First printed in Planar Chaos (2007)

All 7 prints

Tales of Middle-earth Commander (LTC) #242, 2023
Magic Online Promos (PRM) #95481, 2022 (digital)
The List (PLST) #CMA-106, 2019
Commander Anthology (CMA) #106, 2017
Commander 2014 (C14) #194, 2014
Duel Decks: Ajani vs. Nicol Bolas (DDH) #3, 2011
Planar Chaos (PLC) #145, 2007

Essence Warden

Creature — Elf Shaman

Whenever another creature enters, you gain 1 life.

"The more our numbers grow, the more I gain hope that Volrath and his cursed stronghold will one day fall."
—Eladamri, Lord of Leaves

1/1

Illustrated by: Terese Nielsen

Legality

Legal in: Modern, Legacy, Vintage, Pauper, Commander, Duel Commander, Pauper Commander, PreDH, Tiny Leaders, Oathbreaker
Not legal in: Standard, Pioneer, Future Standard, Historic, Timeless, Alchemy, Penny Dreadful, Premodern, Old School 93/94, Gladiator, Brawl, Standard Brawl, Competitive Brawl

Ruling (1)

2025-01-24 If this creature enters at the same time as one or more other creatures, its ability will trigger for each of those other creatures.

Prices

MTGO price: 0.25 TIX, the cheapest non-foil print (average sell price on GoatBots, 29 Oct 2026).

Combos

146 combos, the most popular first:

Infinite artifact ETB, Infinite artifact LTB…: Chatterfang, Squirrel General + Essence Warden + Warren Soultrader
Infinite +1/+1 counters on a creature, Infinite creature tokens…: Essence Warden + Scurry Oak + Treebeard, Gracious Host
Infinite creature ETB, Infinite lifegain triggers…: Cleric Class + Essence Warden + Scurry Oak
Infinite creature ETB, Infinite lifegain triggers…: Essence Warden + Heliod, Sun-Crowned + Scurry Oak
Infinite artifact ETB, Infinite artifact LTB…: Emiel the Blessed + Essence Warden + Kwia Vigorbloom
Infinite creature ETB, Infinite lifegain triggers…: Archangel of Thune + Essence Warden + Scurry Oak
Infinite death triggers, Infinite creature ETB…: Ashnod's Altar + Essence Warden + Trudge Garden
Infinite creature ETB, Infinite lifegain triggers…: Basking Broodscale + Essence Warden + Heliod, Sun-Crowned
Infinite creature ETB, Infinite lifegain triggers…: Basking Broodscale + Cleric Class + Essence Warden
Infinite creature LTB, Infinite creature ETB…: Essence Warden + Gravecrawler + Warren Soultrader

See all 146 on Commander Spellbook

Pauper In 6 of 2159 decks (0.3%), most in RG (unclassified)

Share of decks

0.3%

= vs previous 30 days

Weekly, last 90 days

Decks

6 main, 0 sideboard

Avg. copies

2.3

in the main deck

Win rate

58%

1 top 8 (challenges only)

Archetypes by metagame share

Archetype	Meta	Play it
RG (unclassified)	2.6%	9%
WBG (unclassified)	0.0%	100%

Played together with

Card	Together	Lift
Malevolent Rumble	100%	11.3
Impact Tremors	83%	302.6
Raphael, Tough Turtle	83%	259.4
Nest Invader	83%	259.4
Molten Gatekeeper	83%	181.6
Call Damage Control	83%	82.5
Glimpse the Impossible	83%	23.0
Khalni Garden	83%	20.2
Writhing Chrysalis	83%	14.8
Makeshift Munitions	83%	10.4

Best win rate

Deck	Record
RG Briar Putz in From The Vault: Pauper 10 $1K	4-2 67%
RG Gregory petiot in the300	4-4 50%

Challenges only: MTGO publishes only the 5-0 league decks.

Latest decks

Deck	Copies	Finish
RG willlupi, 29 Oct	2 main	5-0
RG willlupi, 20 Oct	2 main	5-0
RG Briar Putz, 10 Oct	1 main	#8 (top 8) of 50 4-2
RG Kenneth Schreiber, 10 Oct	3 main	#45 of 50 0-4
RG Gregory petiot, 4 Oct	2 main	#95 of 258 4-4
WBG Thomas Depierre, 4 Oct	4 main	#229 of 258 1-3

Commander In 8 of 6143 decks (0.1%), most in Frodo, Adventurous Hobbit + Sam, Loyal Attendant