Best Planeswalker (yes, again)
General forum
Posted on Nov. 18, 2013, 8:06 p.m. by vishnarg
The topic came up yet again yesterday and I was curious to know what tappedout thinks. I'm talking overall in terms of playability on all formats for 99% of the vote, and 1% because of personal love and badassness. My personal top 5:
1. Jace, the Mind Sculptor - Enough has been said already. Next.
2. Elspeth, Knight-Errant - Perhaps not the most raw powerful, but is a good friend of jaces and has been tournament proven year in year out, and includes everything that makes a great planeswalker. Also a friend of control.
3. Karn Liberated - As a modern tron player and a newcomer to EDH, it's hard not to put him higher. His cost does indeed curve his playability but is without a doubt the stupidest planeswalker ever. I argue he may be just better than Jace even because he literally exiles everything at a speed no deck can match, and since when was reprinting Shahrazaad a good idea? Wizards goofed again here.
4. Liliana of the Veil - I remember almost peeing my pants in excitement upon her spoiling. She is indeed one of the most playable planeswalkers and by far the best 3 CMC, but can't quite match the above planeswalkers. Still very very very difficult to kill and recover from in any format.
5. For me, this one is a total tossup. I'm torn between Jace Beleren , Garruk Wildspeaker , Garruk, Primal Hunter , Elspeth, Sun's Champion , Ajani Vengeant , Tezzeret, Agent of Bolas , Tezzeret the Seeker , Nicol Bolas , Ajani, Caller of the Pride , Ral Zarek ... it's tough. This is where I want to hear from you! What's your top five and why?
thataddkid says... #3
Garruk, Caller of Beasts is just stupid powerful. Drawing 2-4 creatures per turn is amazing, and with some easy ramp he comes out turn four. His -3 is also crazy- no questions asked, now drop your Worldspine Wurm .
Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker was the one you tried to put in the description. I also believe he is stupid powerful- +3 to blow up a land, D-Sphere, O-Ring or otherwise troublesome permanent is something most PW's would have as a -3. His -2 forces your opponents to stop playing big creatures and just hope you find some way to kill Bolas, and while most PW's never reach their ultimate, +3 and three turns with 2 damage allowed is a very reasonable time to hit an ultimate. Also, the kind of deck he's in shouldn't be letting creatures stay alive long, and if you reach his ultimate the opponent is done.
I can't think of any other ones besides the four listed that I giggled when I read for the first time, so I'm just ending this here. Although I don't really like two of the ones you chose for #5:
Jace Beleren is too fragile, and his ability will usually get one use, making him a 3 CMC draw spell. The option also exists to give your opponent card advantage- but the luck of the draw isn't something you should count on. I might draw that final burn spell to kill you off, and you draw a land. He's either underwhelming or undermining.
Ral Zarek can tap down lands and blockers, but other than that his only useful ability is his -2. If you bolt right off the bat though, one swing at him and he's done. I suppose he's good for Izzet blitz, but for near any other build like Grixis Superfriends he is too slow and fragile to make much of an impact.
November 18, 2013 8:22 p.m.
HarbingerJK says... #5
Gideon Jura You can divert damage away from yourself with his +2, destroy one of the creatures potentially next turn with his -2, or you can punch your opponent in the face for 6 with his 0 : D
November 18, 2013 8:26 p.m.
I think Elspeth, Sun's Champion gets a lot of hate at 6 mana, but she's so good in control, where sometimes, in a mirror matchup, players can poop out 8 lands each without casting anything. Her +1 is Captain's Call , a four mana spell in its own right, and her minus three kills R/G Stompy and Naya Ramp.
November 18, 2013 8:31 p.m.
also Tamiyo, the Moon Sage needs some love, her +1 is steady and her final is amazing, and can even finish games with a Time Warp or something, and her -2 is sweet, shes was an amazing card in standard, and is a great card in EDH (I don't have any experience with modern so I cant comment on her useful-ness there, but I bet shes still good)
November 18, 2013 8:50 p.m.
Magiclover318 says... #9
I love using Ajani, Caller of the Pride in my Naya aggro deck, put him out there with say a Fiendslayer Paladin or Loxodon Smiter , use his -3 to give it flying and double strike. op.
My favorite combo is using one of them, bloodrushing Ghor-Clan Rampager and using Boros Charm for double strike.
I hit my opponent turn 5 for 18 damage with the smiter and won the game. :)
Check out my deck if you want to give me ideas :)
November 18, 2013 9:12 p.m.
The Doctor says... #11
I've always been a huge fan of Garruk Wildspeaker .
November 18, 2013 9:26 p.m.
Vraska the Unseen - 5 mana for 5 loyalty on turn 4 with a little green ramp. Kills anything that dares attack her. Bow of Nylea + her ultimate equals good game or 3 creatures. She's standard too.
Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker - massively expensive but so satisfying to play.
Lilianna of the Veil- great abilities and plenty of deck options when running her.
November 18, 2013 9:51 p.m.
i'm going to agree with HarbingerJK on Gideon Jura . you have no idea how many games i've won using giden's first ability with Palace Guard then swinging into game with the rest of my soldiers. :)
November 18, 2013 10:01 p.m.
I would have to agree that Ajani Vengeant definitely deserves the last spot. Honorable mentions to all others ITT. Thanks for the input guys! Perhaps we could now move on to the top 5 artifacts. Who's in?
November 18, 2013 10:02 p.m.
Oh and let's not forget Domri Rade ! He is a nuthouse in standard and even a bit modern too! Definitely a pushed planeswalker to have a +1 draw a card at 3 CMC in an aggro deck.
November 18, 2013 10:04 p.m.
Ohthenoises says... #16
I'm really surprised about the lack of love for Elspeth, Sun's Champion . I'm sorry but a 4power+ boardwipe that she SURVIVES? Not to mention she has synergy with herself, assuming that the creatures an opponent has are X/X not X/Y she produces enough power in tokens to gang kill what she CAN'T wipe away. Her Ultimate is easily attainable and is relevant to her own abilities, namely making her tokens 3/3s (just under her 4 power threshold).
I really think she deserves to be in the top 5.
November 18, 2013 10:57 p.m.
Sorin Markov his -7 ability is so unique among planeswalkers
November 18, 2013 11:41 p.m.
HarbingerJK says... #18
I am in agreement with Ohthenoises, despite my partiality toward Gideon Jura , Elspeth, Sun's Champion is a fantastic planeswalker. I admit the 6cmc turned me off at first, but it has to be one of the coolest and most powerful planeswalkers in standard right meow
November 19, 2013 12:49 a.m.
Wizard of the Damned says... #19
Personally Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker just wins. I have never lost an EDH game where I dropped him
November 19, 2013 1:02 a.m.
chunkybutta says... #20
Personally, i am quite the fan of Jace, Memory Adept a 0 for Glimpse the Unthinkable
March 11, 2014 8:55 p.m.
Elspeth Tirel makes me want to cry if I have no answer for it. +2 first turn, ult next turn.
March 11, 2014 9:38 p.m.
AnagonLordofSnakes says... #22
Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker gets my vote for best. If you have played against one of with one you understand why. You pretty much need Oblivion Stone if you allow him to be cast >_<
March 11, 2014 9:47 p.m.
CastleSiege says... #23
Kiora, the Crashing Wave needs some love. Who doesn't like to release the kraken anyway?
March 11, 2014 10 p.m.
How about we try ranking for a top 10? Right now my list would be:
1. JTMS
2. Elspeth KE
3. Karn
4. Lilly V
5. AJ Vengeant
6. Garruk, Caller of Beasts
7. Domri Rade
8. Elspeth, Sun's Champion
9. Garruk Wildspeaker
10. Gideon Jura
March 11, 2014 10:32 p.m.
Bapples101 says... #26
Why no Sorin, Lord of Innistrad he is a really good card especially his -6
October 8, 2014 10:27 p.m.
HarbingerJK says... #30
browsing the older forum pages I'd wager...it's like dungeon running in Skyrim only a lot less rewarding
October 8, 2014 10:58 p.m.
Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker , Garruk, Caller of Beasts , Ajani, Caller of the Pride , and Elspeth, Sun's Champion are my personal all-around favs.
Karn, Liliana of the Veil, and Jace MS are all just out of price range by a few score dollars.
October 9, 2014 10:55 a.m.
Sorin, Lord of Innistrad is a particularly weak planeswalker. Probably in the bottom 25%. Garruk, Caller of Beasts and Elspeth, Sun's Champion , I can understand where you're coming from. But Ajani, Caller of the Pride is a little weak and too reliant on having a creature in play, and Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker is too mana intensive for what he provides. I'd rather have Karn Liberated .
October 9, 2014 11:13 a.m.
When you mistype Garruk as Garruk, Caller of Beats. I guess he's a DJ now.
October 9, 2014 11:13 a.m.
Dalektable says... #35
vampirelazarus How does this thread make you feel, eh?
October 9, 2014 6:43 p.m.
BEASTMODEcafe says... #37
i Think the best is [Ajani Mentor of Heros] just AMAZING
March 4, 2015 8:05 p.m.
CanadianShinobi says... #40
What the flying fuck is this? A thread that was necro'd twice no less!
CW says... #2
November 18, 2013 8:17 p.m.