Overview:

This Kaalia of the Vast deck focuses on cheating out high-impact Angels, Demons, and Dragons through commander attacks, supported by strong protection packages and tutor density. While lacking infinite combos, it leverages overwhelming creature value and combat damage as primary win conditions. The deck operates at a "high-power casual" level with optimized elements but remains vulnerable to interaction targeting its commander-dependent strategy.

Primer:

Core Strategy:
Deploy Kaalia of the Vast by turn 3–4 using mana rocks and fast lands, then attack to cheat game-ending threats like Avacyn, Angel of Hope or Terror of the Peaks. The deck operates in three phases:

1. Setup: Use 2-mana rocks (Arcane Signet, Talisman of Indulgence) and land tutors (Arid Mesa) to cast Kaalia early.
2. Protection: Equip Lightning Greaves/Mithril Coat or hold Teferi's Protection/Flawless Maneuver to defend Kaalia.
3. Overwhelm: Drop creatures with immediate impact (Balefire Dragon, Gisela, Blade of Goldnight) and leverage combat multipliers like Aurelia, the Warleader.

Mulligan Priorities:

• 3 lands (preferably untapped duals like Sacred Foundry)
• 1–2 mana accelerants
• At least 1 protection piece or threat to cheat
  Avoid hands without early ramp or color-fixing.

Key Tips:

• Sequence threats to maximize ETB triggers: Terror of the Peaks before other creatures.
• Use Burning-Rune Demon and Razaketh, the Foulblooded to tutor key answers or finishers.
• Save Deflecting Swat for board wipes targeting Kaalia.

Avoid Traps:

• Overcommitting to the board before establishing protection.
• Casting high-cost creatures manually unless necessary.

Weaknesses:

Critical:

• Relies heavily on Kaalia surviving; 3+ removals cripples the deck.
• Limited recovery from mass exile (Farewell, Merciless Eviction).

Moderate:

• Weak to flying hate (Aetherize, Windborn Muse).
• Minimal graveyard recursion for key creatures.

Minor:

• Mana base slightly vulnerable to Blood Moon-effects (6 basics).

Most Important Cards:

• Lightning Greaves
• Demonic Tutor
• Smothering Tithe
• Avacyn, Angel of Hope
• Teferi's Protection
• Deflecting Swat
• Terror of the Peaks
• Boros Charm
• Vampiric Tutor
• Gisela, Blade of Goldnight

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 6/10
Theoretical T4–5 wins with Kaalia + Ancient Copper Dragon/Aurelia, the Warleader, but typically closes games T7–9.

Resilience: 5/10
Protection spells mitigate early disruption, but folds to repeated removal. Limited recovery from board wipes.

Consistency: 7/10
10+ tutors (including Rune-Scarred Demon and Burning-Rune Demon) ensure Kaalia enablers and threats are accessible.

Interaction: 6/10
Efficient targeted removal (Swords to Plowshares, Anguished Unmaking) and flexible answers (Damn), but lacks counterspell density.

Rating Justification:

This deck sits between "Optimized Casual" (5.0) and "High-Power Casual" (5.5) on the rubric. Its tutor density and threat quality exceed precons, but reliance on combat and commander vulnerability prevent higher tiers. It consistently pressures tables T8–10 but struggles against fast combo or heavy interaction.

Power level: 5.0–5.5