Definitely agree her evolution as a card is fascinating. These two chapters were pure gas for the hype machine. I got goosebumps when she decided she was going to return. Also note this is the 2nd time Jin gets absolutely wrecked by a mono-white PW as he's reaching to kill someone.
@@that-one-genz7835 In Neon Dynasty Kaito and Tamiyo attack a lab Tezzeret and Jin are hiding in. Partway through the fight Jin gets the upper hand and is reaching for Kaito when The Emperor planeswalks in and blocks Jins claws. It's in that anime cinematic they put out and it's a HYPE af scene too.
This seems like an extremely fair, old-fashioned planeswalker like we don't see that many of anymore. There isn't a big spicy hit or huge value outside the Ultimate, it just does fair magic things for 4 mana. You know, like walkers used to do. Shame that's not nearly good enough anymore.
Elspeth: "I will not stop until Phyrexia is defeated, Elesh Norn!" Norn: "Pfft, really? You and what army?" Elspeth: "...Well. I brought this 1/1 guy. He has lifelink." Norn: "..." Elspeth: "..."
She feels like a planeswalker from at least a decade ago, a mix between the OG Elspeth and Sorin, Lord of Innistrad. There's been a lot of power creep since then and I don't think you can compete with that set-up these days. It's also a bit of a tired formula. It feels like an interation on what we've already seen instead of a game-changer, which I feel her apotheosis should be.
I was kinda hoping Elspeth was going to finally give up a 5 color Angel commander (not you, Morophon) with a planeswalker on the back. I wasn't expecting it, but it would have been nice. This might not be the most powerful card, or even the most powerful Elspeth, but that story was soooo good.
@@cooljoe500 It's also undeniably the most popular way to play paper Magic and has been for years. The battle for the soul of Magic has been fought and Commander/EDH won. That's really what surprises me most about this Elspeth, she seems really intended for 1v1 White Midrange decks that don't really translate to EDH at all.
It is hard to overstate how much my heartbeat quickened when I heard about Serra, the last set was a bit much with all the corruption, but this is just an absolute delight.
I actually find the simplicity of this card to be refreshing. It reminds me a little bit of Gideon, Ally of Zendikar. WotC wants to show that there are still very interesting, strong designs in the "traditional" PW design space, which seems appropriate for a PW character that was reincarnated by an ancient character like Serra. To me, this design seems elegant, and I suspect it is stronger than it appears.
Its clean fair traditional and powerful. Just a shame it will be eclipsed for a big part of its time in standard. Great lore great art ideal design in a world without the wandering emperor
My conclusion was that on curve it will be out classed by power? I think it's fun in edh. I dont understand why you think something cant be good in other formats if it's not good in standard. Have you seen delver of secrets lol
@@codyvaughn7966 Yeah, because Delver had actual synergy potential with a high ceiling. Turns out a turn one 3/2 flier for 1 mana is pretty good. Elspeth, on the other hand, has extremely limited capabilities in general. Her ult is nothing special in edh, and you can get similar effects at a similar rate without having to wait and protect it three whole turns (4 if you want stay around). Her +1 is the most underwhelming planeswalker effect I’ve seen in a pretty long while, with only the lifelink _barely_ putting it above “totally useless”. The -2 is also fairly underwhelming for a 4-drop. “Powerful” is a terrible and completely inaccurate description for this barely playable card, especially when compared to literally any walker in All Will Be One. Yes, even Koth.
Her sword reminds me of the one OG She-Ra had, ngl ^^; Come to think of it, I wouldn't be shocked if Elspeth actually shouted "I HAVE THE POWER!!!!" when she appeared in her new angel form, considering she also has the typical Lightning motif of He-Man now as well xD"
I kind of agree that they could have pushed her card a little more, but I honestly love the card we got. Super solid walker that protects herself and generates value.
I ser people comparing her to wandering emperor, but I can see mono-w mid running both. If board is stable, put elspeth and get the tokens, If not emperor, remove thread, then on your turn elspeth and + the emperor
Holy F*ck! Time for some smiting😎 Oh man seeing her impaling Elesh Norn, she’s probably terrified to see Elspeth with burning light wings, and blade! I wish she was a flip card, could go from her planeswalker, to a creature. I hope she has another card🙏🏻
The art we got from her in the MoM box looks very different so they might give her another card (I don't think alts have ever been used as pack/box art before). As for the card we have now I'm honestly hyped because last time the big mythic of a set was thought to be too fair and underwhelming was Sheoldred The Apocalypse.
Knight Errant having two +1 abilities is also a factor in comparing the two cards. Archangel's abilities are strictly better but it's a lot closer than one would think because of Archangel's second ability being a -2.
@@PleasantKenobi It actually proves your point even more. The fact that the Ult is such a carrot on a stick dangling in front of you, so close but so far, while you most likely would need to continuously minus her just to create enough protection to keep her on the field makes Archangel even more mid.
Ngl I kinda would've loved it if she could only be attacked by creatures with flying because well she is a flying angel. I would've loved if her ult return herself too.
Yeah I think power level wise it should drop a 2/2 vigilant knight or something as it etbs . So if you down tick you have a serra angel and if you tick up you have some material.
I feel like Archangel is a card for a slower tempo game. It gives lifelinkers, and it can permanently buff them. Knight-Errant is more aggressive. It can create blockers, but they don't get lifelink, and her other ability is a buff that can't work on defense. Both of their ults are pretty brutal, though Knight-Errant's doesn't require much of any build-around for, while Archangel's does.
I think we are going to find out that New Capenna a remnant of Serra's Realm where the city was the only thing that survived the Phyrexian Invasion after Urza legged it and compressed the plane into the Weatherlite's power core.
I love angels and always really liked Elspeth so this is kinda a dream card? Seems like it might not be great power wise atm but even if it is bad I would still run it!.
Definitely was surprised that this wasn't a little better. Would have been cool to give her flash for flavor but maybe they thought that would be too close to the Wandering Emperor.
I knew she was gonna ascend to Angel hood. I wish the card itself had a better + and - ability but the ultimate is wildly good. I love the art on the card though.
"In blackest day or brightest night, watermelon, cantaloupe, yadda yadda, a superstitious and cowardly lot, with liberty and justice for all!" - Canto DD😜
So... actually, proliferate has been a big thing last few sets. Same with soldiers and solider tokens. As it is, I'd love to see just how she will interact with lots of 3 CMC things and boosting up champions and tokens. Well, that and Angel and Solider tribal.
Probably too many pieces. I don't know how you're reliably proliferating, filling up the graveyard and finding your 4 drop, and you're vulnerable to hate on at least 3 axes. You can get your graveyard exiled, they can blow her up, they can wipe the board afterwards. Farewell in particular ruins that combo.
The art in the double masters crucible is of Serra actively making Serra's Sanctum and I lost my shit when I saw the card get spoiled and realized what it depicted. The Song of All is a song recited by her angels and has over 1000 cantos or some shit. Honestly this all feels like a cop out but I got the impression about 10 years ago that Elspeth was either Serra's daughter or at least a descendent but im still surprised they actually tied the two together. Hype for the first angel walker finally ive been wanting one forever.
She makes me think of Oko. Make token and then turn that token into a beater. Thought Oko also costed less, could "remove" things and had a stupid amount of loyalty.
I love this card. I have loved (and purchased) every elspeth printing. Knight errant was one of the first 5 mythics I ever opened and she was in all of my decks. This new version is maybe 2% better, but I will cherish it. Kind of wish she had been maybe cmc 3. WWW, or WW1. Oh well.
My main commander is Odric lunarch marshal and this slaps pretty hard in that so im good with this, I mean if it was stronger that would be nice but ill take it
I like her for my Heliod Sun-Crowned deck, but I'm a little bummed she doesn't really go in my Avacyn angel deck nor does she seem to go in a Giada deck
I find it odd that wizards created the technology to help with memory issues when granting cards permanent abilities (like flying) with the ability counters from Ikoria but then never reused it at opportune moments like they could have here.
The two +1/+1 counters serve the same function as a visual marker. They must feel it's ultimately more convenient to have only one type of counter then to put three counters of two different types on.
The only strict upgrade I see is the first ability. The impact of the ultimate depends on what your deck does. For the second ability I still prefer the OG Elspeth since it is a +1 effect. The new one giving a "serra's embrace" for -2 is a bit over costed, compared to the OG Elspeth, I think.
No, angels are manifestations of White mana, not naturally-born lifeforms. As such, they cannot have planeswalker sparks. Elspeth is a human that got turned into an angel by the blessing of Serra, similar to how the human planeswalker Ob Nixilis got turned into a demon by attempting to use the Chain Veil.
But Adder, I hear you say, Norn isn't an enchantment or a god. MayO direct your attention to March of the Machine Jin-Gitaxis. I am betting Norn in this set flips to a Theros style god.
I think Arcangel Elspeth is going to be one of those cards that is both enjoyable to play with and against. I can see the angel lifegain style players going nuts for this.
Personal head cannon is that she and the angels on Cappena are Serra angels created to help defend the plain during the original invasion of it. That’s why Serra shows up to aid her. Does it make sense, probably not. Is there evidence, no not really, but I think it’s a fun harmless theory
I really wish the -2 gave 3 +1/+1 counters, then it would turn the soldiers into serra angel sized creatures, just with lifelink instead of vigilance. And for slightly selfish reasons it would turn Jetmir into a 11 power double striking creature instead of 10 when you have the requisite 9 creatures for Jetmir. That breakpoint is really big for commander damage.
Really, really like the card. Great art. It's fair. It's flavourful. The power/push that feels like it's missing will almost certainly be covered by spells yet to be spoiled. Or perhaps by the future meta lol Also, my expected standard for protagonists finally getting printed is still the eternally disappointing Gerrard Capashen lol, so let's say the bar is looooow for me
A good missed opportunity for a flavorful passive would have been : “can’t be attacked or damaged by creatures without flying during combat” to showcase that she’s an angel too.
@@cooljoe500 Yeah, that's flavorful but it also renders her damn near unkillable in a lot of scenarios. Flying creatures are not nearly as common as people seem to think they are, flying is rarely incidental.
I think this card is a bit better than people are giving it credit for. The amount of proliferate in this standard lets you get to that ultimate pretty easily and it pluses on making a blocker for itself that helps keep your life high enough for you to survive until you combo off. The real problem is you would need to build the deck around setting off that ult for a big swing as your main gameplan
the whole bit was kind of confusing. I know Serra took the form of different people but I got the impression that Serra is somehow related to Elspeth? I really want to know more about that bit there.
Maybe if her +1 was was create two 1/1 soldier tokens it would be an improvement without going overboard but you have to be careful she is not too overpowered.
Yea, right now if you drop her on an empty board she's not that scary and if you're behind on board she doesn't do much since she can't remove anything.
3:27 before the story articles today I'd have this perspective, that Elspeth should be ridiculously powerful (even with a high cost), but my mind is changed. In Chapter 7, Elspeth *doesn't* just instantly turn the tide. She's strong, and at first Norn's attacks just bounce off her, but at one point she literally hangs Elspeth upside down from her feet and restrains her new wings. Elspeth doesn't even kill Norn when she stabs her through the chest. Becoming an angel didn't fix all their problems - it's a power up, but not a godmode one. So this walker is decently powerful given how she's represented in story imo.
I'm already planning a spot for this in my Raffine reanimator combat trix deck. Another Ascend from Avernus/Teshar/Patch Up type effect is never refused 😁
Honestly, all this could be solved by a better ult, add "destroy all nonland permanents your opponents control with power 4 or greater, remove all poison counters from all players" she would feel so much more awesome.
I think the opinion that "she's boring" or "she's disappointing" stems from all the extra words we've been getting on cards lately. We've gone from complaining about so many words to now being disappointed when they don't. And I think people are undervaluing her because of that. 4 Mana for a free 1/1 every turn is already very close to playable for standard. Add in lifelink, a mode that kills walkers (and permanently impacts the board), and I think she's more than pushed for standard purposes. Heck, I even think there's potential for her in explorer/pioneer if the right home exists (basically her power level is enough, just a matter of finding a deck). She's unlikely to be powerful enough for non-standard formats to *make* a deck exist just on her own, though, and I sometimes think that's how people try to assess things (and probably what they wanted from her). But being a workhorse for other formats and a standard all-star seems pretty good on a card for me.
On the lore side, serra was a human Planeswalker that created angels, so Elspeth is the first angel walker.
.....You didn't just say that.
Correct. Another good vorthos
@@ZekromEXPlays ...serra WAS human. she was never an angel herself at any point in her lore.
Definitely agree her evolution as a card is fascinating.
These two chapters were pure gas for the hype machine. I got goosebumps when she decided she was going to return.
Also note this is the 2nd time Jin gets absolutely wrecked by a mono-white PW as he's reaching to kill someone.
when was the first time?
@@that-one-genz7835 Kamigawa
@@olafthemoose9413 the Emperor aint nothing to fuck with.
@@that-one-genz7835 In Neon Dynasty Kaito and Tamiyo attack a lab Tezzeret and Jin are hiding in. Partway through the fight Jin gets the upper hand and is reaching for Kaito when The Emperor planeswalks in and blocks Jins claws. It's in that anime cinematic they put out and it's a HYPE af scene too.
@@lorenfarque1571 She doesn't just block his claws, she slices the shit out of him such that she presumes he's finished.
Can't wait to permanently make Thalia a 4/3 with flying and first strike on turn 5
Good also do it on turn five to Thalia and the Gitrog Monster for a 6/6 Flying Deathtouch First-Striker
Who hurt you
OG Elspeth was my first walker, and she's been in my first deck since. This is absolutely perfect for that deck, Boros Soldiers.
This seems like an extremely fair, old-fashioned planeswalker like we don't see that many of anymore. There isn't a big spicy hit or huge value outside the Ultimate, it just does fair magic things for 4 mana. You know, like walkers used to do.
Shame that's not nearly good enough anymore.
I hope her epic moment is like a legendary spell card and that’s why her planswalker card is just ok
Elspeth: "I will not stop until Phyrexia is defeated, Elesh Norn!"
Norn: "Pfft, really? You and what army?"
Elspeth: "...Well. I brought this 1/1 guy. He has lifelink."
Norn: "..."
Elspeth: "..."
Just wait five more turns! Then you'll see!
She feels like a planeswalker from at least a decade ago, a mix between the OG Elspeth and Sorin, Lord of Innistrad. There's been a lot of power creep since then and I don't think you can compete with that set-up these days. It's also a bit of a tired formula. It feels like an interation on what we've already seen instead of a game-changer, which I feel her apotheosis should be.
I was kinda hoping Elspeth was going to finally give up a 5 color Angel commander (not you, Morophon) with a planeswalker on the back. I wasn't expecting it, but it would have been nice.
This might not be the most powerful card, or even the most powerful Elspeth, but that story was soooo good.
atraxa might be that this set
Commander is cringe though
@@cooljoe500 It's also undeniably the most popular way to play paper Magic and has been for years. The battle for the soul of Magic has been fought and Commander/EDH won. That's really what surprises me most about this Elspeth, she seems really intended for 1v1 White Midrange decks that don't really translate to EDH at all.
It is hard to overstate how much my heartbeat quickened when I heard about Serra, the last set was a bit much with all the corruption, but this is just an absolute delight.
I think the card is stronger then it looks but I do wish she was some jaw dropping 8 or 10 mana planeswalker.
I actually find the simplicity of this card to be refreshing. It reminds me a little bit of Gideon, Ally of Zendikar. WotC wants to show that there are still very interesting, strong designs in the "traditional" PW design space, which seems appropriate for a PW character that was reincarnated by an ancient character like Serra. To me, this design seems elegant, and I suspect it is stronger than it appears.
Its clean fair traditional and powerful. Just a shame it will be eclipsed for a big part of its time in standard. Great lore great art ideal design in a world without the wandering emperor
@@codyvaughn7966 How is making a 1/1 on one ability, with a mediocre -6 "powerful?"
@@codyvaughn7966 How did you come to the conclusion that this is too weak for standard, but will somehow be strong enough for older formats...?
My conclusion was that on curve it will be out classed by power? I think it's fun in edh.
I dont understand why you think something cant be good in other formats if it's not good in standard. Have you seen delver of secrets lol
@@codyvaughn7966 Yeah, because Delver had actual synergy potential with a high ceiling. Turns out a turn one 3/2 flier for 1 mana is pretty good.
Elspeth, on the other hand, has extremely limited capabilities in general. Her ult is nothing special in edh, and you can get similar effects at a similar rate without having to wait and protect it three whole turns (4 if you want stay around). Her +1 is the most underwhelming planeswalker effect I’ve seen in a pretty long while, with only the lifelink _barely_ putting it above “totally useless”. The -2 is also fairly underwhelming for a 4-drop.
“Powerful” is a terrible and completely inaccurate description for this barely playable card, especially when compared to literally any walker in All Will Be One. Yes, even Koth.
Her sword reminds me of the one OG She-Ra had, ngl ^^;
Come to think of it, I wouldn't be shocked if Elspeth actually shouted "I HAVE THE POWER!!!!" when she appeared in her new angel form, considering she also has the typical Lightning motif of He-Man now as well xD"
100%
Elspeth is Goku now? Comes in at the last minute. Gives everybody sensu beans then basically ultra instincts through all of Elish Norn's attacks
I really liked todays stories
That Crucible of Worlds art is definitely Serra, same feathered pauldron on the left shoulder.
Awesome!
I kind of agree that they could have pushed her card a little more, but I honestly love the card we got. Super solid walker that protects herself and generates value.
I ser people comparing her to wandering emperor, but I can see mono-w mid running both. If board is stable, put elspeth and get the tokens, If not emperor, remove thread, then on your turn elspeth and + the emperor
@@MaxinRudy Absolutely! I plan to run all 4 ladies in Standard, lol.
The art of Elspeth with feathers is her in The Blind Eternities
I do like her ultimate seeing as how she’s from New Capenna and that place all revolves around 3 colors
My favorite Planeswalker, Elspeth
Asymmetrical Rule of Law would have been perfect here as a passive even if you needed to increase her cmc a bit.
If she had rule of law as a passive I'd play her.
Elspeth has a light saber now cannon
Holy F*ck! Time for some smiting😎
Oh man seeing her impaling Elesh Norn, she’s probably terrified to see Elspeth with burning light wings, and blade! I wish she was a flip card, could go from her planeswalker, to a creature. I hope she has another card🙏🏻
The art we got from her in the MoM box looks very different so they might give her another card (I don't think alts have ever been used as pack/box art before). As for the card we have now I'm honestly hyped because last time the big mythic of a set was thought to be too fair and underwhelming was Sheoldred The Apocalypse.
Knight Errant having two +1 abilities is also a factor in comparing the two cards. Archangel's abilities are strictly better but it's a lot closer than one would think because of Archangel's second ability being a -2.
You are right - I shouldnhabe focused on the costs more. The -2 is a significant downside by comparison, especially as this Ult is so achievable.
@@PleasantKenobi It actually proves your point even more. The fact that the Ult is such a carrot on a stick dangling in front of you, so close but so far, while you most likely would need to continuously minus her just to create enough protection to keep her on the field makes Archangel even more mid.
Ngl I kinda would've loved it if she could only be attacked by creatures with flying because well she is a flying angel. I would've loved if her ult return herself too.
Only attacked by creatures with flying was exactly my first thought too
Yeah I think power level wise it should drop a 2/2 vigilant knight or something as it etbs . So if you down tick you have a serra angel and if you tick up you have some material.
I love this new card!
she's my favorite
I feel like Archangel is a card for a slower tempo game. It gives lifelinkers, and it can permanently buff them. Knight-Errant is more aggressive. It can create blockers, but they don't get lifelink, and her other ability is a buff that can't work on defense. Both of their ults are pretty brutal, though Knight-Errant's doesn't require much of any build-around for, while Archangel's does.
Elspeth returns for a second time. Vulkan: "You only died twice?"
I think we are going to find out that New Capenna a remnant of Serra's Realm where the city was the only thing that survived the Phyrexian Invasion after Urza legged it and compressed the plane into the Weatherlite's power core.
I love angels and always really liked Elspeth so this is kinda a dream card? Seems like it might not be great power wise atm but even if it is bad I would still run it!.
Serra and Elspeth back. Yay
Definitely was surprised that this wasn't a little better. Would have been cool to give her flash for flavor but maybe they thought that would be too close to the Wandering Emperor.
I knew she was gonna ascend to Angel hood. I wish the card itself had a better + and - ability but the ultimate is wildly good. I love the art on the card though.
Gisa and Geralf kicked ass too!
"In blackest day or brightest night, watermelon, cantaloupe, yadda yadda, a superstitious and cowardly lot, with liberty and justice for all!" - Canto DD😜
So... actually, proliferate has been a big thing last few sets. Same with soldiers and solider tokens. As it is, I'd love to see just how she will interact with lots of 3 CMC things and boosting up champions and tokens. Well, that and Angel and Solider tribal.
Probably too many pieces. I don't know how you're reliably proliferating, filling up the graveyard and finding your 4 drop, and you're vulnerable to hate on at least 3 axes. You can get your graveyard exiled, they can blow her up, they can wipe the board afterwards. Farewell in particular ruins that combo.
The art in the double masters crucible is of Serra actively making Serra's Sanctum and I lost my shit when I saw the card get spoiled and realized what it depicted. The Song of All is a song recited by her angels and has over 1000 cantos or some shit. Honestly this all feels like a cop out but I got the impression about 10 years ago that Elspeth was either Serra's daughter or at least a descendent but im still surprised they actually tied the two together. Hype for the first angel walker finally ive been wanting one forever.
Thank god. We were all so concerned about white in standard not having access to fantastic planeswalkers.
I totally want to see MTG movies!
I would have expected a 7 or 8 drop finisher type planeswalker. Like Kaya is now except maybe not bad.
It defends itself, allows attack, only with the first 2 skills it levels the table.
And that ultimate combo ability...
She makes me think of Oko. Make token and then turn that token into a beater. Thought Oko also costed less, could "remove" things and had a stupid amount of loyalty.
4:30 battle art?
I love this card. I have loved (and purchased) every elspeth printing. Knight errant was one of the first 5 mythics I ever opened and she was in all of my decks. This new version is maybe 2% better, but I will cherish it. Kind of wish she had been maybe cmc 3. WWW, or WW1. Oh well.
My main commander is Odric lunarch marshal and this slaps pretty hard in that so im good with this, I mean if it was stronger that would be nice but ill take it
I like her for my Heliod Sun-Crowned deck, but I'm a little bummed she doesn't really go in my Avacyn angel deck nor does she seem to go in a Giada deck
I am gonna play her in standard and put it in my monowhite walkers edh deck
The funny thing is that she sinergyzes well with Elesh Norn and the white Phyrexian god's cards...
The killing of Urabrask is unacceptable
Long Live The King
I find it odd that wizards created the technology to help with memory issues when granting cards permanent abilities (like flying) with the ability counters from Ikoria but then never reused it at opportune moments like they could have here.
The two +1/+1 counters serve the same function as a visual marker. They must feel it's ultimately more convenient to have only one type of counter then to put three counters of two different types on.
Just buy winged dice, duh
I agree that her card should have been more pushed.
Please do videos on recent magic lore, I would love that
The only strict upgrade I see is the first ability. The impact of the ultimate depends on what your deck does. For the second ability I still prefer the OG Elspeth since it is a +1 effect. The new one giving a "serra's embrace" for -2 is a bit over costed, compared to the OG Elspeth, I think.
This gives another target for Book of Exalted Deeds and any man land.
The card is a bit meh until the Wandering Emperor rotates, but damn if the story hasn't been significantly better than the War of the Spark stuff.
Elspeth might be the strongest living (free) planeswalkers now, you’re right the card should have been stronger
Welp, found a new new planeswalker for my Ajani's Pridemate lifegain deck
Elspeth was always an angel though, dormant but she was always an angel. Just like Giada, whom she shares a homeplane with (Capenna)
No, angels are manifestations of White mana, not naturally-born lifeforms. As such, they cannot have planeswalker sparks. Elspeth is a human that got turned into an angel by the blessing of Serra, similar to how the human planeswalker Ob Nixilis got turned into a demon by attempting to use the Chain Veil.
Elspeth stabbing Norn needs to be on a Deicide reprint.
But Adder, I hear you say, Norn isn't an enchantment or a god.
MayO direct your attention to March of the Machine Jin-Gitaxis.
I am betting Norn in this set flips to a Theros style god.
I. Love. This.
I think Arcangel Elspeth is going to be one of those cards that is both enjoyable to play with and against. I can see the angel lifegain style players going nuts for this.
So this is the god-like super saiyan elspeth card? A 2014 monowhite boring planeswalker? Expected waaaaaaay more
Would’ve liked her to have a board wipe or something given that she had it on Theros, and this is her literal deus ex machina moment.
I’m just waiting for wrenn and realmbreaker honestly
this card will go into Mono White and soldiers so well... VERY EXCITED
Does not go well in the decks I play after being so excited for Angel Elspeth. No longer excited.
How many times has Elspeth been reborn or received random power ups?
Reborn? Twice? Random power up? This one time, if you count this as random.
I wouldn't though. Feels earned, and set up.
Personal head cannon is that she and the angels on Cappena are Serra angels created to help defend the plain during the original invasion of it. That’s why Serra shows up to aid her. Does it make sense, probably not. Is there evidence, no not really, but I think it’s a fun harmless theory
Elspeth’s Clunge. Numbered cards, 1 thru 69
I really wish the -2 gave 3 +1/+1 counters, then it would turn the soldiers into serra angel sized creatures, just with lifelink instead of vigilance. And for slightly selfish reasons it would turn Jetmir into a 11 power double striking creature instead of 10 when you have the requisite 9 creatures for Jetmir. That breakpoint is really big for commander damage.
The funny thing is how this makes The Book Of Exalted Deeds combo available in pioneer.
Book combo is already available in Pioneer due to Mutavault.
@@TheOnionKnight1 at least as a somewhat competitive deck anyway. Book combo really needed a second Mutavault.
@@satansamael666 So what's the combo with elspeth I'm missing? making another creature into an angel?
@@TheOnionKnight1 pretty much. It’s just added on redundancy really.
Really, really like the card. Great art. It's fair. It's flavourful. The power/push that feels like it's missing will almost certainly be covered by spells yet to be spoiled. Or perhaps by the future meta lol
Also, my expected standard for protagonists finally getting printed is still the eternally disappointing Gerrard Capashen lol, so let's say the bar is looooow for me
A good missed opportunity for a flavorful passive would have been : “can’t be attacked or damaged by creatures without flying during combat” to showcase that she’s an angel too.
Thank God you are not in charge of card design.
@@cooljoe500 Yeah, that's flavorful but it also renders her damn near unkillable in a lot of scenarios. Flying creatures are not nearly as common as people seem to think they are, flying is rarely incidental.
“Elesh Norn finally gets a sword”
Are you going to make a video about 40k 10e
She may be the next Gideon, Ally of Zendikar
I think this card is a bit better than people are giving it credit for. The amount of proliferate in this standard lets you get to that ultimate pretty easily and it pluses on making a blocker for itself that helps keep your life high enough for you to survive until you combo off. The real problem is you would need to build the deck around setting off that ult for a big swing as your main gameplan
I know normally you shouldn't evaluate them based on their ult, but this ultimate is very achievable compared to some at least in 1v1 formats
I think she should have been a four ability planeswalker.
the whole bit was kind of confusing. I know Serra took the form of different people but I got the impression that Serra is somehow related to Elspeth? I really want to know more about that bit there.
Wish it was three white to cast, might make it a more modern playable
My God-Eternal Oketra deck is def a fan of all those abilities......but its def a mid walker.
I wish both of her abilities were +1.
Even fluffier callback to her first planeswalker card, and a bit more powerful.
If only white had proliferate.
I agree.
Only one problem. Reprint the reserve list!!! Hear hear!!!
Elspeth stabbing Elsh Norn feels like a Defiant Strike
Sailor Elspeth stabbing Queen Elesh Norn.
It’s not her first time. See Deicide.
Maybe if her +1 was was create two 1/1 soldier tokens it would be an improvement without going overboard but you have to be careful she is not too overpowered.
Yea, right now if you drop her on an empty board she's not that scary and if you're behind on board she doesn't do much since she can't remove anything.
3:27 before the story articles today I'd have this perspective, that Elspeth should be ridiculously powerful (even with a high cost), but my mind is changed.
In Chapter 7, Elspeth *doesn't* just instantly turn the tide. She's strong, and at first Norn's attacks just bounce off her, but at one point she literally hangs Elspeth upside down from her feet and restrains her new wings. Elspeth doesn't even kill Norn when she stabs her through the chest. Becoming an angel didn't fix all their problems - it's a power up, but not a godmode one.
So this walker is decently powerful given how she's represented in story imo.
Except it's kinda just weaker than Sun's Champion and Sun's Nemesis. Hard to be worse than Resplendent though
Limited BOMB BABEEEE
Elspeth isn't as exciting as I hoped
Just a solid card. 4 mana is not much.
I'm already planning a spot for this in my Raffine reanimator combat trix deck. Another Ascend from Avernus/Teshar/Patch Up type effect is never refused 😁
Serra is not a Angel but a Angel like being. Like her aura and feel is like her.
I dont think the plane where New Capenna is, was ever revealed. I believe this is because the plane is, in fact, Serra's Realm.
It can’t be New Capenna because we know what happened to Serra’s realm, itwas miniaturised and used to power the Waetherlight
Equip Elspeth with Luxior and -2 on herself. Use Elspeth to beat face.
Honestly, all this could be solved by a better ult, add "destroy all nonland permanents your opponents control with power 4 or greater, remove all poison counters from all players" she would feel so much more awesome.
Mtg is literally pulling an endgame
“All those people died? No I saved them with time travel”
I think the opinion that "she's boring" or "she's disappointing" stems from all the extra words we've been getting on cards lately. We've gone from complaining about so many words to now being disappointed when they don't.
And I think people are undervaluing her because of that. 4 Mana for a free 1/1 every turn is already very close to playable for standard. Add in lifelink, a mode that kills walkers (and permanently impacts the board), and I think she's more than pushed for standard purposes. Heck, I even think there's potential for her in explorer/pioneer if the right home exists (basically her power level is enough, just a matter of finding a deck). She's unlikely to be powerful enough for non-standard formats to *make* a deck exist just on her own, though, and I sometimes think that's how people try to assess things (and probably what they wanted from her). But being a workhorse for other formats and a standard all-star seems pretty good on a card for me.