So you've seen these flashy cards with characters like Chandra and Jace, and you're wondering how do planeswalkers work exactly? I remember when I first pulled a Liliana of the Veil from a booster pack back in 2012. I stared at it for ten minutes trying to figure out why it looked so different. That confusion led to some brutal game losses before I finally grasped their mechanics. Let's break this down so you don't repeat my mistakes.
The Absolute Basics of Planeswalker Mechanics
Planeswalkers are permanent cards that enter the battlefield with loyalty counters - think of these as their health and resource system combined. Unlike creatures, they don't attack or block directly, but they have game-changing abilities you activate by adding or removing loyalty counters. Here's the core of how planeswalkers work:
Loyalty 101: The number in the bottom right is their starting loyalty. When resolving planeswalker abilities, +X means add counters, -X means remove counters, and 0 means no change. You can activate one ability per turn, at sorcery speed (only during your main phase when the stack is empty).
Casting and Entering the Battlefield
You cast planeswalkers just like any other spell - pay mana cost, resolve, it enters with its printed loyalty counters. But here's where things get tricky: the "planeswalker uniqueness rule" is gone. Now you can have multiple planeswalkers of the same type if they have different names. Still, I've seen players get tripped up by this mid-game - it's worth double-checking current rules.
| Planeswalker Type | Example Card | Starting Loyalty | Key Abilities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aggro (Red/Green) | Domri, Anarch of Bolas | 3 | +1: Creature buff, -2: Fight ability |
| Control (Blue/White) | Teferi, Time Raveler | 4 | +1: Disrupt opponent, -3: Bounce permanent |
| Midrange (Black/Green) | Garruk, Cursed Huntsman | 5 | 0: Create tokens, -3: Destroy creature |
| Combo (Multi-color) | Oko, Thief of Crowns | 4 | +2: Transform artifacts, -5: Exchange control |
Advanced Interactions Every Player Must Know
Okay, let's move beyond basics. How do planeswalkers work when damage comes their way? Important: when players attack, they can redirect damage to your planeswalker instead of you. But here's a nuance - burn spells that say "target player" can also be redirected, while "any target" spells hit them directly.
Watch Out: I learned the hard way that abilities like Proliferate let you add extra loyalty counters! Got completely wrecked by a Teferi emblem because I ignored that interaction.
Loyalty Ability Breakdown
These abilities are categorized by cost patterns. Most planeswalkers follow this template:
- Plus Ability (+X): Gains loyalty, usually provides incremental advantage (card draw, token creation)
- Minus Ability (-X): Spends loyalty for stronger immediate effects (removal, board impact)
- Ultimate Ability (-X): High-cost game-winning effects (emblem generation)
Some planeswalkers break this pattern - like Ugin, the Spirit Dragon whose +2 exiles permanents. Those always feel risky to play since you're not building toward an ultimate.
Real Game Scenario: You have Chandra, Torch of Defiance at 4 loyalty. Opponent attacks with two 2/2 creatures. Do you:
- A) Use her +1 to ping a creature?
- B) Minus her to deal 4 damage to a creature?
- C) Take the damage and protect her?
I'd probably go with B if removing a threat saves her. But last week I misjudged and lost her next turn - still kicking myself for that.
Strategic Play: Making Planeswalkers Work For You
Understanding how planeswalkers work mechanically is half the battle. Using them effectively? That's where skill comes in. Your game plan changes dramatically based on these factors:
Protection Tactics
Planeswalkers are magnets for removal. I've developed three reliable protection methods:
- Creature Walls: Play cheap blockers like Grazer before dropping your walker
- Counter Backup: Hold up mana for Spell Pierce or Dovin's Veto
- Timing: Cast them post-wipe when opponents are tapped out
Honestly, nothing feels worse than tapping out for a 5-mana planeswalker just to eat immediate removal. Happened with my Elspeth last FNM - total waste of a turn.
Synergy Combos
Planeswalkers become insane when paired with specific cards. Some broken combos I've encountered:
| Planeswalker | Combo Piece | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Teferi, Hero of Dominaria | Wilderness Reclamation | Untap lands during end step for counterspells |
| Wrenn and Seven | Turntimber Symbiosis | Recycle lands repeatedly for massive treefolk tokens |
| Narset, Parter of Veils | Days Undoing | Lock opponents out of card draw completely |
Pro Timing Tip: Don't rush ultimates! I used to force them too early. Now I wait until I can protect the emblem - that Garruk ultimate means nothing if you die next turn.
Current Meta and Format Variations
How planeswalkers work changes across formats. In Commander:
- Can be attacked by any opponent
- Emblems affect all players (brutal with Nicol Bolas)
- Doubling Season makes ultimates immediately achievable
Meanwhile in Pioneer:
- Aggro decks pressure walkers heavily
- Lukka combo uses planeswalkers as cheat engines
- Control decks rely on walkers as win conditions
Modern has its own quirks - planeswalkers like Wrenn and Six get banned when they enable degenerate land strategies. Always check the banlist before building decks!
Power Ranking: Most Impactful Planeswalkers
| Rank | Planeswalker | Format Impact | Key Strength |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oko, Thief of Crowns | Banned everywhere | Broken transformation ability |
| 2 | Teferi, Hero of Dominaria | Pioneer/Historic | Card advantage + untap effect |
| 3 | Wrenn and Six | Modern (restricted) | Land recursion = constant value |
| 4 | Narset, Parter of Veils | Eternal formats | Asymmetrical draw suppression |
Planeswalker Rules FAQ
Can multiple planeswalkers be on the field?
Yes, since rules changed in 2017. You can have Jace, Mirror Mage and Jace, Wielder of Mysteries simultaneously. Before that, it was messy - you had to choose which to keep.
Do planeswalkers have summoning sickness?
Nope. Activate abilities immediately unless stated otherwise. I love slamming Vivien on turn 5 and using her minus immediately.
How does proliferate affect planeswalkers?
You can add loyalty counters! Crucial with Atraxa decks. Forgot this once against a superfriends deck - cost me the game.
Can I target my own planeswalker with damage spells?
Only if the spell says "any target" or "planeswalker." Otherwise, no. Tried burning my Chandra for loyalty once - judge corrected me real quick.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
After judging local tournaments for three years, I've seen every planeswalker error imaginable:
- Activating Before Resolving: Trying to use abilities while cast spell is on stack
- Multiple Activations: Using more than one loyalty ability per turn
- Ignoring Redirect Rules: Blocking creature attacks but forgetting burn spells
- Cost Miscalculation: Attempting minus ability without sufficient loyalty
My personal blunder: once activated Liliana's minus ability thinking I had 5 loyalty when I actually had 4. Instant death to state-based actions. Felt terrible.
When Things Go Wrong: Removal Methods
Dealing with enemy planeswalkers requires specific tools:
- Direct Damage: Lightning Bolt, Stomp
- Targeted Removal: Hero's Downfall, Dreadbore
- Board Wipes: Farewell (exiles them)
- Combat Damage: Swing with evasive creatures
- Counter Magic: Stop them entering battlefield
Currently running 4 Boseiju in my green decks just to handle pesky planeswalkers. That land has saved me countless times.
Closing Thoughts
Hope this clarifies exactly how do planeswalkers work in MTG. Their depth is what makes them fascinating - I've played for 15 years and still discover new interactions. Remember: protect them, time abilities wisely, and understand format nuances. Got questions? Hit me up at my LGS - usually jamming games every Friday night!