In the ever-evolving world of Magic: The Gathering, planeswalkers have emerged as some of the most powerful and game-defining cards since their introduction in the Lorwyn set in 2007. These unique cards represent iconic characters with abilities that can dramatically influence the flow of a match, often becoming the centerpiece of competitive strategies across various formats.
With almost 300 planeswalker cards included in Magic, it would be hard to determine which of them deserves a spot in the top ten. But today, we're going to Ask the AI!
What are the top ten planeswalker cards from Magic: the Gathering based on their power level and impact on the game?
Ranking the top ten planeswalker cards from Magic: The Gathering based on power level and impact is somewhat subjective, but certain planeswalkers have consistently proven to be game-changers due to their abilities, versatility, and the decks they support. Here are ten standout planeswalkers, in no particular order:
1. Jace, the Mind Sculptor
Jace, the Mind Sculptor is often considered the most powerful planeswalker ever printed due to his versatility, with four impactful abilities that make him a staple in many control decks. He has been used extensively in control decks across various formats, including Standard, Modern, and Legacy.
Jace dominated Standard from 2010 to 2011 and remains a key card in Eternal formats, with his "Brainstorm" ability providing card selection and his "unsummon" effect helping control the board.
2. Liliana of the Veil
Liliana of the Veil's discard ability and creature control make her a powerful tool in attrition-based strategies. She is essential in Jund, Sultai Midrange, and other control/midrange decks in Modern and Legacy.
Liliana's +1 ability can dismantle an opponent's hand, while her -2 ability controls the board by forcing sacrifices, making her a cornerstone in various formats since her release in 2011.
3. Teferi, Time Raveler
Teferi, Time Raveler warps game dynamics by preventing opponents from casting spells at instant speed, making him a critical piece in control and combo decks during his time in Standard, Pioneer, and now in Modern and Legacy.
His ability to shut down opposing instant-speed interactions while providing card draw and bounce effects made him a staple across formats. Although now banned in Pioneer and rotated out of Standard, Teferi continues to influence strategies in Modern and Legacy, cementing his legacy as one of the most disruptive planeswalkers in Magic: The Gathering history.
4. Ugin, the Spirit Dragon
Ugin, the Spirit Dragon has been a dominant force due to his ability to exile colored permanents and deal direct damage to creatures or players, providing unparalleled board control. While no longer in Standard, Ugin remains a central figure in Modern Tron and various control strategies in Commander.
Ugin can single-handedly stabilize the board and swing the game, particularly in decks that can ramp into his high mana cost, and has been impactful since his release in 2015.
5. Karn, the Great Creator
Karn, the Great Creator is a game-changer due to his ability to shut down opposing artifacts and fetch artifacts from outside the game, providing tremendous utility and versatility. He is prominently used in Tron and various artifact-based strategies in Modern and Legacy.
Karn's static ability to lock down opposing artifacts and his activated ability to tutor for powerful artifacts from the sideboard have significantly shaped deck construction and gameplay in competitive formats since his introduction in 2019.
6. Karn Liberated
Karn Liberated’s ability to exile any permanent and restart the game with exiled cards makes him a powerhouse, especially in Modern Tron decks.
Karn's abilities allow for unparalleled board control and can single-handedly win games by restarting them under favorable conditions, ensuring his legacy as a top planeswalker since his release in 2011.
7. Oko, Thief of Crowns
Oko's ability to turn any artifact or creature into a 3/3 Elk proved overwhelmingly powerful, leading to his dominance in Standard, Pioneer, Modern, and Legacy until he was banned in many formats in 2019 and 2020.
Oko’s strength in disrupting opponents' strategies and his flexibility in control and midrange decks made him one of the most impactful planeswalkers before his multiple bannings.
8. Elspeth, Sun's Champion
Elspeth’s ability to create tokens and clear the board of larger threats provides tremendous value and board control, making her popular in control and midrange decks, particularly in Standard from 2013 to 2015 and in Commander.
Her +1 ability creates a steady stream of blockers, while her -3 ability handles big threats, making her a versatile and powerful planeswalker.
9. Wrenn and Six
Wrenn and Six's ability to recur lands from the graveyard and deal direct damage to creatures or players makes it incredibly versatile and powerful. Since its release in 2019, it has been a key card in Modern and was impactful in Legacy until its recent ban.
Wrenn and Six remains an important piece in Modern, particularly in decks that value land recursion and small creature control. Its +1 ability provides consistent land drops and synergy with fetch lands, while its -1 ability controls small creatures or finishes off opponents.
The ultimate ability can turn the game around by enabling recurring use of powerful instants and sorceries, making Wrenn and Six a staple in the strategies that can utilize its strengths.
10. Narset, Parter of Veils
Narset's static ability to prevent opponents from drawing extra cards is a major disruption in many strategies, making her integral to control and combo decks in Modern, Legacy, and Pioneer.
Narset's ability to draw cards and limit opponents’ card draw has had a profound effect on formats that rely heavily on drawing multiple cards per turn since her release in 2019, ensuring her impact on the game.
These planeswalkers have significantly impacted the game through their powerful abilities and the strategies they support, shaping the metagame in various formats and often becoming central pieces in competitive play.
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