(Lifecraft EngineLifecraft Engine | Art by Mirko Failoni)

Adaptive AutomatonAdaptive Automaton on Wheels

Welcome to Too-Specific Top 10, where if there isn’t a category to rank our pet card at the top of, we’ll just make one up! (Did you know that Goldbug, Humanity's AllyGoldbug, Humanity's Ally is the only vehicle commander that cares about Humans?)

Aetherdrift brought us a little gem that MagdaMagda pilots are excited for.

For those of us that aren't the rich getting richer, however, what's the best way to use Lifecraft EngineLifecraft Engine?

Top 10 Kindred Vehicles

Well, it turns out, Lifecraft EngineLifecraft Engine isn't the only vehicle that cares about creature types. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm taking some liberty with the word "cares" there. There are at least some vehicles that mention creature types, however.

Criteria: Vehicles which mention a creature type in any capacity. As is tradition, all results are ordered by EDHREC score, however, we will only be ranking one card per creature type.

In fact, as we'll go over, there are some creature types that are over-represented. So, given that whenever we visit a type we're going to explore the options anyhow, we'll keep it to only one representative per type. Which about rounds it up, so let's take a look at the list, shall we?

10. Weatherlight CompleatedWeatherlight Compleated

(12,370 Inclusions, 0% of 5,068,291 Decks)

I was at first tempted to take vehicles that just become a creature type out of the equation, but then I thought: If including cards that are a certain creature type isn't typal, then what is? Even better, and a bit shockingly, Weatherlight CompleatedWeatherlight Compleated isn't the only vehicle that cares about Phyrexians.

Although the compleated skyship is a bit more direct about it, technically Marauding DreadshipMarauding Dreadship's Incubator tokens do turn into Phyrexians. At first glance, this doesn't seem like a very deep well, as there are no Phyrexian commanders that care about vehicles. If you expand it out to artifacts, however, there's actually quite the list.

Unctus, Grand MetatectUnctus, Grand Metatect will have your creatures loot as well as crew, along with making your vehicles bigger. Ayara, Widow of the RealmAyara, Widow of the Realm can sacrifice your vehicles to drain opponents on her front half, then bring them back with haste once you turn her over.

Malcator, Purity OverseerMalcator, Purity Overseer provides 3/3 Phyrexian Golems that can crew your vehicles, then makes even more Golems when you play down a bunch of vehicles at once.

Glissa, the TraitorGlissa, the Traitor has trades in combat become one-sided, as you can bring vehicles back from your graveyard to your hand anytime you kill an opposing creature.

Venser, Corpse PuppetVenser, Corpse Puppet gives a vehicle flying and lifelink whenever you Proliferate, and starts to look pretty good alongside RibskiffRibskiff and Recon Craft ThetaRecon Craft Theta.

And finally, Moira and TesharMoira and Teshar Unearths a vehicle anytime you play a vehicle, which seems like something that would get right out of hand.

9. Rolling HamsphereRolling Hamsphere

(10,418 Inclusions, 1% of 1,929,581 Decks)

Now, I'm not gonna lie to you. As much as Rolling HamsphereRolling Hamsphere is an amazing new card, there is not much call for Hamsters in Magic: The Gathering.

There is currently only one creature in the entire game with the creature type Hamster, and it is rather controversially actually a gerbila gerbil. As for Hamster tokens, there are only three cards if you don't count Rolling HamsphereRolling Hamsphere:

Even with almost half of the Hamster cards in the game being commanders that make a Hamster, the prospects don't look so good. Minsc only has eyes for Boo.

So as much as it wouldn't be crazy to include Rolling HamsphereRolling Hamsphere in a Minsc & Boo deck, for now the prospect of a Hamster deck is pretty farfetched, even if you did load it down with vehicles and make them all technically be Hamsters with Lifecraft EngineLifecraft Engine.

8. TARDISTARDIS

(13,791 Inclusions, 0% of 4,137,636 Decks)

Considering there was an entire Doctor Who precon based around playing multiple Doctors, and then they went ahead and printed The Fourteenth DoctorThe Fourteenth Doctor on top of it, there's no shortage of Time Lords to build a deck around.

Combine that with another precon that was based around Historic permanents, and there is any number of ways to build a Doctor vehicles deck.

Throw in The First DoctorThe First Doctor, who will both find the TARDISTARDIS and also make your vehicles bigger as TARDISTARDIS Cascades into more vehicles, and there's definitely a deck here for the taking that Lifecraft EngineLifecraft Engine fits right into.

7. Mechtitan CoreMechtitan Core

(22,867 Inclusions, 0% of 5,068,291 Decks)

It really is too bad that Mechtitan CoreMechtitan Core can't be your commander, because it would be one of the most-played vehicle commanders out there. Without that rule zero option, however, there's not anything here that's particularly compelling.

Don't get me wrong, you could make a Construct vehicle deck, but given that Mechtitan CoreMechtitan Core is the only vehicle that cares about Constructs, there's not really a whole lot of reason to force the issue.

So, my advice? Play rule zero Mechtitan CoreMechtitan Core!

6. Clown CarClown Car

(24,785 Inclusions, 0% of 5,068,291 Decks)

With Robots being a fairly new creature type, you might expect them to not be the most robust creature type for brewing, much less deep enough to care about their type and vehicles.

Well, that might be true, except the other set that used the Robot creature type besides Unfinity was Transformers.

That means that not only are there a bunch of commanders that are Robots that will want a card that can make a bunch of Robots, but also means that there are a bunch of Robot commanders that care about vehicles because they are vehicles.

In other words? This well is pretty deep, and there is all the room in the world for Lifecraft EngineLifecraft Engine to make making your vehicles into Robots relevant.

5. Thunderhawk GunshipThunderhawk Gunship

(25,459 Inclusions, 1% of 5,068,291 Decks)

While there isn't an overwhelming amount of vehicles that care about Warriors, there are some, and they're all from Warhammer 40,000. Even better, there is a Warrior commander that cares about vehicles!

Astor, Bearer of BladesAstor, Bearer of Blades most relevant ability is his first, which will find some of these fine vehicles that will make you Warrior tokens to crew your vehicles. Combine all that with the fairly well-stocked cabinet of equipment that cares about Warriors, and you've definitely got a deck here.

4. Esika's ChariotEsika's Chariot

(27,371 Inclusions, 1% of 2,375,096 Decks)

There is not a Cat commander that cares about vehicles, or even really artifacts. In fact, the only Cat commander I could find that even loosely might be okay with the concept of vehicles was Drizzt Do'UrdenDrizzt Do'Urden, who would get a fair amount of counters when your larger vehicles died.

So sadly, as much as I love Esika's ChariotEsika's Chariot, I'm not sure I'm seeing a larger reason here to go in a Cat direction with a vehicle deck.

3. The IndomitableThe Indomitable

(31,084 Inclusions, 2% of 1,761,556 Decks)

Not so with Pirates! The Assassin's Creed set wasn't what you'd call a slam dunk overall, but Edward KenwayEdward Kenway was. That's right, the most popular commander out of the set is a Vehicle and Pirate commander, meaning that there is a home for The IndomitableThe Indomitable already, and slotting in a Lifecraft EngineLifecraft Engine right next to it just makes too much sense not to do.

Just make sure you take the time to throw in a Fell FlagshipFell Flagship if you haven't already, too.

2. Parhelion IIParhelion II

(31,698 Inclusions, 1% of 2,313,598 Decks)

Eight mana has always been a lot of mana, but people have found a reason to play Parhelion IIParhelion II anyhow. Unfortunately, that's not gonna translate easily for those looking to make a vehicles deck care about Angels.

Somehow, there are zero Angels that care about vehicles, or even artifacts more generally. I know, I know, I thought Tiana, Ship's CaretakerTiana, Ship's Caretaker was the answer too, but no, she only cares about equipment and auras.

There are a ton of Angels that care about Angels that might seem decent at first glance, but then you realize that Lifecraft EngineLifecraft Engine only makes vehicles in play the named creature type, meaning all of the "cast an Angel" and "draw an Angel" abilities don't do anything with it.

If you do get very general, you can squint and see a few vehicle decks that might be possible with Angels, however:

Aurelia, the WarleaderAurelia, the Warleader can provide a situation where you crew all of your vehicles, attack with them, and then both them and the creatures that crewed them get untapped for your second combat step.

That's not what I'd call amazing, but is a sort of synergy, and we're scraping the bottom of the barrel here. Before I went that route, however, I'd go with either of the teamups of Errant and GiadaErrant and Giada or Saint Traft and Rem KarolusSaint Traft and Rem Karolus.

The former lets you play flying vehicles off the top of your deck, which covers a fair amount of ground. The latter, on the other hand, is probably actually the best option, although you may not always end up choosing Angels with your Lifecraft EngineLifecraft Engine, given that Humans and Spirits will both be easier to create and also have better options overall.

So my opinion? Throw out the idea of Angels entirely, and just make a Humans vehicle deck with Saint Traft and Rem KarolusSaint Traft and Rem Karolus and Goldbug, Humanity's AllyGoldbug, Humanity's Ally. You'll want Parhelion IIParhelion II in there anyhow!

1. Shorikai, Genesis EngineShorikai, Genesis Engine

(Helms 17,257 Decks, Rank #20; 29,370 Inclusions, 3% of 1,109,954 Decks)

Without a doubt, however, the best Kindred vehicle deck out there is Pilots, and it's no surprise. Aside from Shorikai, Genesis EngineShorikai, Genesis Engine, there are two other vehicles that directly make Pilots, and there are five other Pilot commanders that directly care about vehicles.

In short, this is the low-hanging fruit when it comes to Lifecraft EngineLifecraft Engine, the creature type that was made to support vehicles, and vehicles that can become that creature type.

With that said, be careful with ShorikaiShorikai. There's a reason this is the number 20 commander overall, and it doesn't have anything to do with vehicles.

Be prepared for folks to target you if you go this direction, and be prepared for your "vehicle" commander to constantly want to suck you in a control direction with every change you make to the deck.

A safer version? Sanwell, Avenger AceSanwell, Avenger Ace will only give you access to white vehicles, but most of them are colorless anyhow, and will also protect your vehicles while your Pilots hang back.

If you are looking for more colors, however, Graham O'BrienGraham O'Brien and The First DoctorThe First Doctor will give you both a Pilot and a vehicle "in the command zone" and access to three colors.

Honorable Mentions

I know, I know, this is the third mention of Goldbug, Humanity's AllyGoldbug, Humanity's Ally. I really do think that if there is an answer to the question that is Lifecraft EngineLifecraft Engine, however, it's Magda, Brazen OutlawMagda, Brazen Outlaw.

If you want a clear silver medalist, however, it's Goldbug. Having Lifecraft EngineLifecraft Engine down prevents all damage to all of your vehicles, and allows you to trigger Goldbug in its vehicle form with another vehicle to draw a card.

If you do go the Humans route, either with Goldbug in the command zone or with the aforementioned Jeskai option in Saint Traft and Rem KarolusSaint Traft and Rem Karolus, make sure you throw in The Prydwen, Steel FlagshipThe Prydwen, Steel Flagship as well.

It will make you consistent Humans to crew your vehicles with, and those same Human Knights will also get huge whenever you play a vehicle. Total win-win!

Oh, who am I kidding? You all know that I built this deck.

Now, this might seem like a cute little mid-powered vehicle deck, and it is. But make no mistake, this thing can go complete aggro on a table.

Vehicles also are inherently resistant to boardwipes, as most only affect creatures, but even if they do get wiped, we play more than enough draw to recover.

Saint Traft and Rem KarolusSaint Traft and Rem Karolus are also a commander that has to be answered, as even just making a single Human a turn adds up quickly if you have any kind of boost to power and toughness, but the deck is also completely capable of doing its thing with its commander in the zone.

All in all, this one was more explosive and more fun than I thought it would be, and I can't wait to see what goodies it gets from Aetherdrift.

Nuts and Bolts

There always seems to be a bit of interest in how these lists are made (this seems like a good time to stress once again that they are based on EDHREC score, NOT my personal opinion…), and people are often surprised that I’m not using any special data or .json from EDHREC, but rather just muddling my way through with some Scryfall knowledge! For your enjoyment/research, here is this week’s Scryfall search.

What Do You Think?

All that said, I built what was probably one of the three best options for Kindred Vehicles, and it feels like exactly what it is: A divided deck that tried to do two things and be good at both of them. I'll leave the speculation on whether or not I succeeded up to you guys, but I do think it might be a cautionary tale for other attempts.

And finally, what is your favorite vehicle that gives at least a shout-out to a creature type? Are you planning on throwing Lifecraft EngineLifecraft Engine into a deck? If so, as just another Adaptive AutomatonAdaptive Automaton, or as a bridge between creature types and vehicles?

Let us know in the comments, and we'll see you at the bicycle bar table.

DougY

Doug has been an avid Magic player since Fallen Empires, when his older brother traded him some epic blue Homarids for all of his Islands. As for Commander, he's been playing since 2010, when he started off by making a two-player oriented G/R Land Destruction deck. Nailed it. In his spare time when he's not playing Magic, writing about Magic or doing his day job, he runs a YouTube channel or two, keeps up a College Football Computer Poll, and is attempting to gif every scene of the Star Wars prequels.