<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

Announcing: EDHREC's March Commandness Bracket Tournament

<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="Hearthhull, the Worldseed" href="#" target="_blank">Hearthhull, the Worldseed</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://scryfall.com/search?q=a%3A%E2%80%9CDaniel+Ljunggren%E2%80%9D&amp;unique=art" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Daniel Ljunggren</a></em></p>
<p> <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hearthhull, the Worldseed" href="#" target="_blank">Hearthhull, the Worldseed</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> has overtaken <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Korvold, Fae-Cursed King" href="#" target="_blank">Korvold, Fae-Cursed King</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> as the top Jund (<span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-b" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-r" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-g" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>) commander <a href="https://edhrec.com/commanders">on EDHREC</a>. <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hearthhull, the Worldseed Korvold, Fae-Cursed King"></div></div> We projected Hearthhull and its over 18,000 decks (or should we say, fleets?) to dethrone Korvold back in January. However, Korvold proved persistent up until this moment. But why is a card that, on its surface, defies so many Jund stereotypes such a popular Jund commander? Read on, and we will examine the popularity of this awesome Spacecraft! </p>
<h2>The Rise of Lands-Matter Strategies</h2>
<p> The simple answer to the question is that Hearthhull, the Worldseed is a fantastic <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/lands-matter" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lands-Matter commander</a>. Several years ago, while I hate to admit the length of it, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lord Windgrace" href="#" target="_blank">Lord Windgrace</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> was an extremely popular Jund commander. Another card that seemingly defied Jund norms, the planeswalker card lent itself well to land decks. From my own experience, people often even <em>maligned</em> the play styles that Lord Windgrace offered. <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Lord Windgrace"></div></div> Now, why am I discussing an older planeswalker commander when I need to talk about this Spacecraft? Simply put, both are cut from the same cloth of Jund Lands-Matters commanders. Put another way, Windgrace walked so that Hearthhull could run. It's also interesting to note, as a slight aside, that Windgrace has just under 10,000 decks at its command (9,989 as of the time of writing) and a rank of #174 in terms of popularity. Thus, I stand by this particular assessment. I'd even go so far as to say that because of Hearthhull, Lord Windgrace's continued popularity was stunted. However, based on the timeframe of all of this, there's no way to 100% confirm that. </p>
<h2>Jund Archetypes and Stereotypes</h2>
<p> Many people seem to want to view Jund decks as aggressive, swing first/talk later sort of decks. It comes with the territory of the Gruul (<span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-r" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-g" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>) color identity, paired with the cruelty of monoblack decks. This is a stereotype, likely rooted in color pie philosophy and the upswing of Gruul-style decks thanks to the Ravnica guild. Be that as it may, I'm here to say that Gruul, while being rather one-note, <em>isn't</em> Jund, and that's rather important as a distinction here. On the one hand, Jund Aggro most certainly exists, especially thanks to the proliferation of <em>very</em> strong decks in the history of <em>Magic</em>'s other formats, like Modern and even Standard. However, three-color archetypes can be more diverse than this, as evidenced by cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hearthhull, the Worldseed" href="#" target="_blank">Hearthhull, the Worldseed</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and (perhaps as a stretch, admittedly) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Xira, the Golden Sting" href="#" target="_blank">Xira, the Golden Sting</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Both lend themselves to very different playstyles than simply "point and smash." Xira can be a Control deck, while our lovely Worldseed can lend itself either to Control or Combo in addition to holding its own in Aggro builds. With all of this in mind, Hearthhull is versatile enough to land in a good spot as the now-most popular Jund commander.</p>


Hearthhull Dethrones Korvold as Top Jund Commander

<p style="text-align: right;"><em> <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sephiroth, Fabled SOLDIER|fin|317" href="#" target="_blank">Sephiroth, Fabled SOLDIER</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://scryfall.com/search?q=a%3A%E2%80%9CTetsuya+Nomura%E2%80%9D&amp;unique=art" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tetsuya Nomura</a></em></p>
<p> <span class="edhrecp__link side-by-side"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sephiroth, Fabled SOLDIER" href="#" target="_blank">Sephiroth, Fabled SOLDIER</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, a remarkable mono-black commander from the bestselling <a href="https://edhrec.com/sets/fin" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Final Fantasy</em></a> set, <a href="https://edhrec.com/commanders/mono-black" target="_blank" rel="noopener">has taken the top-ranked mono-black commander spot</a> on EDHREC. This comes after quite a few weeks of attempting to wrestle <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="K&#039;rrik, Son of Yawgmoth" href="#" target="_blank">K&#039;rrik, Son of Yawgmoth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> for this prestigious mantle. Most of us knew this was only a matter of time, but now it's clear! However, for those of you less in the know asking how it happened, read on, and we'll tackle the answers for you! <div class="edhrecp__cards side-by-side"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sephiroth, Fabled SOLDIER"></div></div> </p>
<h2>What Does Sephiroth Do?</h2>
<p> <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sephiroth, Fabled SOLDIER" href="#" target="_blank">Sephiroth, Fabled SOLDIER</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a stellar commander for <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/aristocrats" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Aristocrats</a> strategies (meaning decks that sacrifice resources for incremental gain). His ability suite allows his controller to sacrifice creatures to draw cards, draining one point of life from an opponent in the process. However, when four or more creatures are sacrificed in a single turn, no matter their controller, Sephiroth flips into his One-Winged Angel side. This grants his controller an emblem that simply says: </p>
<blockquote><p>"Whenever a creature dies, target opponent loses 1 life and you gain 1 life."</p></blockquote>
<p> The back side of the card also allows its controller to sacrifice any number of creatures to draw that many cards when Sephiroth attacks. This also fuels the emblems you're inevitably accumulating over time with this commander. We can see some players scratching their heads at this last part. However, nothing is stopping players from making <em>multiple</em> emblems by repeatedly transforming Sephiroth, Fabled SOLDIER. Many decks led by him even make this a key point in their strategy (including my own Bracket 4 deck, listed below). To do so, players will often use One-Winged Angel as a chump blocker or sacrifice fodder. After this, they'll typically recast Fabled SOLDIER as soon as possible. </p>
<h2>My Sephiroth, Fabled SOLDIER Deck List</h2>
<p> <div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Sephiroth, Fabled SOLDIER" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander] *1 Sephiroth, Fabled SOLDIER // Sephiroth, One-Winged Angel [/Commander] [Creatures] *1 Accursed Marauder *1 Al Bhed Salvagers *1 Avenger of the Fallen *1 Ayara, First of Locthwain *1 Bloodghast *1 Bloodthirsty Conqueror *1 Carrion Feeder *1 Crypt Ghast *1 Fleshbag Marauder *1 Forsaken Miner *1 Gravecrawler *1 Junji, the Midnight Sky *1 K&#039;rrik, Son of Yawgmoth *1 Marionette Apprentice *1 Massacre Wurm *1 Merciless Executioner *1 Nine-Lives Familiar *1 Pawn of Ulamog *1 Phyrexian Plaguelord *1 Pitiless Plunderer *1 Plaguecrafter *1 Syr Konrad, the Grim *1 Vengeful Bloodwitch *1 Viscera Seer *1 Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose *1 Warren Soultrader *1 Woe Strider *1 Yawgmoth, Thran Physician *1 Zenos yae Galvus // Shinryu, Transcendent Rival *1 Zulaport Cutthroat [/Creatures] [Artifacts] *1 Altar of Dementia *1 Arcane Signet *1 Ashnod&#039;s Altar *1 Bontu&#039;s Monument *1 Caged Sun *1 Expedition Map *1 Gauntlet of Power *1 Genesis Chamber *1 Jet Medallion *1 Lightning Greaves *1 Phyrexian Altar *1 Skullclamp *1 Sol Ring *1 Swiftfoot Boots *1 Thought Vessel [/Artifacts] [Enchantments] *1 Animate Dead *1 Bastion of Remembrance *1 Bitterblossom *1 Black Market *1 Chthonian Nightmare *1 Contamination *1 Dictate of Erebos *1 Exquisite Blood *1 Meathook Massacre II *1 Necromancy *1 Oubliette *1 The Meathook Massacre *1 Tombstone Stairwell [/Enchantments] [Planeswalkers] *1 Liliana, Dreadhorde General [/Planeswalkers] [Sorceries] *1 Diabolic Intent *1 Dread Return *1 Grim Tutor *1 Reanimate [/Sorceries] [Instants] *1 Fell the Profane // Fell Mire *1 Malakir Rebirth // Malakir Mire [/Instants] [Lands] *1 Ash Barrens *1 Bojuka Bog *1 Cabal Coffers *1 Demolition Field *1 Dust Bowl *1 Ebon Stronghold *1 Field of Ruin *1 Forbidden Orchard *1 Midgar, City of Mako // Reactor Raid *1 Myriad Landscape *1 Obscura Storefront *1 Promising Vein *1 Riveteers Overlook *1 Shizo, Death&#039;s Storehouse *18 Swamp *1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth *1 War Room [/Lands]"></span></div> </p>
<h2>Hallmarks of Aristocracy</h2>
<p> As many experienced Aristocrats players can likely see, this list has many hallmarks of that kind of deck. It has multiple means of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Plaguecrafter" href="#" target="_blank">mutual</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fleshbag Marauder" href="#" target="_blank">sacrifice</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, a whole slew of redundant <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Crypt Ghast" href="#" target="_blank">life</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Zulaport Cutthroat" href="#" target="_blank">drain</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>-centric <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bastion of Remembrance" href="#" target="_blank">permanents</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and more than its share of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Exquisite Blood" href="#" target="_blank">mono-black</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gravecrawler" href="#" target="_blank">combo</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Phyrexian Altar" href="#" target="_blank">pieces</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. In fact, there's enough redundancy among these overarching types of cards that the deck can be crafted with <em>just</em> these types of cards and the necessary land/mana packages. It's how I started out when building the deck, and it's been effective throughout its tenure in my collection. <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Fleshbag Marauder Zulaport Cutthroat Gravecrawler"></div></div> </p>
<h2>Why K'rrik Lost His Crown</h2>
<p> <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="K&#039;rrik, Son of Yawgmoth" href="#" target="_blank">K&#039;rrik, Son of Yawgmoth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> was the previous #1-ranked mono-black commander. Ultimately, there are a few reasons why Sephiroth outclasses him. For one, K'rrik tends to facilitate a self-destructive gameplay strategy known as Suicide Black. (As a sidebar, I <em>really</em> don't like that name for the strategy. That said, it's the common terminology, so I'm beat.) It focuses on getting its pilot's life total <em>very dangerously low</em> for incremental value. Cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Necropotence" href="#" target="_blank">Necropotence</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are key here, as is the act of simply taking non-lethal damage. Then, when the player's life is low enough, they'll often find a way to swap it with an opponent's life total. <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="K&#039;rrik, Son of Yawgmoth"></div></div> This strategy is often seen as extremely volatile and, as the name suggests, figuratively suicidal. Black decks from the days of yore <em>were</em>, of course, meant to be self-destructive for value. However, times have changed for the betterment of the color's key archetypes. Perhaps this is a big reason why Sephiroth's life-padding strategy is now somewhat more popular than K'rrik's extremely risky business. </p>
<h2>The Ramifications of a Paradigm Shift</h2>
<p> Overall, this difference has a few windows that allowed the <em>Final Fantasy VII</em> antagonist to overtake the Son of Yawgmoth. For one, K'rrik's strategy relies on cards that are antiquated in strategy. As a result, many of the associated cards are pretty old (as loath as I am to admit that). There are obviously some outliers, including reprints, though they're few and far between. Overall, Wizards of the Coast's design philosophies have largely stymied cards with negative effects for the caster. This sort of design paradigm is what stops K'rrik from ascending further on our ranked list <em>and</em> what gave rise to Sephiroth. This all happened in one fell swoop. Nevertheless, Sephiroth has now outdone K'rrik, perhaps ending a once-very concrete tenet of <em>Magic</em>'s philosophies of old. Is this a negative thing in itself? It's hard to tell. Black still isn't the strongest color in Commander, but it's got room to grow. Once it does, we may see another, revitalized "Black Summer" or similar phenomenon. I'm not sure if I'm hyperbolizing that, but I personally welcome it. </p>
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
<p> In the end, Sephiroth, Fabled SOLDIER is now the top mono-black commander. It carries a legacy of really cool, <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/the-2025-commanders-that-broke-edhrec-top-100" target="_blank" rel="noopener">strong legends from 2025 doing exceptionally well in the ranks on EDHREC</a>. Pretty soon thereafter, it also seems likely that he'll break into the Top 50 Commanders overall! So now, we'd like to open the floor to you, dear readers. Are you pleased to see Sephiroth, Fabled SOLDIER getting more exposure as a popular commander? Do you have either a deck for him or for K'rrik (perhaps both)? How do you feel about these commanders and their playstyles? Sound off in the comments below!</p>


Sephiroth, Fabled SOLDIER Now the Top Mono-Black Commander

<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Necrobloom" href="#" target="_blank">The Necrobloom</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.artstation.com/atar" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Igor Krstic</a></em></p>
<p> <em>Magic: The Gathering</em>'s Commander format is going through a lot of metagame changes! There are a few shake-ups where trends are concerned, especially in the top-ranked commanders. For instance, the topic of this article, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Necrobloom" href="#" target="_blank">The Necrobloom</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, has recently overtaken the partnered pair of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Frodo, Adventurous Hobbit" href="#" target="_blank">Frodo, Adventurous Hobbit</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sam, Loyal Attendant" href="#" target="_blank">Sam, Loyal Attendant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. This has caused The Necrobloom to become the #1 top-ranked <a href="https://edhrec.com/commanders/abzan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Abzan</a> (<span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-w" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-b" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-g" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>) commander in the format by popularity. This particular upswing may have some players curious about how it came to be. Fret not, and read on! We'll explain it below. <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Necrobloom"></div></div> </p>
<h2>The Necrobloom - A Popular Dredging Field</h2>
<p> At first glance, The Necrobloom clearly acts as an extremely scary commander. It's a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Field of the Dead" href="#" target="_blank">Field of the Dead</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and more, and that's just its <em>landfall</em> ability. Its second key feature gives lands in your graveyard dredge 2. That is a potentially overwhelming ability for opponents to contend with on its own. Together with the <em>landfall</em> ability it possesses, The Necrobloom becomes an almost instantaneous threat once it hits the field. Anecdotally, when <em>Modern Horizons 3</em> first came out, a friend of mine warned me that if either of two commanders was pitted against him from the set, he'd forfeit instantly. One was <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nadu, Winged Wisdom" href="#" target="_blank">Nadu, Winged Wisdom</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, an obvious example that thankfully he no longer has to contend with. The other was The Necrobloom. Many players in my local meta haven't really caught on to how powerful the big, stinky Plant really is. However, it seems likely that soon, it'll catch on like the meat-scented stench of a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rafflesia" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rafflesia</a> to a housefly. </p>
<h2>Concerning Hobbits</h2>
<p> <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Frodo, Adventurous Hobbit Sam, Loyal Attendant"></div></div> As for the two <em>Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth</em> commanders that are getting left by the wayside in second place, they'll largely be fine. The Necrobloom has 21,308 decks to its name on EDHREC, which is formidable by and large. However, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Frodo, Adventurous Hobbit" href="#" target="_blank">Frodo, Adventurous Hobbit</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sam, Loyal Attendant" href="#" target="_blank">Sam, Loyal Attendant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are actually not far behind it. With 21,211 decks and fewer than 100 decks standing between them and the Plant, they could potentially reclaim their Abzan throne. </p>
<h2>Why That Could Be a Lie</h2>
<p> ...Or, of course, the Hobbits might <em>never</em> reclaim their throne. In all seriousness, there are a few factors that could potentially keep Frodo and Sam from getting their spot back from The Necrobloom. For one, the Plant is a newer card. This means that more people are likely brewing it compared to Frodo and Sam. Furthermore, the Plant is more ubiquitous and versatile in what it can do. Frodo and Sam are <em>kind of</em> locked into Food decks right now. Sure, there are probably a few outliers in EDHREC's databases, but for the most part, this remains true. Meanwhile, The Necrobloom's land-matters theme is so widely utilized in each of its colors that it has a glut of options when building for it. A third major factor as to why Frodo and Sam are built less today is the <em>Universes Beyond</em> scarcity factor. <em>Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth</em> was a <em>Universes Beyond</em> set. Prior to <em>Final Fantasy</em>, it was the biggest one. However, the tricky issue with <em>Universes Beyond</em> is that, as of right now, it has a licensing issue that creates a pseudo-Reserved List. My own thoughts about the Reserved List aside, this much is clear. So, as a result of this, Frodo and Sam are cards that are harder to obtain due to the scarcity the licensing issues present. Add to this the fact that they're a partnered pair of cards, and now you have double the trouble. So, from various perspectives, it's <em>actually</em> less about why The Necrobloom <em>only just now</em> overtook the Hobbits, and more about why the Hobbits were such an obstacle in the first place. </p>
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
<p> Overall, this is an interesting case to examine for EDHREC. Over the course of the next month, it's also possible that a few other cards from 2025 will assume the mantle of being the most popular in their color identities. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Teval, the Balanced Scale" href="#" target="_blank">Teval, the Balanced Scale</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, for one, might overcome <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Wise Mothman" href="#" target="_blank">The Wise Mothman</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, of which I could cite similar reasoning to Frodo and Sam. And <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hearthhull, the Worldseed" href="#" target="_blank">Hearthhull, the Worldseed</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> could soon follow Teval, to many players' surprise, getting past <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Korvold, Fae-Cursed King" href="#" target="_blank">Korvold, Fae-Cursed King</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Is this a trend? Were black-green-plus commanders that much better in 2025? Or are people just now waking up to the idea that Golgari is just a great color core for Commander? Let's talk about this, dear readers! What do you think about the above questions that I've posed? Sound off in the comments below!</p>


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The Necrobloom Is Now the Most Popular Abzan Commander