Rules Interaction
Kaalia of the Vast and Master of Cruelties
Target opponent loses the game. This line is not infinite.
Required Cards
Setup
- Master of Cruelties is in hand.
- Kaalia is on the battlefield and can attack an opponent.
- That opponent cannot block or kill Kaalia before combat damage.
- That opponent cannot block or remove Master of Cruelties before its unblocked trigger resolves.
No additional mana is required after Kaalia can attack and Master is in hand.
Sequence
- Declare Kaalia as an attacker against an opponent.
- Resolve Kaalia's trigger and put Master of Cruelties from hand onto the battlefield tapped and attacking that opponent.
- After blockers, Master of Cruelties' unblocked trigger sets that opponent's life total to 1 and Master assigns no combat damage.
- Kaalia deals combat damage to that opponent, causing that opponent to lose the game.
Interruption Points
- Remove, tap, or otherwise prevent Kaalia from attacking before attackers are declared.
- Counter Kaalia's triggered ability or prevent the Master card from leaving hand.
- Block or remove Master of Cruelties before its unblocked trigger resolves.
- Block, remove, or prevent Kaalia's combat damage after Master sets the opponent to 1.
- Use an effect that prevents the life-total change or prevents the final combat damage.
Kaalia of the Vast role: Kaalia bypasses Master of Cruelties' attack-alone restriction by putting it onto the battlefield already attacking.
Timing: Kaalia must attack an opponent and the line resolves through that combat's declare-blockers and combat-damage steps.
Rules notes: Commander Spellbook exact combo ID 29-137. Master of Cruelties was not declared as an attacker, but its attacks-and-isn't-blocked trigger is checked after blockers and can trigger. Master assigns no combat damage after its trigger resolves; Kaalia supplies the final damage. This is a conditional one-opponent elimination, not an infinite loop. Kaalia rule 1: Kaalia's triggered ability triggers only when she attacks an opponent, not a planeswalker or battle. Kaalia rule 2: The Angel, Demon, or Dragon enters tapped and attacking the opponent Kaalia attacked, but it was never declared as an attacker, so ordinary attack triggers do not trigger. Kaalia rule 3: Attack restrictions that apply while declaring attackers, including defender, do not stop the chosen creature from entering attacking. Kaalia rule 4: Removing Kaalia after her triggered ability is on the stack does not remove that ability from the stack. Kaalia rule 5: If the attacked opponent leaves the game before the trigger resolves, the chosen creature may enter tapped, but it is not attacking. Kaalia rule 6: Master of Cruelties' unblocked trigger is checked after blockers rather than when attackers are declared, so the creature can trigger after Kaalia puts it onto the battlefield attacking. Kaalia rule 7: Master of Cruelties assigns no combat damage after its trigger resolves; Kaalia must still connect for the final combat damage. Kaalia rule 8: Summoning sickness keeps Kaalia from attacking unless she has haste, and repeated removal increases commander tax.
Last reviewed: Aug 24, 2026
