Is there an Exact Formula for Calculating the Mana Cost of a Planeswalker?
General forum
Posted on Oct. 3, 2019, 7:53 p.m. by DemonDragonJ
Planeswalkers are still relatively new to this game, but they have been a part of this game for over a decade (wow, has it really been that long? I feel old, now!), so, by this time, WotC should have figured out the formula for calculating their various numbers (i.e., casting cost, starting loyalty, and the loyalty cost of each ability), but I myself have not noticed if there is a strict formula.
From what I have observed, a planeswalker’s starting loyalty is usually equal to or slightly less than their converted mana cost, akin to how most creatures have power and toughness either equal to or slightly less than their own converted mana cost, and most planeswalkers can use their positive loyalty ability (if they have one) or their first negative loyalty ability immediately, but must take time to increase their loyalty to use their final ability (which is usually known as an “ultimate” ability because of how powerful they tend to be).
What does everyone else say about this? Is there an exact formula for calculating the mana cost, starting loyalty, and loyalty cost of each ability of a planeswalker?
There is no exact formula - and as of recent sets, this formula has been changing with the first statick ability planeswalkers and the first (excluding the Lorwyn 5) non-mythic planeswalkers. So, there is some wiggle room but the basic formula is:
The more a planeswalker can defend itself, the lower its starting loyalty. eg. Kiora, the Crashing Wave and viceversa The Royal Scions .
Four abilities are very rarely used, due to developmental issues the last time (
Jace, the Mind Sculptor
really changed the game on how PWs are designed)
Have at one plus, one minus and one "big minus" or "ult" ability - the new Garruk, Cursed Huntsman is one of the very that breaks that mold.
In short, there is no clear formula, and I would say planeswalkers are designed both top-down and bottom-up - what their abilities do is top-down, dictated by the story, while their manacost and loyalty ability costs are bottom-up - whatever the current standard can use best.
For example, if Garruk, Cursed Huntsman made one token instead of two, it would cost two mana less probably. But play design wanted a 6 mana walker, so his abilities started doing bit more.
xtechnetia says... #2
The only definitive "rule" I can see for planeswalker number calculations is that virtually every one of them is able to get themselves to 4+ loyalty (i.e. out of Lightning Bolt range) with an immediate loyalty activation. (This gets particularly egregious with low CMC walkers, cough Wrenn and Six .)
Other than that, "it depends". e.g. Gideon, Ally of Zendikar can use all of his abilities immediately, but obviously that's proportional to his casting cost and the fact that his ultimate isn't exactly an "I win" ability.
It may be worth noting that in recent times, Wizards has obviously been pushing to make competitively viable, low-CMC walkers more of a thing. As recently as ELD, Oko, Thief of Crowns and The Royal Scions can get themselves to 6 (!) loyalty with their first loyalty activation, for being 3cmc walkers. Back in DTK, Narset Transcendent raised a few eyebrows for being able to get herself to 7, and she was a 4cmc walker.
So who knows.
October 3, 2019 8:09 p.m.