Elspeth, Sun's Champion — Magic: The Gathering card

Elspeth, Sun's Champion

{4}{W}{W}
Legendary Planeswalker — Elspeth

+1: Create three 1/1 white Soldier creature tokens.

−3: Destroy all creatures with power 4 or greater.

−7: You get an emblem with "Creatures you control get +2/+2 and have flying."

Set Murders at Karlov Manor Commander
Rarity Mythic Rare
Mana Value 6
Collector # 62

Why Play Elspeth, Sun's Champion

Elspeth excels as a midrange and control finisher that immediately impacts the board while providing long-term value. Her +1 ability creates three bodies that pressure planeswalkers, provide chump blockers, or enable go-wide strategies, making her relevant even when behind. The -3 ability serves as powerful removal against large threats while conveniently sparing your own tokens, allowing you to clear the way for attacks while maintaining board presence.

Format Notes

Commander sees the most play for Elspeth, where her token generation and board wipe ability shine in multiplayer games. In Pioneer and Modern, she occasionally appears in white-based midrange decks as a top-end threat, though her six-mana cost limits competitive viability in faster formats. Historic applications are similar to Pioneer, serving as a powerful but slow win condition in grindier matchups.

Combos & Synergies

Anthems like Intangible Virtue and Honor of the Pure transform her 1/1 tokens into genuine threats that pressure opponents effectively. Doubling Season creates an immediate ultimate activation, giving you a powerful emblem and three flying tokens to close games quickly. Cards like Anointed Procession double her token output, creating overwhelming board states that demand immediate answers from opponents.