Hot on the heels of the release of Magic 2014 and the SDCC info dump for the upcoming Magic: The Gathering expansion, Theros, comes the first possible complete card spoiler for the set. The above image appears to originate from the GatheringMagic.com forums, posted by the user Wizard. If this pans out, things could get interesting.
Due to the blurry text, let me give you the full breakdown:
Elspeth Ascended
1WW
Planeswalker – Elspeth
Theros? Mythic RareLoyalty 4
+1: Target permanent you control gains protection from the color of your choice until your next turn.
-2: The owner of target nonland permanent shuffles it into his or her library, then draws two cards.
-7: Put a 6/6 white Spirit creature token with flying, lifelink, and protection from all colors onto the battlefield.Artist: Eric Deschamps
Trademark & Copyright 2013 Wizards of the Coast
9/249
Elspeth’s +1 is a pseudo Mother of Runes granted protection ability. -2 is straight up Oblation. Her ultimate continues to bring on the pain in the form of a pseudo indestructable 6/6 lifelinker with evasion. Iridescent Angel on steroids.
A 3 converted mana cost, 4 loyalty, planeswalker is pretty good. A +1 that can be used to protect itself, and a -2 that both doesn’t kill it, can provide card advantage, or be used to protect itself is also very good. This pushes the power level of a 3 cmc planeswalker quite a bit. Liliana had to sacrifice herself, and Jace gave everyone cards. While still dying to Abrupt Decay and some fat instant burn, she’s likely to be a 3 turn clock into a 4 turn clock — or a scoop. A 6/6 with evasion is all right, but when you slap on protection from all colors, and then lifelink, you’ve got a free attacker with the life gain to get you back in it if you’re on your way out. The only thing the token is missing is vigilance to make it a true power house. Still, dies to Ratchet Bomb.
But, let me level with you guys. This is an alleged leak, a rumor. At the end of the day, we’ve got a blurry card image originating from an Internet forum, and beyond that from an anonymous source. Is it real? It’s possible, but anything is possible with Photoshop and a blurry camera shot. The full art being used for this card was released during SDCC, so all the source material is there to fake it and all of the abilities come from things we’ve seen before. One of the most common ways to develop a fake planeswalker is to take three existing effects and slap ’em together.
We’ve reached out to Wizards of the Coast for further comment and will update if and when they reply. Until then, throw it in your deck, test it out, or make your own Elspeth Ascended. Take three random white cards and tape ’em together.
Elspeth the Random 3WW
Loyalty 5+1: Target creature gets +3/+3 and gains flying until end of turn.
-3: Put a 3/5 creature token with defender and flying onto the battlefield under your control.
-12: You get an emblem with “The next time a source of your choice would deal damage to you this turn, prevent that damage. You gain life equal to the damage prevented this way.”
You know, Angelic Blessing, Wall of Swords, Reverse Damage.
(via GatheringMagic user Wizard, featured image via Wizards of the Coast)
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