Well today marks the last set review. If you’ve followed me through all my reviews I’d like to sincerely say thank you. I really do appreciate your support. I wouldn’t be here otherwise. Today is exciting because Green is my favorite color in Magic. Multicolored cards are also another favorite. If you didn’t know, I love playing competitive five color decks when they are viable. It’s not often, but when it is, boy do I have some fun. All right, enough of that. Let’s look at my grading scale for Standard.

0 Will never see play in Standard (Geyserfield Stalker)

1 Unlikely to see any play (Isolation Zone)

2 Could see fringe play, or occasional SB card (Caustic Caterpillar)

3 Commonly played. Staple in a single deck, or frequent play in several decks. (Reflector Mage)

4 Format Staple, sees play in multiple decks, one of the best cards in the format. (Sylvan Advocate)

5 Format warping. Every deck plays this, or is built with this card in mind. (Spell Queller/Collected Company)

Got it? Good. Let’s start with some of these Green cards!

Appetite for the Unnatural - 2

Nice Sideboard card for things Natural State doesn’t get. The life gain isn’t irrelevant. In G/W decks Fragmentize will most likely be your go to enchantment/artifact destruction as well.

Arborback Stomper - 2

5 life is a lot, so is 5 mana. The body is pretty nice too, a 5/4 Trampler is nothing to scoff at. It’s far from Thragtusk but the life gain can make or break you in certain matchups. Good card for sideboards.

Architect of the Untamed - 2

It competes with Tireless Tracker for “landfall” and I have a feeling getting clues will be better than energy. On the other hand if you really need energy and you’re all in on say something like Aetherworks Marvel, then this card can fuel that Marvel and be a decent backup win condition. But Tireless Tracker is so good . . . 

Armorcraft Judge - 2

Can be good as a Traverse the Ulvenwald target if you’re playing Verdurous Gearhulk to have a bunch of ways to place counter on creatures so that you can draw some cards. But again, why not just play Tireless Tracker if you’re trying to draw cards?

Attune with Aether - 2

Do you need energy? Check yes or no. If you checked no, play Traverse the Ulvenwald. If you checked yes, do you really want to play this over Traverse the Ulvenwald?

Blossoming Defense - 2

This card is pretty good for Standard aggro decks. Protecting your creature from removal and/or pumping it to get more damage in is pretty great. I expect it to see little play here and there.

Modern: Infect has been short on pump spells, happy to see this printed. /sarcasm

Bristling Hydra - 2.5

As a control player, I never want to see this card. It’s a fantastic sideboard card by itself. If you’re a R/G energy deck, you need to consider this card for your main deck.

Commencement of Festivities - 2.5

I guess Fog is just too good since they keep giving us bad Fogs? This one is worse than Winds of Qal Sisma and it doesn’t protect your Planeswalkers. Still, if you just need some time to cast the Crush of Tentacles or Ulamog, the Ceaseless Hunger. You should consider playing this card.

Cowl Prowler - 0

CRAW WURRRRRRRRRM! Never in Standaaaaard!

Creeping Mold - 2

Creeping Mold has seen Sideboard play before since it’s so versatile. Actually it has seen some main deck play in land destruction decks in the past. We also had better mana acceleration, better land destruction spells, and the creatures were worse back then. Ah, the good old days.

Cultivator of Blades - 1.5

Too expensive for what it’s trying to do. Just play the Gearhulk!

Dubious Challenge - 1

Let’s leave this one for Homeward Path decks in Commander. That or group hug decks. You have to jump through a lot of hoops or hit the same creature for this one to do much of anything. I’m dubious.

Durable Handicraft - 2

Pay one more mana for your creatures in order to make them a little bigger? Then later you can grow your whole team? Ehh, maybe in a token strategy. Doesn’t seem that bad with Nissa, Voice of Zendikar, but I think we have better things.

Elegant Edgecrafters - 1

Very edgy in Limited, where it will stay!

Fairgrounds Trumpeter - 1.5

Seems like a sweet build around me card in Limited. Not much hope for Standard.

Ghirapur Guide - 1

He’s gonna guide all the creatures in Limited.

Guardian of the Great Conduit - 2

Pretty good if you curve this into Nissa, Vital Force since this elemental protects her so well. Also has reach which is very relevant.

Highspire Artisan - 2

The fact that it as reach could be situationally important if Spirits starts to take off. Really wish he had more power though.

Hunt the Weak - 1

Solid Green removal . . .  In Limited.

Kujar Seedsculptor - 1.5

Is it just me or do a lot of things place counters on creatures in this set? Seems awesome for Limited, do we have enough for Constructed? I don’t think so honestly.

Larger Than Life - 1

We have better pump spells than this. Gearhulk already has Trample.

Longtusk Cub - 2

This card has potential but you really need energy to make energy with this cub.

Nature’s Way - 2

Seems sweet, I like Prey Upon more though if I want this type of effect in Standard.

Nissa, Vital Force - 4

5 mana is a lot, but you will be guaranteed return on investment. One of the best cards in New Standard. I think she is better than Chandra, Torch of Defiance. She also auto Ultimates with Oath of Gideon.

Nissa, Nature’s Artisan - 2.5

Don’t sleep on this card folks. I know we have Nissa, Vital Force but this one is good too. She goes up to eight loyalty and if they don’t kill her or you then you keep gaining three life every turn. Later you can later cash her in for cards if your life total is padded enough. If they do kill her, then you’ve gained at least 11 life. Don’t underestimate this card.

Ornamental Courage - 1

Just play Blossoming Defense if you want a pump spell.

Oviya Pashiri, Sage Lifecrafter - 2

What a long name . . .  She’s a sweet Commander! I think she’s a miss in Standard but if you have time to Empty mana into her than she can start paying off. Fine against control decks like Dragonmaster Outcast was, she just requires mana which is kinda of a bummer.

Peema Outrider - 1

This elf better Peema outta here!

Riparian Tiger - 1

RIP-arian Tiger. Rest in Peace Tiger because he doesn’t have much of a shot in Standard.

Sage of Shaila’s Claim - 1.5

Just play this next card if you really want a creature to give you energy when it enters the battlefield.

Servant of the Conduit - 2.5

Okay! Gives you energy and ramp you. This can also attack since it’s a 2/2. Could easily see play an aggressive R/G energy deck.

Take Down - 2

Solid Sideboard card. Wish it was Instant. Let me dream.

Terrain Elemental - 1

Two words. Sylvan. Advocate.

Thriving Rhino - 1

Green has better ways to gain energy and use that energy, I’ll pass.

Verdant Crescendo - 2.5

If you play one Nissa, Nature's Artisan you should almost assuredly play one of these too. It tutors the graveyard as well which is why I’m giving it a 2.5. It’s an Explosive Vegetation where you trade one of the lands for a 6 mana Planeswalker. I can get down with that.

Verdurous Gearhulk - 4

I think this is the best Gearhulk in Standard unless we get better instants in Standard. People need to stop comparing it to Wolfir Silverheart, Gavony Township, and yuck, Ulrich of the Krallenhorde. It’s ALL those cards in one and it’s way better than those creatures. It’s an 8/8 Trampler as a top deck. Mid game you just grow your Sylvan Advocate to a 4/5 or your Tireless Tracker into a 6/5. You can basically give any of your creatures immunity to Chandra, Torch of Defiance and future Grasp of Darkness. This Gearhulk is best when you distribute the counters. Make sure to target every possible creature when he enters the battlefield, you can then distribute them any way you see fit, so if they Grasp of Darkness your Verdurous Gearhulk, you can still grow your creatures since you targeted them. Love the Gearhulk cycle, love this Gearhulk.

Wild Wanderer - 2.5

Ramps and protects Nissa and it’s great to emerge off of. Not as good as Explosive Vegetation but it’s something.

Wildest Dreams - 2.5

Sure we have Seasons Past. You can cash this in earlier though and it has protection from Transgress the Mind. That’s very relevant, can easily see G/x decks running this as a singleton in their decks.

Wily Bandar - 1

Cat. Monkey. I’ve seen it all folks. I’ve seen it all.

Top 3 Best Green Cards

1. Nissa, Vital Force
2. Verdurous Gearhulk
3. Servant of the Conduit

Top three was really hard here since so many things are tied for that slot. Third place could easily be Wildest Dreams, Bristling Hydra, or even Nissa, Nature's Artisan. Went with Servant of the Conduit because I think it will have more application in different decks.

Now we have a few more multicolored cards before we go. Some of these cards are very good and ask you to build around them or to just be put into a deck that shares a color with them. Let’s check them out.

Cloudblazer - 2.5

Welcome back Mulldrifter, I missed you.

Contraband Kingpin - 2

All these Aetherborn trying to get rich and have power quick! Side note: I think Aether Revolt is about the Aetherborn revolting and taking life to fuel themselves.

Depala, Pilot Exemplar - 2.5

This card is really pushed. Double lord, and X to “draw” cards allow for massive upside.

Dovin Baan - 3

The U/W walker you’ve always/never wanted to be printed.

Empyreal Voyager - 2

Solid way to generate some energy if you can keep connecting with it. Too bad Spell Queller is pretty rampant.

Engineered Might - 1.5

A weird Overrun not Overrun. I think I would’ve just rather have had Overrun.

Hazardous Conditions - 1

Let’s just stick to Flaying Tendrils.

Kambal, Consul of Allocation - 2.5

Playable in every format. Fantastic against burn decks!

Rashimi, Eternities Crafter - 2

I really wanted this card to be good. It’s just not. Really needed Shroud or something. In a world of Spell Queller and Reflector Mage I cry. It also can’t trigger until your next turn. This card had so much potential. Great Commander at least.

Restoration Gearsmith - 2.5

Solid body with a good ability that happens immediately (Yes, still salty about Rashimi.)

Saheeli Rai - 2

Can’t protect herself. Stitutional minus ability. She is a 3 mana planeswalker though and 3 mana planeswalker are always underestimated.

Unlicensed Disintegration - 3

3 mana Terminate is still 3 mana Terminate. Solid Murder with upside.

Veteran Motorist - 3

Man, talk about power creep. A 2 mana 3/1 that scrys 2. Blue has to pay 4 mana to scry 2. IT DOESN’T EVEN STOP THERE. It grows the vehicles it crews too. This guy is great, will be an all star in a R/W Vehicle deck. His only drawback? He’s not a human.

Voltaic Brawler - 4.5

What is going on? Best energy creature, incredibly aggressive. Most likely a Modern Staple as well. Wow. Please give Simic creature a little more love in the future wizards. <3

Whirler Virtuoso - 2

Not as good as the Boros or Gruul creatures. It would need to have flying and haste to compete with them. It does generate a good amount of energy and does make the relevant artifact creature (thopter not servo.) Not sure you want to be doing this over something like Stormchaser Mage however.

Top 3 Multicolored Cards

1. Voltaic Brawler
2. Veteran Motorist
3. Dovin Baan

And there you have it ladies and gentlemen. The full set review of Kaladesh! This was my first time doing this and I hope you got some insight and enjoyed it. I’m super excited to start brewing with these cards and I even have a couple of decks in mind. I tend to do pretty well with my brews at the beginning of a new format so make sure to check out my brew article next week that should come out on Friday. I should have some lists up then.

Again, thank you so much for reading. I hope I have helped you out in some way. Feel free to leave your comments/concerns or constructive feedback.

Until next time,

Ali Aintrazi

@Alieldrazi

Previous Reviews:

1. Red and Lands
2. Blue and Artifacts
3. White
4. Black