The Venser Scale is a ranking by Mark Rosewater of the likelihood that a given planeswalker will be getting a new card in future Standard-legal sets.[1] Planeswalkers are ranked from 1 (very likely) to 10 (very unlikely). Mechanical space and flavor both play a role.[2]
As one of the Rosewater Scales, the Venser Scale is analogous to the Storm Scale for mechanics and the Rabiah Scale for planes. It is named for the planeswalker Venser, who will almost certainly never return in a regular set because he is dead in the storyline.[3][4] Like the other scales, the Venser Scale is only a reflection of Rosewater's opinion and generalities about planeswalkers. It does not account for any actual future plans, or the opinions of other R&D members.
Descriptive rankings
Based primarily on the explanation for Storm Scale, the following rankings apply:
- Level 1: Will definitely see again, possibly every few years[5] (Note that this is less frequent than the Storm Scale's 1 which means "most likely in the next set", since planeswalkers are represented on far fewer cards than card mechanics in general.)
- Level 2: Will definitely see again, but not necessarily right away
- Level 3: Will most likely do again, probably many times
- Level 4: Will most likely do again, but they have issues that make them less of a guarantee
- Level 5: We need to find the right place to bring it back, but I'm optimistic
- Level 6: We need to find the right place to bring it back, but I'm a little less optimistic
- Level 7: It's unlikely to return, but possible if the right environment comes along
- Level 8: It's unlikely to return, but possible if the stars align
- Level 9: I never say never, but this would require a minor miracle
- Level 10: I never say never, but this would require a major miracle
Additionally, when asked if there was anyone higher on the Venser scale, Rosewater gave this answer for Englebert:[6]
- Level 11: "He knows what he did."
Venser scale rankings
| Planeswalker | Latest ranking | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Ajani | 2 | 2[26], 2[27] |
| Aminatou | 8 | 8[60] |
| Angrath | 6 | 6[41], 6[42], 6[43] |
| Arlinn | 7 | 6[15], 7[16] |
| Ashiok | 4 | 4[20] |
| B.O.B. | 10 | 10[68] |
| Chandra | 1 | 1[33], 1[36], 1[37], 1[35] |
| Dack | 10 | 10[19] |
| Daretti | 6 | 6[62] |
| Davriel | 6 | 6[61] |
| Domri | 10 | 10[19] |
| Dovin | 10 | 10[19] |
| Elspeth | 3 | 3[53] |
| Englebert | 11 | 11[6] |
| Estrid | 8 | 8[58] |
| Garruk | 3 | 6[31], 3[32] |
| Gideon | 10 | 2[47], 10[48], 10[19] |
| Jace | 1 | 1[33], 1[34], 1[35] |
| Karn | 4 | 4[67] |
| Kaya | 3 | 3[57] |
| Kiora | 4 | 4[14] |
| Koth | 7 | 6[21], 7[22], 7[23] |
| Leshrac | 10 | 10[40] |
| Liliana | 1 | 2[29], 1[30] |
| Lukka | 6 | 6[64] |
| Mu Yanling | 5 | 5[65] |
| Nahiri | 4 | 5[12], 4[13] |
| Narset | 5 | 6[49], 5[50], 5[51] |
| Nicol Bolas | 3 | 3[46] |
| Nissa | 3 | 4[24], 3[25] |
| Rowan | 4 | 6[44], 6[45], 4[32] |
| Saheeli | 5 | 5[59] |
| Sarkhan | 4 | 4[54] |
| Serra | 10 | 10[19] |
| Sorin | 3 | 5[38], 3[39] |
| Tamiyo | 5 | 5[52] |
| Teyo | 6 | 6[56] |
| Tezzeret | 4 | 4[59] |
| The Unluckiest | 9 | 9[69] |
| Tibalt | 5 | 5[8], 6[7], 6[9], 5[10] |
| Ugin | 7 | 7[28] |
| Urza | 9 | 9[11] |
| Venser | 10 | 10[17], 10[18], 10[19] |
| Vivien | 3 | 3[63] |
| Vraska | 3 | 3[55] |
| Will | 4 | 6[44], 6[45], 4[32] |
| Wrenn | 6 | 6[66] |
References
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (October 15, 2018). "What’s the Venser Scale?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (April 30, 2020). "How much of the Venser scale is driven by the mechanical space each planeswalker has?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (July 19, 2017). "If there was a scale to determine how likely it is for a planeswalker to return in the storyline, how would you name it?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (July 19, 2017). "Why is Urza, a long-dead planeswalker, only a 9 on the Venser scale, while Venser, who's died in a place full of zombies, the one the get's the scale named after them?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (October 17, 2018). "What's the definition for a 1 on the Venser scale?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ a b Mark Rosewater (March 21, 2020). "Is there anyone who is an 11 on the Venser scale?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (October 17, 2018). "Is Tibalt even on the Venser scale?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (October 06, 2018). "Where is my boy Tibalt on the Venser scale???". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (March 10, 2020). "Hey Mark, where's Tibalt on the Venser scale...". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (March 06, 2021). "So now that Kaldheim has been out for a while...". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (October 14, 2018). "Where is Urza on the Venser scale?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (October 17, 2018). "On the Venser Scale, where would Nahiri be?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (August 10, 2019). "On Nahiri: where is she on the vensor scale?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (October 15, 2018). "Where is Kiora on the Venser Scale?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (October 14, 2018). "Where is Arlinn Kord on the Venser scale?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (November 04, 2018). "Arlinn Kord on the Venser scale?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (October 19, 2018). "Which Planeswalkers (if any) are a hard 10 on the Venser scale?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (October 21, 2018). "Can we assume Venser is a 10 on the Venser scale?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ a b c d e f g Mark Rosewater (May 7, 2020). "Is there anyone who is a 10 or higher on the Venser scale?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (October 21, 2018). "Where is Ashiok on the Venser scale?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (October 26, 2018). "Where is Koth on the Venser scale?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (January 12, 2019). "venser scale for my fave walker, Koth of the Hammer?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (April 23, 2020). "Where is Koth on the Venser scale?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (November 4, 2018). "Hi mark. Could you tell me where Nissa is on the Venser Scale please?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (December 9, 2020). "Now that we’re a ways past Zendikar Rising, can you tell me where Nissa is on the Venser Scale?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (November 4, 2018). "Where is Ajani on the Venser scale?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (November 9, 2018). "What's my favorite cat Ajani on the venser scale?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (November 5, 2018). "Is Ugin on the Venser Scale?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (November 4, 2018). "Where would Liliana be an Venser Scale?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (December 1, 2018). "Where does Liliana sit on the Venser scale?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (November 4, 2018). "Where is garruk on the venser scale?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ a b c Mark Rosewater (October 6, 2019). "Where are the Kenriths and Garruk on the Venser scale?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ a b Mark Rosewater (November 4, 2018). "What planeswalkers are 1 on Venser scale?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (July 26, 2019). "Now that War of the Spark is over, where is Jace on the Venser Scale?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ a b Mark Rosewater (October 19, 2020). "Who would be a 1, talking about Venser Scale? :)". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (November 9, 2018). "Chandra on the Venser Scale?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (July 8, 2020). "Who is a one on the vender scale?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (November 4, 2018). "Where does Sorin rank on the Venser scale?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (December 4, 2020). "A while ago, you said that Sorin was a 5 on the Venser Scale...". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (November 9, 2018). "Is Leshrac a 9 or a 10 on the Venser scale?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (November 9, 2018). "Where would everyones favorite cow dad Angrath be on the Venser Scale?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (March 29, 2020). "The only favorite Planeswalker of mine who isn't dead yet is Angrath...". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (July 06, 2020). "Angrath on the Venser scale?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ a b Mark Rosewater (November 9, 2018). "Where are Will and Rowan on the Venser scale?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ a b Mark Rosewater (February 11, 2019). "Will and Rowan on the Venser scale?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (December 17, 2018). "According to the wiki, which keeps track of when you add a planeswalker to the venser scale, there isn't and has yet to be a planeswalker who's a 3 on the scale.". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (January 10, 2019). "Where is Gideon on the Venser Scale?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (April 26, 2020). "If/When: Seeing Gideon again". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (January 10, 2019). "Where is Narset on the Venser scale?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (2020-02-27). "Where is Narset on the Venser scale?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (2020-07-06). "Where is Narset on the Venser scale?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (November 20, 2019). "Where is Tamiyo on the Venser Scale". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (February 16, 2020). "Where is Elspeth on the Venser Scale?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (March 17, 2020). "Just thinkin about Sarkhan.". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (March 24, 2020). "Where is Vraska on the Venser scale?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (April 29, 2020). "Does Teyo have a Venser scale rating yet?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (May 02, 2020). "Where is Kaya on the Venser scale?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (May 06, 2020). "Is anyone an 8 on the Venser scale?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ a b Mark Rosewater (May 15, 2020). "Mark, could you please let us know how would you place Tezzeret and Saheeli on the Venser scale?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (May 30, 2020). "Who's the Kamigawa equivalent on the Venser scale?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (June 11, 2020). "Hi, Mark! Where is Davriel in the Venser scale?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (June 25, 2020). "Where is Daretti on the Venser Scale?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (July 5, 2020). "Where is Vivien on the Venser Scale?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (July 6, 2020). "Hi mark, where does Lukka rate on the Venser scale?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (July 11, 2020). "Where is Mu Yanling on the Venser Scale?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (October 9, 2020). "Where is Wrenn on the Venser Scale?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (December 10, 2020). "Hi Mark! Where is our beloved gentle giant Karn on the Venser scale?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (January 01, 2021). "Where on the venser scale is the bevy of beebles?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (February 06, 2021). "Where would you place the The Unluckiest Planeswalker on the Venser scale?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
