<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kaalia of the Vast|2x2|235" href="#" target="_blank">Kaalia of the Vast</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://conceptartworld.com/artists/michael-komarck/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Michael Komarck</a></em></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Hello everyone. I’m Levi from <em>The Thought Vessel</em>, and this is Hidden Gems, the series that looks at cards for a commander that might be flying under the radar. For a card to qualify as a hidden gem, it must be included in less than 15% of decks on EDHREC for a particular commander. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This week, we’re showing some love for a commander that is a bit down in the dumps lately and could use some attention: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kaalia of the Vast" href="#" target="_blank">Kaalia of the Vast</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</span></p> <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kaalia of the Vast"></div></div> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Kaalia has been an incredibly popular commander ever since her original release in <em>Commander 2011</em>. Blending the creature types of Angels, Demons, and Dragons, this deck is not short on firepower. Every time Kaalia attacks, we can put an Angel, Demon, or Dragon from our hand directly into play, attacking. This can be something powerful, like getting a free <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Avacyn, Angel of Hope" href="#" target="_blank">Avacyn, Angel of Hope</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, or something sneakier like bringing in <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Master of Cruelties" href="#" target="_blank">Master of Cruelties</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> against an opponent who can’t block and putting them at one life in one hit. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The downside, of course, is that this commander is the very definition of a lightning rod. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If you have a conversation about commanders who are “kill on sight,” Kaalia will always be included. This game of Commander whack-a-mole can leave players feeling bad, as Kaalia will have a lot of games that end up being absolute flops. Combine that with the meteoric rise of <em>Final Fantasy</em>’s <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Y&#039;shtola, Night&#039;s Blessed" href="#" target="_blank">Y&#039;shtola, Night&#039;s Blessed</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and you have the perfect recipe for a demotion from commander number five overall down to number six. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">While this can be a rough time for Kaalia, some hidden gems can help spice up deck lists. Let’s begin. </span></p> <h3>#10. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hall of the Bandit Lord" href="#" target="_blank">Hall of the Bandit Lord</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (13%)</h3> <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hall of the Bandit Lord"></div></div> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Starting out at number ten is Hall of the Bandit Lord. Kaalia is going to get targeted a lot. To combat this, we want ways to get her onto the battlefield and attacking in the same turn so our opponents don’t have a full turn cycle to find and use their removal. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">One thing to remember with Kaalia is that it only takes one combat step to flip the game on its head, so we really need to take advantage of that window. Giving Kaalia haste means we can immediately cash in on her ability and potentially drop something devastating onto the battlefield before anyone can respond. </span></p> <h3>#9. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dihada, Binder of Wills" href="#" target="_blank">Dihada, Binder of Wills</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (10%)</h3> <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dihada, Binder of Wills"></div></div> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This one is a bit outside the box because it doesn’t synergize with our commander in the traditional sense. But everything this planeswalker does makes it too strong not to consider. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ignoring the ultimate ability for a moment, the +2 ability can give Kaalia vigilance, lifelink, and indestructible, keeping her safe from being blocked or removed in combat. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The -3 reveals four cards, and we can retain any legendary creatures from among them, with the other cards going to the grave. There are a lot of strong legendary Angels, Demons, and Dragons in this deck, so this can be a solid card advantage engine for us, as we can keep those legendary creatures in our hands. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Any card we leave in the graveyard from this ability also nets us a Treasure token, helping us ramp up. Being able to pile up Treasure to recast Kaalia or hard-cast our bigger creatures helps keep this deck from falling behind. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Finally, that -11 for an <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Insurrection" href="#" target="_blank">Insurrection</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>-style effect that grabs all nonland permanents for the turn is unlikely to happen, but if we do get there, it will typically be enough to win in the midgame in most Commander pods. </span></p> <h3>#8. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sneak Attack" href="#" target="_blank">Sneak Attack</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (9.4%)</h3> <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sneak Attack"></div></div> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;"> If we can’t get Kaalia online, then <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sneak Attack" href="#" target="_blank">Sneak Attack</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a great Plan B. Being able to sneak a creature into play for a single turn before sacrificing it can create a huge swing. Since we’re in Mardu colors, we also have access to fantastic recursion to give us a chance to get those creatures back on a later turn. </span>Even if we do have Kaalia online and attacking, Sneak Attack can help us get another creature onto the battlefield to push our advantage even further.</p> <p>Though this card is well known in Commander in general, I was quite surprised to learn that it only shows up in 9.4% of Kaalia decks. While we should have faith in our plan, we realistically need a few insurance policies in our deck to stay productive.</p> <h3>#7. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kardur, Doomscourge" href="#" target="_blank">Kardur, Doomscourge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (9.3%)</h3> <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kardur, Doomscourge"></div></div> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Typically, Kaalia is known for aggressive plays; sneaking in a big flying creature to apply pressure to our opponents is the bread and butter of the deck. Kardur is a fantastic twist on this plan. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In the later stages of the game, when other players have ramped into bigger spells, sneaking in one creature at a time becomes far less impactful. There may even come a point where the entire table is well-equipped to block and remove Kaalia and whatever she brings with her. Kardur serves as our trench buster. When it enters the battlefield, it forces every creature our opponents control to attack each combat they can, and they can’t attack us. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As a bonus, whenever any attacking creature dies, we get to drain the table for one. With everyone attacking each other, life totals will be carved down, and attacking lanes will open up for Kaalia to wrap up the game in the next turn or two. </span></p> <h3>#6. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sword of the Animist" href="#" target="_blank">Sword of the Animist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (5.4%)</h3> <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sword of the Animist"></div></div> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Let’s talk about ramp. Mana rocks are a given for this deck, especially since our commander costs four mana. In a perfect world, we can play a land on turn one, ramp with a two-mana <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Arcane Signet" href="#" target="_blank">Arcane Signet</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and cast Kaalia a turn early on turn three. Once Kaalia arrives, though, we really want to push that advantage quickly. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sword of the Animist will make Kaalia one power and toughness bigger, giving us a better chance of surviving against flying blockers. The main reason we like this Equipment, though, is the ability to tutor a basic land into play every time Kaalia attacks. If we can stay ahead of the curve, every time Kaalia is removed, we’ll have the mana to simply recast her or just cast our bigger creatures instead. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This Sword should be in far more than 5.4% of Kaalia decks. </span></p> <h3>#5. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Simian Spirit Guide" href="#" target="_blank">Simian Spirit Guide</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (3.8%)</h3> <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Simian Spirit Guide"></div></div> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Of the entire hidden gems list, this one is probably the spikiest. Staying with the pressure theme, aggro decks want to storm the enemy camp while the troops are still trying to get out of their tents. We want to catch our opponents off balance and punish passive early turns spent ramping or drawing cards. Simian Spirit Guide helps with exactly that. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Exiling it from our hand gives us a burst of mana that can help cast Kaalia a turn earlier. That means our opponents have one less mana available to remove our commander and one less card in hand to work with. </span></p> <h3>#4. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Great Train Heist" href="#" target="_blank">Great Train Heist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (2.6%)</h3> <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Great Train Heist"></div></div> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The more I’ve played this card, the more I’ve grown to love it. The spree mechanic has been one of my favorites lately, and having three different modes to choose from in this deck is fantastic. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">I use this in both my <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fire Lord Azula" href="#" target="_blank">Fire Lord Azula</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vihaan, Goldwaker" href="#" target="_blank">Vihaan, Goldwaker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> decks for very different reasons. Vihaan primarily wants the first strike and Treasure production, with the extra combat step as a secondary option. Azula, on the other hand, primarily wants the extra combat and takes the Treasure and first strike modes as bonuses. Kaalia leans much closer to the Azula plan. That extra combat step means another massive creature entering the battlefield. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">What makes Great Train Heist particularly interesting is that it operates at instant speed. Players deciding whether or not to block can easily get caught off guard by a second combat step. That creature they were planning to trade with Kaalia suddenly falls victim to first strike damage instead. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It’s rare that this is completely dead in hand because it offers a lot of utility. </span></p> <h3>#3. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Redirect Lightning" href="#" target="_blank">Redirect Lightning</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (1.9%)</h3> <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Redirect Lightning"></div></div> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Do you know what’s better than stopping an opponent’s removal spell? Taking that removal spell and sending it somewhere else. Kaalia decks currently play Deflecting Swat in about 31% of lists, but this is an effect that benefits from redundancy. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Unlike <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lightning Greaves" href="#" target="_blank">Lightning Greaves</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, Redirect Lightning still forces our opponent to cast their spell instead of holding it and working with the table to remove the boots and Kaalia in the same turn. By redirecting the spell, we remove that spell from their hand while also taking out another target of our choice. In a sense, it functions like a two-for-one trade in our favor. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The biggest advantage, though, is psychological. If we run multiple effects like this, they will show up more frequently during games. Opponents will constantly have to calculate whether we might be holding one in hand before attempting removal. Those assumptions can force mistakes, and that alone makes the card worth a slot. </span></p> <h3>#2. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Maelstrom of the Spirit Dragon" href="#" target="_blank">Maelstrom of the Spirit Dragon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (1.4%)</h3> <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Maelstrom of the Spirit Dragon"></div></div> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">I love a good utility land. This one might seem a little strange since our commander is a Human and the land cares about Dragons. The main reason we like it is the final ability. We can pay four mana and sacrifice Maelstrom of the Spirit Dragon to tutor any Dragon we want directly into our hand. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If we activate that ability right before Kaalia attacks and triggers her ability, we effectively get to put the best Dragon in our entire deck directly onto the battlefield. That could be <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ancient Copper Dragon" href="#" target="_blank">Ancient Copper Dragon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to generate a pile of Treasure tokens, or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Balefire Dragon" href="#" target="_blank">Balefire Dragon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to wipe out an opponent’s board and shut down any crack-back attacks. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">We could even grab a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Twinflame Tyrant" href="#" target="_blank">Twinflame Tyrant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to push for doubling up our damage on opponents. Since we don’t actually have to cast the creature, there’s very little downside to including this land in the 99.</span></p> <h3>#1. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Crystal Dragon" href="#" target="_blank">Crystal Dragon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (0.6%)</h3> <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Crystal Dragon"></div></div> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Finally, we arrive at a very quiet card. Crystal Dragon won’t win any MVP awards in the deck. It’s not a chase rare that scalpers rush to buy up, and it’s currently worth about nine cents. But its subtle versatility makes it a nice addition. </span>Since the card itself looks fairly straightforward, it won’t attract much attention from the rest of the table.</p> <p>Crystal Dragon is technically two spells in one. The first is the Adventure Rob the Hoard. For two mana, we can cast this spell and return an artifact, enchantment, or legendary card from our graveyard to our hand. <span style="font-weight: 400;">As mentioned earlier, these decks tend to run a lot of legendary creatures since many powerful Angels, Demons, and Dragons happen to be legendary. Crystal Dragon lets us get one of those creatures back from the graveyard so we can cheat it out again.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a pinch, we can also simply cast or cheat out Crystal Dragon itself as a 4/4 flying attacker with vigilance. While it may not be the flashiest card in the deck, the ability to recover important legends from the graveyard while coming with a Dragon body is definitely worth a slot in the 99 of our deck.</span></p> <h2>Wrapping Up</h2> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Though Kaalia may be trending downward in popularity, I don’t think this Human Cleric will ever completely disappear. She’s an incredibly powerful commander and has been around since the early days of Wizards of the Coast producing Commander-exclusive cards. We might even see a Universes Beyond reskin in the future that brings her back into the spotlight as newer players encounter the strategy for the first time. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Until then, I would expect a gradual decline in popularity, but not a complete drop-off.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;"> As we all know, this is nowhere near the bottom of the gem mine. There are plenty of amazing hidden gems for Kaalia that didn’t make this list. What’s a hidden gem in your Kaalia deck? Let us know in the comments below so we can keep building the collection. We’re here for good vibes and to celebrate <em>Magic</em> cards. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Until next time, happy brewing!</span></p> 

Hidden Gems for Kaalia of the Vast

<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Y&#039;shtola, Night&#039;s Blessed" href="#" target="_blank">Y&#039;shtola, Night&#039;s Blessed</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="http://instagram.com/magali_villeneuve/?hl=en">Magali Villeneuve</a></em></p>
<p> <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Y&#039;shtola, Night&#039;s Blessed" href="#" target="_blank">Y&#039;shtola, Night&#039;s Blessed</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> has officially overtaken <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kaalia of the Vast" href="#" target="_blank">Kaalia of the Vast</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, a longtime Commander mainstay, to enter the fabled <a href="https://edhrec.com/commanders" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Top 5 circle of popular commanders</a>. <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Y&#039;shtola, Night&#039;s Blessed"></div></div> With over 34 thousand decks at Y'shtola's disposal, all crafted in the course of under one year, this is an amazing feat. This is especially true as each of the four commanders ahead of the Cat Warlock has had at <em>least</em> eight years to cultivate a following. What awaits this beloved <em>Final Fantasy XIV</em> character in the trials to come? Read on, and we'll discuss! </p>
<h2>On the Overthrow of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kaalia of the Vast" href="#" target="_blank">Kaalia of the Vast</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<p> <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kaalia of the Vast"></div></div> Before today, Kaalia of the Vast held the #5 spot. Due to the way the zeitgeist tends to work, Kaalia's velocity in growing ranks has inevitably decreased compared to Y'shtola. Because Y'shtola is <span style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">a newer commander (released in 2025, compared to Kaalia's 2011 release in <a href="https://edhrec.com/precon/heavenly-inferno" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Heavenly Inferno</em></a>, one of the first five official Commander precons), she will</span> accrue numbers much faster. So, now that we've touched upon this important event, let's look at what further trials await, and if they seem at all surmountable for this legendary <em>FFXIV</em> creature! </p>
<h2>On <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Krenko, Mob Boss" href="#" target="_blank">Krenko, Mob Boss</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<p> <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Krenko, Mob Boss"></div></div> Released in 2012 with the <em>Magic 2013</em> Core set, Krenko, Mob Boss is the #4 most popular commander around. A Goblin with a serious <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/goblins" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Goblin-typing theme</a> going for him, he commands over 36 thousand decks. This is in part due to extreme combo potential blended with wave after wave of Goblin token generation. This is an oddly versatile means of getting stuff done, as it stands. The tokens can be used to attack other players, or be used as sacrificial fodder for value plays, or as mass damage on entry with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Impact Tremors" href="#" target="_blank">Impact Tremors</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Purphoros, God of the Forge" href="#" target="_blank">Purphoros, God of the Forge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Versatility in the Top 4, you'll see, plays a recurring role in our analyses. Those rooting for Y'shtola to rise in the ranks should hope for the same out of her. With just over two thousand decks needed for Y'shtola to actually surpass Krenko, it might take a little while for her to achieve this. But it appears more possible as days pass! </p>
<h2>On <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Atraxa, Praetors&#039; Voice" href="#" target="_blank">Atraxa, Praetors&#039; Voice</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<p> <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Atraxa, Praetors&#039; Voice"></div></div> Speaking of extreme cases of versatility, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Atraxa, Praetors&#039; Voice" href="#" target="_blank">Atraxa, Praetors&#039; Voice</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> has that in spades. Let's face facts here: There are <em>so</em> many cards and mechanics that care about counters on permanents and players. Atraxa appeals to nearly <em>all</em> of them. Y'shtola is going to have a lot of trouble overtaking this powerhouse of all trades. Right now Atraxa has over 39,000 decks built, about five thousand more than the hero of this article currently has. So, for purposes of figuring out whether Ms. Rhul can overtake Atraxa or the current Top 2 most popular commanders, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Edgar Markov" href="#" target="_blank">Edgar Markov</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (#2) and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Ur-Dragon" href="#" target="_blank">The Ur-Dragon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (#1), we need to wait for her to get past the Goblin Warrior in the room. Even so, things look positive for the Cat Warlock in that regard, and doubtless, we'll cover this shift when it happens - if it happens. <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Ur-Dragon Edgar Markov"></div></div> </p>
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
<p> In the end, this interesting vying for popularity is a fun thing to track. And, beyond this, these are all stellar commanders. It's just so <em>neat</em>, though, that a commander released this past year could rise in the ranks so quickly! So now, let's open the floor to you, dear readers! Do you have a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Y&#039;shtola, Night&#039;s Blessed" href="#" target="_blank">Y&#039;shtola, Night&#039;s Blessed</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> Commander deck, or decks of any of the commanders in the Top 4? Are you hoping to see any more shifts in popularity down the line? Sound off in the comments below!</p>


Y'shtola, Night's Blessed Is Now the 5th Most Popular Commander

<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kaalia of the Vast|mh3|343" href="#" target="_blank">Kaalia of the Vast</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://scryfall.com/search?q=a%3A%E2%80%9CLivia+Prima%E2%80%9D&amp;unique=art" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Livia Prima</a></em></p>
<p> There's been a massive surge in popularity for <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Y&#039;shtola, Night&#039;s Blessed" href="#" target="_blank">Y&#039;shtola, Night&#039;s Blessed</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> since her release last year. She currently holds an esteemed ranking as the <a href="https://edhrec.com/commanders" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#6 most popular commander</a>. The question on the table: Will she breach into the Top 5? And, perhaps just as importantly, if so, <em>when</em>? However, an obstacle stands in Y'shtola's way. She is an obstacle as old as Wizards of the Coast's support of the format. She's a major tour de force of the format at large. Her name? <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kaalia of the Vast" href="#" target="_blank">Kaalia of the Vast</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Y&#039;shtola, Night&#039;s Blessed Prizefight Kaalia of the Vast"></div></div> Ladies, gentlemen, neither, both, and everyone besides, the fight to claim the #5 spot on EDHREC's Most Popular Commanders list is just getting warmed up. Will this bout end up in Y'shtola, the challenger's, favor? Or will a mainstay of foundational Commander bring her to her knees? Let's look at some details. </p>
<h2>The Reigning #5 Commander: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kaalia of the Vast" href="#" target="_blank">Kaalia of the Vast</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<p> <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kaalia of the Vast" href="#" target="_blank">Kaalia of the Vast</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> has been around since the summer of 2011. At that time, the format was young and had just gained product support from Wizards of the Coast. Kaalia was one of the initial five "face commanders" for the <a href="https://edhrec.com/precon#commander2011" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Commander 2011</em> precon products</a>. She led the <a href="https://edhrec.com/precon/heavenly-inferno" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Heavenly Inferno</em> precon</a>, a relative hodgepodge of cards within the themes of Angels, Demons, and Dragons. The current reigning #5 commander was the glue that held that deck together; without Kaalia, the deck would be a shambles altogether. Since her release, she's even had a retrain in <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kaalia, Zenith Seeker" href="#" target="_blank">Kaalia, Zenith Seeker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, though that iteration of the character hasn't had nearly as much success. <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kaalia, Zenith Seeker"></div></div> Nowadays, Kaalia of the Vast commands <a href="https://edhrec.com/commanders/kaalia-of-the-vast" target="_blank" rel="noopener">32,449 decks on EDHREC</a>, and, as mentioned, is the #5 most popular commander on the site right now. Unfortunately for the powerhouse, that may soon change. </p>
<h2>The Challenger: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Y&#039;shtola, Night&#039;s Blessed" href="#" target="_blank">Y&#039;shtola, Night&#039;s Blessed</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<p> Notably, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Y&#039;shtola, Night&#039;s Blessed" href="#" target="_blank">Y&#039;shtola, Night&#039;s Blessed</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> only came out last summer, with the highly-acclaimed <a href="https://edhrec.com/sets/fin" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Final Fantasy</em></a> set. <em>Final Fantasy</em> and its four preconstructed Commander decks were a testament to the growth and appeal of <em>Magic: The Gathering</em> on the whole, as well as the Commander format, to boot. While Y'shtola led the <a href="https://edhrec.com/precon/scions-spellcraft" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Scions &amp; Spellcraft</em> Commander deck</a> representing <em>Final Fantasy XIV</em>, she, too, had an additional iteration in print, albeit in the main set. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Y&#039;shtola Rhul" href="#" target="_blank">Y&#039;shtola Rhul</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is not nearly as popular as Night's Blessed, much like how Zenith Chronicler lacks in that department as well, where Kaalia is concerned. <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Y&#039;shtola Rhul"></div></div> As of the time of writing, Y'shtola, Night's Blessed has <a href="https://edhrec.com/commanders/yshtola-nights-blessed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">30,214 decks on EDHREC</a>, and is soon to contest the rank of #5 Most Popular Commander on EDHREC. </p>
<h2>Some Insights</h2>
<p> The developers over here at EDHREC have come to an interesting insight. With the current trajectory and trending numbers, it seems that, indeed, Y'shtola, Night's Blessed <em>will overtake Kaalia</em>! In about 28 days, give or take a few, we can expect to see Y'shtola claim the #5 spot on our <a href="https://edhrec.com/commanders" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Top Commanders</a> page. Now, that's not a perfect estimation, and predictions have a chance of faltering. After all, it took a good many days for Sephiroth to <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/sephiroth-fabled-soldier-now-the-top-mono-black-commander" target="_blank" rel="noopener">take the mantle as the most popular mono-black commander</a> after I preemptively wrote about that happening. Time is funky, friends. But all that to say, it'll probably happen in about that span of time. When it does, I can't wait to cover any further ascension of the Night's Blessed. And now, I'd like to open the floor to you, dear readers! I know we've been doting over Y'shtola and waxing poetic about how cool the commander is in various articles lately. What I want to know from you is, where do you see <a href="https://edhrec.com/commanders/yshtola-nights-blessed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Y'shtola, Night's Blessed</a> ending up on the Most Popular Commanders list by the end of, say, June? How about the end of December 2026? Place your predictions in the comments below!</p>


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Heavenly Inferno - Kaalia Precon Upgrade