Elspeth costs four mana, two of them white, and enters the battlefield with four loyalty counters.
Elspeth has three abilities, two of which add a loyalty counter. This gives Elspeth a fearsome level of flexibility. Whichever method you take, you are steadily building towards her third ability.
The first ability puts a 1/1 white soldier token onto the battlefield. This token can be used to block, including attacks against Elspeth, giving her a level of immediate protection.
Alternatively the second ability grants a creature +3/+3 and flying until the end of turn. Used on that same soldier token and you have a quasi Serra Angel. Otherwise it can be used to boost an existing creature you control.
As both these abilities give a loyalty counter they can be used exclusively or in combination to boost your side, either steadily creating an army of soldiers or giving a boost to your existing creatures. Or create a soldier in one turn, and boos that soldier in the next.
Elspeth’s final ability grants you an emblem. Emblems are new to the game of magic and so far are exclusive to Planeswalker abilities. Emblems are effects that last for the rest of the game and cannot (as yet) be taken away from you. Sounds good? It gets better.
Elspeth gives you an emblem that says “for the rest of the game, artifacts, lands, creatures, and enchantments you control are indestructible. Indestructible. For the rest of the game. A very powerful effect. Remember this emblem remains even if Elspeth is removed from play, even if this happens while removing the eight counters required to activate the ability.
Veterans of the melee table will know this is not an automatic win, powerful though it is. Sacrifice effects and effects that reduce toughness, or exile a permanent all get around indestructibility. However the emblem protects most of your permanents from most effects that would harm them.
Managed well, Elspeth, Knight-Errant is a powerful and flexible Planeswalker that provides help to your creatures or creature new ones, while building towards an ultimate ability that will last for the rest of the game.
Verdict: Awesome. A deck built around Elspeth, Knight Errant will do well at the melee table, and in addition this card will boost a number of other decks that can use it.
Connections: Like Elspeth, Knight Errant? You may also like [Gideon Jura] [Venser, the Sojourner] [Garruk, Primal Hunter]
Don’t like Elspeth, Knight Errant? You may prefer [Tezzeret the Seeker] [Ajani Vengeant] [Chandra Ablaze]
