Arcane Foundry › Commanders › Elminster
Elminster
Legendary Planeswalker — Elminster · {3}{W}{U} · Blue/White commander
Whenever you scry, the next instant or sorcery spell you cast this turn costs {X} less to cast, where X is the number of cards looked at while scrying this way.
+2: Draw a card, then scry 2.
−3: Exile the top card of your library. Create a number of 1/1 blue Faerie Dragon creature tokens with flying equal to that card's mana value.
Elminster can be your commander.
Build an Elminster deck →
What Elminster actually does
Read off the card by the same engine the Forge and Analyzer use — this is the mechanical classification, not a summary.
- Triggered ability · otherWhenever you scry, the next instant or sorcery spell you cast this turn costs {X} less to cast, where X is the number of cards looked at while scrying this way.
- Activated ability+2: Draw a card, then scry 2.
- Activated ability−3: Exile the top card of your library. Create a number of 1/1 blue Faerie Dragon creature tokens with flying equal to that card's mana value.
- Keyword · scryscry
What an Elminster deck wants
The plan the Forge derives for this commander: the roles it fills and how many of each.
- 16× A creature that HAS the keyword the commander's trigger counts — a card that merely says the word is not one
- 22× Instants and sorceries — for a magecraft/prowess commander the spell COUNT is the engine
- 4× A team pump that actually pumps tokens
- 12× 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
- 2× Answer a spell or ability before it resolves
- 9× Find the exact card the plan needs
- 7× Refill your hand
Best cards for Elminster
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 creature that HAS the keyword the commander's trigger counts — a card that merely says the word is not one
- Faerie Seer1 mana
- Charming Prince2 mana
- Syr Ginger, the Meal Ender2 mana
- Artificer's Assistant1 mana
- Ruin-Lurker Bat1 mana
- Silver Raven1 mana
- Wall of Runes1 mana
- Momo, Playful Pet1 mana
Instants and sorceries — for a magecraft/prowess commander the spell COUNT is the engine
- Pact of Negation0 mana
- An Offer You Can't Refuse1 mana
- Brainstorm1 mana
- Enlightened Tutor1 mana
- Mystical Tutor1 mana
- Opt1 mana
- Path to Exile1 mana
- Ponder1 mana
A team pump that actually pumps tokens
- Intangible Virtue2 mana
- Caretaker's Talent3 mana
- Inspiring Leader3 mana
- Prava of the Steel Legion3 mana
- Mite Overseer4 mana
- Temmet, Vizier of Naktamun2 mana
- Phantom General4 mana
- Nesting Grounds0 mana
Make creature tokens — a static anthem or a go-wide commander needs a board to be wide
- Chasm Skulker3 mana
- Dalkovan Encampment0 mana
- Elenda's Hierophant3 mana
- Kozilek's Unsealing3 mana
- Hero of Bladehold4 mana
- Myrel, Shield of Argive4 mana
- Parhelion II // Parhelion II0 mana
- Trendy Circus Pirate0 mana
Actually remove one problem permanent — preventing its damage is not removing it
- Path to Exile1 mana
- Swords to Plowshares1 mana
- Reality Shift2 mana
- Pongify1 mana
- Rapid Hybridization1 mana
- Resculpt2 mana
- March of Otherworldly Light1 mana
- Suspend1 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
- Displacement Wave2 mana
- Harsh Mercy3 mana
Answer a spell or ability before it resolves
- Pact of Negation0 mana
- Counterspell2 mana
- Three Steps Ahead1 mana
- Long River's Pull2 mana
- Force of Will5 mana
- Abjure1 mana
- Archmage's Charm3 mana
- Cancel3 mana
Find the exact card the plan needs
- Reshape2 mana
- Mask of the Mimic1 mana
- Long-Term Plans3 mana
- Open the Armory2 mana
- Whir of Invention3 mana
- Merchant Scroll2 mana
- Enlightened Tutor1 mana
- Mystical Tutor1 mana
Refill your hand
- Esper Sentinel1 mana
- Mystic Remora1 mana
- Skullclamp1 mana
- Curiosity1 mana
- Wizard Class1 mana
- Rhystic Study3 mana
- Archivist of Oghma2 mana
- Faerie Mastermind2 mana