Kaladesh: Steampunk Standard

With Collected Company behind us now, let us take a moment to mourn a fallen comrade/ding dong the witch is dead (delete where appropriate).

Despite your personal view of this powerful Instant, we are all left wondering. What will become of Bant? Will it fall out of favour, or is this a brave new world for Bant players? Let’s have a look and see.

Rashmi, Eternities Crafter, is one of the new pieces that may just keep this Shard in the Top 8. At 4 mana for a 2/3, this Simic Legendary seems a little lack lustre to begin with, but as we read on, her power becomes very apparent. At worst Rashmi draws us a card when we cast our first spell each turn (even on our opponent’s turn), and at best we get to play a spell for free (again, even on our opponent’s turn). This is great tempo. Anything that allows us to cheat in spells for free always feels great; doing so on our opponent’s turn, priceless. A quick note on Rashmi’s ability, “you may”. These two little words allow us to hold on to any cards, especially if we reveal a second legendary, or kill spell if there is no valid target. The more you know.

Now that we don’t need to keep our creatures CMC below three for Collected Company value, we are free to bulk up our top end. Both Angel of Invention and Verdurous Gearhulk are viable options, but there is one other creature that maybe an even better fit. Or should I say, Vehicle.

Skysovereign, Consul Flagship, is perhaps a strange choice for some people, but there are more than a few reasons we should all be playing this literal battlecruiser. Firstly, it’s a 6/5 flyer. Bigger than most natural flyers in the format, this Vehicle can, and will, close out games very quickly. Crewing it with three power worth of creatures, isn’t that difficult with creatures like Tireless Tracker and a flipped Duskwatch Recruiter. Secondly, it’s five generic mana. Anyone who plays a three or four colour decks has known the pain of having a super sweet, awesomely powerful card in hand, but lacking a second White source of mana, and it just looks at you with its sad puppy dog eyes. You feel bad, and then you lose the game. Even with the new quick land cycle, mana can always muck up your games. Not this time my friend, any mana is the right mana when you’re packing this huge sky ship. Lastly, it’s a bolt on a stick. IT’S A BOLT ON A STICK. Enter the battlefield, kill an enemy creature. Attack your opponent, kill one of their blocks or a planeswalker. Okay, it doesn’t hit a player, but stop being greedy, this card is awesome. Let’s see what we can brew with these new additions.

Planeswalker (2)
Tamiyo, Field Researcher

Creature (28)
Duskwatch Recruiter
Reflector Mage
Selfless Spirit
Spell Queller
Sylvan Advocate
Tireless Tracker
Thalia, Heretic Cathar
Rashmi, Eternities Crafter
Skysovereign, Consul Flagship
Sorcery (4)
Declaration in Stone

Land (26)
Botanical Sanctum
Evolving Wilds
Forest
Island
Lumbering Falls
Plains
Prairie Stream
Fortified Village

 

Sideboard (15)
Negate
Summary Dismissal
Linvala, the Preserver
Sigarda, Heron's Grace
Quarantine Field
Stasis Snare
Root Out
Clip Wings
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