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MTG Crew Explained: What It Is & How to Crew Vehicles

February 28, 2025 by
Jack Jani

Understanding Vehicle Cards in Magic: The Gathering

Magic: The Gathering (MTG) introduces unique mechanics that make the game exciting and strategic. One such mechanic is Crew, which appears on Vehicle artifact cards. Let's dive deep into understanding how Crew works and how to effectively use Vehicles in your deck.

What Are Vehicles in MTG?

Vehicles are special artifact cards that need to be "crewed" by creatures to become artifact creatures. They represent various forms of transport and machinery in the game's universe.

Core Characteristics of Vehicles

  • Artifact type
  • Crew cost
  • Power and toughness
  • Special abilities

How Does the Crew Mechanic Work?

The Crew mechanic requires you to tap creatures with total power equal to or greater than the Crew number to transform the Vehicle into an artifact creature.

Basic Rules for Crewing

Crew Action Requirements Timing
Tap creatures Total power ≥ Crew number Any time you could cast a sorcery
Activation Doesn't use stack Multiple times per turn allowed
Result Vehicle becomes creature Until end of turn

Strategic Tips for Using Crew

Optimal Crewing Scenarios

  • Use smaller creatures to crew larger Vehicles
  • Consider creatures with summoning sickness
  • Time your crew activation wisely

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Common Mistakes to Avoid

Crewing Pitfalls

  1. Crewing at the wrong time
  2. Using essential attackers/blockers
  3. Forgetting Vehicle abilities

Advanced Vehicle Strategies

Combining with Other Mechanics

  • Equipment synergies
  • Artifact interactions
  • Combat tricks

Vehicle Card Examples

Popular Vehicle Cards

  • Smuggler's Copter
  • Heart of Kiran
  • Parhelion II

Building Around Vehicles

Deck Construction Tips

  1. Creature-to-Vehicle ratio
  2. Power level considerations
  3. Support cards

Vehicle Combat Tactics

Attacking and Blocking

  • Timing your crew activation
  • Combat math
  • Protection strategies

Synergies with Other Card Types

Beneficial Combinations

Card Type Synergy Effect
Equipment Boosts crew efficiency
Planeswalkers Alternative crew sources
Anthem effects Improves crew potential

Rules Clarifications

Important Reminders

  • Vehicles aren't creatures by default
  • Crewing doesn't use the stack
  • Multiple crews allowed

Tournament Considerations

Competitive Play

  • Timing rules
  • Priority passing
  • Common rulings

Conclusion

Understanding the Crew mechanic in MTG opens up exciting strategic possibilities. By mastering how to effectively crew Vehicles, you can add a powerful dimension to your gameplay. Remember to consider the timing of your crew activations, maintain proper creature-to-Vehicle ratios, and look for synergistic combinations to maximize their effectiveness.