Full Force drafting is a series dedicated to forcing archetypes in draft formats. Join me every Thursday as we learn the ins and outs of the most recent Magic draft formats.
This week we finally get to delve into Kaladesh limited. Thanks to the votes from Twitter (@IlyonMTG), we will be covering the WB value deck archetype! I had originally intended to do a full run-down of the archetypes in Kaladesh, but there’s already a great primer from Numot The Nummy on the Wizards website
Anyone that has watched a video of mine for this before will understand that I’m as happy as anyone else to be doing the WB value deck. I like having a deck that has a lot of inevitability; Lots of two-for-ones, removal and finishers. The WB deck in Kaladesh looks to be set up specifically for this type of style.
The biggest enabler of the deck is the flexibility and power of Fabricate. Creating incremental value throughout the game is incredibly powerful and sure to be one of the deciding factors between good and bad versions of the deck. We’ve already seen what cards like Sandsteppe Outcast or Eldrazi Skyspawner can do, and while it’s not quite as powerful as these, a card like Glint-Sleeve Artisan is no slouch.
Kaladesh is a very new, very different set and there are some cards to check out, if you want to test the format. Any of the Vehicles are a little bit of a wildcard. My personal inclination is that most of the vehicles with a crew cost of 3 or more aren’t worth it (Exception to Skysovereign, Consul Flagship). The other cards that are important to check evaluations on are Panharmonicon and Ovalchase Daredevil. I’ve seen compelling arguments for and against Panharmonicon, but I’m inclined to play it in this deck when I have 6+ Fabricate or other enter the battlefield abilities to trigger. As for Ovalchase Daredevil, the card is just an absurd value engine if you can get it going. I thought it was strong but it really overperformed even my expectations in the draft videos.
Beyond Vehicles, Panharmonicon and Ovalchase Daredevil, there are some obvious rares and uncommons the deck is looking for, like Restoration Gearsmith or Noxious Gearhulk. However, your deck will mainly be commons so I’ve laid out a list of my top five common cards to draft in the archetype:
1. Revoke Privileges
Privileges is exactly what you want in removal for limited. Unconditional, cheap, and with almost no drawbacks (Leaving their creature in play can even be an upside, just look at Ovalchase Daredevil). Not much to talk about here, I’d probably play 4 if I managed to open that many.
2. Tidy Conclusion
I can never turn down removal and this is removal is instant speed, with no restrictions and a minor upside. It’s cost is prohibitive so you probably won’t play too many, but the first is great.
3. Filligree Familiar
This card is just chock-full of the kind of value we’re looking for. It’s almost always a 2-for-1 and with lifegain attached to boot. Buying this back with Restoration Gearsmith or Fortuitous Find is exactly how I’d like to build my WB decks.
4. Dhund Operative
I put this on the list specifically after playing the matches for this episode. I passed on it early and afterwards realized how few decent two-drops are available to the deck. I had to look it up after recording to double check that it wasn’t just a fluke, but there is a gap in decent early game with this deck and Operative is excellent value as long as you have an artifact, something you should aim for with Fabricate anyway.
5. Glint-Sleeve Artisan
Glint-Sleeve is the backbone of your deck. Artifacts are important for lots of cards like Underhanded Dealings or Dhund Operative and it’s a built in two-for-one.
There’s a lot of depth to these colours besides the cards I’ve listed. Cards like Die Young and Impeccable Timing were difficult to cut from the list. I’m hoping this means the deck is viable and I can draft it more, because it was a lot of fun to play!
I’ll be posting a run-down article and vlog of GP Atlanta next week, as well as the next Full Force article. Want to vote on the next archetype I cover? Follow me on Twitter @IlyonMTG to vote in the poll! Until next week, enjoy fabricating some value with the WB Value deck!
