grand Abolisher vs counterspells
• Smothering Tithe partially offsets card advantage deficits

Most Important Cards:

• Avacyn, Angel of Hope
• Terror of the Peaks
• Demonic Tutor
• Ancient Copper Dragon
• Vampiric Tutor
• Deflecting Swat
• Grand Abolisher
• Teferi's Protection
• Boros Charm
• Razaketh, the Foulblooded

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 7/10

• T3 Kaalia into T4 lethal possible with perfect draw
• Average goldfish win by T6-7 through combat damage

Resilience: 5/10

• 5 free protection spells mitigate early disruption
• Folds to 3+ commander removals without recursion

Consistency: 6/10

• 8 tutors find key pieces
• High threat density but limited card draw

Interaction: 7/10

• 10 instant-speed answers including S-tier Deadly Rollick
• Lacks counterspells beyond Deflecting Swat

Rating Justification:

This deck sits between Optimized Casual (5.0) and Focused (6.0). While faster than typical battlecruiser decks with T4-5 explosive turns, it lacks the redundancy and combo potential of true high-power builds. The heavy reliance on combat damage and vulnerability to common removal packages it below T7 competitive decks. Key strengths like free interaction and tutor density push it above precon-level consistency.

Power level: 5.5 - 6.0