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Doomskar Art by Piotr Dura

Kaldheim (KHM) Limited Tier List

MTG Arena Zone’s Limited Tier Lists rank all the cards from the set, to assist with picking cards for your draft deck or building your sealed deck. Full written updates will be recorded in the changelog at the bottom, but Drifter and Raszero regularly makes minor grade changes on the fly as well, so the Tier List will be up to date for as long as Kaldheim is the current set. Make sure to bookmark this page so you can come back to it later!

Legend

Who is rating?

  • S: Ridiculous bomb: has a huge immediate impact on the game and threatens to dominate it if unanswered. Always 1st pick. (Baneslayer Angel, Emeria’s Call, Sublime Epiphany)
  • A: Very powerful card: approaches bomb status, pulls you strongly into its colour. Usually easy 1st pick. (A+: Leyline Tyrant, A: Felidar Retreat, A-: Nullpriest of Oblivion)
  • B: Great playable: happy to pick early, pulls you into its colour. After the first few picks, a signal. (B+: Bloodchief’s Thirst, B: Emeria Captain B-: Rabid Bite)
  • C+: Good playable that rarely gets cut. On the wheel, can be a signal, especially in multiples. (Gnarlid Colony, Into the Roil, Thundering Sparkmage)
  • C: Fine playable, sometimes gets cut. A few in the last picks of a pack can form a signal. (Tajuru Blightblade, Tazeem Raptor, Synchronized Spellcraft)
  • C-: Mediocre playable or decent filler, gets cut around half the time. (Nimana Skitter-Sneak, Fissure Wizard, Blood Price)
  • D: Medium to bad filler, gets cut a lot. (D+: Resolute Strike, D: Sneaking Guide, D-: Disenchant in most sets)
  • F: Mostly to totally unplayable cards. (Roiling Vortex, Forsaken Monument, Negate in most sets)

Notes

  • This tier list tries to capture “overall power level”. For more details, check out the mission statement.
  • This tier list is primarily intended for Draft, but should still be useful for Sealed, with some adjustments. For more info, check out my General Sealed Strategy Guide!
  • Two colour gold cards should be taken lower early on – you won’t be able to play them unless you’re specifically in those colours. The amount lower varies – as a general rule, take them about one grade lower if they’re splashable, or two grades lower if they’re not splashable (so a B-tier card becomes a C+ first pick). C+ is the hard limit for any cards in the B range, since C-level and below cards are very interchangeable, so a B- would still be on the lower end of C+. As always, it’s contextual though!
  • Colourless cards should be taken about a grade higher early on, because they can go in any deck.
  • Sideboard-only cards are rated as though they would go in the maindeck i.e. they usually receive bad ratings. Make sure to check out the sideboarding guide if you’re playing best-of-three!
WhiteDR
Wings of the Cosmos1212
Warhorn Blast1212
Valor of the Worthy1010
Valkyrie’s Sword76
Usher of the Fallen67
Story Seeker99
Starnheim Unleashed11
Starnheim Courser89
Stalwart Valkyrie89
Spectral Steel99
Sigrid, God-Favored55
Shepherd of the Cosmos78
Search for Glory1314
Runeforge Champion78
Rune of Sustenance79
Righteous Valkyrie55
Revitalize1414
Resplendent Marshal45
Reidane, God of the Worthy45
Rally the Ranks76
Master Skald910
Kaya’s Onslaught1010
Iron Verdict76
Invoke the Divine1414
Halvar, God of Battle22
Goldmaw Champion88
Gods’ Hall Guardian1110
Glorious Protector44
Giant Ox1212
Doomskar Oracle99
Doomskar22
Divine Gambit1011
Codespell Cleric1112
Clarion Spirit56
Bound in Gold65
Beskir Shieldmate99
Battlefield Raptor1013
Battershield Warrior99
Axgard Braggart88
MulticoloredDR
Maja, Bretagard Protector44
Koma, Cosmos Serpent11
Koll, the Forgemaster77
King Narfi's Betrayal89
Kaya the Inexorable11
Kardur's Vicious Return76
Kardur, Doomscourge55
Invasion of the Giants119
Immersturm Predator23
Harald Unites the Elves78
Harald, King of Skemfar78
Forging the Tyrite Sword1313
Firja's Retribution33
Firja, Judge of Valor55
Fall of the Impostor65
The Bloodsky Massacre66
Binding the Old Gods44
The Bears of Littjara44
Battle of Frost and Fire33
Battle for Bretagard77
Ascent of the Worthy1111
Arni Slays the Troll65
Aegar, the Freezing Flame77
Moritte of the Frost65
Narfi, Betrayer King44
Niko Aris33
Niko Defies Destiny1211
The Raven's Warning97
Sarulf, Realm Eater55
Showdown of the Skalds45
Svella, Ice Shaper55
The Three Seasons912
The Trickster-God's Heist46
Vega, the Watcher65
Waking the Trolls96
BlueDR
Undersea Invader1212
Strategic Planning1212
Saw It Coming109
Rune of Flight88
Run Ashore89
Reflections of Littjara109
Ravenform1311
Pilfering Hawk118
Orvar, the All-Form78
Mystic Reflection1110
Mistwalker78
Mists of Littjara108
Littjara Kinseekers99
Karfell Harbinger99
Inga Rune-Eyes88
Icebreaker Kraken1212
Icebind Pillar55
Graven Lore65
Glimpse the Cosmos78
Giant's Amulet75
Frostpyre Arcanist87
Frostpeak Yeti1010
Frost Augur77
Draugr Thought-Thief109
Disdainful Stroke1110
Depart the Realm109
Cyclone Summoner54
Cosmos Charger66
Cosima, God of the Voyage55
Brinebarrow Intruder1112
Bind the Monster87
Berg Strider77
Behold the Multiverse86
Avalanche Caller44
Augury Raven78
Ascendant Spirit1312
Annul1414
Alrund's Epiphany55
Alrund, God of the Cosmos53
ArtifactsDR
Weathered Runestone1414
Scorn Effigy119
Runed Crown77
Replicating Ring78
Raven Wings1010
Raiders' Karve1010
Pyre of Heroes1313
Maskwood Nexus76
Goldvein Pick910
Funeral Longboat1311
Cosmos Elixir97
Colossal Plow1312
Bloodline Pretender88
BlackDR
Withercrown98
Weigh Down107
Village Rites1010
Vengeful Reaper77
Varragoth, Bloodsky Sire55
Valki, God of Lies22
Tergrid's Shadow99
Tergrid, God of Fright43
Skull Raid98
Skemfar Shadowsage87
Skemfar Avenger57
Rune of Mortality89
Rise of the Dread Marn86
Return Upon the Tide1212
Raise the Draugr98
Priest of the Haunted Edge98
Poison the Cup44
Koma's Faithful99
Karfell Kennel-Master109
Jarl of the Forsaken88
Infernal Pet109
Haunting Voyage67
Hailstorm Valkyrie99
Grim Draugr109
Feed the Serpent55
Eradicator Valkyrie33
Elderfang Disciple88
Egon, God of Death79
Duskwielder1414
Dream Devourer77
Dread Rider109
Draugr's Helm76
Draugr Recruiter109
Draugr Necromancer33
Dogged Pursuit119
Demonic Gifts1112
Deathknell Berserker99
Crippling Fear44
Burning-Rune Demon34
Bloodsky Berserker76
Blood on the Snow22
LandsDR
Great Hall of Starnheim66
Gnottvold Slumbermound77
Glacial Floodplain88
Gates of Istfell77
Faceless Haven99
Bretagard Stronghold67
Axgard Armory88
Arctic Treeline88
Alpine Meadow77
Highland Forest88
Ice Tunnel88
Immersturm Skullcairn810
Littjara Mirrorlake77
Port of Karfell66
Rimewood Falls77
Shimmerdrift Vale77
Skemfar Elderhall87
Snowfield Sinkhole88
Sulfurous Mire88
Surtland Frostpyre88
Tyrite Sanctum98
Volatile Fjord88
Woodland Chasm88
The World Tree88
Snow-Covered Plains1111
Snow-Covered Island88
Snow-Covered Swamp99
Snow-Covered Mountain1010
Snow-Covered Forest88
RedDR
Vault Robber1111
Tuskeri Firewalker88
Tundra Fumarole87
Tormentor's Helm1010
Toralf, God of Fury43
Tibalt's Trickery1414
Squash86
Smashing Success1414
Shackles of Treachery1313
Seize the Spoils1112
Rune of Speed1011
Run Amok912
Reckless Crew1414
Quakebringer54
Provoke the Trolls87
Open the Omenpaths1414
Magda, Brazen Outlaw76
Immersturm Raider1111
Hagi Mob98
Goldspan Dragon22
Frost Bite77
Frenzied Raider76
Fearless Pup1011
Fearless Liberator87
Dwarven Reinforcements88
Dwarven Hammer77
Dual Strike1213
Dragonkin Berserker43
Doomskar Titan66
Demon Bolt55
Crush the Weak119
Craven Hulk99
Cinderheart Giant109
Calamity Bearer65
Breakneck Berserker109
Birgi, God of Storytelling43
Basalt Ravager65
Axgard Cavalry88
Arni Brokenbrow78
GreenDR
Vorinclex, Monstrous Raider54
Tyvar Kell34
Toski, Bearer of Secrets78
Struggle for Skemfar76
Spirit of the Aldergard66
Snakeskin Veil99
Sculptor of Winter77
Sarulf's Packmate66
Rune of Might88
Roots of Wisdom1212
Rootless Yew76
Realmwalker76
Ravenous Lindwurm78
Path to the World Tree910
Old-Growth Troll55
Masked Vandal88
Mammoth Growth119
Littjara Glade-Warden65
Kolvori, God of Kinship88
King Harald's Revenge1311
Jorn, God of Winter65
Jaspera Sentinel911
In Search of Greatness1212
Icehide Troll77
Horizon Seeker88
Guardian Gladewalker109
Grizzled Outrider99
Gnottvold Recluse910
Glittering Frost77
Fynn, the Fangbearer88
Esika's Chariot32
Esika, God of the Tree87
Elvish Warmaster44
Elven Bow77
Elderleaf Mentor98
Broken Wings1213
Boreal Outrider76
Blizzard Brawl76
Blessing of Frost78
Battle Mammoth32
Arachnoform1212
drifter-avatar

Drifter

I’ve been enthralled by Limited ever since I began playing in New Phyrexia. With a particular fondness for flashback and cube drafts, I’ve drafted more sets than I can count on every platform through wildly different eras. On Arena I draft infinitely, having profited 30k or so gems from it at this point, and have made top 50 mythic several times. Self-reflection and forming good habits are paramount to Limited improvement, and those themes feature in many of my articles and in each session of the Limited coaching service I provide. Consider booking a session today if you’d like specific feedback tailored to you!

Check out all my articles here or follow me on Twitter for regular updates!

Raszero

Ever since my first draft in New Phyrexia, I’ve been hooked on Limited – there’s no feeling quite like cracking, even virtually, those first packs of a new set to see what deck you can put together. Since then, scarcely a day has passed by in which the game hasn’t been on my mind. Most of my experience has been in paper, where I drafted every set extensively on release, and entered as many competitive events of it as were available, often doing rather well for myself! Online, I’ve scaled the climb to Mythic in Limited and Constructed alike, and earned a fair few trophies over on MTGO. Limited is one of the hardest things to pick up in Magic, given the innumerable deck combinations and the sub-game that is draft itself, but learning it has been the most rewarding experience I’ve had playing the game.

Check out all my articles here or check out my YouTube channel for my latest forays into the realm of content creation.

Limited Set Reviews

This tier list is derived from our in-depth limited set reviews and should be accompanied together along with their explanations for each card.

Splashing

Splashing is when you play cards outside your main colours, and adjust your mana base to account for them – such as playing two red cards in your Blue-Green deck. Should I splash? The two cardinal rules:

  • Is my fixing good enough? The better your fixing, the more you can splash – if you can splash two colours relatively freely, then go nuts – this usually means three or four sources for 1-2 cards; four is better if your main sources aren’t that demanding but you can get away with three. If you have as many as 5 or 6 sources, you can even splash earlier game cards i.e. I would not splash Lightning Strike often on three sources but I would on five. If your mana base is better, then the risk is lesser so you can afford to do greedier things (but remember that playing too many taplands has its own costs, especially for more tempo-oriented decks…). You can only really splash cards with a single cost outside your main colours e.g. it’s impossible to splash 3BB in a Simic deck, but you can splash 3BG, because needing two sources of mana at the same time is incredibly hard while splashing – the number of sources you need on average soars from 3-4 to 6-7 (7-8 in Draft, but Sealed is slower so you can incorporate a little more risk).
  • Is the card actually worth splashing? Remember that cards you splash likely won’t be played on curve, so they need to be good in the late game and they need to be good enough to incur some risk to your mana base. Is the card you’re splashing significantly better than the card you would be putting in instead? It needs to be, or it needs to fill a hole in your deck i.e. if your Simic deck isn’t good at removing stuff, that makes splashing Secure the Scene, usually just an okay card, a lot more appealing.

Sideboarding

Generally, if you’re playing best-of-three, you should take sideboard cards over D-tier cards, assuming their good case is pretty common and you’re not low on playables. Sideboard cards tend to get worse in multiples, unless the “good case” for them is quite common. You might be surprised at how much can constitute a sideboard card – a 1/3 can be a useful sideboard card against a deck full of 2/1s, for example. Remember that after each game, you can click the top right button to view the board again, and check their graveyard and field for what cards they’ve played.

Drifter has written a whole article on this subject, so for more details or to check out his Limited Spotlight series, click this link!

Changelog

The changelog will be added to when written updates are posted!

  • January 28th 2021: First version posted, on the release day of Kaldheim.

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Drifter
Drifter

Drifter is a draft and strategy specialist, with hundreds of articles under his belt! Of special mention are his Limited Reviews and draft coaching service.

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