Will Elesh Norn be banned in Commander?

Will Elesh Norn be banned in Commander?

The debate surrounding Elesh Norn, Mother of Machines, has been ongoing since her release in the latest set. As a powerful and versatile planeswalker, she has the potential to shake up the Commander format. In this article, we’ll delve into the current state of affairs and explore the possibility of her banning.

Current State of Affairs

Elesh Norn, Mother of Machines, is a 5-mana planeswalker with a plethora of abilities. Her +1 ability allows her to generate card advantage, while her -2 ability can be used to exile permanents and disrupt opponents’ plans. Her ultimate ability, meanwhile, can create an army of tokens, making her a formidable force on the battlefield.

Why Elesh Norn might be banned

There are several reasons why Elesh Norn might be banned in Commander:

• Card Advantage: Elesh Norn’s +1 ability allows her to generate card advantage, which can be a significant problem in Commander. With her ability to create tokens, she can also generate an advantage in terms of sheer numbers.
• Disruption: Her -2 ability can be used to exile permanents, which can severely disrupt opponents’ plans. This ability can be particularly problematic in a format where players are trying to build complex combos and strategies.
• Token Generation: Elesh Norn’s ultimate ability can create an army of tokens, which can overwhelm opponents and make it difficult for them to recover.

Why Elesh Norn might not be banned

However, there are also several reasons why Elesh Norn might not be banned in Commander:

• Balance: While Elesh Norn is certainly a powerful card, she is not necessarily unbalanced. Many players have found ways to counter her abilities and build decks that can successfully interact with her.
• Strategy: Elesh Norn’s abilities require a specific strategy to take advantage of. Players must build their decks around her abilities and create a plan to utilize her effectively. This requires a level of skill and game knowledge that not all players possess.
• Counterplay: There are already several cards in the format that can effectively counter Elesh Norn’s abilities. For example, cards like [[Teferi, Hero of Dominaria]] and [[Ashiok, Dream Render]] can help to mitigate the impact of her token generation.

Conclusion

While Elesh Norn, Mother of Machines, is certainly a powerful card, it’s unlikely that she will be banned in Commander. Her abilities require a specific strategy to take advantage of, and there are already several cards in the format that can effectively counter her. Additionally, the card advantage and disruption she generates can be mitigated by building decks that are designed to interact with her abilities.

Recommendations

If you’re considering building a deck around Elesh Norn, here are a few recommendations to keep in mind:

• Focus on token generation: Elesh Norn’s ultimate ability is her strongest, so focus on building a deck that can generate tokens quickly and efficiently.
• Use her +1 ability to generate card advantage: Elesh Norn’s +1 ability can generate card advantage, so use it to fuel your token generation and create a stronger board presence.
• Be prepared to interact with opponents: Elesh Norn’s abilities require a specific strategy to take advantage of, and you’ll need to be prepared to interact with opponents who are trying to counter your plan.

Table: Elesh Norn’s Abilities

Bulleted List: Tips for Building a Elesh Norn Deck

• Focus on token generation
• Use her +1 ability to generate card advantage
• Be prepared to interact with opponents
• Build a deck with a strong mid-game presence
• Use her -2 ability to disrupt opponents’ plans
• Create a plan to utilize her ultimate ability effectively