Ultimate (Planeswalker Ability)

Ultimate (Planeswalker Ability) is the strongest loyalty ability on a planeswalker, usually a high minus cost that produces a game-changing effect. Players call it the ultimate because it often wins the game or swings it hard in the owner’s favour.

Planeswalkers use loyalty counters as a resource. Plus abilities build loyalty, minus abilities spend it, and the ultimate is normally the biggest spend, so the planeswalker has to reach a high loyalty first.

How Ultimates Work

A planeswalker enters with a set number of loyalty counters. Each turn, at sorcery speed, you may activate one loyalty ability, adding or removing counters as shown on the card.

To use the ultimate, the planeswalker must have at least as many counters as its cost. That usually takes several turns of building up, which gives the opponent time to attack the planeswalker.

Ultimates and Strategy

Ultimates reward protection. You need a board that stops the opponent attacking your planeswalker, so planeswalkers are strong in control decks that stabilise the game.

Not every ultimate is worth chasing. Sometimes a planeswalker is more useful using its smaller abilities each turn, and winning through the ultimate is a bonus.