The best white cards in Magic the Gathering are made up of healing and protection Instant and Sorcery spells, bold creatures like Angels, Knights, Soldiers, and scores of holy Enchantments, Auras, and Equipment.
Read on below, explore the very best white cards Wizards has to offer, you don’t want to miss out on this l33t white action!
Best White Planeswalkers
Ajani, Adversary of Tyrants
The legendary planeswalker, Ajani, Adversary of Tyrants is a Mythic Rare white card, and it is exactly what you want to see when you draw cards at the beginning of the game.
As far as mono white deck and most dual color decks that include white, Ajani is by far the most popular Planeswalker.
The three loyalty counter abilities for this card include:
- Add +1 loyalty counters and place a +1/+1 token on up to two target creatures
- Pay -2 loyalty counters and return a card with CMC 2 or less to the battlefield from your graveyard
- Pay -7 loyalty counters and gain the end step ability to create three 1/1 white Cat creature tokens that have lifelink
CMC: 4
Rarity: Mythic Rare
Gideon, Ally of Zendikar
The second Planeswalker on our list is Gideon, Ally of Zendikar, one of the best four mana white cards in the series. In fact, it is one of the best white mana cards ever created.
A Mythic Rare Planeswalker, he comes into play with four loyalty counters and three awesomely affordable activated abilities:
- Add +1 loyalty counters and
- Neither add nor pay any loyalty counters this turn and
- Pay 4 loyalty counters and receive an emblem that allows you to give creatures you control a +1/+1 boost to power and toughness
CMC: 4
Rarity: Mythic Rare
Elspeth, Knight-Errant
The Planeswalker Elspeth, Knight-Errant is next up on the list of best cards, and she’s a real heavy for the white mana type.
The Knight-Errant form is only one of Elspeth’s many forms, and fans love it. Even more, this white Planeswalker is one of few that have two +1 loyalty activated abilities.
Elspeth’s activated abilities with particular card are:
- Add +1 loyalty counter and place a 1/1 white Soldier onto the board under your control
- Add +1 loyalty counter and a creature of your choices gains flying and a +3/+3 boost to power and toughness for the turn
- Pay -8 loyalty counters and receive an emblem that enables “Indestructible” for your Artifacts, creatures, Enchantments, and land cards
CMC: 4
Rarity: Mythic Rare
Nahiri, the Lithomancer
The fourth Planeswalker on our list of the best white cards in MTG is none other than Nahiri, the Lithomancer. Another fan favorite, this white card comes into play with only 3 loyalty counters but has one of the priciest loyalty abilities in the game.
Nahiri’s loyalty counter activated abilities include:
- Add +2 loyalty counters and place a 1/1 white Kor Soldier token onto the field (if you have equipment on the field, you may attach it for free)
- Pay -2 loyalty counters and place an Enchantment on the field from your graveyard
- Pay -10 loyalty counters and create a colorless artifact Equipment token, that is free to attach, called “Stoneforged Blade” and put it in play (it is indestructible and grants Double Strike and +5/+5 to the create wielding it)
CMC: 5
Rarity: Mythic Rare
Elspeth Tirel
This Mythic Rare version of Elspeth is the last Planeswalker on our list, and as far as white mana is concerned boy is she a good one!
This version of Elspeth comes into play with four loyalty counters and a fist full of vengeance (aka, some really good loyalty activated abilities).
Her abilities are:
- Add +2 loyalty counters and gain a life point for every creature you have on the field
- Pay -2 loyalty counters and place three 1/1 white Soldier creature tokens onto the field
- Pay -5 loyalty counters and then destroy all other permanents on the board except for the lands and tokens (Interesting, huh!?)
CMC: 5
Rarity: Mythic Rare
Best White Legendary CreaturesHeliod, Sun-Crowned
Before we move on to more creatures, the first legendary creature on our list is a real fan-favorite: Heliod, Sun-Crowned, a legendary Enchantment creature God of Mythic Rare Status (and arguably one of the best white cards of all time).
This version of Heliod comes into play with Indestructible, for starters. Plus, as long as you have less than five devotion to white? He isn’t considered a creature. And, when you pay CMC 2 and he grants another creature lifelink for the turn.
Also, whenever you gain life with this legendary God on the battlefield? You may add a +1/+1 to an Enchantment or creature that you control.
CMC: 3
Rarity: Mythic Rare
Lyra Dawnbringer
This legendary creature is an Angel, and a fierce one that helps you gain life, attack first, and bolster your troop strength. If you ask us, she is the top white creature to pack into black and white combo decks.
Lyra Dawnbringer has a fair price for her strengths and abilities: Flying, lifelink, First Strike, plus other Angel creatures you have in play get lifelink.
Not to mention that this large creature affects more creatures than herself (by giving them +1/+1 boosts), she has 5/5 basic power and toughness, to begin with. She is more than deserving of her Mythic Rare status.
Alternatively, Restoration Angel is a great replacement for Lyra Dawnbringer.
CMC: 5
Rarity: Mythic Rare
Kataki, War’s Wage
The next legendary creature on our list is a Rare white Spirit; Kataki, War’s Wage. It comes into play with basic power and toughness of 2/1 and grants all artifacts in the game the ability to “sacrifice this artifact unless you pay 1 colorless mana, at the beginning of your upkeep.”
If you read that correctly, you see the beauty of the card: it forces your opponents that have artifacts to use all their mana each turn or lose their artifacts. For a two mana creature, it sure puts a major hurtin’ on the enemy.
Can you imagine this guy with Ethereal Armor and Sol Ring attached? Believe it or not, it has been done in standard format! Good game, and good night!
CMC: 2
Rarity: Rare
God-Eternal Oketra
Casting spells has never been funner than with The legendary Zombie God, God-Eternal Oketra, one of the most popular white commanders for black and white decks. When the card dies, you get to put it right back on top of your decks (well, technically speaking, three cards down from the top), hence the “God” title.
When it comes to Magic history, this card is like a fine wine, it just keeps getting better with time. What’s even better is that it goes well with so many decks and formats. It turns standard decks into the best decks, with just a handful of other powerful cards.
When God-Eternal Oketra comes into play, he has a basic power and toughness of 3/6 and Double Strike. He also grants you the ability to create an additional 4/4 black Zombie Warrior with Vigilance every time you cast a creature spell (for free).
CMC: 5
Rarity: Mythic Rare
Teshar, Ancestor’s Apostle
Looking for a unique flyer for your top white cards deck? You may have just found it!
This Bird Cleric legendary creature, Teshar, Ancestor’s Apostle is another of the very top 4 mana white cards. A 2/2 creature, Teshar doesn’t seem too threatening until you look a little closer.
Whenever you cast a historic spell, you may return a creature from your graveyard to the battlefield (so long as it costs 3 CMC or less). Pretty awesome, right?
Out of all the creatures that are in your next white deck, don’t let this one be left out. Removing creatures from graves back to life for free is priceless in MTG, making the mana value of this card phenomenal.
CMC: 4
Rarity: Rare
Sram, Senior Edificer
The Dwarf Advisor, Sram, Senior Edificer, is a legendary creature and one of the most preferred white creatures, of any status, with a cost of two mana.
Once on the table, whenever you play an Aura, Vehicle spell, or Equipment card, draw an extra card.
The card advantage is obvious: you get your hands on double the cards your opponents do, which means you have more options than them.
CMC: 2
Rarity: Rare
Odric, Lunarch Marshal
The legendary creature, Odric, Lunarch Marshal, is the last on our list but is one you don’t want to overlook. Don’t let the 3/3 power and toughness give you the wrong idea!
This guy causes chaos even on the opponent’s turn because its ability targets opponents creatures as well as your own. To date, it is a card I’d love to acquire for MTG Arena.
When Odiric, in this form, is on the field, if creatures you control gain all of the basic abilities of other creatures you control, including:
- First Strike
- Flying
- Deathtouch
- Double Strike
- Haste
- Hexproof
- Indestructible
- Lifelink
- Menace
- Reach
- Skulk
- Trample
- Vigilance
*Only the above-listed abilities are affected by Odiric’s ability.
CMC: 4
Rarity: Rare
Best White CreaturesResplendent Angel
The first “standard” white creature on our list is far from standard and is a great example of the stuff that white cards and white decks are made of in general.
When Resplendent Angel comes into play you gain “at the start of your upkeep steps, if you’ve gained at least 5 life this turn, create a 4/4 white Angel with Flying and Vigilance.”
This Angel itself is a 3/3 with Flying and Pay CMC 6 for lifelink and a +2/+2 counter until the end of the turn. The only thing this card doesn’t do is give you an extra life or magically grant you the ability to search for three basic lands(yes, it’s a real thing – just, not with this card!).
CMC: 3
Rarity: Mythic Rare
Sunscorch Regent
The Sunscorch Regent is a Rare white Dragon with some amazing card advantage to it. One of our personal favorites, this Dragon has Flying, 4/3 power, and toughness, and whenever an enemy spell is cast it receives a +1/+1 counter and you gain 1 life point.
When you play this card, your opponent’s creatures don’t stand a chance. They themselves will be easily killed by this creature after a few rounds if they don’t have a copy of divine visitation or a few firebolts ready.
What else is there to say about this card? It rocks socks, yo! Real talk.
CMC: 5
Rarity: Rare
Soul Warden
The Soul Warden Human Cleric is another special card to many players, as it has helped so many of us out of a pickle or ten. I still to this day keep a copy of it in many decks.
The “weenie” 1/1 creature costs only one mana, one of the cheapest white spells with a big reward in the game.
When it’s on the board, you gain a life point each time another creature enters the battlefield (whether it is yours or opponents).
Do yourself a favor, stick 3 or 4 of these cards in your favorite white deck!
CMC: 1
Rarity: Common
Conduit of Ruin
The Eldrazi creature, Conduit of Ruin, isn’t technically a white card, but it fits right into a white deck. This card doesn’t demand white mana, but its mechanics make it a prime choice for white mana decks.
An Eldrazi, the creature’s base stats are much higher than the standard white peon creature.
Further, the main reason it is great for white decks is that each round the first creature spell you cast costs two mana less. For white decks, that means you may get to play a free creature each round(because so many white creatures cost less than three mana).
Do you want to see some lethal damage inflicted? Unless the other players have time walk or something God-like, they will beg for a second life as soon as this monstrosity enters the battle.
CMC: 6
Rarity: Rare
Twilight Shepherd
The next creature up on our list is Twilight Shepherd, a white Angel card of Rare status and a high casting cost(CMC 6). On Magic the Gathering Arena, it offers a card advantage you need.
The Angel has Flying and Vigilance, as well as impressive base power and toughness of 5/5, making her perfect for multiple formats. If you receive the card on Magic the Gathering Arena, count your blessings! It doesn’t happen every day, I’m still waiting on one!
When the card enters the battlefield, you get to return all of the cards that went to your graveyard this turn. Playing this card at the right moment really can be your saving grace and turn the game around… or even end it.
CMC: 6
Rarity: Rare
Knight of the White Orchid
The Knight of the White Orchid is a Human Knight creature card of Rare class. In the early game, it can be a real blessing, whether playing MTG Arena or classic tabletop action with friends.
This Knight has First Strike, pretty standard for Rare Human Knights. What isn’t standard format for a Knight is that when he enters the field, if an opponent has more lands than you do on the field you get to put a plains onto the battlefield from your deck.
After the Knight of the White Orchid enters the field, and you play a plains(if you do), you must shuffle your deck.
CMC: 2
Rarity: Rare
Serra Angel
An all star white card if ever there was one, a handful of Serra Angels changes any white collection of ards into a major threat to opponents, thanks to Flying and Vigilance.
Whether playing traditional Magic the Gathering on Friday night, or jamming on MTG Arena, this bad girl is one you want on your side. Pro tip? Toss 4 of these and a couple of Divine Visitation cards in your best Angel deck.
Serra Angel comes into play like a knight in shining armor(but with wings). She has Flying, Vigilance, and a power and toughness of 4/4. For five mana, there are few such solid cards, of any color.
CMC: 5
Rarity: Rare
Angel of Salvation
The Angel of Salvation is one of the most expensive white Angel cards in the whole game (CMC wise). When she comes into play, it is with Flash, Flying, and Convoke abilities.
Further, upon entering the battlefield, Angel of Salvation prevents up to 5 damage that would otherwise be dealt to any number of target creatures/players you control.
This Rare Angel card features a basic power and toughness of 5/5 as well, which is even more impressive.
CMC: 8
Rarity: Rare
Admonition Angel
The Admonition Angel is another Rare white creature with flying that you definitely want to pack into your white decks. Control enters the equation when this creature appears.
This Angel card comes into play with a basic toughness and power of 6/6, Flying, and Landfall ability. Whenever a land comes into play under your control, you get to exile a target permanent that isn’t Admonition Angel.
Further, when this card leaves play, return all exiled cards to the battlefield under their owner’s control.
CMC: 6
Rarity: Rare
Angel of Sanctions
The Angel of Sanctions isn’t the most powerful, but then again, he has some special abilities most Angels lack aside from Flying.
For starters, when the card comes into play, you may exile any nonland permanent an enemy controls. Once the card is off the field, the exiled cards return to whence they came.
Angel of Sanctions also has Embalm (CMC 6), which means you can copy a creature card from your graveyard, add white Zome Angel to its types, put it into play as a creature token, and exile this Angel.
CMC: 5
Rarity: Rare
Ajani’s Pridemate
Another well-loved and sought-after white card is this Uncommon Cat Soldier, Ajani’s Pridemate.
If you are playing with an Ajani Planeswalker, regardless of which version, you need this card in your deck as well.
The best part is that it’s a cheap creature that only costs two mana, but has amazing ability!
CMC: 2
Rarity: Uncommon
Angel of Deliverance
The Angel of Deliverance is a big bad Angel creature with Delirium ability, and of course, Flying as well. As with other creatures of the same type, control enters the battlefield alongside this mighty Angel.
The Angel’s Delirium ability means that whenever the card does damage if your graveyard contains more than 4 card types you may exile an opponent’s creature from the field.
If all that isn’t impressive enough, her basic power and toughness stats are 6/6 right off the rip. Yikes!
CMC: 8
Rarity: Rare
Best White Instants and SorceriesCall to Glory
The first white Instant spell we recommend stacking into standard format white decks is Call to Glory.
Not only does it allow you to untap all your creatures (after attacking or blocking, or otherwise), but it gives all of your Samurai a +1/+1 boost for the turn as well.
Plus, it only costs two mana!
CMC: 2
Rarity: Common
Healing Salve
The next Instant on our list is a famous one, for its low mana cost: Healing Salve. Again, for standard format, this card is a must.
This white Instant is a classic one mana white healing spell that allows you to choose from two great options:
- Target a player to gain 3 life points
- Prevent 3 damage to target player or creature
CMC: 1
Rarity: Common
Swords to Plowshares
Swords to Plowshares is perhaps the most unique o fall 1 mana white Instant removal spells of all the old-school vintage MTG cards.
Like many of the best MTG spells, Swords to Plowshares really screws up the opponents’ plans for the turn.
Cast this spell for one mana and remove a target creature from the table, and game.
The downside? The creature’s controller that Swords to Plowshares targets gains an equal amount of life points to the creature’s power.
Great alternative white spells to keep in your deck include Second Sun and Stony Silence(especially in Magic the Gathering Arena, if you ask us!).
CMC: 1
Rarity: Common
Rebuff the Wicked
The white spell, Rebuff the Wicked is a real game changer, especially for such a low mana cost.
This Uncommon single mana white Instant allows you to counter a target spell. Cards like this are priceless on the tabletop and in Magic the Gathering Arena alike.
The catch is that it only works on spells that target permanents you control. That’s why we suggest stacking it into a deck with cards like Sun’s Champion, Mother of Runes, Ranger Captain, and Sun’s Grace.
CMC: 1
Rarity: Uncommon
Return to Dust
Return to Dust is amongst the most popular white cards in print, period, even if it doesn’t prevent or promote life gain like many of the best white cards do.
Casting Return to Dust costs four mana and allows you to remove an Enchantment or Artifact from the game. If you collect it online, on Magic the Gathering Arena, count yourself as lucky(and know that we are jealous of you!).
A nice card advantage of this one is that if you play it in the main phase of your turn, you get to remove a second Artifact or Enchantment.
CMC: 4
Rarity: Uncommon
Honorable Passage
Another vintage MTG card that players can’t get enough of is Honorable Passage. This one allows you to prevent all of the damage that you or a target creature would receive from any one particular source.
That said, if the source is red, that same amount of damage that is prevented is, in turn, dealt back to the red source from whence it came.
For two mana? You can’t beat this card when playing against red decks, or most.
CMC: 2
Rarity: Common
Path to Exile
For a one mana cost, the Path to Exile Instant is without question one of the most powerful white cards ever created for such an inexpensive casting cost.
Playing this Instant enables you to exile a target creature.
The control of said creature may search their deck for a basic land card and then put it onto the battlefield tapped.
The targeted player must shuffle their deck afterward which can also be a benefit or disadvantage depending on the situation.
CMC: 1
Rarity: Uncommon
Healing Hands
The white Sorcery, Healing Hands, is another awesome white card with dual-purpose. It also has an amazingly low converted mana cost(at just three lands), for what it offers.
Cast this card and a target player of your choice gains 4 life points instantly. On top of that, you also get to draw an extra card this turn.
Short, sweet, and seriously helpful in any sort of game format. That said, it’s also one of our very favorite cards for black and white sideboards.
CMC: 3
Rarity: Common
Best White Enchantments, Auras, and ArtifactsAura of Silence
The Aura of Silence is an Uncommon Enchantment that opponents fear, and for good reason.
It’s not Sun’s Grace, but it gets the job done. That’s for sure.
Playing this spell puts the enemy in a bind; Artifact and Enchantment spells of opponents cast CMC 2 more to cast while Aura of Silence is on the field.
You may sacrifice this card at any time and destroy a target Artifact or Enchantment from the field.
CMC: 3
Rarity: Uncommon
Marble Diamond
The second card on our list of the best white Magic cards that aren’t actually white are these Marble Diamonds, powerful colorless artifacts that grant you extra white mana each turn if you tap them.
Imagine how beneficial they are against spells that target white? Or even against spells that target lands?
These Artifacts work exactly as a plains land, without the same vulnerability. Do you want our advice? Pack four of these suckers into your deck.
That said, the only semi-drawback is that the card comes into play tapped.
CMC: 2
Rarity: Uncommon
Land Tax
The Land Tax Enchantment is an older and overlooked white card that you don’t want to count out of your next decks. For white Ramp decks, this is even more so the case.
I mean think about it. How many cards have you heard about that grant you the ability to keep pulling land if the enemy has more mana than you?
That’s exactly what this card does:
At the beginning of your turns, if an opponent has more lands on the battlefield than you, you get to search through your deck for up to three land cards (basic ones), show them to the other players, put them in your hand, and then shuffle your decks.
CMC: 1
Rarity: Uncommon
Nahiri’s Machinations
Another Uncommon white Enchantment that should be in just about anyone’s decks(even though it isn’t life gain) is Nahiri’s Machinations.
With this Enchantment on the board, at the beginning of your turn, choose a target creature that you control and grant it indestructible for the rest of the turn.
Pay CMC 2 and the card deals 1 direct damage to a blocking creature, the best ability of the card. With this card on the table, especially in the late game, if you have plenty of mana, you can basically attack unchecked unless the enemy wants to willingly lose creatures every time and still take damage anyhow!
CMC: 2
Rarity: Uncommon
Ajani’s Mantra
Speaking of life gain… Ajani’s Mantra is a powerful Enchantment with a low mana cost, just two mana, and a very useful ability: life gain +1 at the beginning of each of your turns.
Whether you have an Ajani Planeswalker in your deck or not, this card is a seriously beneficial card for the steady life gain either way.
In fact, regardless of what other cards are in your deck, if the collection is white, why in the heck wouldn’t this card be in there? It’s free life! Every turn! That’s crazy, right!?
CMC: 2
Rarity: Common
Unquestioned Authority
An Enchantment Aura, Unquestioned Authority is an Uncommon white card with a three mana casting cost. The name reminds us what happens when we allow the opponent to make moves unchecked for too long.
That is why it is much better to cast some Unquestioned Authority of your own, first!
This particular spell is attached to a creature, and when it comes into play for the first time you get to draw a card. If it is returned t play from a graveyard, hand, or exile, it is also time to draw a card.
Whatever creature the Aura is attached to has protection from all creatures in the game.
CMC: 3
Rarity: Uncommon
Oath of Gideon
For decks with a copy of a Gideon Planeswalker, Oath of Gideon is a must-have. It is the perfect enhancement for white commanders like Sun Titan as well.
As soon as this legendary Enchantment comes onto the table you get to place two 1/1 white Kor Ally creatures onto the field.
Plus, it is the only card, or one of the only, that gives an extra loyalty counter automatically when Planeswalkers enter the game.
For blue and white decks, especially Ninja decks, this card takes on a whole new level of awesomeness, spawning 1/1’s every turn.
CMC: 3
Rarity: Rare
Dictate of Heliod
Next up on our list is Dictate of Heliod, a rare white Enchantment that has Flash. When you cast this spell, it comes into play with Instant speed.
Further, it grants all of your creatures a +2/+2 counter. The counters last for the remainder of the game or until the creatures are sent to the graveyard.
There isn’t much to say once this card is dropped on the enemy, especially if you have five or ten creatures out on the table.
Not much to say at all… just, wham, bam, thank you sam, good game, and better luck next time.
CMC: 5
Rarity: Rare
Hyena Umbra
The Hyena Umbra is a very special white Enchantment Aura. In fact, it is so special to me that I happen to keep it in every single white sideboard and deck that I possibly can get away with.
What can I say? I like the way it works, no diggity.
When it enters the game, a creature under your control gains both First Strike ability and a +1/+1.
Further, this card is Totem Armor. That means if the creature wearing this Enchantment would be destroyed, destroy the Aura instead.
CMC: 1
Rarity: Common
Rest in Peace
Rest in Peace is yet another beloved card among Rare white spells. It sounds so innocent, and well, peaceful. Doesn’t it?
Look again:
When the card enters the battlefield, you get to exile all cards from all graveyards in the game.
Wow, right? Yes, exactly: Wow!
Plus, when cards or tokens should go to the graveyard, while this card is in play, those cards and tokens are exiled instead.
CMC: 2
Rarity: Rare
Brave the Sands
Last but not least, Brave the Sands, is one of our all-time favorite all star white cards. A quick glance will show you why. And, that is why, once your opponents take a look at this card, they will tremble in anticipation(not the pleasant kind).
With this Uncommon Enchantment on the board, all creatures you control have Vigilance. That means that the creatures don’t need to tap to attack. So, they’ll be ready to block the next turn, unlike usual.
Even more impressive, all your creatures are able to block more than one creature (just one additional creature per blocker – but still!).
CMC: 2
Rarity: Common