Top 10 Best Planeswalkers in MTG

Who can planeswalk the walk and talk the talk?

Planeswalkers were first introduced to Magic in Lorwyn, back in 2007. Just like the new card frame, double-faced cards, foils, the introduction of Standard and deck construction rules, they are one of the things that is supposed to have killed Magic. With almost 300 planeswalker cards printed, that death surely must be coming any day now, especially as more and more planeswalker cards are printed every set, right? In truth, planeswalkers have become a huge part of the game, represented in decks of all kinds, and some of them have risen to the top as the best planeswalkers ever. 

10. Teferi, Hero of Dominaria

Dominaria | Mythic

Market Price: $27.00

A multiformat all-star, Teferi, Hero of Dominaria is everything that a control deck wants. He draws cards, he removes permanents and has an ultimate that will lock down and win a game. This card was incredible during its stint in Standard and has now found new homes in Pioneer and Modern, where it’s one of the premier late-game threats in white-blue-based control. This five-mana planeswalker costs an effective three when it resolves – giving you mana back to hold up protective countermagic – and when unanswered, will absolutely bury an opponent in card advantage before exiling all their permanents. Not to mention you can’t lose to an empty library with a Teferi, as you can just keep using the -3 to retuck it each turn.

9. Narset, Parter of Veils

War Of The Spark | Uncommon

It takes a lot for a card to get restricted in Vintage, but Narset, Parter of Veils is so oppressive in that format in particular that you can only play one copy. The double-Impulse effect is nice, but the real kicker is shutting down opposing card draw while being up two cards yourself. Even after years and years of playing with and against this card, players all around the world still try to draw extra cards into her passive ability, and she remains a big part of control decks in Pioneer alongside Teferi, Hero of Dominaria as a source of card advantage and disruption against other blue decks. 

8. Nicol Bolas, the Ravager

Core Set 2019 | Mythic

Market Price: $24.41

Planeswalkers don’t get a lot of love in EDH. They’re so much worse in a format where there are three hostile combat steps between activations rather than one, as it’s so much easier to get them off the table. Nonetheless, Nicol Bolas, the Ravager has flourished as one of the most popular Grixis commanders. Despite not being a planeswalker at first, the instant three-for-zero his 4/4 side offers can be absolutely brutal, and then as the game goes longer, Grixis mages can rely on his planeswalker side for card advantage, removal, reanimation and an extremely sweet “draw your last pathetic card” ultimate, just to really rub it in. 

7. Karn Liberated

Double Masters | Mythic

Market Price: $13.81

Karn Liberated is one of the scariest planeswalkers ever printed, principally because you most often have to deal with him on turn three. Any seven-drop is going to punch above its weight when consistently deployed that early, and that’s what Tron decks are all about. Tron isn’t the Tier 1 menace in Modern that it used to be, but it’s still around, still spewing out turn-three Karns, still exiling permanents before opponents have a chance to get in the game. Until a better colorless seven-drop is printed, Tron decks will keep Karning people out – somehow, they just always have it.  

6. The Wandering Emperor

Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty | Mythic

Market Price: $22.62

A recent addition to the best-of-all-time lists, The Wandering Emperor has swiftly risen through the ranks to showcase her power as one of the premier utility planeswalkers available to control and midrange decks. With a combination of disruption and defensive 2/2s, The Wandering Emperor does a great job of managing the board in earlier turns, gaining life, removing key attackers and blocking others with tokens. Then, as the game continues, you can switch gears and use The Wandering Emperor more offensively, beefing up her 2/2s and sending them across the board you’ve been managing so effectively. And all this at instant speed – perfect for any deck looking to keep its options open each turn!

5. Liliana of the Veil

Dominaria United | Mythic

Market Price: $17.64

A freshly-reprinted classic, Liliana of the Veil has not only been around for a long time but also has remained towards the top of lists like these throughout her entire career. She may have been the second-best planeswalker ever for a long while there, when Boomer Jund reigned supreme in Modern, but more recent offerings have seen her slide down the rankings a little bit. Still, you can’t deny her power, her ability to lock people out of games with her discard and sacrifice abilities, and if left unanswered, her ultimate comes around really quickly. As a new generation of Standard players are learning, you underestimate Liliana of the Veil at your own peril. 

4. Wrenn and Six

Double Masters 2022 | Mythic

Market Price: $49.54

Not many cards have been banned in Legacy but not in Modern, but Wrenn and Six is amongst that elite crew. It turns out that Wrenn and Six recurring Wasteland is just a little too good, and so now Wrenn hangs out in Modern, recurring fetchlands and Horizon Canopy lands while also dealing with pesky little X/1s. Wrenn and Six used to be one of the best cards in the entire format, and while the steady march of progress and power creep has diminished its presence a little bit, you’ll still find this card in plenty of decks, pinging creatures, buying back lands and providing a ton of value. 

3. Jace, the Mind Sculptor

Double Masters | Mythic

Market Price: $34.31

I find it hard to believe we live in a world where Jace, the Mind Sculptor isn’t one of the most-played planeswalkers across blue-based control decks. For years and years, this card was so good, widely seen as the very best planeswalker and one of the best cards ever printed. Jace broke Standard in half back in the Caw-Blade era, defined slower Legacy decks, was banned from Modern for years, and now… I mean, he still sees play, here and there, but he has not lived up to his former reputation as the greatest of all time. Still, you’ve got to respect the classics, and a decade or so of being at the top means it’ll be a long time before Jace, the Mind Sculptor isn’t included in lists like these. 

2. Teferi, Time Raveler

War Of The Spark | Rare

Market Price: $13.19

One of the most oppressive and frustrating cards to play against, Teferi, Time Raveler sees widespread play in Modern and even makes a cameo in Legacy every now and again. This card is brutal – shutting down opposing countermagic and instant-speed interaction, making your counterspells unanswerable, while still bouncing threats and drawing cards all the while. Teferi is played in all sorts of decks, from control to midrange to combo, because he’s simply too good not to play. He doesn’t encourage interactive gameplay (let alone fun gameplay), but you can’t deny that Teferi, Time Raveler is one of the most powerful planeswalkers ever printed. 

1. Oko, Thief of Crowns

Throne Of Eldraine | Mythic

Market Price: $16.86

When it comes to the best planeswalker ever printed, there can be no debate. Sometimes a card will come along and break a format in half – we’ve all seen that happen – but Oko just about broke Magic itself in half. Cheap cost, high loyalty, punishing disruption, ongoing value – Oko did it all, and Food decks dominated competitive Magic of all kinds while he was around. 69 percent of decks at Mythic Championship VI played Oko, and not long afterwards he was banned not just in Standard, but Modern and Legacy as well. Today, Oko is consigned to fringe play in EDH and Vintage, but this is a card that found its place amongst the greatest of all time in record speed as the best planeswalker ever printed.