The Best March of the Machine Bombs in Limited

March of the Machine, as we have already seen with its complete list, seems to have absolutely delivered well on the promise of providing tons more support and fun gameplay. Notably, it achieved this with its very wide and varied set of thematic cards, which we believe are going to be a big deciding factor on how (delightfully) unpredictable March of the Machine Limited will be in the next few days.

To prepare for this, we've succinctly listed the best bombs for the format that you should be looking out for.

Featured Tier 1 Bombs

Generally an obligatory pick to immediately identify the theme or archetype you want to build, or at least its color identity. These will mostly be primary build-arounds whenever possible. This part of the list is in no particular order actually, and you can treat them all as tier 1 bombs.

But, I will provide longer descriptions for some of the peculiarly notable ones, like these cards:

Chandra, Hope's Beacon

Remember what we always said about this specific Chandra being able to rally allies to her aid? Well, the same attributes are what makes her a literal bomb in Limited. Yes, her passive effect has no restrictions or limitations except for being once per turn (including your opponent's turn). She lets you "draw" five cards if you want to. On top of all that, her ultimate is super modal, eliminating dual threats, or maybe even dual battles!

Etali, Primal Conqueror

Paying big always feels good whenever some value is immediately obtained the moment it drops. For Etali, not only do you get a 7/7 body with Trample, but you even get to cast a total of two spells for free from both your and your opponent's libraries! If your opponent somehow survives this onslaught, you can flip its compleated form to finish them off regardless of their board state, life point, or defensive line.

Ghalta and Mavren

Wait, a 12/12 for seven mana?! That itself is already bomb territory in any Limited game. Add its ability to copy other big creatures, and you have an avalanche of uncontrollable proportions once it loses summoning sickness. The second effect may be harder to achieve since it would be used mostly in stompy builds. But if the brew is applicable, creating an army of lifelinkers becomes just as bad for the opponent as a single dual-digit bruiser. 

Hoarding Broodlord

Convoking an eight-mana 7/6 flyer feels already satisfying on its own. But what allows it to leap up and beyond bomb level is the added effect of tutoring up any card, jacking up its value in Limited to the skies. Especially since those spells can also be convoked, leaving your opponents constantly wary of a response whenever there are face-down exiled cards and untapped creatures around this broodlord's presence.

Sheoldred

Sheoldred is basically value in its simplest form. A 4/5 body that easily disrupts the board with an unconditional removal effect that hits planeswalkers, and creates management mayhem with its default Menace ability, all using just five mana. Then, if she survives, you can just pay the same mana value again (only one black this time) to transform her, and the countdown for your opponent's downfall has begun.

They could either destroy the enchantment, or go for lethal, because once the third lore counter drops... it's all over.

Zephyr Singer

Players were understandably excited when this card was first spoiled. Because convoke with direct payoff is back on the menu again! From its balanced casting cost, down to the midrange timing of this card's use. Look, there's just no way that you'd be casting something like Invasion of New Phyrexia // Teferi Akosa of Zhalfir and not have the itch to drop this bad boy during the same turn.

Other Tier 1 Bombs

Boon Bringer Valkyrie

Archangel Elspeth - can provide variable synergies for token generators, but works best with creatures like Dusk Legion Duelist.
Invasion of Innistrad - the only battle card with flash at the moment. Don't bother flipping it unless your other cards can support it effectively.
Vorinclex - gets you free New Capenna tri-lands, with a durable body to match. First saga effect is good enough for instant flipping.
Glissa, Herald of Predation - a very tempting addition if you can build a Phyrexian tribal deck, even if it isn't focused on Incubate tokens.
Zurgo and Ojutai - free flying punch, with free dragon filtering per turn. Also handily evades almost anything when recasted over and over.

Uncommon 'Bombs'

These will be the appropriate high-rated picks for certain uncommons should they align well with your available resources:

Norn's Inquisitor - increases the investment per Incubator token by 50% calculated total per copy on the field.
Xerex Strobe-Knight - generates free value if you can create a deck that can support a dual-cast build
Collective Nightmare - good removal with minimal investment to either creatures or mana.
Khenra Spellspear - has stats that are already meta enough for any red prowess creature, made even better by its transformed form.
Invasion of Moag - not as efficient mana-wise, but good enough as a selective double +1/+1 counter investment. Flip at your discretion.
Stormclaw Rager - may be slow as hell, but at least it doesn't need to choose between an Incubator egg, or a hatched one.

Common 'Bombs'

As usual, these are the best commons that should be an easy/instant pick if color/theme appropriate:

For the complete list with individual ratings and explanations, check out our March of the Machine Limited Ratings page.