The -3 ability is the important one here. I suspect this will be played as : target big creature you control gains flying and double strike until end of turn, you win. +1 is boring (and why isn't this in Simic colors?). The -8 ability, if you get there, can be another good finisher. but outside of proliferating/doubling, getting there will take a while.
.Blaze.
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(2 votes)
When I first saw this I really wasn't that into it, but given time, it has grown on me a little. This is mostly because G/W decks can play this turn 2 and he'll just sit there distracting the opponent and growing the team. So while his +1 is low impact is does a decent job. Plus the -3 just wins games.
SgtSwaggr
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(5 votes)
Ajani is back!
Arachibutyrophobia
★★★☆☆ (3.8/5.0)(4 votes)
I was expecting the next ajani to be GW since they already have a RW one, and a GW one would complete the cycle of naya colors. plus, there hasn't been a GW planeswalker yet.
HedronMyr
★★☆☆☆ (2.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Sort of a spiritual successor to Elspeth, Knight-Errant, in terms of the second ability, and the one people will be raving about the most I think. CMC of three is downright amazing for a planeswalker of this caliber. His +1 is by no means spectacular, but is good enough and useful. His second ability can easily win games, but the thing that makes this worse than Elspeth is the fact the ability takes -3 from his loyalty, as opposed to Elspeth's being a +1. Spot removal and chump blocking can render the ability useless for that turn, and then you have to toss out a couple 1/1 counters before you can use the -3 again. It's definitely more balanced, but not as scary purely because you can't keep up the constant pressure like you could Elspeth. Nevertheless, I think this will be a very strong play in any of the human deck variants, and honestly any White Weenie rush in Standard. His -8 is okay and makes a good board bomb, but working loyalty to 3-4 and using the -3 seems like a better use for the Planeswalker.
Solid 4/5
SyntheticDreamer
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
That -3 alone can win a game on its own if you're taking advantage of exalted. Have a bunch of instances of exalted on the battlefield, give your attacker flying and double strike, then swing for the win. Sublime Archangel, for instance.
ichorNet777
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I really don't understand the flavor of the -3, but it's still a game-changer. Pity about not really protecting himself too well, though.
Totema
★★★★☆ (4.4/5.0)(13 votes)
-8: Become a crazy cat lady.
Cyberium
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
The cost and ability truly favors any white weenie decks (double W cost), double strike abuses mechanics like Jitte and Swords.
+1/+1 counters also makes Persist creatures more deadly.
ThePantsAreDead
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I wanted to jump for joy when I pulled this in the prerelease. Despite not having a good way to protect himself and his -3 not making much sense flavor-wise, he cleans house. Even as a singleton, I think it could find a home in my GW Humans deck.
LlanowarEmissary
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
Does this mean that Ajani and Khemba are an 'item'? :-/
Vakyoom
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
omagawd, I missed you ajani! You don't help me gain life anymore but everything save your +1 ability is superior to his m11 counterpart in just about every way except the first ability. But if you use it just right(he partners with mikaeus, the lunarch incredibly well.) and he's devastating.
Turn 1: champion of the parish Turn 2: mikaeus with 1 counter on it. Champ is a 2/2.
Turn 3: Ajani, give mikaeus +1/+1. Give mikaeus' counters to the champion to make it a 3/3 or make mikaeus into a 3/3.
Turn 4:knight of glory or sublime archangel. Give mikaeus counters to everyone and you could even give an extra counter to your champion with ajani, he's now a 6/6 or so.
Turn 5: you've now got two turns to protect your champ with faith's shield and win with flying/double strike. Exalted will either make your champion into a 7/7 with the knight out, or an 11/11 with the angel out.
That is of course with no removal or hold ups, blah blah....
also, what would you rather see? A 14/14 creature when youre at 14 life, or 14x 2/2 cat warriors when youre at 14 life. Would go nicely with honor the pure, but I wouldn't suggest building a deck around the two cards.
This guy will see plenty of play in human weenie decks but ill be tossing him in a human R/W exalted deck. I just hope he doesn't get higher than $~36... And if he does, he'd better stick around for m14...
Gcrudaplaneswalker
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Has anyone noticed that his +1 stops Undying? Great card, except you NEED to have creatures out, but isn't that what white is all about? Solid card, and definitely not overpowered.
PretzelBraids
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Great card!
LordBubbles
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(2 votes)
He is good, but there is far too much target removal in the current format for his -3 to see much play, and aside from preventing undying monsters from coming back, I don't see much use for his +1
sarroth
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
@Gcrudaplaneswalker: How exactly does Ajani need creatures? The +1 ability says "up to one target creature," and the rulings on the card specifically state that no creature needs to be targeted in case you didn't know "up to one" includes 0. That wording was specifically chosen so that he wouldn't make you need a creature in order to increase his loyalty.
That said, I prefer the original to this guy. He is cheaper, sure, and his +1 is more relevant, but I like how Ajani Goldmane's second ability removes less loyalty counters and boosts your whole team rather than a single creature. Also, the final ability seems out of place, even after Zac Hill wrote about why it was design this way.
Paladin85
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
When White Sun's Zenith just doesn't give you enough cats, just add 8 counters on Ajani for MORE CATZ
oh geez: ramp to turn three woolly thoctar and rancor, turn four drop Ajani 3.OOOOOoooh yeah. 14 damage will have to do..
Arachobia
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I'm more comfortable with Ajani getting revamped than Liliana as he hasn't had much work done on him since Alara, and he hasn't been mono-color since Lorwyn
N3wtn
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Somebody shrank Ajani's head. He doesn't look very happy about it. Poor guy.
gman92
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Looking at the last few sets and what they brought us with Planeswalkers: Tamiyo (Blue) Tibalt (Red) Ajani (White) Liliana (Black) I can't help but think there will be an epic new Green planeswalker or a powerful new Garruk in the vein of Jace the Mind Sculptor in the Return to Ravnica set. Slightly off-color for Ravnica (because it's supposed to be a plane where Planeswalkers can't travel) but hoping green finally gets a slice of the awesomeness that is new Planeswalkers.
MyrBattlecube
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
@gman92 "because it's supposed to be a plane where Planeswalkers can't travel" Pray tell where you got a silly idea like that.
majinara
★★★★☆ (4.9/5.0)(4 votes)
He's not bad in Commander, if you can make use of the +1/+1 counter (like if you got creatures with persist or simply creatures that use +1/+1 for something) or if you have a commander with a significant power, so that double strike is making a huge difference. The ultimate ability you will never reach in Commander though.
magucho
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
In an exalted deck it can be really amazing. Imagine with an unblockable creature!
EternalPhi
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
@sar roth His -3 ability is actually more relevant now with the return of exalted. The whole point of exalted is to make a single creature much more powerful than a bunch of creatures combined. Adding evasion and doublestrike to an exalted creature is a nasty thing to do.
Sorinclex
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Geez. The art alone is enough to justify making this my favorite PW ever. The card being really good and balanced is just a bonus.
Misleading_Guide
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
This is a very solid Planeswalker and as Cyberium stated, his +1 is nice with Persist. His art also reflects his -3 Ability. He has a two-bladed staff-thingy (double strike) and can throw creatures at your opponent.
Mazerin-the-Mage
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I'm not totally up to date on the lore, so it might be something obvious, but why exactly does a car planeswalker give flying?
syrazemyla
★★★★☆ (4.1/5.0)(5 votes)
@Mazerin-the-Mage: "why exactly does a car planeswalker give flying?"
I finally got to play against this particular Planeswalker just the other day in Limited, and I have to agree with LSV that, while it seemingly has no method of defending itself, its self-preservation lies in its high starting loyalty that causes it to be difficult to outright kill with creatures. Granted, Limited and Standard/etc. are completely different beasts, but I could see this newest version making a splash in a White Weenie deck.
MANABURNWASGOOD
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(3 votes)
The best incarnation of ajani.
VirusVescichetta
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Pulled him at the prerelease and holding an opening hand with two Plains and him probably cost me the game and he didn't see play a single time. That said, he's an awesome 'Walker when he does hit the field and you don't keep a garbage opening hand just for being greedy.
Caspalta
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(8 votes)
His +1 and -3 are very synergistic. Unleash the kitties
HunkeyMunky
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Ajani loves his pet Thrummingbird. It can proliferate those +1/+1 counters and then double proliferate to redeem some of those loyalty counters with -3!
Rajuin
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
wait wait waaait a minute... this + thundermaw hellkite = 10 face damage but i already plan on throwing my thundermaw into a mimic vat so...ouch o.o;
Wow, this is amazing. I'm so happy to have pulled this off my fatpack. The best part of this card for me is it's 3cmc. In a weenie deck, this makes the clock tick even faster (for your opponents)
ericsweb
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Better kill that Sun Titan in play before you even bother looking at Ajani. But I love that it has a 3CMC. Makes it easier to come out and syncs well with the Titan.
Like the first two abilities, especially since you don't need to have a creature for his first. That last ability, I'm not entirely too impressed. So many cards like Ratchet Bomb, Black Sun's Zenith, Bonfire of the Damned, Terminus and even Mutilate kills it, makes that last ability not so great.
DarthParallax
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(3 votes)
It's halfway between Vengeant and Goldmane, so he gets a Goldmane-ish "Spirit Bomb" power (something linked to your life total), and other than that, he's the Ultimate Planeswalker for Exalted (-3 the one attacking alone. um, duh. and Exalted was a theme in M13. From Alara. and he's Alaran.)
Oh yeah, I'm definitely going to play Simba EVENTUALLY, but heck I ain't payin' Standard rates! I'll be glad when he rotates or gets reprinted. :)
On a Multiversal note: M12's theme was 'Gather Your Allies'. The Planeswalkers' stories have established that nearly all the characters are well acquainted as either friends or friends of friends. Ajani is the only 'good guy' that has had close personal dealings with Bolas. (on the scale of white and black, I'm calling Jace gray. He don't count.) This Ajani is a 'Caller' of his Pride. For a while, I thought that Karn might be the next leader/driving force behind any 'New Coalition'. Some people think it's gonna be Jace, because of Return to Ravnica. Here's my view:
Comparing the Planeswalkers to the Avengers, Jace is Nick Fury or Iron Man: well-connected, sends out the invites, a pretty badass douchebag.
Ajani is going to be the Captain America though- the leader of the team, the one giving orders on missions, because he's the only one who's actually a decent enough person that Elspeth, Koth, Jace, Garruk, and Sorin will all be willing to follow. It's very important that Ajani has a bit of a 'wild' past on Naya, otherwise Garruk (the Hulk) would be impossible to negotiate with.
Karn/Urza(?!) is totally, completely, epically THOR all over: "I'm older than all of you, wiser than all of you, I'm way more powerful, I have experience with these foes....and I'm so kind, good, and just that I recognize it's my duty to do everything I can to help your cause. *I* will fight FOR *you*, because I once tried to lead....and that turned out...umm sorry for all this stuff you have to clean up 1000 years later."
Sorin is going to be like Batman's relationship to the Justice League. "I'm here because you need me. I'm not going to follow your orders. I just happen to be doing what you said because it was already on my list. You all need a babysitter. I'm not the leader because none of you think that's a good idea, but you do think it's a good idea to spend my money on your invisible jets and Jacemobiles and Watchtowers and vibranium double-headed axes. Yeah, you're welcome."
ryanneon
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
this + slumbering dragon = huge bomb. that's a way better combo then what yall thought of. he get's bigger faster and if they try to kill Ajani, he still gets bigger. win-win
Lotsofpoopy
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(3 votes)
Put a +1 counter on a Bond Beetle because it is the right thing to do.
TheWrathofShane
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
His +1 is nice, his -3 wins games... and his ultimate is just bonkers.
chainsmoker
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
ajani got an awkward pose like he got hit by the balls. or like playing an imaginary guitar with his weapon(what kind of weapon is it anyway).
VasmanLight
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
20 2/2 White Cat Tokens FTW !
DarkonCrack
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Personally, I'm thinking a Modern Naya deck with Bloodbraid Elf and Sun Titan. Think about it, turn 3 with green mana ramp, drop the Elf hitting Ajani, then swing a 3/2 double strike, flier at the opponent. Later, bring back Ajani with Sun Titan and slam into the opponent for 12 flying. Use red to keep the field clear of opposing flyers with Lightning Bolt or maybe Char which are both good hits with Bloodbraid's cascade. I think it's a good contender against the Jund decks in Modern that do the same thing with Liliana of the Veil. It'll be the classic battle of Aggro vs. Control all over again.
saucyninja007
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
HOW in the world does this only cost THREE? good lord!
wholelottalove
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I agree.
*I use -8 ability and fills the battlefield with tokens*
*next person uses WOG*
me: Damnit.
DoragonShinzui
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
An interesting new incarnation of Ajani. He has no lifegain abilities of his own, though, which makes me sad. Old Ajani wall all about the pride uniting as one, and this guy has a +1/+1 for a single creature, an uberstrike for a single creature, and the ability to make an absolute mass of the buggers.
Could be interesting with the return of Exalted, though. that -3 turns your champ into a game ending bolt of lightning.
BongRipper420
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(3 votes)
Knowing white, that can be a lot of cats. Though his -3 ability is what really shines here. Flying and double strike just scream 'Win'.
SirMalkin
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
@ chainsmoker Ajani's weapon, if I remember right, is a staff composed of the axes of Ajani and his older brother, whose murder he later tried to avenge.
As for the card itself, it's found a nice home in my Kemba EDH deck alongside the old Ajani. A fitting place for it, I think.
JaceMysticMind
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
This card with the new format and Populate puts this card off the charts...defend him long enough to get to his ultimate and populate the shit out of the kitties,,,your opponent will be meowed to death...not to mention the ticking time bomb you create with this and Armada Wurm in the late game...use armada wurm to defend and keep growing him with the +1 ability of ajani...OMG!!!
kilianshaw
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Turn one: forest, avacyn pilgrim. turn two: Loxodon smiter (4/4 cant be countered) turn three: (total mana 4) Ajani and Rancor on loxodon, (loxodon 7-5) Swing. Turn four: ajani -3 loxodon swing 7-5 double strike for the kill. me: crying tears of joy
Ideatog
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Ajani the Crazy Cat Lady
GearLeader
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
BIG DADDY KITTY!
Continue
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Curves wonderfully into Sublime Archangel. If you can pop him while Archangel's out, that's a GG button. 5/5
Jojabi
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Love to put this in a White/Blue infect deck. Or with a bunch of double strike knights to take advantage of that +1
hot4boys
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(4 votes)
THE LE REDDIT MEME ARMY LEEJUN LOVES THIS CARD! 5 STARS IF YOU AGREE LOL XD!
Nagoragama
★☆☆☆☆ (1.0/5.0)(1 vote)
It's too bad the +1 isn't better. I really prefer control type planeswalkers for white, and while the -3 can win the game for you, it's unlikely you're ever going to use the ultimate.
Thornhillforge
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Season with Mikaeus, the Lunarch to taste. Every turn, drop a +1/+1 counter on each of your other creatures, while building up to Ajani's ultimate! I've won with that combo several times.
GhostCounselor
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Mix this with Trostani, Selesnya's Voice in a populate deck and I guarantee you that you'll ruin a lot of people's days in standard. Take it from someone who managed to be lucky enough to defeat such a combo with a black/white control deck, it's not easy and I was very lucky to be able to do such.
AnArmedBear
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I've always pictured his -3 to be him just picking up a creature and throwing it (Flying) like a boomerang (Double-strike).
edawg99
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
An ability should say: As long as Ajani doesnt get get dealt damage through 5 turns, you win the game
He's a little weak because he doesn't generate much of a board advantage with his abilities, but they can really put the pressure on your opponent. His -3 could end the game in just one shot.
I plan to use him in my Tajic EDH deck to pump my indestructible commander (allowing the few +1/+1 counters to go a long way), and to act as a finisher when he has battalion, or to get extra activations of sword of fire and ice and the like.
I don't think his -8 is very practical. It doesn't even end the game that turn so I think it's actually even pretty weak. The thing to like about this planeswalker is that he is only 3 mana, and starts with 4 loyalty counters.
aggro decks just don't want him. Silverblade paladin basically fills the same role ajani would do (in that they give double strike), and while ajani does give the creature flying and is harder to remove, his effect lasts only 1 turn while silverblade lasts for as long as its paired, then he would need to +1 twice before he can do it again, and that's just too slow. Silverblade can also attack for 2 damage double-striking while ajani only gives a single +1/+1 counter.
Control decks obviously don't want him.
In any midrange deck, would you rather have this or boros reckoner?
GalahadPC
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Doubling Season's fun with any planeswalker, but it's extra fun with planeswalkers that a) have an ultimate that's twice their starting loyalty, and b) make tokens.
For Ajani, a + b + 3 mana = approximately 40 2/2 cats.
rockmetal465
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I have a few questions about ajani. First off does he add +1/+1 to a creature every turn? Eventually making a 4/4 a 7/7 or higher? Second when ajani goes to the graveyard because of using his third ability do the counters disappear?
Comments (70)
+1 is boring (and why isn't this in Simic colors?). The -8 ability, if you get there, can be another good finisher. but outside of proliferating/doubling, getting there will take a while.
Solid 4/5
+1/+1 counters also makes Persist creatures more deadly.
Turn 1: champion of the parish
Turn 2: mikaeus with 1 counter on it. Champ is a 2/2.
Turn 3: Ajani, give mikaeus +1/+1. Give mikaeus' counters to the champion to make it a 3/3 or make mikaeus into a 3/3.
Turn 4:knight of glory or sublime archangel. Give mikaeus counters to everyone and you could even give an extra counter to your champion with ajani, he's now a 6/6 or so.
Turn 5: you've now got two turns to protect your champ with faith's shield and win with flying/double strike. Exalted will either make your champion into a 7/7 with the knight out, or an 11/11 with the angel out.
That is of course with no removal or hold ups, blah blah....
also, what would you rather see? A 14/14 creature when youre at 14 life, or 14x 2/2 cat warriors when youre at 14 life. Would go nicely with honor the pure, but I wouldn't suggest building a deck around the two cards.
This guy will see plenty of play in human weenie decks but ill be tossing him in a human R/W exalted deck. I just hope he doesn't get higher than $~36... And if he does, he'd better stick around for m14...
That said, I prefer the original to this guy. He is cheaper, sure, and his +1 is more relevant, but I like how Ajani Goldmane's second ability removes less loyalty counters and boosts your whole team rather than a single creature. Also, the final ability seems out of place, even after Zac Hill wrote about why it was design this way.
oh geez: ramp to turn three woolly thoctar and rancor, turn four drop Ajani 3.OOOOOoooh yeah. 14 damage will have to do..
Poor guy.
Tamiyo (Blue)
Tibalt (Red)
Ajani (White)
Liliana (Black)
I can't help but think there will be an epic new Green planeswalker or a powerful new Garruk in the vein of Jace the Mind Sculptor in the Return to Ravnica set. Slightly off-color for Ravnica (because it's supposed to be a plane where Planeswalkers can't travel) but hoping green finally gets a slice of the awesomeness that is new Planeswalkers.
Pray tell where you got a silly idea like that.
His -3 ability is actually more relevant now with the return of exalted. The whole point of exalted is to make a single creature much more powerful than a bunch of creatures combined. Adding evasion and doublestrike to an exalted creature is a nasty thing to do.
His art also reflects his -3 Ability. He has a two-bladed staff-thingy (double strike) and can throw creatures at your opponent.
Chitty-Chitty Bang Bang?
but i already plan on throwing my thundermaw into a mimic vat so...ouch o.o;
The best part of this card for me is it's 3cmc.
In a weenie deck, this makes the clock tick even faster (for your opponents)
Like the first two abilities, especially since you don't need to have a creature for his first. That last ability, I'm not entirely too impressed. So many cards like Ratchet Bomb, Black Sun's Zenith, Bonfire of the Damned, Terminus and even Mutilate kills it, makes that last ability not so great.
(-3 the one attacking alone. um, duh. and Exalted was a theme in M13. From Alara. and he's Alaran.)
Oh yeah, I'm definitely going to play Simba EVENTUALLY, but heck I ain't payin' Standard rates! I'll be glad when he rotates or gets reprinted. :)
On a Multiversal note: M12's theme was 'Gather Your Allies'. The Planeswalkers' stories have established that nearly all the characters are well acquainted as either friends or friends of friends. Ajani is the only 'good guy' that has had close personal dealings with Bolas. (on the scale of white and black, I'm calling Jace gray. He don't count.) This Ajani is a 'Caller' of his Pride. For a while, I thought that Karn might be the next leader/driving force behind any 'New Coalition'. Some people think it's gonna be Jace, because of Return to Ravnica. Here's my view:
Comparing the Planeswalkers to the Avengers, Jace is Nick Fury or Iron Man: well-connected, sends out the invites, a pretty badass douchebag.
Ajani is going to be the Captain America though- the leader of the team, the one giving orders on missions, because he's the only one who's actually a decent enough person that Elspeth, Koth, Jace, Garruk, and Sorin will all be willing to follow. It's very important that Ajani has a bit of a 'wild' past on Naya, otherwise Garruk (the Hulk) would be impossible to negotiate with.
Karn/Urza(?!) is totally, completely, epically THOR all over: "I'm older than all of you, wiser than all of you, I'm way more powerful, I have experience with these foes....and I'm so kind, good, and just that I recognize it's my duty to do everything I can to help your cause. *I* will fight FOR *you*, because I once tried to lead....and that turned out...umm sorry for all this stuff you have to clean up 1000 years later."
Sorin is going to be like Batman's relationship to the Justice League. "I'm here because you need me. I'm not going to follow your orders. I just happen to be doing what you said because it was already on my list. You all need a babysitter. I'm not the leader because none of you think that's a good idea, but you do think it's a good idea to spend my money on your invisible jets and Jacemobiles and Watchtowers and vibranium double-headed axes. Yeah, you're welcome."
*I use -8 ability and fills the battlefield with tokens*
*next person uses WOG*
me: Damnit.
Could be interesting with the return of Exalted, though. that -3 turns your champ into a game ending bolt of lightning.
Ajani's weapon, if I remember right, is a staff composed of the axes of Ajani and his older brother, whose murder he later tried to avenge.
As for the card itself, it's found a nice home in my Kemba EDH deck alongside the old Ajani. A fitting place for it, I think.
turn two: Loxodon smiter (4/4 cant be countered)
turn three: (total mana 4) Ajani and Rancor on loxodon, (loxodon 7-5) Swing.
Turn four: ajani -3 loxodon swing 7-5 double strike for the kill.
me: crying tears of joy
Every turn, drop a +1/+1 counter on each of your other creatures, while building up to Ajani's ultimate! I've won with that combo several times.
T2: Boros Charm
T3: This
T4: Spark Trooper and WIN
Swings for 12 flying damage and gain 12 life. 24 life difference between you both now, if he somehow gained life.
His +1 isn't bad, but its his -3 that really shines. Don't underestimate doubling something's combat damage and effects while also evading most creatures.
Other creatures that like him:
Augury Adept
Goblin Lackey
Wayfaring Temple
Stigma Lasher
Blazing Specter
Slith Firewalker
Cephalid Constable
Thada Adel, Acquisitor
I plan to use him in my Tajic EDH deck to pump my indestructible commander (allowing the few +1/+1 counters to go a long way), and to act as a finisher when he has battalion, or to get extra activations of sword of fire and ice and the like.
I don't think his -8 is very practical. It doesn't even end the game that turn so I think it's actually even pretty weak. The thing to like about this planeswalker is that he is only 3 mana, and starts with 4 loyalty counters.
Alternately, Detention Sphere.
aggro decks just don't want him. Silverblade paladin basically fills the same role ajani would do (in that they give double strike), and while ajani does give the creature flying and is harder to remove, his effect lasts only 1 turn while silverblade lasts for as long as its paired, then he would need to +1 twice before he can do it again, and that's just too slow. Silverblade can also attack for 2 damage double-striking while ajani only gives a single +1/+1 counter.
Control decks obviously don't want him.
In any midrange deck, would you rather have this or boros reckoner?
For Ajani, a + b + 3 mana = approximately 40 2/2 cats.