Welcome to the MTG Kaladesh black draft guide! Last time, I went over all the cards for blue. Before I get into my rating for each card, here’s a brief overview of my MTG Kaladesh black draft guide rating system.
- 1 – Bad card or only useful in the sideboard
- 2 – Passable, but not something I would pick early or often
- 3 – A solid card I’m happy to pick most of the time
- 4 – Powerful cards that provide a lot of value on their own
- 5 – Cards that will almost always win the game if your opponents can’t deal with them
Now that we know how I’ll be rating each card, let’s get straight into the ratings.
MTG Kaladesh Black Draft Guide
Aether Poisoner – 3
A strong attacker and a strong defender. This creature is one of the best common creatures you can ask for, and will fit into any deck.
Aetherborn Marauder – 4
I’ve seen some crazy plays with Aetherborn Marauder. Lifelink can completely swing games, especially when combined with flying. You don’t need any +1/+1 counter synergies to justify including Aetherborn Marauder. The base value of the card is already great.
Alley Strangler – 2
This is a creature that can make the final cut if you really need a 3-mana filler.
Daring Demolition – 3
Premium removal for black this set. Giving up instant-speed removal for the flexibility of targeting vehicles is a great upside in this set.
Defiant Salvager – 2.5
I wouldn’t overlook Defiant Salvager. It can become big extremely fast, and is easily supported due to fabricate. Plus, don’t forget that this card can easily trigger your revolt cards.
Demon of Dark Schemes – 4.5
3 black mana is a hefty price to pay, but Demon of Dark Schemes is worth it. It has everything you want in a bomb. It’s a threat, acts as removal, and brings back your best creatures.
Die Young – 3
Another premium removal spell for black.
Embraal Bruiser – 2.5
Black artifact aggro isn’t exactly the strongest archetype in this set. That said, this card does give your opponent a beating, and can fit into most black decks.
Essence Extraction – 3.5
I love Essence Extraction. Most archetypes in Kaladesh will naturally be aggressive, making life gain a very relevant effect.
Fatal Push – 3.5
Fatal Push is absurd. It’s a 1-mana unconditional removal spell and is seen in several constructed decks.
Fen Hauler – 2.5
Fen Hauler is a decent payoff for black artifact decks. Some people may disagree, but I think the “can’t be blocked by artifact creatures” effect is very relevant. This prevents your opponent from chump blocking Fen Hauler with 1/1 servos.
Fortuitous Find – 2
You want to be able to choose both options with this card to make it worthwhile. This means if you can’t get artifacts into your graveyard, I’d recommend skipping out on Fortuitous Find.
Foundry Hornet – 3 // 3.5
A solid creature overall. The stats are nothing to go crazy about, but a few +1/+1 counter effects and Foundry Hornet can take down a few of your opponent’s creatures. Against low toughness aggro decks, Foundry Hornet is a straight-up bomb.
Foundry Screecher – 2
A decent flyer that fits best in a black aggro deck.
Fourth Bridge Prowler – 2
Fourth Bridge Prowler is a solid 1 drop filler. At worst, this creature will take down an enemy 1/1 servo.
Fretwork Colony – 2.5
A great black creature for any aggressive black deck. It hits hard fast and can win the game if left alone.
Gifted Aetherborn – 3.5
Lifelink is a strong keyword that will help you outrace your opponent. Gifted Aetherborn pressures your opponent early and is one of the most efficient black creatures you can get.
Glint-Sleeve Siphoner – 4
First, Glint-Sleeve Siphoner gives you a steady stream of energy. Second, it’s a source of card draw. Finally, it’s an evasive creature. All of these effects for 2 mana is crazy, and this card should be an instant pick whenever you get the chance.
Gonti, Lord of Luxury – 3
Remember that you don’t need Gonti alive to cast the card that it exiles! This means that you’re always guaranteed to get some value from Gonti, even if your opponent finds a removal spell for him.
Herald of Anguish – 5+
Herald of Anguish is the craziest bomb you can have in an artifacts matter set. I’d highly consider switching colors if I saw this card in pack 2 or 3.
Live Fast – 2.5
Divination with an upside. Solid card draw for any black deck.
Lost Legacy – 0
Avoid.
Make Obsolete – 2.5
Make Obsolete would normally be a sideboard card. However, since 1 toughness is very common in Magic: The Gathering Kaladesh Remastered, main-decking this spell can be a great choice.
Marionette Master – 4.5
Getting 3 servos from Marionette Master is going to buy you a lot of time to win the game. The direct damage this creature provides is insane, and is an ability worth building around.
Maulfist Squad – 2.5
Fabricate allows Maulfist Squad to slot into a black aggro deck or a black artifacts deck. Overall, a strong black creature that I’m happy to include all the time.
Midnight Oil – 0
It’s crazy how little this card does consider the amount of text it has.
Mind Rot – 0.5
Kaladesh Remastered is an aggressive set. Your opponent is going to be wanting to dump their hand as fast as possible. Therefore, you won’t be able to consistently force them to discard two cards.
Night Market Aeronaut – 1.5
This creature is an okay filler card, but is inefficient.
Night Market Lookout – 2
I think this card is slightly underrated. You can easily combo this card with a few common vehicles and drain your opponent over time. It may give you two or three triggers before your opponents finds an answer, but that value is more than enough for 1 mana.
Noxious Gearhulk – 5
Every gearhulk from Kaladesh is incredibly powerful. Noxious Gearhulk just so happens to be one of the stronger ones because it’s evasive and removes a creature.
Rush of Vitality – 2
Rush of Vitality protects your creatures from removal spells and can gain you a good chunk of life. However, it does very little to help your creatures win combat. Overall, I’m not crazy about Rush of Vitality, but I’m not unhappy to include a copy into my decks either.
Sly Requisitioner – 3
If you have a bunch of Puzzleknots and sacrifice synergies, then Sly Requistionner is amazing. A solid combo would be combining this creature with Defiant Salvager. Defiant Salvager becomes a big beater fast while Sly Requisitioner produces a bunch of 1/1 servos as fodder.
Subtle Strike – 3.5
One of the best combat spells to ever be printed in limited.
Underhanded Designs – 3
I’m very happy to build around Underhanded Designs, as it turns every single fabricate spell into a burn spell. Also, it can act as a removal spell when you need it to.
Vengeful Rebel – 3
Vengeful Revel is a great uncommon creature. Black has a lot of sacrifice outlets to trigger revolt, allowing Vengeful Rebel to snipe any 3-toughness creature.
Weaponcraft Enthusiast – 3
3 creatures for 3 mana is always a great deal. Combo your wide board with a Ridgescale Tusker or Inspired Charge and you’ll be pummelling down your opponent in no time.
Yahenni, Undying Partisan – 3
Yahenni is a great value card. It gives you a free sacrifice outlet and gets bigger over time. Not a bomb by any stretch, but an effective threat.
Yahenni’s Expertise – 4
Cheap board wipe and free spells? Sign me up!
Conclusion
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