All 20 Renown Cards in Magic Ranked

Last updated on March 14, 2024

Valeron Wardens | Illustration by Howard Lyon

There are many ways to get a +1/+1 counter on a creature. Artifacts, enchantments, instants, sorceries, and even creature abilities can add +1/+1 counters to other creatures to make them stronger. Renown is just one of a multitude of mechanics that can give your creatures those precious +1/+1 counters.

A creature with renown can only get one +1/+1 counter on it from its ability after meeting a special requirement. If you’re a veteran player, you may already know that prerequisite, but in case you aren’t aware, let’s get into the details! Are you ready to talk about the renowned mechanic in MTG?

Let’s define it first before ranking the best creature cards with the mechanic.

What is Renown in MTG?

Firefiend Elemental | Illustration by Torstein Nordstrand

Renown is an MTG mechanic that originated in the Magic Origins expansion. Any creature with this triggered ability must deal combat damage to a player as a prerequisite before becoming renowned. Combat damage done to a creature or a planeswalker will not make a creature renowned.

Renown N means you put N +1/+1 counters on it when it deals combat damage to a player. Outland Colossus has the highest number at Renown 6.

Let’s get into the 20 renown creatures ranked from the worst to the best. You’ll be “exhilarated” to see the ability of the best-performing renowned creature!

#20. Knight of the Pilgrim’s Road

Knight of the Pilgrim's Road is little more than a vanilla 3-drop 3/2 knight with Renown 1. Synergize it with other cards in a knight-type deck to add value.

Kinsbaile Cavalier gives Knight of the Pilgrim's Road and other knights in your army double strike. This pilgrim-bound knight can also help reduce the cost to cast The Circle of Loyalty. Knight Exemplar and Valiant Knight can pump it up too.

#19. War Oracle

A creature with lifelink such as War Oracle can keep you ahead of the game against aristocratic decks that constantly drain your life. Gaining life with War Oracle can trigger lifegain staples such as Archangel of Thune and Rhox Faithmender. Plus with Renown 1, Oracle will get that much stronger and gain you more life when it deals combat damage.

#18. Firefiend Elemental

Cast Firefiend Elemental and swing in immediately because of its haste ability, if your opponent doesn’t have creatures to block early in the game, Firefiend Elemental can become renowned in the same turn as its cast.

Pair this card with Incandescent Soulstoke to put it on the battlefield for only 2 mana rather than 4. The only downside is you would have to sacrifice Firefiend Elemental at the end of the turn. No worries though! Just use Nim Deathmantle to bring it back!

#17. Topan Freeblade

Having creatures available to attack and block is essential for keeping defenses up at all times. Topan Freeblade gives you a vigilant creature for only 2 mana early in the game.

Include this card in a Myrel, Shield of Argive Commander deck to jumpstart your soldier count for Myrel’s attack trigger. Sacrificing Topan Freeblade to Knight-Captain of Eos’s ability can help you prevent combat damage from your opponent on that turn if you still need more time to build your army.

Nothing to fret about, however! You can use Archangel Elspeth’s ultimate to return Topan Freeblade and all your other 0-3 cost creatures back to the battlefield.

#16. Citadel Castellan

Here’s another creature with renown that also has vigilance. While Citadel Castellan costs 1 more mana than Topan Freeblade, Citadel Castellan is the better of the two because it has Renown 2 instead of Renown 1.

Kyler, Sigardian Emissary can pump up Citadel Castellan based on how many +1/+1 counters are on Kyler. Inspiring Veteran can pump up this renowned knight as well. Place all three cards in an Aragorn, the Uniter Commander deck for added value.

#15. Pharika’s Disciple

Ouch! Opponents usually don’t want to attack with their best creatures when you have one with deathtouch on the board. Protect yourself with Pharika's Disciple.

When your opponent doesn’t have a big enough creature to block it, you can land combat damage on them for it to become renowned. Run Pharika's Disciple in a Fynn, the Fangbearer deck to land two poison counters on your opponent each time you get combat damage through.

#14. Rhox Maulers

Trample is an essential evasion tactic that has a higher chance of forcing combat damage if your opponent’s army is not strong enough yet. Rhox Maulers can become a 6/6 with trample once it’s renowned all without equipment or auras attached to it. What value!

Pair Rhox Maulers in a deck with Ghalta, Primal Hunger so you can cast a 12/12 dinosaur with trample for only 2 mana once you have enough power on board. Add Rhox Maulers in a Perrie, the Pulverizer deck to support a rhino creature build. Go rhinos!

#13. Akroan Sergeant

First strike gets past some creatures with deathtouch, depending on their toughness. You can protect yourself with Akroan Sergeant early in the game in case an opponent has such a creature.

When you have Tajic, Legion's Edge on the battlefield with Akroan Sergeant and they’re both attacking, Tajic can mentor Akroan Sergeant by giving it a +1/+1 counter. Run a Voltron strategy to enchant and equip Tajic so you can keep pumping Akroan Sergeant with mentor every time they attack together.

#12. Stalwart Aven

It’s easy to get combat damage through using a flying Stalwart Aven with Renown 1; that is, if your opponent doesn’t also have a flying creature.

Aven Brigadier and Empyrean Eagle can pump up Stalwart Aven’s power and toughness. Include all three for bird-theme flavor in a Derevi, Empyrial Tactician commander deck.

Watcher of the Spheres can reduce Stalwart Aven’s mana cost by one. Plus, Teshar, Ancestor's Apostle can bring Stalwart Aven back to your hand from the graveyard when you cast any historic spell because it costs 3 or fewer mana.

#11. Kytheon’s Irregulars

Sometimes there’s just that one problem creature that prevents you from landing combat damage on your opponent. Use Kytheon's Irregulars for its activated ability to tap down creatures until it’s safe enough to attack.

Use Elesh Norn, Mother of Machines, Nyx Lotus, Clock of Omens, and Ancestral Statue for infinite mana based on your devotion to the colors of your deck. From there, you can tap down as many creatures on your opponent’s side with Kytheon's Irregulars as you’d like without running out of mana.

#10. Undercity Troll

Here’s a riddle: What’s better than a 2-drop troll with Renown 1? An Undercity Troll with these features plus regenerate! You can try a Voltron strategy with this creature without much to worry about because of its survivability.

You can pay 3 mana at any time to regenerate it through targeted–removal, board wipes, or combat damage. Add Undercity Troll to a Varolz, the Scar-Striped for a troll typal theme.

#9. Honored Hierarch

You’ve heard of a turn one Sol Ring or Esper Sentinel. But have you heard of a turn one Honored Hierarch?

If you’re on the play and your opponent doesn’t cast a creature on their first turn, Honored Hierarch can attack on turn two and become renowned. By turn three, you’ll have a working mana dork even if you miss your land drops!

#8. Goblin Glory Chaser

Here’s another turn-one play that can turn into value fast with Goblin Glory Chaser’s menace ability. It can become renowned by turn two if your opponent doesn’t have two creatures on board.

Go wide with goblins by including Goblin Glory Chaser in a Krenko, Mob Boss Commander deck. Copy Goblin Glory Chaser with Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker if you’re in a pinch and need a chump blocker.

#7. Acolyte of the Inferno

Acolyte of the Inferno is a great renown creature to equip and add auras to so opponents are more apt to block it. It’ll deal 2 damage to that blocking creature to possibly kill it depending on its power and toughness. Add to an Elsha of the Infinite Commander deck for a sweet monk theme!

#6. Relic Seeker

Relic Seeker is a relic, for lack of a better term, for any Voltron deck. Have it as an early-game attacker to have it become renowned, then search your library for your best equipment card to cast later in the game. Protect your commander by finding a Swiftfoot Boots, Mithril Coat, or Commander's Plate.

#5. Outland Colossus

Outland Colossus is a force to be reckoned with because of its Renown 6 ability that triggers when it lands combat damage. It can become a huge 12/12 that can only be blocked by one creature once it becomes renowned. That means no double- or triple-blocking destroying Outland Colossus. Only a board wipe or targeted-removal can destroy it!

This creature can cost 3 mana instead of 5 if you have Goreclaw, Terror of Qal Sisma on board. Casting this creature can also make Yorvo, Lord of Garenbrig stronger.

#4. Consul’s Lieutenant

As long as it’s renowned, Consul's Lieutenant pumps up your creatures by +1/+1 until the end of turn whenever it attacks. Kwende, Pride of Femeref can give Consul's Lieutenant double strike since it already has first strike. Pianna, Nomad Captain essentially does the same thing as Consul's Lieutenant just without having the renown ability.

#3. Scab-Clan Berserker

Scab-Clan Berserker’s ability to deal 2 damage to an opponent that casts a noncreature spell can get pretty hefty if instants, sorceries, artifacts, and enchantments are mostly what they have in their hand.

Lovisa Coldeyes can pump up Scab-Clan Berserker and give it menace. Include this card in a Torbran, Thane of Red Fell deck to deal 4 damage every time an opponent casts a noncreature spell.

#2. Valeron Wardens

Include Valeron Wardens in a white, green, and red commander deck for the possibility of building a full renowned deck. Place these renowned cards in a Gahiji, Honored One Commander deck. Since renowned creatures rely on attack to become renowned, Gahiji’s ability makes it easier to get combat damage through.

#1. Constable of the Realm

Did you get the hint from earlier? I hope you’re exhilarated to discover Constable of the Realm’s exile ability.

When the giant soldier becomes renowned, you can exile an opponent’s creature until  Constable of the Realm leaves the battlefield. Double how many +1/+1 counters are on it with Bright-Palm, Soul Awakener. As long as it’s renowned, Constable can help lower the cost of casting Hamza, Guardian of Arashin.

Best Renown Payoffs

Renown cards are best in +1/+1 counters decks or counters-matters decks. Creatures with related mechanics such as backup or the mentor mechanic can act as great payoffs for running renown cards in your deck.

Shalai and Hallar can deal damage to an opponent when creatures become renowned. Add in cards such as Ozolith, the Shattered Spire and  Hardened Scales that increase how many +1/+1 counters go on a renowned creature once it deals combat damage.

There is one particular instant from Magic Origins for decks that embrace the renowned mechanic. For only 1 white mana, Enshrouding Mist can pump up the creature by +1/+1, prevent all the damage done to it, and untap it if it’s renowned. This lets you protect your card draw and removal engines like Valeron Wardens or Constable of the Realm.

Can a Creature Regain Renown If It Loses the +1/+1 Counter?

No, once a creature becomes renowned it keeps that status until it leaves the battlefield. The +1/+1 counters a creature gains from its renowned ability aren’t linked to being renowned, so messing with those counters won’t cause the creature to lose its renowned status.

Does Blinking a Renown Creature Remove Renown?

Blinking any creature that contains counters, equipment, or auras will reset the creature back to its original state once it re-enters the battlefield. Hence, blinking a renowned creature does remove its renowned status since it’s now treated as a different game object. Just attack and land combat damage on an opponent again for it to regain renown.

Wrap Up

Outland Colossus | Illustration by Ryan Pancoast

While renowned cards in MTG may not be as renowned nowadays because of their release eight years ago in Magic Origins, players still like to use them in counters-matters decks. Just the one or more +1/+1 counters gained from combat damage early in the game can amount to increased value as more counters-deck staples get on the board.

Want to talk with like-minded individuals who love playing Magic: The Gathering? Join our Discord to come hang out with us and other players. Visit the Draftsim Facebook page for additional content updates to learn more about MTG mechanics and recent news!