Elspeth, the Returned
Custom Cards forum
Posted on Oct. 18, 2018, 9:47 p.m. by DemonDragonJ
Elspeth was last seen when Heliod killed her, but death is not necessarily the end of a sentient being's existence on Theros, so I believe that it is perfectly feasible that Elspeth may appear again as a returned, a special type of zombie unique to Theros, and this is my conception of what she may be:
Elspeth, the Returned Show
Second, I gave her 4 power and tougnness because every planeswalker card of her has 4 starting loyalty. I gave her first strike and lifelink, and contemplated giving her deathtouch, but decided that that would make her too powerful.
Third, since every version of her thus far generates tokens, I made this version generate tokens, as well; I considered requiring her to be tapped to use that ability, but then decided that it would not be too powerful if she did not need to be tapped.
Fourth, because two versions of her destroy creatures, I gave this version the ability to destroy creatures, as well, but slightly different from previous two abilities.
What does everyone else say about this card? Did I do a good job with it?
loricatuslupus says... #3
Yep nice idea but I second the above comment. The cost isn't wrong for a board wipe, but this one is repeatable and one-sided. As you're already in black -the colour of reanimation - why not just go with "destroy all non-token creatures"? This fits with the idea of her sacrificing herself to protect others and there would be plenty of ways to get her back from y the graveyard, especially now that she's a creature rather than a walker. I agree that the regeneration clause seems irrelevant too, and losing it would leave room for delicious flavour text! But definitely looking forward to the inevitable Return to Theros set.
October 19, 2018 2:09 a.m.
I personally do not like that she makes 1/1 zombie knight tokens. Both knight and zombie tokens are traditionally 2/2. Plus, she does not tap for her first ability, which is super strong.
Maybe make her a flipwalker - if she does come back in the story, I doubt she will be dead for long - someone will rescue her.
October 19, 2018 3:19 a.m.
Or keeping with the token generation, destroy all other non token creatures and put x, 1/1 tokens into play equal to the number of creatures that died.
October 19, 2018 4:26 a.m.
ZorrosRage says... #6
almost positive she will come back the promo elspeth knight errant from the Guilds of Ravnica: Mythic Edition shows her holding her mask. I do not know the lore very well but I think she would still need to get her spark back to become a walker again so a flip walker might be interesting and in the story have her getting the spark back.
I hope we see her again soon.
October 19, 2018 7:49 a.m.
JANKYARD_DOG says... #7
Gods being gods, I think she would come back in her full, human planeswalker glory. Only W/B... and with some sort of contract, A deal made with a God story wise.
And her abilities are already pretty spot on for W/B... tokens, board wipe, keyword abilities for said tokens/masses.. they could just be slightly different like
Cmc 3WB Loyalty 5 (most of her previous versions are 4, but we can assume she'll return more powerful)
+1 - make a 2/2 Zombie Knight with Menace
-4 - Exile non token creatures
-8 - emblem: creatures you control have Doublestrike, Deathtouch, and Lifelink
October 19, 2018 8:01 a.m.
Suns_Champion says... #8
A powerful creature for sure, but flavor-wise I am not a fan.
I'm a big advocate for pushing design space and stretching the limits of the color pie. I like seeing new things.
I like the choice to make her a creature, and the 4/4 flavor part!
What I don't like is this: Her Planeswalker iterations have historically cared about soldier tokens and boardwipes, as you say. So why would we want to see that again? Shouldn't we try something different?
Elspeth is now an Undead, Non-Planeswalker human. How has that changed her? How would she be different? I'd think that'd be a huge personality change and her abilities should reflect that.
Additionally, why does she care about Knights and not Soldiers now? How is she able to summon Zombies? Did she gain necromantic powers just by being returned herself?
Last piece of advice, and this is just my opinion, but don't worry about the keywords. Make cool and pushed abilities instead. Much more interesting and they never feel "tacked on" if you know what I mean.
Those are my thoughts anyways! I hope she does return, as obviously, she's one of my favorite characters. Hope Daxos is there too.
October 19, 2018 8:49 a.m.
And that funerary mask is made from the Godsend (notice the shiny gems)
October 19, 2018 9:14 a.m.
maybe the last ability being to "sacrifice" all other creatures with converted mana cost 4 or greater to nod to both a bit more? Specifically thinking about Reprisal and Geth's Verdict.
October 19, 2018 2:36 p.m.
DemonDragonJ says... #11
Boza, I meant for them to be zombie soldier tokens, but I made a mistake when I was typing, so I have now fixed it.
October 20, 2018 9:41 a.m.
DemonDragonJ says... #12
I also removed first strike from the tokens, since neither soldier nor zombie tokens usually have first strike (or any abilities, at all).
ERoss8 says... #2
Nice take on something Wizards will almost certainly come back to, whether through a return to Theros or a core set. As you mentioned, death on Theros is very different from death elsewhere in the multiverse, and her mythic edition printing shows shows that WotC hasn’t forgotten about her. I think the last ability might be a tad underpriced for the ability to repeatedly blow up your opponents board, and I think the “can’t be regenerated” clause is useless for modern design (as regeneration has been phased out for complication). But overall it seems great!
October 18, 2018 10:05 p.m.