Since their introduction in Kaladesh, Vehicles have become an integral part of MTG. We recently got a set with a dedicated Vehicle theme in Aetherdrift, and coming soon with the arrival of Edge of Eternities, we’re getting a new spin on Vehicles with the debut of Spacecrafts. Players will even be able to feature their favorite legendary Vehicles in the Command Zone when Edge of Eternities becomes legal!
As Vehicles continue to gain a lot of attention, we thought it would be helpful to highlight the best of the bunch. These cards all have a lasting impact on Commander, Constructed, or both. So, without further ado, here are the MTG best Vehicle cards.
11: Gastal Thrillroller
Kicking off the list, we have Gastal Thrillroller. Gastal Thrillroller is a very assertive Vehicle that can pile on damage very quickly. In a Constructed setting, Gastal Thrillroller is especially strong against board wipes. It can immediately come down and attack, and even if the opponent is able to clean up your other creatures, you’re left with a beefy Vehicle that can be Crewed the following turn.
In the face of traditional removal, this Vehicle can be brought back from the graveyard at will after it dies. This combination of factors has allowed it to make its presence felt in decks like Izzet Ensoul in Pioneer. Still, given that it isn’t the most well-suited for Commander and usually only appears in small quantities in Constructed, it’s hard to put Gastal Thrillroller any higher on the list.
10: Jackdaw
Next, we have Jackdaw. This Vehicle is a really sweet Commander card, and in particular, one we think could make a big splash in the Command Zone following Edge of Eternities. Its Crew cost is a bit steep, and it doesn’t have evasion, but if you’re able to connect in combat, the potential reward is enormous.
Chances are, in a multiplayer game, you’ll be able to connect a decent amount of the time. Assuming you build around Jackdaw with plenty of cheap artifacts and mana rocks like Mox Opal, you’ll be able to empty your hand in no time and get a ton of value out of Jackdaw’s triggered ability. We’re excited about this legendary Vehicle’s EDH applications moving forward, and feel the card deserves recognition.
9: Skysovereign, Consul Flagship
Much like Gastal Thrillroller, Skysovereign, and Consul Flagship get a lot of its appeal from Constructed applications. However, in Skysovereign’s case, the elite colorless Vehicle shows up in multiple formats.
In Pioneer, Skysovereign is a nice counterpart to Parhelion II in Mardu and Abzan Greasefang shells. Casting it for five mana is totally reasonable in grindy games, and the attack trigger is brutal for creature decks to fight through.
Meanwhile, in Modern, Skysovereign often shows up as a target for Karn, the Great Creator in Eldrazi Tron decks that lack traditional removal. Skysovereign’s versatility earns it the number nine spot on this list, despite the card being a little clunky in a world of power creep.
8: Lumbering Worldwagon
Lumbering Worldwagon brings us back to a Vehicle primarily played in Commander. It fits the three-mana ramp slot perfectly. Unlike most mana rocks, though, Lumbering Worldwagon comes with a ton of upside.
If your opponents can’t remove it, you’ll start ramping like crazy in short order. The damage Lumbering Worldwagon deals adds up over time, too, making the Vehicle very scary. Lumbering Worldwagon is a solid inclusion in pretty much any green creature Commander deck.
7: The Belligerent
The Belligerent is yet another EDH star. It also ramps you each time it attacks. If you’re lucky, in the late game, you may be able to chain a bunch of lands and spells together and gain a ton of card advantage.
Unlike Lumbering Worldwagon, The Belligerent is narrower in its applications. Nonetheless, an attacking, ramping Future Sight is nothing to scoff at, and the decks that can abuse it make great use of the card.
6: Shorikai, Genesis Engine
Coming in at number six, we have a Vehicle that has always been able to appear in the Command Zone. Shorikai, Genesis Engine is a card-drawing, Pilot-spewing machine.
While it hits hard, sometimes, it’s best to not Crew it. As a Vehicle, it isn’t vulnerable to creature removal. Alongside a mix of counter magic and removal of your own, Shorikai will pull you ahead on resources in the long run. Shorikai is a menace, though it just barely misses the top five.
5: Reckoner Bankbuster
At number five, we have another card draw engine in Reckoner Bankbuster. Reckoner Bankbuster doesn’t have the same ability to take over a long game as Shorikai. Luckily, it makes up for this by being an extremely efficient play.
In Commander, Reckoner Bankbuster can go into any deck with a Vehicle theme. In Pioneer, Reckoner Bankbuster has shown up in Greasefang decks and midrange shells alike as a solid option in attrition wars out of the sideboard. This card was even banned in Standard during its time there for being too efficient. It’s hard to go wrong here, even if the payoff isn’t super high.
#4: Esika’s Chariot
Just barely ahead of Reckoner Bankbuster, we have Esika’s Chariot. Esika’s Chariot gets a lot of its mileage from how well it lines up against removal. If the opponent kills the Vehicle, you’re left with two tokens for your troubles. If they want to kill the Cats instead, you have a Vehicle left over that can copy other tokens you might generate.
This card was a staple of Naya Winota decks in Pioneer before that card was banned. Esika’s Chariot then made a name for itself in Abzan Greasefang. The card is less prevalent now than it used to be, though it’s still a nice option in Commander, especially if you have other token synergies. Esika’s Chariot even earned a long-term spot in the Vintage Cube, showcasing its power.
#3: Smuggler’s Copter
Oh, how the mighty have fallen. Once a super staple in Standard and Pioneer that required banning, the card has since been unbanned in Pioneer and sees very little play outside of Izzet Ensoul.
A few years ago, Smuggler’s Copter would have easily earned the top spot on this list. It’s still high up given its efficiency in Commander as a way to smooth out your draws. It just isn’t the feared threat it used to be.
As a neat little caveat, Smuggler’s Copter is one of the best cards you can possibly open in Final Fantasy Limited. If you see this little guy, do not pass it.
#2: Parhelion II
Parhelion II is an enormous haymaker that’s worthy of a spot high on this list. Don’t let its enormous mana cost fool you. The goal is to cheat the Vehicle into play and get a huge attack in.
This really is the card that lets the Greasefang decks in Pioneer tick. Once you get Parhelion II in your graveyard, either by discarding it to Raffine’s Informant or milling it with Grisly Salvage, your opponent has to live in fear of Greasefang for the rest of the game.
If you’re ever able to jam Greasefang unhindered, you’ll get to attack for 13 damage in the air, building a near insurmountable position. It’s not the most flexible Vehicle around and requires crafting around it to make it work. The payoff is absurdly high, though, hence why it earns the number two spot on the list.
#1: Unlicensed Hearse
Our top spot, by contrast, goes to a Vehicle that sees play in a wide selection of decks from Pioneer down to Legacy. Unlicensed Hearse is an elite sideboard card against graveyard strategies. That said, it certainly has its competition with the likes of Ghost Vacuum and Soul-Guide Lantern around.
Where Unlicensed Hearse gets its edge is by sitting in play, continually eating away at your opponent’s graveyard, and eventually becoming a massive attacking threat. Being able to eat multiple cards each turn is hugely important when it comes to keeping Delve cards like Treasure Cruise or Murktide Regent in check.
Decks like Rakdos midrange in Pioneer that can reliably Crew Unlicensed Hearse in the late game make for great homes. This multiformat sideboard staple is deserving of the title of best MTG Vehicle, at least for the time being.
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