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Narset is a powerful and well-known mage in Magic: The Gathering. She has been featured on a handful of cards and has become a fan favorite from the Tarkir plane. Recently, she has lost her Planeswalker spark turning her into a normal Human Monk without the ability to leave planes at will.
Even with this change, she continues to wreak havoc in the Commander format. There are a total of four Legendary Creatures with the Narset name as well as three Planeswalkers. Today, we will cover which of these powerful monks is the best for the Commander format.
The Best Narsets for Commander
There are seven cards to go over in this list. Planeswalkers have to be incredibly powerful and impactful to be played in a multiplayer format where your opponents are out to destroy you.
- Narset Transcendant
- Narset of the Ancient Way
- Shiko and Narset, Unified
- Narset, Enlightened Exile
- Narset, Jeskai Waymaster
- Narset, Parter of Veils
- Narset, Enlightened Master
Even though each of these cards shares a common name, they all have something unique to offer to the Commander table. Let's go down the list.
7. Narset Transcendant
Narset Transcendent is at the bottom of the list of Narsets to start things off. This Planeswalker is 
and comes down with six Loyalty Counters. Narset Transcendent is absolutely terrifying in a 1v1 format like Cube. Narset's +1 ability can add some cards to your hand and up her Loyalty to seven, making her formidable in combat.
The -2 ability is where the true spice is on this legend. Narset's middle ability grants the next Instant or Sorcery spell you cast Rebound. Rebound allows you to Exile the spell as it resolves and cast it again on your upkeep.
This is the only time we have ever seen the ability Rebound on a Planeswalker. A repeatable Rebound effect is really neat. However, in Commander, most Planeswalkers do not last more than a turn, unless you have ample blockers.
Narset's final ability grants an Emblem to turn off all noncreature spells your opponents control. This is an alright effect for Commander, but it will take four turns to naturally uptick her to that level. Also, most Commander games end with combat damage and it doesn't do much to help you survive into the late game.
6. Narset of the Ancient Way
Narset of the Ancient Way is another four mana Planeswalker bearing the Narset name. This Narset adds a new color to the Azorius () one above and becomes a Jeskai (
) Planeswalker. Her +1 ability grants a mana to cast a noncreature spell, which essentially refunds a mana that you spent to cast her.
Narset's -2 ability is not as exciting as Rebound, but it does provide some card selection and removal which is nice. Sculpting your hand while dealing with a troublesome Creature on the battlefield might be able to help keep her on the battlefield for a few more turns.
The final ability on this Planeswalker can actually help end a game by providing an Emblem that reads like a Guttersnipe. Whenever you cast a noncreature spell you can deal two damage to any target for the rest of the game. It takes less turns to naturally get to this ultimate ability, but it still is not powerful enough to end the game on its own.
5. Shiko and Narset, Unified
Shiko and Narset, Unified is the first Creature version of Narset on the list. Shiko and Narset were the face Commanders of the Jeskai Striker deck from Tarkir: Dragonstorm (TDC).
Shiko and Narset provide some stable card advantage for casting multiple spells in a single turn. If the second spell you cast targets a permanent or player, you get to copy it. This copying effect is similar to Zada, Hedron Grinder, a very popular Commander for Mono Red strategies.
The main downside of Shiko and Naret, Unified is the four-mana investment to get it into play. For 
, you do get a decently sized Creature with Flying and Vigilance, but it does require a lot of engines already in play and lots of cards in hand to get it going.
Compared to the other Legendary Narsets on this list it is really lacking in the power department, but it can still function as a fun lower-powered deck straight out of the box.
4. Narset, Enlightened Exile
Narset, Enlightened Exile came from the very controversial small set March of the Machine: Aftermath (MAT). This Narset continues to represent the Jeskai color combination and provide all of your Creatures with a Prowess Anthem effect. Providing all of your Creatures Prowess can get out of hand quickly when you start to put cards like Talrand, Sky Summoner into play.
Narset's other ability allows you to cast a noncreature spell from the graveyard equal to or less than her power when she attacks. What makes this ability unique is that Narset can steal a card from any graveyard, not just your own. Combining this version of the Jeskai Monk with cards like Mindcrank can help give you access to more spells to cast.
3. Narset, Jeskai Waymaster
Narset, Jeskai Waymaster also comes from the Tarkir: Dragonstorm expansion. This version of Narset is focused on casting as many spells as possible during your turn, adapting a Storm strategy for your deck. Opt, Strike it Rich, and Seething Song are all cards you would be playing in a deck like this in order to flood the stack with spells.
Narset triggers on your end step to discard your hand and refill it with cards equal to the amount of spells you cast this turn. Combine this trigger with an Enchantment like Teferi's Ageless Insight to draw double the amount of cards.
This Narset stands out from the others as it takes a more proactive strategy instead of a passive one. Storm decks are always fun to play with, and this Legend always makes sure you have spells to cast.
2. Narset, Parter of Veils
Narset, Parter of Veils is one of the most infamous cards in Commander due to its Static Ability. Each Planeswalker was given a Static Ability in War of the Spark (WAR), but Narset's is stronger than any of the Rare or Mythics at the time.
Narset only allows your opponents to draw one card per turn. That means if you cast a card like Wheel of Fortune or Windfall they will have to discard all the cards in their hand and only draw one, while you draw the normal amount.
The -2 ability on this Planeswalker can help you find the spells to go along with the Static Ability. This card is one of the most toxic you can play in Commander if you combine it with any Wheel effects.
1. Narset, Enlightened Master
The best Narset for Commander is none other than the OG. Narset, Enlightened Master is a Legendary Monk for 
with First Strike and Hexproof. This Creature also has a powerful Attack Trigger to cast noncreature spells from the top four cards of your library. All of them.
Since this is on an Attack Trigger, it can easily be combined with spells such as Relentless Assault and Time Warp to take multiple extra combat phases or turns. Cast a huge card like Storm Herd and swing in for lethal.
Narset having Hexproof is what sets this card apart from the others on the list. If she is not interacted with on the stack she is free to go straight to combat in a future turn or on the same one with something like a Lightning Greaves Equipped.
Even though this version of Narset is the oldest and most mana intensive, it has the best repeatable effect on a Narset we have ever seen.
Conclusion
The Jeskai Monk has been made into a handful of cards, but nothing comes close to the power of the first Narset released. Narset, Enlightened Master will forever be on the top Commanders of all time thanks to its powerful repeatable ability as well as built in Protection. If you are not sure what Narset to build around, then hopefully this list will help narrow it down.
