White is one of the most polarizing colors in MTG, and its planeswalkers are no exception – but today, we’ll concentrate on its most potent. So, then, what is the best MTG white planeswalker?
The best MTG white planeswalkers are those with helpful abilities at any point and can synchronize with several strategies. Cards like Elspeth, Knight-Errant, The Wandering Emperor, and Gideon, Ally of Zendikar, all can create tokens, buff your side, and answer an opponent’s threats.
While there’s no undisputed best white planeswalker, it is clear that there are at least a few strong contenders. This article will list them and explain why these cards are so effective. Not only that, but we’ll discuss their competitive performances and how to use them in your decks.
MTG White Planeswalkers
1. Gideon Jura
Gideon Jura is a card with a dominant nine Pro Tour and Worlds Top 8 finishes, and it’s easy to see why.
This white planeswalker is the ideal finisher for a slow-and-steady control deck. Entering with a massive amount of loyalty, Gideon Jura can draw attackers away from your life total and punish your opponent for using creatures.
Not only that, but Gideon Jura’s other abilities are just as intense. His -2 ability destroys a tapped creature, which combos excellently with his first ability forcing creatures to attack him.
But it’s his third ability – the 0-cost ultimate –that genuinely makes this Gideon planeswalker such a dangerous finisher. He can become a 6/6 Human Soldier that can’t take damage until the end of the turn.
So, after clearing your opponent’s board, Gideon Jura can swing in for victory.
2. Gideon, Ally Of Zendikar
Arguably the best of the Gideon planeswalkers, the Ally of Zendikar is a versatile midrange card with several essential abilities.
First, like all his other versions, the Ally of Zendikar can become a Human Soldier that takes no damage – and this version is indestructible to boot.
Second, Gideon, Ally of Zendikar, also plays excellently in creature decks. Especially during the Battle for Zendikar Standard, his ability to swarm the battlefield with 2/2 Knight Ally tokens is deadly. He can pump them, too, with his ultimate – an emblem giving all your creatures a permanent +1/+1.
It shouldn’t come as a surprise then that the Ally of Zendikar has an outstanding record of professional play, seeing use in nineteen Pro Tour and World Championship Top 8 finishes.
He’s also a popular choice for Ally Tribal in EDH.
3. Gideon Of The Trials
One of white’s most unique planeswalkers, Gideon of the Trials isn’t so much an aggressive attacker as he is a vital combo piece.
His third ability gives an emblem that stops you from losing the game as long as you control a Gideon planeswalker.
Combine that with his +1 ability that prevents all damage target permanent would deal until your next turn, and it’s effortless to stay alive. Firing off a Pact of Negation or Ad Nauseum becomes far less risky in these conditions.
Since his release in Amonkhet, Gideon of the Trials has quickly become a favorite of Historic decks looking to leverage his one-of-a-kind abilities.
These same abilities earned him a spot in a Top 8 deck in the 2017 World Magic Cup.
4. Elspeth, Knight-Errant
White’s answer to Jace the Mind Sculptor and Chandra, Torch of Defiance, the first version of Elspeth, is a Modern powerhouse.
The Knight-Errant has two excellent +1 abilities, creating chump blockers and giving a creature +3/+3 and flying until the end of the turn.
Together, these abilities make Elspeth, Knight-Errant, one of the most versatile planeswalkers in her color. Pro players knew this too and used the Knight-Errant in fourteen Pro Tour and Worlds Top 8 decks.
And that’s without even discussing her ultimate. Elspeth, Knight-Errant’s -8 ability makes all artifacts, creatures, enchantments, and lands you control indestructible. Good luck beating that.
5. Elspeth, Sun’s Champion
One of the few planeswalkers to define an entire format, Elspeth, Sun’s Champion, was the card to beat during Theros Standard, taking the entire podium at the 2015 World Championship.
Like her original incarnation, this Elspeth can create weenie armies and give them flying.
Unlike her Shards of Alara counterpart, the Sun’s Champion does everything scaled up to six mana value. Her +1 ability creates three 1/1 Soldier creature tokens, and her -7 gives your creatures +2/+2 and flying from an irremovable emblem.
Not only that, but she’s an excellent tool for controlling your opponent’s win conditions. Her -3 destroys all creatures with four or greater power. Few decks can stand up to this immense planeswalker.
6. Ajani Goldmane
Since his introduction in Lorwyn as one of the first-ever MTG planeswalkers, Ajani Goldmane has remained a powerful card.
While Goldmane’s first ability might be underwhelming now – only gaining you two life – its second has stood the test of time. Putting a +1/+1 counter on each creature you control and giving them vigilance isn’t to sniff at whatsoever.
Likewise, Ajani Goldmane has an impactful ultimate. He creates an avatar with power and toughness equal to your life total – putting all that life you gained with his +1 ability to good use.
No wonder pro players used this white planeswalker in five Pro Tour and Worlds Top 8 decks.
7. Ajani Steadfast
Unlike the other planeswalkers on this list so far, Ajani Steadfast only has one white mana in its casting cost.
So, it is far easier to slot into multicolor decks, especially on a budget. And why wouldn’t you? Steadfast has some of the most oppressive abilities of any white planeswalker.
His +1 ability gives a massive buff to one of your creatures, giving it +1/+1 and first strike, vigilance, and lifelink until the end of the turn. The second ability follows its power level, giving all your creatures a +1/+1 counter and all your other planeswalkers a loyalty counter.
Last but not least, his ultimate prevents almost all the damage coming your way. Together, these abilities make for a consistent, deadly card.
8. Ajani, Strength Of The Pride
A white planeswalker with decent Commander play – 2% of all EDHREC decks – Ajani, Strength of the Pride combines life gain and removal into one intimidating package.
For instance, this Ajani’s first ability gains you life equal to the number of creatures and planeswalkers you control.
The Strength of the Pride’s second ability creates an Ajani’s Pridemate creature token, which gets a +1/+1 counter whenever you gain life. In doing so, you get a protection ability and a helpful creature for only -2 loyalty.
This Ajani’s ultimate is no less impressive. It’s a 0-cost ultimate, too. Suppose you have fifteen or more life than your starting total.
In that case, you can exile Ajani and all artifacts and enchantments under opponents’ control. Talk about a board wipe!
9. The Wandering Emperor
A combat trick and a planeswalker, The Wandering Emperor, generates 2/2 vigilance Samurai tokens and gives your creatures +1/+1 counters and vigilance.
Not only that, but she can also exile tapped creatures and gain life.
The Wandering Emperor dominated the Neon Dynasty Championship – Alchemy, taking six of the Top 8 places. With those abilities at instant speed, it’s easy to see why.
Without a doubt, The Wandering Emperor is one of white’s most versatile and memorable planeswalkers. This four-mana flash card will make a definite impact and push your side closer to victory at any stage of the game.