[Question 35] Planeswalkers in Legacy

[Bardo]

How do you guys feel about planeswalkers? And besides flavour; what about viability of these cards in Legacy?

For something a little more specific, here are the spoiled SoA Planeswalkers

Elspeth, Knight Errant; 2WW
[+1]: Put a 1/1 white Soldier creature token into play.
[+1]: Target creature gets +3/+3 and gains flying until end of turn.
[-8]: For the rest of the game, artifacts, creatures, enchantments, and lands you control are indestructible.
Loyalty: 4

Tezzeret the Seeker; 3UU
[+1]: Untap up to two target artifacts.
[-X]: Search your library for an artifact card with converted mana cost X or less and put it into play. Then shuffle your library.
[-5]: Artifacts you control become 5/5 artifact creatures until end of turn.
Loyalty: 4

Ajani Vengeant; 2RW
[+1]: Target permanent doesn't untap during its controller's next untap step.
[-2]: Ajani Vengeant deals 3 damage to target creature or player and you gain 3 life.
[-7]: Destroy all lands target player controls.
Loyalty: 3

Sarkhan Vol; 2RG
[+1]: Creatures you control get +1/+1 and gain haste until end of turn.
[-2]: Gain control of target creature until end of turn. Untap that creature. It gains haste until end of turn.
[-6]: Put five 4/4 red Dragon creature tokens with flying into play.
Loyalty: 4

Do you think any of these cards, or those in Lorwyn, are viable in Legacy over the long run? Do you intend to test any out in the deck you're playing?

[Peter_Rotten]

At first, I ignored the Planeswalkers as gimicky nonsense; however, after seeing them in action, I've realized that they can be pretty damn powerful in certain decks and in certain situations.

I actually think that Ajani Goldmane may have turned out to be the most powerful (or maybe I should say the easist to fit into an existing deck) of the original 5 PWs. He slips into a Landstill SB so easily and provides such a whupping against Burn/Beat/GoyfSligh decks. In those specific matches, he provides - at worst - a double healing salve. The burn player will need at least two cards to kill him and then another to make up for the 2 gained life. That's not pretty. Add in the posibility of Decree tokens getting big and then an Avatar for the win, I think that Ajani is a great card for Landstill.

I haven't seen the other 4 originals used as successfully or fit into existing shells so seemlessly. I've Garruk played occasionally, but he has not been as impressive as Ajani in Landstill.

With the new PWs, I'm pretty sure that Tezz is nutty. Finding a cheap artifact every turn sounds damn good, no? Especially when we look at the typical Trinket Mage targets: Crypt, EE, Needle, Top. What also makes him at least decent is that his "big" ability is likely usuable next turn. Unfortuantely, he does not have a good existing deck to plop him into.

Elspeth is likely the worst of the new AND old PWs. His first ability is unimpressive. His second ability MAY have potential - Jumping your Giant Growth-ed critter doesn't seem that bad. But his last ability takes 5 turns to activate and is not too hot.

Me - HaHa! My 1/1 soldier token is indestructible!
You - hmm.. I'll cast Innocent Blood. Then - without passing priority, I'll cast Diabolic Edict. And then, because that ability sorta sucks, I'll StP the critter too.

New Ajani hardly seems impressive either. The second ability may have promise, but first nor the last do much for me. Ooo... watch out. I'm gonna destroy your lands in five turns. Meh.

I'm most interested in Sarkhan and his second ability. I have delusions of somehow fitting him into GoyfSligh and stealing my opponent's Goyfs and Tombstalkers. However, in a format with so many token sweepers, I don't trust his last ability to do too much.

[SpatulaOfTheAges]

Elspeth is likely the worst of the new AND old PWs. His first ability is unimpressive. His second ability MAY have potential - Jumping your Giant Growth-ed critter doesn't seem that bad. But his last ability takes 5 turns to activate and is not too hot.

Elspeth is a she.

And I doubt she'll see Legacy play, but she may be viable in Standard or Extended.

Her last ability has potential with a sweeper heavy control deck like Obliterate, with her first ability providing chumpers to buy time.

[Sims]

I agree with Matt that Ajani and to a lesser extent Garruk have been the best two of the original 5 planeswalkers. I figured they'd suck and only really be part of the flavor of the story but those two proved me wrong and I'm surprised that outside of the "bastard child" Green Stompy shell that Garruk hasn't seen more play in Rock style or any other green based deck (prayhaps with Cradle) for the mana and tokens let alone the overrun. Ajani has been good for the reasons Matt stated, easily sliding into the sideboard of an already established control deck without much hassle and shoring up some of it's worse matchups, even if only buying a turn or two, really goes a long way against goyf sligh and burn/sligh variants.

Now, of the new planeswalkers, the only two I can see being played are Tezzeret and Sarkhan Vol. I already have a deck I want to put Sarkhan into and try him out, if you know, he wasn't already near Goyf priced on a lot of online pre-order stores. I think that he's actually a strong fit into Disruptive Zoo styled decks (G/R/b or G/R/w) that pack Goyf, Kirds/Nacatl's, Watchwolves and other small aggressive creatures... but also can easily Threaten your opposing goyf/dreadstalker/dreadnought and seal a victory the turn he comes into play. I really want to get my hands on at least two of these guys.

Tezzeret seems so obvious and broken but I think he'll actually be pretty fair. His casting cost is rather restrictive at 3UU, but when he hits play his ability to untap artifacts is rather outstanding. Producing multiple mana through artifact lands in an affinity or stax deck, tapping 3spheres and such on your upkeep to Tanglewires (!!!) and then being able to untap them to disrupt the opponent before your end step is rather nice... Yes, I just suggested he could possibly make Tanglewire playable again... okay probably not, but it's a thought. His tutoring ability is obviously pretty strong, as it can easily search up the game winning combo piece (Servant/Stone), more mana, a fatty if you have stifle in hand (nought), a 4/4 epochrasite, ravager to seal the game with disciples down, Trinispheres or other lock components to provide exactly the lock piece you need right when you need it, and then finishing off by turning your army into dudes ala Karn in old Welder Mud lists. I think he has a lot of potential but due to a prohibitive cost and range of decks he can be played in he's probably rather fair.