This is Kaladesh! The Kaladesh block was introduced into the standard format on October 2016 and it also introduced a new card sub-type – vehicles. Vehicles are a sub type of artifacts that utilize the Crew mechanic, which allows you tap any number creatures with total power equal to the Crew cost, turning it into an artifact creature until end of turn.
With the last 2 Pro Tours (PT), PT Kaladesh and PT Aether Revolt being dominated by vehicle themed decks, I would like to share my top 5 favourite vehicles from the Kaladesh block.
5. Aethersphere Harvester
Aethersphere Harvester is ranked at number 5 on my favourite list. With power and toughness of 3 and 5, Aethersphere Harvester is able to defend its controller from other fliers such as Smuggler’s Copter and Heart of Kiran.
On top of that, this card does not die to removals such as Grasp of Darkness or Fatal Push unless Revolt is triggered. Moreover, by paying 1 energy, Aethersphere Harvester gains lifelink until end of the turn, allowing its controller to gain life based on its power.
4. Skysovereign, Consul Flagship
Ranked at number 4, it is Skysovereign, Consul Flagship and this card is a total beast. When it enters the battlefield, it deals 3 damage to target creature or planeswalker, helping its controller to stabilize the game by killing a creature with toughness 3 or less or reducing the loyalty counter of an opponent’s planeswalker.
When it attacks, it also deals 3 damage to target creature or planeswalker an opponent controls, potentially killing off your opponent’s blockers and effectively clearing the path for your attackers to deal lethal damage to your opponent.
3. Fleetwheel Cruiser
This card has won me several games at last year’s Grand Prix Kuala Lumpur, thus taking the third spot on my favourites list. At the casting cost of 4 mana, this card is a lethal threat to your opponent, especially if it’s played in an aggressive deck because this card has haste and trample.
If your opponent does not have anything to block it, he/she will have to take 5 damage. Even if he/she has something to block with, trample allows the additional damage not dealt to the blocking creature to go through to the defending player or planeswalker given that the toughness of the blocking creature is lesser than the attacking creature’s power.
On top of that, when this card is cast, it enters the battlefield and becomes an artifact creature until end of the turn, giving it the ability to attack without paying the Crew cost!
2. Heart of Kiran
Sharing the same casting cost as Smuggler’s Copter, Heart of Kiran is my second favourite vehicle card in the block despite having a higher crewing cost of 3, as compared to Smuggler’s Copter at 1. At the casting cost of 2 mana, Heart of Kiran can be crewed to be 4/4 artifact creature.
Heart of Kiran has flying and vigilance, protecting its controller from other flying creatures and with vigilance, it allows its controller to attack and defend during his/her opponents turn. Heart of Kiran is the only vehicle card printed that allows its controller to crew the card by using loyalty counters from a planeswalker under his/her control.
This ability gives its controller the flexibility to crew the card either by tapping creatures or paying the cost using planeswalker’s loyalty counters which I deem a good ability. This allows its controller to +1 on his/her planeswalker and immediately use the extra counter to crew this card.
1. Smuggler’s Copter
Smuggler’s Copter is ranked number 1 on my favourite list despite being banned because this card makes you cycle through your deck by allowing you to discard excess lands in hand for better cards. When you are on the verge of losing a game, there is a chance where this card would allow you to top deck into a card which could turn the situation around for you.
Even when you are not winning, this card is still a 3/3 flier, which is like a ticking time bomb, as your opponent is forced to deal with it or he will have to take 3 damage every turn while you are digging your deck for more threats.
I enjoy the vehicles mechanic a lot as it is a new impactful mechanic. Vehicles allows me to build better decks as it plays around my opponent’s sorcery kill spells such Ruinous Path and board wipes such as Fumigate. Furthermore, vehicles add interesting twists to my decks; as opposed to other mechanics introduced in the past such as Converge from Battle for Zendikar, which was really lacklustre and never saw tournament play.
Feel free to make a pure vehicle deck and try it during casual playtesting!
