All 8 Elspeth Planeswalker Cards in Magic Ranked

Elspeth, Sun's Champion | Illustration by Eric Deschamps

Hello Planeswalkers! Do you fight against those abusing their power? Would you wear a flowing white robe with white gilded armor? Are you immune to Phyresis? I sure hope the last one applies to you, but even if not, at least you can appreciate Elspeth. Elspeth Tirel is a traumatic figure beneath beautiful white light, but what does this mean for our favorite card game?

MTG has developed some truly wonderful heroes and villains that we call planeswalkers. With their spark, these legends can travel between planes and are included in many storylines and MTG sets. There are some truly bomb planeswalkers, and my goal is to show you that Elspeth, at least a few versions, belong amongst the most heroic planeswalkers.

What Are Elspeth Planeswalkers in MTG?

Elspeth, Knight-Errant | Illustration by Volkan Baga

Elspeth planeswalkers can be defined in two ways. First, in the lore, it means the character Elspeth Tirel when she has her spark. Secondly, for the card game, it means any of the versions of Elspeth that have the type planeswalker and the subtype Elspeth. There are several categories after the rankings to explain Elspeth’s backstory, spark status, and a few other questions about this planeswalker. 

So let’s dive into the rankings and lore of Elspeth!

#8. Elspeth, Undaunted Hero

We don’t often get two versions of the same planeswalker, but in Theros Beyond Death we got two versions of Elspeth. Elspeth, Sun's Nemesis will come soon, but first let’s look at Elspeth, Undaunted Hero. This Elspeth planeswalker has some modest non-final loyalty abilities, giving creatures counters or searching for Sunlit Hoplite. The real value of this card is the final ability of mass pump based on your devotion to white.

#7. Elspeth, Sun’s Nemesis

There is one obvious and huge downside to planeswalkers that have no positive loyalty abilities. Elspeth, Sun's Nemesis navigates around this problem quite well with its escape ability. You can cast this Elspeth planeswalker cheaply, use up its loyalty points with abilities, and then cast it from your graveyard. This recursion makes up for the lack of growth or final ability. I'm a big fan of the -1 ability; you can pump two creatures each turn to be aggressive.

#6. Elspeth, Knight-Errant

I have seen some lists that rank Elspeth, Knight-Errant as one of the best Elspeth planeswalkers. I believe this is a good planeswalker, but not the best version by far. To this card’s credit, it is awesome to get a good planeswalker at 4 mana, and the +1 abilities are defensive or aggressive when you need them. I am just not a huge fan of planeswalkers whose final loyalty abilities aren’t complete game clinchers, or are hard to get to regularly. Unfortunately, I feel like both of these conditions are true with this Elspeth.

I love to see a creature like Adanto Vanguard or Rafiq of the Many take off aggressively with this card, but the aggression isn’t enough to push it up these rankings.

#5. Elspeth Tirel

Sometimes the first iteration of planeswalkers are the best or worst version, but Elspeth Tirel lands somewhere in the middle. This planeswalker has a killer lifegain ability that also gives you +2 loyalty counters. Token creation and mass removal for nontoken permanents can also create a ton of advantages. All of these loyalty abilities are great, there is just something about the play style that doesn’t take this card to the top of many planeswalker lists. Outside of the final ability in certain decks, a lot of these effects can be achieved with other simpler cards. I would say a good planeswalker, but not one you must roster or build around.

#4. Elspeth Resplendent

Elspeth Resplendent works differently than most Elspeth planeswalkers, and that fits her different lore on New Capenna (more undercover than valiant hero). Most Elspeth planeswalkers aim to make tokens early to protect for later gains. Elspeth Resplendent aims to get to the final ability as quickly as possible to gain a huge battlefield advantage.

This planeswalker’s +1 ability is awesome at making your creatures better, and the -3 ability is also quite good if you only need a card like Perilous Snare to take control, instead of waiting for the final ability. Almost no wrong way to use this version of Elspeth in all her resplendence.

#3. Archangel Elspeth

The return of Elspeth in the lore was awesome! Archangel Elspeth keeps the awesomeness going with solid loyalty abilities and a reasonable mana value. Where many Elspeth planeswalkers make 1/1 soldiers, this card makes a 1/1 with lifelink. Where other Elspeth planeswalkers give one +1/+1 counter, this card gives two. And as a finale, Archangel Elspeth can return all of your cheap permanents from the graveyard for one heck of an advantage. Great on all fronts, let’s go!

#2. Elspeth, Sun’s Champion

Many Elspeth planeswalkers benefit greatly alongside mass removal, as well as creating tokens to gain battlefield advantages after the removal. Elspeth, Sun's Champion rocks this strategy all in one card with great loyalty abilities.

The +1 loyalty ability can create three creature tokens, which is a ton of chump defense or solid battlefield development for future attacks. The -3 ability is a large creature sweeper that can be activated on the turn this planeswalker ETBs. These two abilities are enough advantage to help many decks gain control of games, but you also have a mass pump emblem final loyalty ability if needed.

#1. Elspeth, Storm Slayer

Elspeth, Storm Slayer fits perfectly into white control decks, especially in token-creating or superfriends decks. At 5 mana, this Elspeth planeswalker works quite well with some mass removal, followed by token creation. You can pair them with token-matters cards like Caretaker's Talent, or just create tokens to protect your superfriends like Narset of the Ancient Way. This is curve-friendly, helps to gain control, and can pivot into solid aggression with its middle loyalty ability. So good!

Elspeth Payoffs

Elspeth planeswalkers are often very good in a few strategies: token-creation, superfriends, white aggro, and sometimes lifegain.

Elspeth planeswalkers often make small token creatures that can pay off cards like Marneus Calgar, Arabella, Abandoned Doll, and Anointed Procession. Creating tokens also helps to build a large board presence that can benefit from anthems and mass pumps like Warleader's Call, Intangible Virtue, and Fire Lord Zuko.

A hero even among planeswalkers, Elspeth definitely belongs in superfriends decks amongst many other planeswalkers. Elspeth works well with planeswalkers like Nicol Bolas, Dragon-God, Tamiyo, Field Researcher, and Chandra, Legacy of Fire. You can also run planeswalker support cards like Oath of Teferi and Carth the Lion.

Both the token and superfriends decks benefit tremendously from mass removal. I’m sure you can find plenty of great mass removal cards, but let me suggest Supreme Verdict, Farewell, or Hour of Reckoning.

Many Elspeth planeswalkers are cheap and have great pump for white aggro decks. Support aggro cards like Adeline, Resplendent Cathar, Esper Sentinel, and Akroma's Will with your Elspeth planeswalkers.

Elspeth is only in the white color range, and so she also has some occasional lifegain synergies. This is not often her main strategy, but some Elspeth planeswalkers can benefit cards like Will, Scion of Peace, Essence Channeler, and Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose.

Finally, Elspeth's Devotee and Sunlit Hoplite are two cards that benefit directly from having Elspeth planeswalkers.

Who Is Elspeth Tirel?

Espeth Tirel is a white planeswalker with a tragic history that has led to her courage in fighting injustice and her anger against the abuse of power. She was a young girl in Capenna who was captured by the Phyrexians and gained her spark from this awful experience. Battles with gods on Theros over her incredible weapon, Godsend, contribute to her trials and tribulations. Out of the underworld, back to Capenna, fighting the Phyrexians, and ascending to an angel form, Elspeth’s path follows the hero’s journey, and she represents the complicated journey to virtue.

As a card and planeswalker, Elseth is only in white and often represents a rallying call. Elspeth focuses on lifegain, creating tokens, pumping creatures, and either destroying or bringing back creatures. This planeswalker is known for protecting superfriends decks, acting as a solid midrange planeswalker, and gaining advantages in control decks.

Is Elspeth an Angel?

Elspeth snatched the Sylex from Jace in the Seedcore of New Phyrexia and faded into the Blind Eternities. From this terror, she came back as an angel, archangel in fact, to return and beat back the invasion of Phyrexia.

There are some arguments about whether Elspeth is a true angel or if the planeswalker version counts as an angel. The consensus seems to be that Elspeth is an angel planeswalker. She was bestowed power by Serra (the creator of an entire angel realm), and her golden wings and sword seem quite angelic.

Does Elspeth Still Have Her Spark?

Yes, Elspeth still has her planeswalker spark. She did not lose her power or her spark to the big Desparkening event. There are some complications between her angel status and her interactions with the Blind Eternities though. However, there is no indication that this complication affects her spark, and she returned as a planeswalker in the Tarkir: Dragonstorm set.

What Other Elspeth Cards Are There?

Other Elspeth cards are those with “Elspeth” in the card name, but not the subtype Elspeth. These cards aren’t planeswalkers and represent some of Elspeth’s major events, followers, and attributes. Here is a list of the cards, along with a few comments on some of them. 

• Elspeth Conquers Death is a killer saga that is removal, taxation, and a bomb reanimation effect.
• Elspeth's Nightmare
• Elspeth's Talent can turn any planeswalker into an Elspeth-like planeswalker, also with a great mass pump ability.
• Elspeth's Smite is a wonderful early combat removal spell to slow down aggro decks.
• Elspeth's Devotee
• By Elspeth's Command is available only on Magic Arena.

Wrap Up

Archangel Elspeth | Illustration by Denys Tsiperko

I am of the belief that a great story or lore deserves a tortured character who rises to make a difference. Elspeth provides so much value and virtue to the MTG story, and of course, a wonderful planeswalker to use. Whether you are a superfriends fan or a token-creating kind of player, Elspeth is a white planeswalker to appreciate.

Feel free to leave a comment below and let us know which version of Elspeth or other planeswalker is your favorite. If you want even more engagement, follow us on X or join the official Discord channel. Stay safe, and remember to take your Halo.