Elspeth, Undaunted Hero MTG Card
2020-01-24 - Number 270
2020-09-26 - Number THB-270
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Mythic |
| Type | Legendary Planeswalker — Elspeth |
| Loyalty | 5 |
Text of card
+2: Put a +1/+1 counter on each of up to two target creatures. −2: Search your library and/or graveyard for a card named Sunlit Hoplite and put it onto the battlefield. If you search your library this way, shuffle it. −8: Until end of turn, creatures you control gain flying and get +X/+X, where X is your devotion to white.
Cards like Elspeth, Undaunted Hero
Elspeth, Undaunted Hero redefines the power of planeswalkers in players’ decks by delivering a blend of potent abilities. Compared to other planeswalkers, such as Ajani Steadfast, both cards share a synergy with boosting creatures. While Ajani also increases stats and adds vigilance with his +1, Elspeth’s +2 takes things further, providing a significant buff to two targets. This makes her a formidable force in any deck focusing on creature dominance.
Akin to Elspeth, Gideon, Ally of Zendikar offers a versatile approach on the battlefield. Gideon’s ability to become an indestructible creature sets him apart, while Elspeth’s ability lies in creating loyal soldiers to defend or attack. However, her ultimate ability to provide an emblem with an enduring bonus is where Elspeth shines, outpacing Gideon’s once-off effect.
In the realm of white planeswalkers, Elspeth, Undaunted Hero stands tall. Her kit complements a variety of strategies, differs from other similar cards with her emphasis on bolstering creatures, and decisively casts a long shadow with her game-changing ultimate. For players seeking tactical advantage through creature enhancement and resilience, she is an undeniable asset in Magic: The Gathering.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Elspeth, Undaunted Hero shines by creating soldier tokens which bolster your army, representing a form of repeatable card advantage. This card provides continuous pressure and resources, allowing players to assert dominance on the board without depleting their hand.
Resource Acceleration: Elspeth’s plus ability helps ramp up your resources by granting a significant boost to your creatures’ power. This acceleration in board presence can quickly tip the scales in your favor, making it easier to control the flow of the game and enabling potential early wins.
Instant Speed: Although Elspeth is not an instant-speed spell, her ability to instantly create blockers can be a game-changer during combat. Furthermore, her ultimate ability can be a swift game-ending move, overwhelming opponents with an indestructible army when least expected.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Elspeth, Undaunted Hero requires a strategic approach as there is no direct discard involved, but her plus abilities demand a well-stocked battlefield. This can backfire if you lack creatures to bolster, reducing her impact.
Specific Mana Cost: Her casting requirement of two whites along with three additional mana can be a deckbuilding constraint. This specific mana combination necessitates a commitment to heavy white influence or a carefully balanced mana base in multicolored decks.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of five mana, Elspeth, Undaunted Hero can be considered quite costly. While her abilities are potent, in fast-paced games, investing five mana in a planeswalker may slow your tempo, particularly when more immediate threats or answers are needed on the battlefield.
Reasons to Include Elspeth, Undaunted Hero in Your Collection
Versatility: Elspeth, Undaunted Hero boasts a wide array of abilities that can adapt to various game situations. This Planeswalker can generate token creatures, buff your entire squad, and has an ultimate that can turn the tide of any game, making her a solid inclusion in multiple deck archetypes.
Combo Potential: This card has excellent synergy with cards that capitalize on loyalty counters or benefit from having multiple creatures on the field. Her ability to swiftly create Soldier tokens can be exploited for combo strategies, especially in token-centric decks or those that utilize proliferate mechanics.
Meta-Relevance: In a constantly shifting MTG environment, having a Planeswalker like Elspeth can prove invaluable. Her abilities provide resilience against control decks and can hold her ground in the mid to late game. Her ultimate ability can be a game-ender in the right circumstances, cementing her status as a card to watch within the current meta.
How to beat
Elspeth, Undaunted Hero brings a solid presence to the battlefield with her ability to buff creatures and generate tokens. Unlike other planeswalkers who might have built-in mechanisms for protection or card advantage, Elspeth relies on her second ability to create a defensive line with 2/2 Knight tokens, which can be a key strategy to maintaining board control.
Overcoming Elspeth involves two main tactics: Direct damage and strategic blocking. Using spells that can deal damage to Elspeth directly, such as Lightning Bolt, can whittle down her loyalty counters quickly. Additionally, employing creatures with flying or trample can bypass the Knight tokens and apply pressure directly to her. Board wipes are also effective, as they can clear out the tokens and leave her vulnerable.
Lastly, disrupting the synergy Elspeth creates is crucial. It’s beneficial to remove creatures that would get buffed by her plus one ability or to counter key spells that would accelerate the deployment of her ultimate. By staying on top of these strategies, you can effectively manage and eventually defeat Elspeth, Undaunted Hero in your game.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Elspeth, Undaunted Hero MTG card by a specific set like Theros Beyond Death and The List, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.
For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.
Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.
Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Elspeth, Undaunted Hero and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
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- MTG Mint Card
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Printings
The Elspeth, Undaunted Hero Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2020-01-24 and 2020-01-24. Illustrated by Steven Belledin.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2020-01-24 | Theros Beyond Death | THB | 270 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Steven Belledin | |
| 2 | The List | PLST | THB-270 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Steven Belledin |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Elspeth, Undaunted Hero has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Elspeth, Undaunted Hero card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2020-01-24 | Colorless and generic mana symbols (, , , , , and so on) in mana costs of permanents you control don’t count toward your devotion to any color. |
| 2020-01-24 | Elspeth’s last ability affects only creatures you control at the time it resolves. Creatures you begin to control later in the turn won’t get +X/+X or gain flying. |
| 2020-01-24 | Hybrid mana symbols, monocolored hybrid mana symbols, and Phyrexian mana symbols do count toward your devotion to their color(s). |
| 2020-01-24 | If an activated ability or triggered ability has an effect that depends on your devotion to a color, you count the number of mana symbols of that color among the mana costs of permanents you control as the ability resolves. The permanent with that ability will be counted if it’s still on the battlefield at that time. |
| 2020-01-24 | If you put an Aura on an opponent’s permanent, you still control the Aura, and mana symbols in its mana cost count towards your devotion. |
| 2020-01-24 | Mana symbols in the text boxes of permanents you control don’t count toward your devotion to any color. |
| 2020-01-24 | The value of X is determined only as Elspeth’s last ability resolves. Once that happens, the value of X won’t change later in the turn even if your devotion to white changes. |