Arcane Foundry › Commanders › Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite
Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite
Legendary Creature — Phyrexian Praetor · {5}{W}{W} · White commander
Vigilance
Other creatures you control get +2/+2.
Creatures your opponents control get -2/-2.
Build an Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite deck →
What Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite actually does
Read off the card by the same engine the Forge and Analyzer use — this is the mechanical classification, not a summary.
- Static ability · anthemOther creatures you control get +2/+2.
- Static ability · hoserCreatures your opponents control get -2/-2.
- Keyword · vigilancevigilance
What an Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite deck wants
The plan the Forge derives for this commander: the roles it fills and how many of each.
- 16× A tax, lock or hoser aimed at the opponents — the deck's parity break
- 8× Keep a permanent you control alive through removal
- 17× Make creature tokens — a static anthem or a go-wide commander needs a board to be wide
- 5× Actually remove one problem permanent — preventing its damage is not removing it
- 1× Answer a whole board at once
- 9× Find the exact card the plan needs
- 7× Refill your hand
- 2× Keep a permanent you control alive through removal
- 11× Get ahead on mana
Best cards for Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite
Ranked by an engine that reads what each card does — its real cost, its delay and how reliably it works — rather than counting how often other people play it.
A tax, lock or hoser aimed at the opponents — the deck's parity break
- Grand Abolisher2 mana
- Authority of the Consuls1 mana
- Shadowspear1 mana
- Ghostly Prison3 mana
- Arcane Lighthouse0 mana
- Blind Obedience2 mana
- Drannith Magistrate2 mana
- Voice of Victory2 mana
Keep a permanent you control alive through removal
- Flowering of the White Tree2 mana
- Bastion Protector3 mana
- Greater Auramancy2 mana
- Codsworth, Handy Helper3 mana
- Cryptothrall4 mana
- Avacyn, Angel of Hope8 mana
- Lightning Greaves2 mana
- Swiftfoot Boots2 mana
Make creature tokens — a static anthem or a go-wide commander needs a board to be wide
- Dalkovan Encampment0 mana
- Elenda's Hierophant3 mana
- Hero of Bladehold4 mana
- Myrel, Shield of Argive4 mana
- Parhelion II // Parhelion II0 mana
- Trendy Circus Pirate0 mana
- Myr Battlesphere7 mana
- Champions from Beyond2 mana
Actually remove one problem permanent — preventing its damage is not removing it
- Path to Exile1 mana
- Swords to Plowshares1 mana
- March of Otherworldly Light1 mana
- Flicker of Fate2 mana
- Generous Gift3 mana
- Erode1 mana
- Getaway Glamer1 mana
- Unwanted Remake1 mana
Answer a whole board at once
- Final Showdown1 mana
- Vanquish the Horde8 mana
- Martyr's Cry2 mana
- Split Up3 mana
- Cathedral Membrane2 mana
- Citywide Bust3 mana
- Harsh Mercy3 mana
- Retribution of the Meek3 mana
Find the exact card the plan needs
- Open the Armory2 mana
- Enlightened Tutor1 mana
- Templar Knight2 mana
- Idyllic Tutor3 mana
- Ranger-Captain of Eos3 mana
- Loyal Tutor1 mana
- Recruiter of the Guard3 mana
- Search for Glory3 mana
Refill your hand
- Esper Sentinel1 mana
- Skullclamp1 mana
- Archivist of Oghma2 mana
- Smothering Tithe4 mana
- The One Ring4 mana
- Pip-Boy 30001 mana
- Vexing Bauble1 mana
- Caretaker's Talent3 mana
Keep a permanent you control alive through removal
- Flowering of the White Tree2 mana
- Bastion Protector3 mana
- Greater Auramancy2 mana
- Codsworth, Handy Helper3 mana
- Cryptothrall4 mana
- Avacyn, Angel of Hope8 mana
- Lightning Greaves2 mana
- Swiftfoot Boots2 mana
Get ahead on mana
- Chrome Mox0 mana
- Everflowing Chalice0 mana
- Mox Amber0 mana
- Mox Diamond0 mana
- Mox Opal0 mana
- Mana Vault1 mana
- Sol Ring1 mana
- Wayfarer's Bauble1 mana