Stopping Kaalia

[Jlamb5]

I play 1V1 commander a lot with my nephew.  He runs {Kaalia of the Vast}. I can't seem to keep up with it, as its extremely aggro and pushing 8/8's out like no other. Any suggestions??

I run {Jenara, Asura of War}

[Stoneco1d869]

 {Spell Crumple}
{Spin into Myth}
{Hinder}
{Path to Exile}
{Condemn}
{Swords to Plowshares}

This should get you started.

[Stoneco1d869]

You can also just take it... {Control Magic} and other such cards work great.

[Gorzo]

Your best bet is to do everything in your power to shut down his Kaalia before he can attack or give her hexproof/shroud. Because she can come out so quickly, that can be a challenge.

You have options, though, and using a deck with bant colors gives you plenty.

{Spell Crumple} and {Hinder} will be your ultimate solutions. If you can tuck Kaalia at the bottom of his library, his deck will likely be dead in the water for 4-6 turns after that while he prays for land to cast his huge demons and dragons, giving you a massive edge. A miracle {Terminus} works too, but the odds of you drawing it exactly on exactly turn 4 to tuck the Kaalia...not very likely. {Condemn} is great but allows her to trigger once, which can really hurt. {Spin into Myth} is also great, but is 5 CMC and requires Kaalia to not be shrouded/hexproof by turn 5, which seems unlikely.

Cheap, Single target removal like {Swords to Plowshares} and {Path to Exile} are helpful, but only buy you a turn or two at the most, unless paired with spell crumple to catch her as he recasts her.

Your other options are to prevent Kaalia from attacking. Hitting her with {Pacifism}-type auras keep her off of you, and don't allow him to recast her to try again until he figured out a way to kill her himself or remove your aura. {Crystallization} is a fun one for your colors, killing her if he tries to give her protection to remove the aura.  I'm guessing your time frame for using these types of spells will be narrow, thanks to every Kaalia deck using things like {Lightning Greaves} and {Whispersilk Cloak} for shroud, so you'll have to hit her fast before he can equip her.

A fourth, and probably less effective option, is to add in some reach or flying creatures with low mana costs that are strong enough to kill Kaalia and not die themselves. Quickly ramping yourself into a {Silklash Spider} or something can gum up a deck that relies too heavily on flying.

[Xaol]

Your best bet is to do everything in your power to shut down his Kaalia before he can attack or give her hexproof/shroud. Because she can come out so quickly, that can be a challenge.

You have options, though, and using a deck with bant colors gives you plenty.

{Spell Crumple} and {Hinder} will be your ultimate solutions. If you can tuck Kaalia at the bottom of his library, his deck will likely be dead in the water for 4-6 turns after that while he prays for land to cast his huge demons and dragons, giving you a massive edge. A miracle {Terminus} works too, but the odds of you drawing it exactly on exactly turn 4 to tuck the Kaalia...not very likely. {Condemn} is great but allows her to trigger once, which can really hurt. {Spin into Myth} is also great, but is 5 CMC and requires Kaalia to not be shrouded/hexproof by turn 5, which seems unlikely.

Cheap, Single target removal like {Swords to Plowshares} and {Path to Exile} are helpful, but only buy you a turn or two at the most, unless paired with spell crumple to catch her as he recasts her.

Your other options are to prevent Kaalia from attacking. Hitting her with {Pacifism}-type auras keep her off of you, and don't allow him to recast her to try again until he figured out a way to kill her himself or remove your aura. {Crystallization} is a fun one for your colors, killing her if he tries to give her protection to remove the aura.  I'm guessing your time frame for using these types of spells will be narrow, thanks to every Kaalia deck using things like {Lightning Greaves} and {Whispersilk Cloak} for shroud, so you'll have to hit her fast before he can equip her.

A fourth, and probably less effective option, is to add in some reach or flying creatures with low mana costs that are strong enough to kill Kaalia and not die themselves. Quickly ramping yourself into a {Silklash Spider} or something can gum up a deck that relies too heavily on flying.

Excellent guide, Gorzo. Can you clarify one thing for me? When you counter {Kaalia} with {Spell Crumple}, can't he choose to have it go to the command zone, or does that not apply to put-in-library effects?

[Jlamb5]

Your best bet is to do everything in your power to shut down his Kaalia before he can attack or give her hexproof/shroud. Because she can come out so quickly, that can be a challenge.

You have options, though, and using a deck with bant colors gives you plenty.

{Spell Crumple} and {Hinder} will be your ultimate solutions. If you can tuck Kaalia at the bottom of his library, his deck will likely be dead in the water for 4-6 turns after that while he prays for land to cast his huge demons and dragons, giving you a massive edge. A miracle {Terminus} works too, but the odds of you drawing it exactly on exactly turn 4 to tuck the Kaalia...not very likely. {Condemn} is great but allows her to trigger once, which can really hurt. {Spin into Myth} is also great, but is 5 CMC and requires Kaalia to not be shrouded/hexproof by turn 5, which seems unlikely.

Cheap, Single target removal like {Swords to Plowshares} and {Path to Exile} are helpful, but only buy you a turn or two at the most, unless paired with spell crumple to catch her as he recasts her.

Your other options are to prevent Kaalia from attacking. Hitting her with {Pacifism}-type auras keep her off of you, and don't allow him to recast her to try again until he figured out a way to kill her himself or remove your aura. {Crystallization} is a fun one for your colors, killing her if he tries to give her protection to remove the aura.  I'm guessing your time frame for using these types of spells will be narrow, thanks to every Kaalia deck using things like {Lightning Greaves} and {Whispersilk Cloak} for shroud, so you'll have to hit her fast before he can equip her.

A fourth, and probably less effective option, is to add in some reach or flying creatures with low mana costs that are strong enough to kill Kaalia and not die themselves. Quickly ramping yourself into a {Silklash Spider} or something can gum up a deck that relies too heavily on flying.

Excellent guide, Gorzo. Can you clarify one thing for me? When you counter {Kaalia} with {Spell Crumple}, can't he choose to have it go to the command zone, or does that not apply to put-in-library effects?

Put in library effects or return to hand effects can not be changed. Command zone can be chosen for graveyard and exiling only.

[MarduArrow]

Your best bet is to do everything in your power to shut down his Kaalia before he can attack or give her hexproof/shroud. Because she can come out so quickly, that can be a challenge.

You have options, though, and using a deck with bant colors gives you plenty.

{Spell Crumple} and {Hinder} will be your ultimate solutions. If you can tuck Kaalia at the bottom of his library, his deck will likely be dead in the water for 4-6 turns after that while he prays for land to cast his huge demons and dragons, giving you a massive edge. A miracle {Terminus} works too, but the odds of you drawing it exactly on exactly turn 4 to tuck the Kaalia...not very likely. {Condemn} is great but allows her to trigger once, which can really hurt. {Spin into Myth} is also great, but is 5 CMC and requires Kaalia to not be shrouded/hexproof by turn 5, which seems unlikely.

Cheap, Single target removal like {Swords to Plowshares} and {Path to Exile} are helpful, but only buy you a turn or two at the most, unless paired with spell crumple to catch her as he recasts her.

Your other options are to prevent Kaalia from attacking. Hitting her with {Pacifism}-type auras keep her off of you, and don't allow him to recast her to try again until he figured out a way to kill her himself or remove your aura. {Crystallization} is a fun one for your colors, killing her if he tries to give her protection to remove the aura.  I'm guessing your time frame for using these types of spells will be narrow, thanks to every Kaalia deck using things like {Lightning Greaves} and {Whispersilk Cloak} for shroud, so you'll have to hit her fast before he can equip her.

A fourth, and probably less effective option, is to add in some reach or flying creatures with low mana costs that are strong enough to kill Kaalia and not die themselves. Quickly ramping yourself into a {Silklash Spider} or something can gum up a deck that relies too heavily on flying.

Excellent guide, Gorzo. Can you clarify one thing for me? When you counter {Kaalia} with {Spell Crumple}, can't he choose to have it go to the command zone, or does that not apply to put-in-library effects?

Put in library effects or return to hand effects can not be changed. Command zone can be chosen for graveyard and exiling only.

You have no idea of my hatred for  {Spell Crumple} in edh, that's probably the biggest fu to the face in the game

[Jlamb5]

What's really good is even bant charm works with Jenara and that can mess stuff up too, but obviously as a one of its tough to get her out of the way.

[Double-O-Scotch]

{forgotten ancient} more counters for jenara
{increasing savagery} even more counters
{fathom mage} card draw and counters
{illusionist bracers} double counters for jenara
{bioshift} get the counters in the right place
{burst of strength} ambush tricks and counters
And of course...{doubling season} COUNTERS

[Bman0121]

{forgotten ancient} more counters for jenara
{increasing savagery} even more counters
{fathom mage} card draw and counters
{illusionist bracers} double counters for jenara
{bioshift} get the counters in the right place
{burst of strength} ambush tricks and counters
And of course...{doubling season} COUNTERS

{Vorel of the Hull Clade} and  {Gilder Bairn} also are very good with  {Jenara, Asura of War}

[MuggyWuggy]

I know there is a combo where your general basically has unlimited counters. Can't remember it but when a guy pulled it off in EDH and knocked the strongest guy out instantly...I was like 😲

[ChrisRodriguez]

I know there is a combo where your general basically has unlimited counters. Can't remember it but when a guy pulled it off in EDH and knocked the strongest guy out instantly...I was like 😲

{Deadeye Navigator} + {Draining Whelk} or {Mystic Snake}, {Riptide Laboratory} + {Venser, Shaper Savant} or {Glen Elendra Archmage}.

[Agrajagzz9]

I have always found that the best way for bant to deal with kaalia besides counter and removal is just to have a lot of turn one and two dudes which can trade with kaalia she doesn't fly so even if they get a dude just kill her enough times to never see her again

[Silent1236]

Kaalia does have flying

[Agrajagzz9]

Derp