Overview

Wade into Battle is a Boros deck of Giants that wipes the board and then attacks. Kalemne, Disciple of Iroas has double strike and vigilance, and it gets an experience counter whenever you cast a creature spell with mana value 5 or greater, and +1/+1 for each experience counter. Many of the creatures in the deck qualify, so Kalemne grows quickly.

The 99 cards are 30 creatures, 17 artifacts, 5 enchantments, 3 instants, 5 sorceries and 39 lands. Fourteen of the creatures are Giants, including Inferno Titan, Sun Titan, Borderland Behemoth, Sunrise Sovereign and Hammerfist Giant, and six are Angels such as Angel of Serenity, Herald of the Host and Victory's Herald. Damage-based sweepers such as Magma Giant, Thundercloud Shaman, Earthquake, Fiery Confluence and Disaster Radius clear the board around your large creatures.

Key Cards

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Inferno Titan
Removal · Giant
A 6/6 for {4}{R}{R}. It can pump for {R}, and whenever it enters or attacks it deals 3 damage divided as you choose among one, two or three targets. It is a creature and a removal spell every time it attacks.
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Thundercloud Shaman
Sweeper · Giant
A 4/4 for {3}{R}{R}. When it enters, it deals damage equal to the number of Giants you control to each non-Giant creature. In a Giant deck, it wipes the opposing board and your non-Giants.
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Gisela, Blade of Goldnight
Damage Doubler · Flying
A 5/5 for {4}{R}{W}{W}. It has flying and first strike, damage dealt to an opponent or their permanents is doubled, and damage to you or your permanents is halved. It makes every attack and every burn spell stronger.
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Sunrise Sovereign
Lord · Giant
A 5/5 for {5}{R}. Other Giants you control get +2/+2 and have trample. With 14 Giants in the deck, it makes each of them a big threat.

Playing the Deck

The early game is about mana and cost reducers. Sol Ring, Boros Signet, Coldsteel Heart, Mind Stone, Worn Powerstone and Basalt Monolith ramp you, Stinkdrinker Daredevil and Urza's Incubator make Giants cheaper, and Oreskos Explorer fetches Plains. Taurean Mauler and Magus of the Wheel are cheap creatures.

The middle of the game is about big creatures and sweepers. Stoneshock Giant, Warchief Giant, Hunted Dragon and Anya, Merciless Angel arrive at five mana, Magma Giant, Thundercloud Shaman and Hammerfist Giant clear non-flying creatures (including yours), and Banishing Light and Faith's Fetters handle the biggest threats. Hamletback Goliath grows as creatures enter.

The late game is about finishing. Inferno Titan, Sun Titan, Angel of Serenity and Victory's Herald dominate the board, Gisela, Blade of Goldnight doubles damage, Warstorm Surge turns each creature into burn, and Fiery Confluence, Meteor Blast and Earthquake finish a table. Desolation Giant kicked destroys all other creatures.

Strengths & Weaknesses

Strengths: The deck has a huge amount of high-quality big creatures and sweepers, so it often has a bigger board after a wipe. It also has plenty of interaction, including Faith's Fetters, Crib Swap, Orim's Thunder, Fall of the Hammer, Banishing Light and Curse of the Nightly Hunt.

Weaknesses: The deck is full of expensive cards, so it can be slow and vulnerable to fast starts, and it has only three instants. Its sweepers also hit its own smaller creatures, and Desolation Giant unkicked destroys all of your other creatures.

Want to improve it? See the Wade into Battle upgrade guide: twelve swaps with the data behind each one.

Verdict
Wade into Battle is a big and powerful deck for people who enjoy huge creatures and a board wipe. It is a good choice for players who like to play fewer, bigger spells and finish with a massive attack.

Want to see what a fully optimised Kalemne, Disciple of Iroas build looks like? Try the Oracle.

✦ Build with The Oracle

Frequently Asked Questions

What cards are in the Wade into Battle decklist?
The Wade into Battle precon is a 100-card Commander deck led by Kalemne, Disciple of Iroas. The full Wade into Battle decklist, with every card, current prices and a button to copy the list into your deck builder, is on this page.

When was Wade into Battle released?
Wade into Battle was released on November 13, 2015 as part of Commander 2015.

Who is the commander of Wade into Battle?
Wade into Battle is led by Kalemne, Disciple of Iroas, a Boros (W/R) legendary creature.

How many creatures are in Wade into Battle?
The 99 cards besides Kalemne, Disciple of Iroas include 30 creatures.

How many lands does Wade into Battle have?
Wade into Battle has 39 lands in the 99 cards besides Kalemne, Disciple of Iroas, including basic lands.

Full Decklist

All 100 cards from the out-of-the-box Wade into Battle precon, with current prices. Click any card to expand it.

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