Kaalia of the Vast costs {1}{R}{W}{B} and is a 2/2 Legendary Human Cleric with flying. Whenever Kaalia attacks an opponent, you may put an Angel, Demon or Dragon creature card from your hand onto the battlefield tapped and attacking that opponent. A seven-mana flyer arrives for free on turn four.

The precon already has the Angels and Demons to cheat in, including Lightning Greaves, Angel of Despair, Mother of Runes, Orzhov Signet, Path to Exile and Boros Signet. Each swap below pairs a cut with an add, and every card is scored with the same numbers the Oracle uses to build decks: synergy and inclusion from the Kaalia decks, plus lift, which shows how much more often a card turns up in Kaalia decks than in decks that could play it.

Looking for the unmodified list first? Read the Heavenly Inferno precon guide.

11
Swaps
$11.37
Cost of the adds
38→38
Lands
0→38
Avg Oracle score

What is holding the deck back

Not enough strong Angels, Demons and Dragons

Rune-Scarred Demon, Lyra Dawnbringer, Drakuseth, Maw of Flames, Liesa, Forgotten Archangel, Serra's Emissary and Angel of Serenity are Angels, Demons or Dragons that win the game when Kaalia drops them. They are among the top-scoring cards the precon leaves out.

Guildmages and off-type creatures outside the lists

Anger, Boros Guildmage, Duergar Hedge-Mage, Gwyllion Hedge-Mage, Oni of Wild Places, Orzhov Guildmage, Razorjaw Oni and Avatar of Slaughter are not cards Kaalia, and neither do Dread Cacodemon, Archangel of Strife or Mana-Charged Dragon decks usually play.

Cast-from-hand effects are skipped

Dread Cacodemon only wipes the board if you cast it from your hand, so Kaalia's free drop cannot use it. Creatures whose effects trigger when they enter, such as Rune-Scarred Demon and Angel of Serenity, still work with Kaalia.

The 11 swaps

Each pair shows the numbers for the card coming out and the card going in. Click a card image to zoom.

Swap 1 of 11
Anger
Cut
Anger
Creature — Incarnation · 3R
Not a card this commander's decks usually play, so it scores below the cards that are
Rune-Scarred Demon
Add
Rune-Scarred Demon
Creature — Demon · 5BB
Inclusion71%
Synergy64%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 67

Anger is a four-mana 2/2 haste Incarnation. It is not a card Kaalia decks usually play.

Rune-Scarred Demon is a 6/6 Demon for {5}{B}{B} with flying. When it enters, you search your library for any card and put it into your hand. A Demon that Kaalia drops for free and that tutors for your next Angel, and the highest-scoring cheap card the precon leaves out.

Swap 2 of 11
Boros Guildmage
Cut
Boros Guildmage
Creature — Human Wizard · R/WR/W
Not a card this commander's decks usually play, so it scores below the cards that are
Lyra Dawnbringer
Add
Lyra Dawnbringer
Legendary Creature — Angel · 3WW
Inclusion27%
Synergy24%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 25

Boros Guildmage is a two-mana 2/2 that gives haste or first strike. It is not a card Kaalia decks usually play.

Lyra Dawnbringer is a 5/5 Legendary Angel for {3}{W}{W} with flying, first strike and lifelink. Other Angels you control get +1/+1 and have lifelink. A five-mana Angel that makes every other Angel bigger.

Swap 3 of 11
Duergar Hedge-Mage
Cut
Duergar Hedge-Mage
Creature — Dwarf Shaman · 2R/W
Not a card this commander's decks usually play, so it scores below the cards that are
Drakuseth, Maw of Flames
Add
Drakuseth, Maw of Flames
Legendary Creature — Dragon · 4RRR
Inclusion29%
Synergy25%
Lift6.6×
Oracle score 26

Duergar Hedge-Mage is a three-mana 2/2 that destroys an artifact or enchantment with enough Mountains or Plains. It is not a card Kaalia decks usually play.

Drakuseth, Maw of Flames is a 7/7 Legendary Dragon for {4}{R}{R}{R} with flying. Whenever it attacks, it deals 4 damage to any target and 3 damage to each of up to two other targets. A seven-mana Dragon that Kaalia puts into the attack for free.

Swap 4 of 11
Gwyllion Hedge-Mage
Cut
Gwyllion Hedge-Mage
Creature — Hag Wizard · 2W/B
Not a card this commander's decks usually play, so it scores below the cards that are
Liesa, Forgotten Archangel
Add
Liesa, Forgotten Archangel
Legendary Creature — Angel · 2WWB
Inclusion59%
Synergy52%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 55

Gwyllion Hedge-Mage is a three-mana 2/2 that makes a Kithkin or gives a -1/-1 counter. It is not a card Kaalia decks usually play.

Liesa, Forgotten Archangel is a 4/5 Legendary Angel for {2}{W}{W}{B} with flying and lifelink. Whenever another nontoken creature you control dies, you return it to its owner's hand at the beginning of the next end step, and creatures an opponent controls are exiled instead of dying. A five-mana Angel in two of Kaalia's colours that returns your fallen creatures.

Swap 5 of 11
Oni of Wild Places
Cut
Oni of Wild Places
Creature — Demon Spirit · 5R
Not a card this commander's decks usually play, so it scores below the cards that are
Serra's Emissary
Add
Serra's Emissary
Creature — Angel · 4WWW
Inclusion41%
Synergy36%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 38

Oni of Wild Places is a six-mana 6/5 haste Demon Spirit that returns a red creature each upkeep. It is not a card Kaalia decks usually play.

Serra's Emissary is a 7/7 Angel for {4}{W}{W}{W} with flying. As it enters you choose a card type, and you and creatures you control have protection from the chosen card type. A seven-mana Angel that, with creatures chosen, stops creatures dealing damage to you.

Swap 6 of 11
Orzhov Guildmage
Cut
Orzhov Guildmage
Creature — Human Wizard · W/BW/B
Not a card this commander's decks usually play, so it scores below the cards that are
Angel of Serenity
Add
Angel of Serenity
Creature — Angel · 4WWW
Inclusion33%
Synergy30%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 31

Orzhov Guildmage is a two-mana 2/2 with two activated abilities. It is not a card Kaalia decks usually play.

Angel of Serenity is a 5/6 Angel for {4}{W}{W}{W} with flying. When it enters, you may exile up to three other target creatures from the battlefield and/or creature cards from graveyards, and when it leaves the battlefield you return the exiled cards to their owners' hands. A seven-mana Angel that removes three creatures.

Swap 7 of 11
Razorjaw Oni
Cut
Razorjaw Oni
Creature — Demon Spirit · 3B
Not a card this commander's decks usually play, so it scores below the cards that are
Demonic Counsel
Add
Demonic Counsel
Sorcery · 1B
Inclusion31%
Synergy26%
Lift7.4×
Oracle score 28

Razorjaw Oni is a four-mana 4/5 Demon Spirit that stops black creatures blocking. It is not a card Kaalia decks usually play.

Demonic Counsel costs {1}{B}. You search your library for a Demon card, reveal it and put it into your hand, or any card with delirium. A two-mana tutor that fetches a Demon for Kaalia to drop.

Swap 8 of 11
Avatar of Slaughter
Cut
Avatar of Slaughter
Creature — Avatar · 6RR
Not a card this commander's decks usually play, so it scores below the cards that are
Archfiend of Depravity
Add
Archfiend of Depravity
Creature — Demon · 3BB
Inclusion37%
Synergy32%
Lift6.5×
Oracle score 34

Avatar of Slaughter is an eight-mana 8/8 Avatar that forces all creatures to attack with double strike. It is not a card Kaalia decks usually play.

Archfiend of Depravity is a 5/4 Demon for {3}{B}{B} with flying. At the beginning of each opponent's end step, that player chooses up to two creatures they control, then sacrifices the rest. A five-mana Demon that works as a sweeper every turn.

Swap 9 of 11
Dread Cacodemon
Cut
Dread Cacodemon
Creature — Demon · 7BBB
Not a card this commander's decks usually play, so it scores below the cards that are
Sephara, Sky's Blade
Add
Sephara, Sky's Blade
Legendary Creature — Angel · 4WWW
Inclusion59%
Synergy53%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 55

Dread Cacodemon is a ten-mana 8/8 Demon whose board wipe only works if you cast it from your hand. It is not a card Kaalia decks usually play.

Sephara, Sky's Blade is a 7/7 Legendary Angel for {4}{W}{W}{W} with flying and lifelink. You may pay {W} and tap four untapped creatures you control with flying rather than pay its mana cost, and your other flyers have indestructible. A seven-mana Angel that makes your flyers indestructible.

Swap 10 of 11
Archangel of Strife
Cut
Archangel of Strife
Creature — Angel · 5WW
Not a card this commander's decks usually play, so it scores below the cards that are
Dragon Tempest
Add
Dragon Tempest
Enchantment · 1R
Inclusion35%
Synergy31%
Lift8.0×+
Oracle score 33

Archangel of Strife is a seven-mana 6/6 flying Angel where each player chooses war or peace. It is not a card Kaalia decks usually play.

Dragon Tempest costs {1}{R}. Whenever a creature with flying you control enters, it gains haste until end of turn, and whenever a Dragon you control enters it deals X damage to any target, where X is the number of Dragons you control. A two-mana enchantment that gives every flyer Kaalia drops haste.

Swap 11 of 11
Mana-Charged Dragon
Cut
Mana-Charged Dragon
Creature — Dragon · 4RR
Not a card this commander's decks usually play, so it scores below the cards that are
Whispersilk Cloak
Add
Whispersilk Cloak
Artifact — Equipment · 3
Inclusion27%
Synergy22%
Lift5.1×
Oracle score 24

Mana-Charged Dragon is a six-mana 5/5 Dragon with a join forces ability. It is not a card Kaalia decks usually play.

Whispersilk Cloak is an Equipment for {3}. Equipped creature can't be blocked and has shroud, and it has equip {2}. A three-mana Equipment that makes Kaalia unblockable and untargetable so she connects.

The full swap list

Cut

  • Anger
  • Boros Guildmage
  • Duergar Hedge-Mage
  • Gwyllion Hedge-Mage
  • Oni of Wild Places
  • Orzhov Guildmage
  • Razorjaw Oni
  • Avatar of Slaughter
  • Dread Cacodemon
  • Archangel of Strife
  • Mana-Charged Dragon

Add

  • Rune-Scarred Demon
  • Lyra Dawnbringer
  • Drakuseth, Maw of Flames
  • Liesa, Forgotten Archangel
  • Serra's Emissary
  • Angel of Serenity
  • Demonic Counsel
  • Archfiend of Depravity
  • Sephara, Sky's Blade
  • Dragon Tempest
  • Whispersilk Cloak

What to keep

These cards are doing the deck's heavy lifting. Do not cut them.

If you want to spend more

These are strong but sit outside a budget upgrade. Prices are the cheapest paper printing.

The verdict

Heavenly Inferno already has the Angels and Demons to cheat in and Kaalia's attack trigger. The upgrade is stronger flyers and Demon tutors, in place of guildmages and off-type creatures that Kaalia decks leave out. These eleven swaps cost about $11 in total.

Want a full 100-card list built around Kaalia of the Vast from today's data?

Build with The Oracle →

Frequently asked questions

What are the best upgrades for the Heavenly Inferno precon?

Using data from 40,649 Kaalia of the Vast decks, the highest-scoring additions are Rune-Scarred Demon (for Anger), Liesa, Forgotten Archangel (for Gwyllion Hedge-Mage) and Sephara, Sky's Blade (for Dread Cacodemon). The full list has 11 swaps, each scored with synergy, inclusion and lift.

How much does it cost to upgrade Heavenly Inferno?

All 11 swaps cost about $11.37 at the cheapest paper printings (TCGplayer market prices via Scryfall, 2026-10-28). If you want to spend more, the guide also covers Gisela, Blade of Goldnight ($5.51) and Master of Cruelties ($4.41).

What should I cut from Heavenly Inferno?

The weakest cards for this commander are Anger, Boros Guildmage and Duergar Hedge-Mage. The guide explains the reason for every cut, and swaps each one for a card that scores higher.

Which cards should I keep in Heavenly Inferno?

Keep Lightning Greaves, Angel of Despair, Mother of Runes, Orzhov Signet and Path to Exile. These are the cards doing the deck's heavy lifting.

What does Kaalia of the Vast do?

Kaalia of the Vast costs {1}{R}{W}{B} and is a 2/2 Legendary Human Cleric with flying. Whenever Kaalia attacks an opponent, you may put an Angel, Demon or Dragon creature card from your hand onto the battlefield tapped and attacking that opponent. A seven-mana flyer arrives for free on turn four.

More Commander 2011 upgrade guides

All precon upgrade guides

How the numbers work

Inclusion is the share of Kaalia of the Vast decks (40,649 of them when this was written, 2026-10-28) that play the card. Synergy is how much more often they play it than other decks in the same colours. Oracle score is synergy × 0.6 plus inclusion × 0.4, the same blend The Oracle uses to rank cards for a deck. Lift compares how often the card appears in these decks with how often it could, capped at 8× here; it is shown for context and does not change the score.

Two cautions. Players who run the precon unmodified count as Kaalia of the Vast decks, which flatters every card the precon contains. Lift is moderate for these cards because many Angel and Dragon decks play them, so use inclusion and synergy to compare cards, not lift. A card the commander's decks do not usually play counts as 0 in the average score. Prices are the cheapest non-foil paper printing on TCGplayer (via Scryfall), in USD, and move daily.