{"ops":[{"insert":"Intro"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Hello and welcome to my "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Kels, Fight Fixer"}},{"insert":" deck! I play a lot of cEDH at my local meta in Illinois and also travel to play with folks in Georgia, Ohio and Tennessee. I am not gonna claim to be that great, but I like to think I know a thing or two about higher deck construction.\n\n As of the time of writing this description (March 16, 2025). Kels is at just under 700 decks on EDHREC meaning she is basically unknown\n\nWhy Kels?"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"I wanted a project after my "},{"attributes":{"background":"#fafafa","link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/7748239/breya_cedh"},"insert":"Breya cEDH deck"},{"insert":" where I could actually explore and pave my own way. I have been playing magic (and specifically EDH) since approximately 2013. I really like EDH because you are forced to do a 100 card singleton and as a result you see more diversity and a wider range of the cards that have been printed over the years and I think that allows you to get a better appreciation for the game, the strategies involved, the artwork, and just generally seeing how the game has evolved over the years. Breya is a VERY popular 4 color commander. At the time of writing this initial description after finally \"finalizing\" the deck, she has over 14k decks according to edhrec. Kels on the other hand has less than 1k. Just shy of 700 to be more specific. So Kels is very unknown. As such, I think it is in the spirit of magic to make a deck using Kels because I believe she is powerful and definitely a commander that as more cards are printed only gets more powerful.\n\nI don't think this deck is doing anything new except for the commander, whom I think deserves their time to shine.\n\nStrategy"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"The objective of this deck is to play token generators ("},{"insert":{"card-link":"Talrand, Sky Summoner"}},{"insert":" , "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Nadir Kraken"}},{"insert":" , "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Grave Titan"}},{"insert":" , "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Chasm Skulker"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Ghoulcaller Gisa"}},{"insert":" , etc) in order to have a constant sacrifice outlet through tokens that I can use to sacrifice to Kels in order to draw into win conditions below that I can use to wipe the board.\n\nAdvantages"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Blue has some of the best card draw, counterspells"},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Black also has a lot of the best sacrifice outlets to trigger Kels, generic tutors and creature graveyard recursion (along with decent card draw)"},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Lots of sacrifice synergy with tokens"},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Black has decent ramp"},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nDisadvantages"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Orzhov has objectively better aristocrats strategies and resources compared to Dimir. There are many more Orzhov aristocrat commanders such as "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Elas il-Kor, Sadistic Pilgrim"}},{"insert":" , "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Lurrus of the Dream-Den"}},{"insert":" , etc."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"White in particular has much better recursion for everything else that would be needed for combos (artifacts, enchantments)"},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Green and white are better at generating tokens"},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Kels requires colored mana + creatures (to sacrifice) in order to activate her ability. Thrasios, which is a very competitive commander in a similar bracket, requires colorless mana meaning some of the best and easiest ways of generating mana can easily be used in Thrasios and allow the player to go through their deck at instant speed. With Kels, she requires colored mana and a creature to sacrifice. While she can sacrifice and trigger her ability off of herself, to then resummon her is a sorcery speed effect meaning opposing players have opportunities to disrupt at some points. It also means she is much more expensive and niche in terms of resources. Token generation, can be done in dimir, but other colors do it objectively better."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Green has much better ramp than blue or black and has access to birthing pod"},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Black tutors, while very general purpose and widely considered the best, are not always instant speed. So tutors in other colors are typically instant speed"},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nWin Conditions (in order of priority)"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Exquisite Blood"}},{"insert":" + "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Defiant Bloodlord"}},{"insert":" - Infinite life drain"},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Blood Artist"}},{"insert":" / "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Falkenrath Noble"}},{"insert":" / "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Vela the Night-Clad"}},{"insert":" - Drain the table through sacrifice"},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Kels, Fight Fixer"}},{"insert":" - Commander Damage through "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Vela the Night-Clad"}},{"insert":" , "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Rogue's Passage"}},{"insert":" , "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Vorpal Sword"}},{"insert":" , "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Lashwrithe"}},{"insert":" "},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Jace, Wielder of Mysteries"}},{"insert":" - If I somehow draw my entire deck, have it get exiled, etc and then need a way of winning"},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Token beatdown"},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Utility"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Draw Engines"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Kels, Fight Fixer"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Smothering Abomination"}},{"insert":" are the two best draw engines in the deck. This is because as tokens or other creatures are sacrificed off, I will be drawing cards from both of their abilities. Kels can act as the sac outlet to help trigger one or both of them"},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Jace, Wielder of Mysteries"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Narset, Parter of Veils"}},{"insert":" are weaker draw engines but still technically count as they will persist for a few turns. The real trick is going to be to keep them around."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nRecursion"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"There are multiple reanimate outlets throughout this deck. "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Reanimate"}},{"insert":" , "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Sheoldred, Whispering One"}},{"insert":" , "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Victimize"}},{"insert":" ,"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Shade's Form"}},{"insert":" are all ways of ensuring that important creatures stay alive while "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Gravecrawler"}},{"insert":" is a recursion engine so long as I have the mana to bring the little guy back.\n\nToken Engines and Sacrifice Outlets"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"All the token engines are entities like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Ghoulcaller Gisa"}},{"insert":" , "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Chasm Skulker"}},{"insert":" , "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Talrand, Sky Summoner"}},{"insert":" , and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Grave Titan"}},{"insert":" . These generate a lot of tokens with relative ease throughout the game. Some potentially synergize off of each other to an extent. This means the cause of triggering one may simultaneously trigger another.\n\nBoard Control"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Dictate of Erebos"}},{"insert":" to help keep enemy creatures down. Can synergize with the token + sac engines to act as a pseudo board wipe."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Hullbreaker Horror"}},{"insert":" as another board wipe lite. Requires more mana, but whenever I cast something I can easily just bounce permanents. This can act as a pseudo counter for some items too. I can throw counterspells away as a way to trigger this"},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Sheoldred, Whispering One"}},{"insert":" as a soft way to ensure that the opponents are constantly sacrificing stuff that can feed my engines"},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Narset, Parter of Veils"}},{"insert":" will prevent opponents from drawing cards"},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nWays to Shut This Down"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"In no particular order\nGraveyard hate through the form of "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Bojuka Bog"}},{"insert":" "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Rest in Peace"}},{"insert":" "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Grafdigger's Cage"}},{"insert":" "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Drannith Magistrate"}},{"insert":" or other such similar effects"},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Knight of the White Orchid"}},{"insert":" oddly enough is a counter spell I cannot deal with. It might only happen once in a blue moon, but it does work!"},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Linvala, Keeper of Silence"}},{"insert":" - For shutting down all the activated abilities of the sacrificial lambs in my graveyard to recur them"},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Orcish Bowmasters"}},{"insert":" or "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Nekusar, the Mindrazer"}},{"insert":" - Not necessarily a shut down but will most definitely punish me because a huge part of this deck is about card draw!"},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nBracket 3 Justification"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"I would describe this as bracket 3 because it does have a lot of token and recursion synergy so it can quickly and easily rebuild itself should someone wipe the board or otherwise try to control the board. While this does have an infinite combo through Exquisite Blood and Defiant Bloodlord, due to the higher mana costs and lack of tutors, both of those would be bad to have in your opening hand and I would recommend tutoring other items before those in order to build protection. So while it is a 2 turn infinite combo, it is more of a turn 10 infinite combo in my opinion.\n\nBased on other categories from Archidekt on why this is a B4 vs B3, I will contest because this has 0 game changers at this time, tutors are few and not optimal, and Nexus of Fate is to ensure my opponents cannot easily deck me. I will also argue several of the cards in this deck are not too expensive for this deck (such as "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Vela the Night-Clad"}},{"insert":" ) , far too many lands and too few draw engines. So I do not think this is B1 (for obvious reasons), nor do I consider this B2 (although some pre-cons may be able to go toe-to-toe with this deck), I think this fits solidly in B3.\n\n\n"}]}