{"id":1835,"date":"2026-09-22T07:27:35","date_gmt":"2026-09-22T07:27:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/krakenthemeta.com\/blog\/mtg-monarch\/"},"modified":"2026-09-24T06:55:08","modified_gmt":"2026-09-24T06:55:08","slug":"mtg-monarch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/krakenthemeta.com\/blog\/mtg-monarch\/","title":{"rendered":"MTG Monarch Explained: Rules, All 63 Monarch Cards, the Ten Courts, Why the Crown Has Never Been Standard-Legal, the Pauper Ban, How to Keep It and Steal It, and a Budget Queen Marchesa Deck (2026)"},"content":{"rendered":"

The monarch is the crown that draws you a card at the end of every one of your turns and that any opponent can take from you by hitting you with a creature. It is not a keyword and it is not on a card: it is a designation<\/em>, a status the player holds, written into the Comprehensive Rules as rule 725 with two triggered abilities that have no source. It arrived in Conspiracy: Take the Crown in August 2016, has been printed on 63 cards across eleven products since, and in ten years it has never once appeared in a set that was legal in Standard, Pioneer or Modern — which is why it is a Commander mechanic, a Pauper mechanic and a Legacy mechanic and nothing else.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

This guide measures the crown rather than describing it. The Comprehensive Rules of 7 August 2026 define seventeen designations; twelve belong to permanents, one to the game itself, and four to a player. Two of the four are shared markers nobody can lose. The other two are single-holder titles that move on combat damage, and the monarch is the original<\/strong> — the initiative<\/a> copied its steal clause six years later. Below: the rules and the rulings that follow from them, all 63 cards with how each one hands you the crown (44 do it when a permanent enters; five hand it to an opponent instead), the eleven products and the formats, the ten Courts, the ten Pauper commons and the one Pauper ban, the Legacy contrast with the initiative, the cards that keep the crown and the cards that take it, the commanders, the fourteen precons on this site that hold a monarch card, and a Queen Marchesa Commander deck priced from the cheapest ordinary printings.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

\"Three
Queen Marchesa (art: Kieran Yanner), Palace Jailer (art: Bastien L. Deharme) and Court of Grace (art: Denman Rooke) — card images via Scryfall; © Wizards of the Coast.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n\r\n

What the monarch actually is<\/h2>\r\n\r\n

Rule 725 is short, and the whole mechanic is in its second paragraph:<\/p>\r\n\r\n

725.2 There are two inherent triggered abilities associated with being the monarch. These triggered abilities have no source and are controlled by the player who was the monarch at the time the abilities triggered. This is an exception to rule 113.8. The full texts of these abilities are “At the beginning of the monarch’s end step, that player draws a card” and “Whenever a creature deals combat damage to the monarch, its controller becomes the monarch.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\r\n\r\n

Four things follow from the wording, and every monarch ruling on Scryfall is one of them restated. First, the game starts with no monarch<\/strong> (725.1). Nothing happens until a card says “you become the monarch,” and from that moment the game has exactly one monarch until it ends — if the monarch leaves the game, the active player inherits the title, or the next player in turn order if the active player is the one leaving (725.4). Second, only one player can be the monarch at a time<\/strong> (725.3): becoming the monarch strips it from whoever had it, which is why “whenever you become the monarch” abilities like Custodi Lich’s do not trigger if you already are. Third, the draw and the steal are triggered abilities<\/strong>. They go on the stack, they can be responded to, and Stifle counters them. If the draw trigger is on the stack and someone else becomes the monarch before it resolves, the player who was the monarch when it triggered still draws the card. Fourth, the steal is combat damage only<\/strong>. A burn spell to the face, a Pestilence activation, a fight — none of them move the crown. A creature has to connect in combat, and it moves the crown to that creature’s controller, not to the attacking player if those differ.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

One more consequence that matters at the table: because the two abilities have no source, no card can remove them. You cannot Disenchant the monarch, bounce it or exile it. Once it exists, the only ways it moves are the steal trigger, a card that makes someone else the monarch, and a player leaving the game.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

What the draw is worth<\/h3>\r\n\r\n

“At the beginning of the monarch’s end step, that player draws a card” is one card per turn cycle for as long as you hold it. In a four-player game that is a card every fourth turn of the table — the same rate as Phyrexian Arena, without the life payment and without a permanent to destroy. In a two-player game it is a card every other turn, and the whole question of the format becomes whether the opponent can connect with a creature before the extra cards bury them. That is why the crown plays so differently in Commander and in Pauper: in one it is a mostly-shared resource that changes hands every combat, in the other it is a Phyrexian Arena the opponent can only turn off by winning the board.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

One of only two things a player can hold that another player can take in combat<\/h2>\r\n\r\n

The Comprehensive Rules use the word “designation” for a status that is neither an ability nor a characteristic — a marker the rules attach to an object, a player or the game. Read the 7 August 2026 text for every rule that defines one and there are seventeen. Twelve are things a permanent<\/em> can be: goaded, monstrous, Ring-bearer, suspected, harnessed, renowned, saddled, solved, prepared, a sector, a level, an unlocked half. One belongs to the game itself: day and night. Four belong to a player<\/em>, and they are the whole list.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\n\n
Designation<\/th>Rule<\/th>Introduced<\/th>Who can hold it<\/th>Can another player take it?<\/th>What it gives<\/th>Cards<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
The monarch<\/strong><\/td>725<\/td>Conspiracy: Take the Crown, 2016<\/td>One player at a time (725.3)<\/td>Yes<\/strong> — a creature dealing combat damage to the monarch crowns its controller (725.2)<\/td>Draw a card at your end step<\/td>63<\/td><\/tr>\n
The initiative<\/strong><\/td>726<\/td>Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur’s Gate, 2022<\/td>One player at a time (726.3)<\/td>Yes<\/strong> — creatures dealing combat damage to the holder hand it to their controller (726.2)<\/td>Venture into Undercity when taken and at your upkeep<\/td>24<\/td><\/tr>\n
The city’s blessing<\/strong><\/td>702.131c<\/td>Rivals of Ixalan, 2018<\/td>Any number of players at once<\/td>No — a marker with “no rules meaning”; kept for the rest of the game<\/td>Whatever the ascend card’s text checks for<\/td>27<\/td><\/tr>\n
An enduring story<\/strong><\/td>702.195b<\/td>The Hobbit, 2026<\/td>Any number of players at once<\/td>No — a marker with “no rules meaning”; kept for the rest of the game<\/td>Whatever the storied card’s text checks for<\/td>9<\/td><\/tr>\n<\/tbody><\/table>\r\n\r\n

Two of the four — the city’s blessing from ascend (Rivals of Ixalan, 2018) and the enduring story from storied (The Hobbit, 2026) — are written the same way: “a designation that has no rules meaning other than to act as a marker,” and “any number of players may have [it] at the same time.” You earn them, you keep them, nobody can take them. The other two are written the other way: “only one player can be the monarch at a time” (725.3), “only one player can have the initiative at a time” (726.3), and each carries a sourceless trigger that hands it to the controller of a creature that deals combat damage to the holder. The monarch (Conspiracy: Take the Crown, August 2016) is the original; the initiative (Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur’s Gate, June 2022) is the second player designation in Magic’s history that can be stolen by attacking.<\/strong> The initiative ventures into Undercity instead of drawing, triggers at the start of the holder’s upkeep instead of their end step, and adds a third trigger for taking it — but its 726.4 “if the player who has the initiative leaves the game” clause is a near-verbatim copy of 725.4.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\n\n
Designation<\/th>Rule<\/th>Belongs to<\/th>What the rule says<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
City\u2019s blessing<\/strong><\/td>702.131c<\/td>A player<\/td>The city\u2019s blessing is a designation that has no rules meaning other than to act as a marker that other rules and effects can identify.<\/td><\/tr>\n
Enduring story<\/strong><\/td>702.195b<\/td>A player<\/td>Enduring story is a designation that has no rules meaning other than to act as a marker that other rules and effects can identify.<\/td><\/tr>\n
Monarch<\/strong><\/td>725.1<\/td>A player<\/td>The monarch is a designation a player can have.<\/td><\/tr>\n
Initiative<\/strong><\/td>726.1<\/td>A player<\/td>The initiative is a designation a player can have.<\/td><\/tr>\n
Day and night<\/strong><\/td>731.1<\/td>The game itself<\/td>Day and night are designations that the game itself can have.<\/td><\/tr>\n
Goaded<\/strong><\/td>701.15b<\/td>A permanent<\/td>Goaded is a designation a permanent can have.<\/td><\/tr>\n
Monstrous<\/strong><\/td>701.37b<\/td>A permanent<\/td>Monstrous is a designation that has no rules meaning other than to act as a marker that the monstrosity action and other spells and abilities can identify.<\/td><\/tr>\n
Ring-bearer<\/strong><\/td>701.54b<\/td>A permanent<\/td>Ring-bearer is a designation a permanent can have.<\/td><\/tr>\n
Suspected<\/strong><\/td>701.60b<\/td>A permanent<\/td>Suspected is a designation a permanent can have.<\/td><\/tr>\n
Harnessed<\/strong><\/td>701.64b<\/td>A permanent<\/td>Harnessed is a designation that has no rules meaning other than to act as a marker that other spells and abilities can identify.<\/td><\/tr>\n
Renowned<\/strong><\/td>702.112b<\/td>A permanent<\/td>Renowned is a designation that has no rules meaning other than to act as a marker that the renown ability and other spells and abilities can identify.<\/td><\/tr>\n
Sector designation<\/strong><\/td>702.158b<\/td>A permanent<\/td>A sector designation is a designation a permanent can have.<\/td><\/tr>\n
Saddled<\/strong><\/td>702.171b<\/td>A permanent<\/td>Saddled is a designation that has no rules meaning other than to act as a marker that spells and abilities can identify.<\/td><\/tr>\n
Left half unlocked \/ right half unlocked<\/strong><\/td>709.5c<\/td>A permanent<\/td>\u201cLeft half unlocked\u201d and \u201cright half unlocked\u201d are designations that a permanent on the battlefield can have.<\/td><\/tr>\n
Level<\/strong><\/td>716.2b<\/td>A permanent<\/td>A level is a designation that any permanent can have.<\/td><\/tr>\n
Solved<\/strong><\/td>719.3b<\/td>A permanent<\/td>Solved is a designation a permanent can have.<\/td><\/tr>\n
Prepared<\/strong><\/td>722.3a<\/td>A permanent<\/td>Some spells and abilities cause a permanent with a prepare spell to become prepared or state that a permanent enters prepared.<\/td><\/tr>\n<\/tbody><\/table>\r\n\r\n

How you become the monarch: 44 of 63 hand it over when a permanent enters<\/h2>\r\n\r\n

Scryfall’s oracle-text search o:monarch<\/code> returns 63 paper cards (there is no keyword:monarch<\/code>; the crown is not a keyword, and asking Scryfall for it returns every card in the game). Sixty are on sale today; three — Ginger, Queen of Sweets and Tamiyo, Upriser Crowned from Reality Fracture Commander (2 October 2026) and Chief Magistrate of Mercadia from Mystery Booster Commander Edition (9 November 2026) — are previewed cards that are not yet legal anywhere and are tabled below with that caveat. Read each card for how<\/em> the crown changes hands and the 63 sort into seven kinds.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\n\n
How the crown moves<\/th>Cards<\/th>Share<\/th>Every card<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Enters (itself)<\/strong><\/td>39<\/td>62%<\/td>Aragorn, King of Gondor, Archon of Coronation, Azure Fleet Admiral, Canal Courier, Champions of Minas Tirith, Chief Magistrate of Mercadia, Court of Ambition, Court of Ardenvale, Court of Bounty, Court of Cunning, Court of Embereth, Court of Garenbrig, Court of Grace, Court of Ire, Court of Locthwain, Court of Vantress, Crimson Fleet Commodore, Crown-Hunter Hireling, Custodi Lich, Dawnglade Regent, Emberwilde Captain, Entourage of Trest, Ginger, Queen of Sweets, Grave Venerations, Keeper of Keys, Knights of the Black Rose, Marchesa’s Decree, Okoye, Mighty and Adored, Palace Jailer, Palace Sentinels, Protector of the Crown, Queen Marchesa, Queen Mother Ramonda, Regal Behemoth, Skyline Despot, Staunch Throneguard, Tamiyo, Upriser Crowned, The Spear of Bashenga, Thorn of the Black Rose<\/td><\/tr>\n
Another permanent enters<\/strong><\/td>5<\/td>8%<\/td>Crown of Gondor, Fall from Favor, Faramir, Steward of Gondor, Fealty to the Realm, Nakia, Wakandan Operative<\/td><\/tr>\n
Activated ability<\/strong><\/td>4<\/td>6%<\/td>Coin of Fate, King Solomon’s Frogs, T’Chaka, Venerable King, Throne of the High City<\/td><\/tr>\n
Spell, chapter or other trigger<\/strong><\/td>7<\/td>11%<\/td>Archivist of Gondor, Feast of Succession, Fight for the Throne, Heart-Shaped Herb, Oath of Eorl, Regal Sliver, Starscream, Power Hungry<\/td><\/tr>\n
Combat damage<\/strong><\/td>1<\/td>2%<\/td>Forth Eorlingas!<\/td><\/tr>\n
Gives it to someone else<\/strong><\/td>5<\/td>8%<\/td>Denethor, Stone Seer, Garland, Royal Kidnapper, Jared Carthalion, True Heir, M’Baku, Jabari Chieftain, \u00c9omer, King of Rohan<\/td><\/tr>\n
Payoff only<\/strong><\/td>2<\/td>3%<\/td>Garrulous Sycophant, Throne Warden<\/td><\/tr>\n<\/tbody><\/table>\r\n\r\n

The dominant pattern is the one Conspiracy set in 2016: “When this creature enters, you become the monarch”<\/strong> and its enchantment twin, 39 cards in all, from the four-mana Palace Sentinels to the ten Courts. Five more crown you when another<\/em> permanent enters — Faramir, Steward of Gondor on any legendary creature with mana value four or more, Nakia, Wakandan Operative on your commander, Crown of Gondor on any legendary creature if nobody is the monarch yet, and the two Auras (Fall from Favor, Fealty to the Realm) on themselves. Four are activated abilities with a real cost attached: Throne of the High City sacrifices itself for {4}, Coin of Fate exiles two creature cards from your graveyard and sacrifices itself, King Solomon’s Frogs exiles itself, T’Chaka, Venerable King exiles himself from your graveyard. Seven crown you when a spell or a chapter resolves or some other trigger fires (Feast of Succession, Oath of Eorl’s third chapter, Regal Sliver’s granted enters ability). Exactly one card in the game makes you the monarch through the crown’s own mechanism — Forth Eorlingas!<\/strong>, whose delayed trigger crowns you when any of your creatures deal combat damage to a player that turn, whether or not that player was the monarch. And two cards (Garrulous Sycophant, Throne Warden) only reward the crown without ever granting it.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

The five that give the crown to an opponent<\/h3>\r\n\r\n

The most interesting design space is the one Commander Legends opened in 2020 with Jared Carthalion, True Heir: hand the crown to an opponent on purpose<\/strong>, then hit them. Jared crowns a target opponent and forbids you from taking it that turn; \u00c9omer, King of Rohan and Denethor, Stone Seer crown a target player and deal damage in the same breath; Garland, Royal Kidnapper crowns an opponent and then steals a creature from them for as long as they hold it; M’Baku, Jabari Chieftain crowns an opponent at your end step if nobody has it and pumps every creature that attacks them. The crown is a card a turn to whoever holds it — but it is also a target painted on their forehead, because every other player at the table now has a reason to attack them instead of you. Four further cards punish an opponent for holding it: Queen Marchesa makes a deathtouch Assassin every upkeep an opponent is the monarch, Knights of the Black Rose drains two when someone takes it from you, Palace Jailer’s exile lasts “until an opponent becomes the monarch,” and Garland’s theft above.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\n\n
Card<\/th>Cost<\/th>Role<\/th>What it does<\/th>First printed<\/th>Price<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Jared Carthalion, True Heir<\/strong><\/td>{R}{G}{W}<\/td>Gives the crown to an opponent<\/td>When Jared Carthalion enters, target opponent becomes the monarch. You can’t become the monarch this turn. \/ If damage would be dealt to Jared Carthalion while you’re the monarch, prevent that damage and put that many +1\/+1 counters on it.<\/td>Commander Legends, 2020<\/td>$0.20<\/td><\/tr>\n
\u00c9omer, King of Rohan<\/strong><\/td>{3}{R}{W}<\/td>Gives the crown to an opponent<\/td>Double strike \/ \u00c9omer enters with a +1\/+1 counter on it for each other Human you control. \/ When \u00c9omer enters, target player becomes the monarch. \u00c9omer deals damage equal to its power to any target.<\/td>Tales of Middle-earth Commander, 2023<\/td>$0.37<\/td><\/tr>\n
Denethor, Stone Seer<\/strong><\/td>{1}{U}<\/td>Gives the crown to an opponent<\/td>When Denethor enters, scry 2. \/ {3}{R}, {T}, Sacrifice Denethor: Target player becomes the monarch. Denethor deals 3 damage to any target.<\/td>Tales of Middle-earth Commander, 2023<\/td>$0.21<\/td><\/tr>\n
Garland, Royal Kidnapper<\/strong><\/td>{2}{U}{B}<\/td>Gives the crown to an opponent<\/td>When Garland enters, target opponent becomes the monarch. \/ Whenever an opponent becomes the monarch, gain control of target creature that player controls for as long as they’re the monarch. \/ Creatures you control but don’t own get +2\/+2 and can’t be sacrificed.<\/td>Final Fantasy Commander, 2025<\/td>$7.29<\/td><\/tr>\n
M’Baku, Jabari Chieftain<\/strong><\/td>{1}{G}{G}<\/td>Gives the crown to an opponent<\/td>At the beginning of your end step, if there is no monarch, target opponent becomes the monarch. \/ Whenever a creature attacks one of your opponents, if that player is the monarch, that creature gets +1\/+1 and gains trample until end of turn.<\/td>Marvel Super Heroes Commander, 2026<\/td>$0.23<\/td><\/tr>\n
Queen Marchesa<\/strong><\/td>{1}{R}{W}{B}<\/td>Punishes an opponent for holding it<\/td>Deathtouch, haste \/ When Queen Marchesa enters, you become the monarch. \/ At the beginning of your upkeep, if an opponent is the monarch, create a 1\/1 black Assassin creature token with deathtouch and haste.<\/td>Conspiracy: Take the Crown, 2016<\/td>$1.12<\/td><\/tr>\n
Knights of the Black Rose<\/strong><\/td>{3}{W}{B}<\/td>Punishes an opponent for holding it<\/td>When this creature enters, you become the monarch. \/ Whenever an opponent becomes the monarch, if you were the monarch as the turn began, that player loses 2 life and you gain 2 life.<\/td>Conspiracy: Take the Crown, 2016<\/td>$0.30<\/td><\/tr>\n
Palace Jailer<\/strong><\/td>{2}{W}{W}<\/td>Punishes an opponent for holding it<\/td>When this creature enters, you become the monarch. \/ When this creature enters, exile target creature an opponent controls until an opponent becomes the monarch.<\/td>Conspiracy: Take the Crown, 2016<\/td>$0.16<\/td><\/tr>\n<\/tbody><\/table>\r\n\r\n

Five cards carry the clause “if there is no monarch”<\/strong> — Archivist of Gondor, Crown of Gondor, M’Baku, The Spear of Bashenga and Starscream’s vehicle face. They create the crown but never seize it, which makes them the safest monarch cards to run at a table that resents the mechanic: they only ever start the game, never restart it.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

\"Aragorn,
Aragorn, King of Gondor — the second-most-played monarch commander on EDHREC. Art by Yongjae Choi, Tales of Middle-earth Commander; © Wizards of the Coast, via Scryfall.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n\r\n

Every monarch card in Magic: all 63, oldest first<\/h2>\r\n\r\n

Every row below was read from Scryfall on 22 September 2026: mana cost, type, the card’s full monarch text, the set of its first printing (pulled through Scryfall’s set endpoint, never labelled from a code), rarity, the cheapest ordinary printing (promos, box toppers and Secret Lairs excluded) and its EDHREC rank. The population is 39 creatures (14 of them legendary), 15 enchantments (the ten Courts, two Auras, a Saga and two plain enchantments), five non-creature artifacts, one land, one instant and two sorceries; 44 rare, three mythic, five uncommon and eleven common; 13 mono-white, nine mono-black, eight mono-blue, eight mono-green, six mono-red, five colourless and 14 multicoloured. Mean mana value 4.16. The 60 released cards cost $93.13 together at the cheapest ordinary printing, 45 of them under a dollar<\/strong>; Court of Garenbrig at $16.16 is the only one over ten, and the ten Courts together ($54.26) are 58% of the whole population’s price. Queen Marchesa, the most-printed monarch card at nine printings, is $1.12.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\n\n
Card<\/th>Cost<\/th>Type<\/th>How it touches the crown<\/th>Monarch text<\/th>First printed<\/th>Rarity<\/th>Price<\/th>EDHREC rank<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Canal Courier<\/strong><\/td>{5}{U}<\/td>Creature \u2014 Human Rogue<\/td>Enters (itself)<\/td>When it enters, you become the monarch.<\/td>Conspiracy: Take the Crown, 2016<\/td>common<\/td>$0.21<\/td>#24,168<\/td><\/tr>\n
Crown-Hunter Hireling<\/strong><\/td>{4}{R}<\/td>Creature \u2014 Ogre Mercenary<\/td>Enters (itself)<\/td>When it enters, you become the monarch. \/ This creature can’t attack unless defending player is the monarch.<\/td>Conspiracy: Take the Crown, 2016<\/td>common<\/td>$0.17<\/td>#24,692<\/td><\/tr>\n
Custodi Lich<\/strong><\/td>{3}{B}{B}<\/td>Creature \u2014 Zombie Cleric<\/td>Enters (itself)<\/td>When it enters, you become the monarch. \/ Whenever you become the monarch, target player sacrifices a creature of their choice.<\/td>Conspiracy: Take the Crown, 2016<\/td>rare<\/td>$0.38<\/td>#9,831<\/td><\/tr>\n
Entourage of Trest<\/strong><\/td>{4}{G}<\/td>Creature \u2014 Elf Soldier<\/td>Enters (itself)<\/td>When it enters, you become the monarch. \/ This creature can block an additional creature each combat as long as you’re the monarch.<\/td>Conspiracy: Take the Crown, 2016<\/td>common<\/td>$0.08<\/td>#17,237<\/td><\/tr>\n
Garrulous Sycophant<\/strong><\/td>{2}{B}<\/td>Creature \u2014 Human Advisor<\/td>Payoff only<\/td>At the beginning of your end step, if you’re the monarch, each opponent loses 1 life and you gain 1 life.<\/td>Conspiracy: Take the Crown, 2016<\/td>common<\/td>$0.29<\/td>#16,828<\/td><\/tr>\n
Keeper of Keys<\/strong><\/td>{3}{U}{U}<\/td>Creature \u2014 Human Rogue Mutant<\/td>Enters (itself)<\/td>When it enters, you become the monarch. \/ At the beginning of your upkeep, if you’re the monarch, creatures you control can’t be blocked this turn.<\/td>Conspiracy: Take the Crown, 2016<\/td>rare<\/td>$4.16<\/td>#12,283<\/td><\/tr>\n
Knights of the Black Rose<\/strong><\/td>{3}{W}{B}<\/td>Creature \u2014 Human Knight<\/td>Enters (itself)<\/td>When it enters, you become the monarch. \/ Whenever an opponent becomes the monarch, if you were the monarch as the turn began, that player loses 2 life and you gain 2 life.<\/td>Conspiracy: Take the Crown, 2016<\/td>uncommon<\/td>$0.30<\/td>#11,954<\/td><\/tr>\n
Marchesa’s Decree<\/strong><\/td>{3}{B}<\/td>Enchantment<\/td>Enters (itself)<\/td>When it enters, you become the monarch.<\/td>Conspiracy: Take the Crown, 2016<\/td>uncommon<\/td>$0.77<\/td>#7,105<\/td><\/tr>\n
Palace Jailer<\/strong><\/td>{2}{W}{W}<\/td>Creature \u2014 Human Soldier<\/td>Enters (itself)<\/td>When it enters, you become the monarch. \/ When it enters, exile target creature an opponent controls until an opponent becomes the monarch.<\/td>Conspiracy: Take the Crown, 2016<\/td>uncommon<\/td>$0.16<\/td>#4,011<\/td><\/tr>\n
Palace Sentinels<\/strong><\/td>{3}{W}<\/td>Creature \u2014 Human Soldier<\/td>Enters (itself)<\/td>When it enters, you become the monarch.<\/td>Conspiracy: Take the Crown, 2016<\/td>common<\/td>$0.17<\/td>#15,295<\/td><\/tr>\n
Protector of the Crown<\/strong><\/td>{5}{W}<\/td>Creature \u2014 Giant Soldier<\/td>Enters (itself)<\/td>When it enters, you become the monarch.<\/td>Conspiracy: Take the Crown, 2016<\/td>rare<\/td>$2.85<\/td>#11,335<\/td><\/tr>\n
Queen Marchesa<\/strong><\/td>{1}{R}{W}{B}<\/td>Legendary Creature \u2014 Human Assassin<\/td>Enters (itself)<\/td>When Queen Marchesa enters, you become the monarch. \/ At the beginning of your upkeep, if an opponent is the monarch, create a 1\/1 black Assassin creature token with deathtouch and haste.<\/td>Conspiracy: Take the Crown, 2016<\/td>rare<\/td>$1.12<\/td>#2,670<\/td><\/tr>\n
Regal Behemoth<\/strong><\/td>{4}{G}{G}<\/td>Creature \u2014 Dinosaur<\/td>Enters (itself)<\/td>When it enters, you become the monarch. \/ Whenever you tap a land for mana while you’re the monarch, add an additional one mana of any color.<\/td>Conspiracy: Take the Crown, 2016<\/td>rare<\/td>$0.54<\/td>#2,414<\/td><\/tr>\n
Skyline Despot<\/strong><\/td>{5}{R}{R}<\/td>Creature \u2014 Dragon<\/td>Enters (itself)<\/td>When it enters, you become the monarch. \/ At the beginning of your upkeep, if you’re the monarch, create a 5\/5 red Dragon creature token with flying.<\/td>Conspiracy: Take the Crown, 2016<\/td>uncommon<\/td>$0.58<\/td>#3,730<\/td><\/tr>\n
Thorn of the Black Rose<\/strong><\/td>{3}{B}<\/td>Creature \u2014 Human Assassin<\/td>Enters (itself)<\/td>When it enters, you become the monarch.<\/td>Conspiracy: Take the Crown, 2016<\/td>common<\/td>$0.18<\/td>#9,636<\/td><\/tr>\n
Throne of the High City<\/strong><\/td>—<\/td>Land<\/td>Activated ability<\/td>{4}, {T}, Sacrifice it: You become the monarch.<\/td>Conspiracy: Take the Crown, 2016<\/td>rare<\/td>$0.25<\/td>#4,348<\/td><\/tr>\n
Throne Warden<\/strong><\/td>{1}{W}<\/td>Creature \u2014 Human Soldier<\/td>Payoff only<\/td>At the beginning of your end step, if you’re the monarch, put a +1\/+1 counter on it.<\/td>Conspiracy: Take the Crown, 2016<\/td>common<\/td>$0.29<\/td>#17,839<\/td><\/tr>\n
Archon of Coronation<\/strong><\/td>{4}{W}{W}<\/td>Creature \u2014 Archon<\/td>Enters (itself)<\/td>When it enters, you become the monarch. \/ As long as you’re the monarch, damage doesn’t cause you to lose life.<\/td>Commander Legends, 2020<\/td>mythic<\/td>$0.45<\/td>#6,782<\/td><\/tr>\n
Azure Fleet Admiral<\/strong><\/td>{3}{U}<\/td>Creature \u2014 Human Pirate<\/td>Enters (itself)<\/td>When it enters, you become the monarch. \/ This creature can’t be blocked by creatures the monarch controls.<\/td>Commander Legends, 2020<\/td>common<\/td>$0.14<\/td>#10,157<\/td><\/tr>\n
Court of Ambition<\/strong><\/td>{2}{B}{B}<\/td>Enchantment<\/td>Enters (itself)<\/td>When it enters, you become the monarch. \/ At the beginning of your upkeep, each opponent loses 3 life unless they discard a card. If you’re the monarch, instead each opponent loses 6 life unless they discard two cards.<\/td>Commander Legends, 2020<\/td>rare<\/td>$5.44<\/td>#2,515<\/td><\/tr>\n
Court of Bounty<\/strong><\/td>{2}{G}{G}<\/td>Enchantment<\/td>Enters (itself)<\/td>When it enters, you become the monarch. \/ At the beginning of your upkeep, you may put a land card from your hand onto the battlefield. If you’re the monarch, instead you may put a creature or land card from your hand onto the battlefield.<\/td>Commander Legends, 2020<\/td>rare<\/td>$0.99<\/td>#6,478<\/td><\/tr>\n
Court of Cunning<\/strong><\/td>{1}{U}{U}<\/td>Enchantment<\/td>Enters (itself)<\/td>When it enters, you become the monarch. \/ At the beginning of your upkeep, any number of target players each mill two cards. If you’re the monarch, each of those players mills ten cards instead.<\/td>Commander Legends, 2020<\/td>rare<\/td>$4.13<\/td>#2,719<\/td><\/tr>\n
Court of Grace<\/strong><\/td>{2}{W}{W}<\/td>Enchantment<\/td>Enters (itself)<\/td>When it enters, you become the monarch. \/ At the beginning of your upkeep, create a 1\/1 white Spirit creature token with flying. If you’re the monarch, create a 4\/4 white Angel creature token with flying instead.<\/td>Commander Legends, 2020<\/td>rare<\/td>$2.86<\/td>#1,667<\/td><\/tr>\n
Court of Ire<\/strong><\/td>{3}{R}{R}<\/td>Enchantment<\/td>Enters (itself)<\/td>When it enters, you become the monarch. \/ At the beginning of your upkeep, it deals 2 damage to any target. If you’re the monarch, it deals 7 damage instead.<\/td>Commander Legends, 2020<\/td>rare<\/td>$0.37<\/td>#3,294<\/td><\/tr>\n
Crimson Fleet Commodore<\/strong><\/td>{3}{R}<\/td>Creature \u2014 Ogre Pirate<\/td>Enters (itself)<\/td>When it enters, you become the monarch.<\/td>Commander Legends, 2020<\/td>common<\/td>$0.11<\/td>#14,378<\/td><\/tr>\n
Dawnglade Regent<\/strong><\/td>{5}{G}{G}<\/td>Creature \u2014 Elk<\/td>Enters (itself)<\/td>When it enters, you become the monarch. \/ As long as you’re the monarch, permanents you control have hexproof.<\/td>Commander Legends, 2020<\/td>rare<\/td>$0.56<\/td>#5,660<\/td><\/tr>\n
Emberwilde Captain<\/strong><\/td>{3}{R}<\/td>Creature \u2014 Djinn Pirate<\/td>Enters (itself)<\/td>When it enters, you become the monarch. \/ Whenever an opponent attacks you while you’re the monarch, it deals damage to that player equal to the number of cards in their hand.<\/td>Commander Legends, 2020<\/td>rare<\/td>$2.01<\/td>#4,076<\/td><\/tr>\n
Fall from Favor<\/strong><\/td>{2}{U}<\/td>Enchantment \u2014 Aura<\/td>Another permanent enters<\/td>When it enters, tap enchanted creature and you become the monarch. \/ Enchanted creature doesn’t untap during its controller’s untap step unless that player is the monarch.<\/td>Commander Legends, 2020<\/td>common<\/td>$0.17<\/td>#14,935<\/td><\/tr>\n
Feast of Succession<\/strong><\/td>{4}{B}{B}<\/td>Sorcery<\/td>Spell, chapter or other trigger<\/td>All creatures get -4\/-4 until end of turn. You become the monarch.<\/td>Commander Legends, 2020<\/td>uncommon<\/td>$0.20<\/td>#15,043<\/td><\/tr>\n
Jared Carthalion, True Heir<\/strong><\/td>{R}{G}{W}<\/td>Legendary Creature \u2014 Human Warrior<\/td>Gives it to someone else<\/td>When Jared Carthalion enters, target opponent becomes the monarch. You can’t become the monarch this turn. \/ If damage would be dealt to Jared Carthalion while you’re the monarch, prevent that damage and put that many +1\/+1 counters on it.<\/td>Commander Legends, 2020<\/td>rare<\/td>$0.20<\/td>#14,354<\/td><\/tr>\n
Staunch Throneguard<\/strong><\/td>{5}<\/td>Artifact Creature \u2014 Construct<\/td>Enters (itself)<\/td>When it enters, you become the monarch.<\/td>Commander Legends, 2020<\/td>common<\/td>$0.13<\/td>#17,250<\/td><\/tr>\n
Starscream, Power Hungry<\/strong><\/td>{3}{B}<\/td>Legendary Artifact Creature \u2014 Robot<\/td>Spell, chapter or other trigger<\/td>Whenever you draw a card, if you’re the monarch, target opponent loses 2 life. \/ Whenever Starscream deals combat damage to a player, if there is no monarch, that player becomes the monarch. \/ Whenever you become the monarch, convert Starscream.<\/td>Transformers, 2022<\/td>mythic<\/td>$4.38<\/td>#6,723<\/td><\/tr>\n
Aragorn, King of Gondor<\/strong><\/td>{1}{U}{R}{W}<\/td>Legendary Creature \u2014 Human Noble<\/td>Enters (itself)<\/td>When Aragorn enters, you become the monarch. \/ Whenever Aragorn attacks, up to one target creature can’t block this turn. If you’re the monarch, creatures can’t block this turn.<\/td>Tales of Middle-earth Commander, 2023<\/td>mythic<\/td>$0.70<\/td>#4,089<\/td><\/tr>\n
Archivist of Gondor<\/strong><\/td>{2}{U}<\/td>Creature \u2014 Human Advisor<\/td>Spell, chapter or other trigger<\/td>When your commander deals combat damage to a player, if there is no monarch, you become the monarch. \/ At the beginning of the monarch’s end step, that player draws a card.<\/td>Tales of Middle-earth Commander, 2023<\/td>rare<\/td>$0.30<\/td>#9,999<\/td><\/tr>\n
Champions of Minas Tirith<\/strong><\/td>{5}{W}<\/td>Creature \u2014 Human Soldier<\/td>Enters (itself)<\/td>When it enters, you become the monarch. \/ At the beginning of combat on each opponent’s turn, if you’re the monarch, that opponent may pay {X}, where X is the number of cards in their hand. If they don’t, they can’t attack you this combat.<\/td>Tales of Middle-earth Commander, 2023<\/td>rare<\/td>$0.37<\/td>#5,241<\/td><\/tr>\n
Crown of Gondor<\/strong><\/td>{3}<\/td>Legendary Artifact \u2014 Equipment<\/td>Another permanent enters<\/td>When a legendary creature you control enters, if there is no monarch, you become the monarch. \/ Equip {4}. This ability costs {3} less to activate if you’re the monarch.<\/td>Tales of Middle-earth Commander, 2023<\/td>rare<\/td>$0.41<\/td>#5,557<\/td><\/tr>\n
Denethor, Stone Seer<\/strong><\/td>{1}{U}<\/td>Legendary Creature \u2014 Human Noble<\/td>Gives it to someone else<\/td>{3}{R}, {T}, Sacrifice Denethor: Target player becomes the monarch. Denethor deals 3 damage to any target.<\/td>Tales of Middle-earth Commander, 2023<\/td>rare<\/td>$0.21<\/td>#15,560<\/td><\/tr>\n
\u00c9omer, King of Rohan<\/strong><\/td>{3}{R}{W}<\/td>Legendary Creature \u2014 Human Noble<\/td>Gives it to someone else<\/td>When \u00c9omer enters, target player becomes the monarch. \u00c9omer deals damage equal to its power to any target.<\/td>Tales of Middle-earth Commander, 2023<\/td>rare<\/td>$0.37<\/td>#4,798<\/td><\/tr>\n
Faramir, Steward of Gondor<\/strong><\/td>{1}{W}{U}<\/td>Legendary Creature \u2014 Human Noble<\/td>Another permanent enters<\/td>Whenever a legendary creature you control with mana value 4 or greater enters, you become the monarch. \/ At the beginning of your end step, if you’re the monarch, create two 1\/1 white Human Soldier creature tokens.<\/td>Tales of Middle-earth Commander, 2023<\/td>rare<\/td>$0.34<\/td>#5,251<\/td><\/tr>\n
Fealty to the Realm<\/strong><\/td>{4}{U}<\/td>Enchantment \u2014 Aura<\/td>Another permanent enters<\/td>When it enters, you become the monarch. \/ The monarch controls enchanted creature.<\/td>Tales of Middle-earth Commander, 2023<\/td>rare<\/td>$0.41<\/td>#10,350<\/td><\/tr>\n
Forth Eorlingas!<\/strong><\/td>{X}{R}{W}<\/td>Sorcery<\/td>Combat damage<\/td>Whenever one or more creatures you control deal combat damage to one or more players this turn, you become the monarch.<\/td>Tales of Middle-earth Commander, 2023<\/td>rare<\/td>$3.54<\/td>#3,200<\/td><\/tr>\n
Oath of Eorl<\/strong><\/td>{3}{R}{W}<\/td>Enchantment \u2014 Saga<\/td>Spell, chapter or other trigger<\/td>III \u2014 Put an indestructible counter on up to one target Human. You become the monarch.<\/td>Tales of Middle-earth Commander, 2023<\/td>rare<\/td>$0.32<\/td>#7,163<\/td><\/tr>\n
Regal Sliver<\/strong><\/td>{3}{W}<\/td>Creature \u2014 Sliver<\/td>Spell, chapter or other trigger<\/td>Sliver creatures you control have “When it enters, Slivers you control get +1\/+1 until end of turn if you’re the monarch. Otherwise, you become the monarch.”<\/td>Commander Masters, 2023<\/td>rare<\/td>$0.75<\/td>#9,870<\/td><\/tr>\n
Court of Ardenvale<\/strong><\/td>{2}{W}{W}<\/td>Enchantment<\/td>Enters (itself)<\/td>When it enters, you become the monarch. \/ At the beginning of your upkeep, return target permanent card with mana value 3 or less from your graveyard to your hand. If you’re the monarch, return that permanent card to the battlefield instead.<\/td>Wilds of Eldraine Commander, 2023<\/td>rare<\/td>$8.93<\/td>#3,759<\/td><\/tr>\n
Court of Embereth<\/strong><\/td>{2}{R}{R}<\/td>Enchantment<\/td>Enters (itself)<\/td>When it enters, you become the monarch. \/ At the beginning of your upkeep, create a 3\/1 red Knight creature token. Then if you’re the monarch, it deals X damage to each opponent, where X is the number of creatures you control.<\/td>Wilds of Eldraine Commander, 2023<\/td>rare<\/td>$5.34<\/td>#3,760<\/td><\/tr>\n
Court of Garenbrig<\/strong><\/td>{1}{G}{G}<\/td>Enchantment<\/td>Enters (itself)<\/td>When it enters, you become the monarch. \/ At the beginning of your upkeep, distribute two +1\/+1 counters among up to two target creatures. Then if you’re the monarch, double the number of +1\/+1 counters on each creature you control.<\/td>Wilds of Eldraine Commander, 2023<\/td>rare<\/td>$16.16<\/td>#2,253<\/td><\/tr>\n
Court of Locthwain<\/strong><\/td>{2}{B}{B}<\/td>Enchantment<\/td>Enters (itself)<\/td>When it enters, you become the monarch. \/ At the beginning of your upkeep, exile the top card of target opponent’s library. You may play that card for as long as it remains exiled, and mana of any type can be spent to cast it. If you’re the monarch, until end of turn, you may cast a spell from among cards exiled with it without paying its mana cost.<\/td>Wilds of Eldraine Commander, 2023<\/td>rare<\/td>$4.99<\/td>#3,370<\/td><\/tr>\n
Court of Vantress<\/strong><\/td>{2}{U}{U}<\/td>Enchantment<\/td>Enters (itself)<\/td>When it enters, you become the monarch. \/ At the beginning of your upkeep, choose up to one other target enchantment or artifact. If you’re the monarch, you may create a token that’s a copy of it. If you’re not the monarch, you may have it become a copy of it, except it has this ability.<\/td>Wilds of Eldraine Commander, 2023<\/td>rare<\/td>$5.05<\/td>#3,225<\/td><\/tr>\n
Coin of Fate<\/strong><\/td>{1}{W}<\/td>Artifact<\/td>Activated ability<\/td>{3}{W}, {T}, Exile two creature cards from your graveyard, Sacrifice it: An opponent chooses one of the exiled cards. You put that card on the bottom of your library and return the other to the battlefield tapped. You become the monarch.<\/td>Final Fantasy Commander, 2025<\/td>rare<\/td>$0.17<\/td>#13,534<\/td><\/tr>\n
Garland, Royal Kidnapper<\/strong><\/td>{2}{U}{B}<\/td>Legendary Creature \u2014 Human Knight<\/td>Gives it to someone else<\/td>When Garland enters, target opponent becomes the monarch. \/ Whenever an opponent becomes the monarch, gain control of target creature that player controls for as long as they’re the monarch.<\/td>Final Fantasy Commander, 2025<\/td>rare<\/td>$7.29<\/td>#12,261<\/td><\/tr>\n
Grave Venerations<\/strong><\/td>{3}{B}<\/td>Enchantment<\/td>Enters (itself)<\/td>When it enters, you become the monarch. \/ At the beginning of your end step, if you’re the monarch, return up to one target creature card from your graveyard to your hand.<\/td>Lorwyn Eclipsed Commander, 2026<\/td>rare<\/td>$0.49<\/td>#4,219<\/td><\/tr>\n
Fight for the Throne<\/strong><\/td>{1}{G}<\/td>Instant<\/td>Spell, chapter or other trigger<\/td>Put a +1\/+1 counter on target creature you control. Then it fights target creature an opponent controls. When the creature an opponent controls dies this turn, if you control your commander, you become the monarch.<\/td>Marvel Super Heroes Commander, 2026<\/td>rare<\/td>$0.33<\/td>#14,713<\/td><\/tr>\n
Heart-Shaped Herb<\/strong><\/td>{4}<\/td>Artifact<\/td>Spell, chapter or other trigger<\/td>{2}, {T}, Sacrifice it: You may sacrifice a creature. If you do, return that card to the battlefield under its owner’s control with three +1\/+1 counters on it and you become the monarch.<\/td>Marvel Super Heroes Commander, 2026<\/td>rare<\/td>$0.29<\/td>#16,235<\/td><\/tr>\n
King Solomon’s Frogs<\/strong><\/td>{3}{W}<\/td>Legendary Artifact<\/td>Activated ability<\/td>{3}, {T}, Exile King Solomon’s Frogs: You become the monarch.<\/td>Marvel Super Heroes Commander, 2026<\/td>rare<\/td>$0.29<\/td>#16,261<\/td><\/tr>\n
M’Baku, Jabari Chieftain<\/strong><\/td>{1}{G}{G}<\/td>Legendary Creature \u2014 Human Noble Warrior<\/td>Gives it to someone else<\/td>At the beginning of your end step, if there is no monarch, target opponent becomes the monarch. \/ Whenever a creature attacks one of your opponents, if that player is the monarch, that creature gets +1\/+1 and gains trample until end of turn.<\/td>Marvel Super Heroes Commander, 2026<\/td>rare<\/td>$0.23<\/td>#19,691<\/td><\/tr>\n
Nakia, Wakandan Operative<\/strong><\/td>{2}{G}<\/td>Legendary Creature \u2014 Human Warrior Hero<\/td>Another permanent enters<\/td>Whenever your commander enters, you become the monarch.<\/td>Marvel Super Heroes Commander, 2026<\/td>rare<\/td>$0.25<\/td>#19,621<\/td><\/tr>\n
Okoye, Mighty and Adored<\/strong><\/td>{2}{G}{W}<\/td>Legendary Creature \u2014 Human Warrior Hero<\/td>Enters (itself)<\/td>When Okoye enters, you become the monarch. \/ At the beginning of combat on your turn, put a +1\/+1 counter on target creature. Whenever that creature attacks the monarch this turn, it gains double strike and trample until end of turn.<\/td>Marvel Super Heroes Commander, 2026<\/td>rare<\/td>$0.32<\/td>#16,533<\/td><\/tr>\n
Queen Mother Ramonda<\/strong><\/td>{3}{W}{W}<\/td>Legendary Creature \u2014 Human Noble<\/td>Enters (itself)<\/td>When Queen Mother Ramonda enters, you become the monarch. \/ As long as you’re the monarch, creatures with power 2 or less can’t attack you.<\/td>Marvel Super Heroes Commander, 2026<\/td>rare<\/td>$0.24<\/td>#18,972<\/td><\/tr>\n
T’Chaka, Venerable King<\/strong><\/td>{G}{W}<\/td>Legendary Creature \u2014 Human Noble Hero<\/td>Activated ability<\/td>{3}, Exile this card from your graveyard: You become the monarch. Activate only if you control your commander.<\/td>Marvel Super Heroes Commander, 2026<\/td>rare<\/td>$0.15<\/td>#20,644<\/td><\/tr>\n
The Spear of Bashenga<\/strong><\/td>{4}{W}<\/td>Legendary Artifact \u2014 Equipment<\/td>Enters (itself)<\/td>When The Spear of Bashenga enters, if there is no monarch, you become the monarch. \/ Whenever equipped creature attacks the monarch, destroy target tapped nonland permanent that player controls.<\/td>Marvel Super Heroes Commander, 2026<\/td>rare<\/td>$0.25<\/td>#17,435<\/td><\/tr>\n
Ginger, Queen of Sweets<\/strong><\/td>{6}<\/td>Legendary Artifact Creature \u2014 Food Noble<\/td>Enters (itself)<\/td>When Ginger enters, you become the monarch. \/ At the beginning of each upkeep, if you’re the monarch, create a Gingerbrute token.<\/td>Reality Fracture Commander, 2026 (preview)<\/em><\/td>rare<\/td>—<\/td>#27,308<\/td><\/tr>\n
Tamiyo, Upriser Crowned<\/strong><\/td>{4}{R}{W}<\/td>Legendary Creature \u2014 Moonfolk Warrior<\/td>Enters (itself)<\/td>When Tamiyo enters, you become the monarch. \/ Whenever one or more creatures deal combat damage to you while you’re the monarch, tap those creatures and put a stun counter on each of them.<\/td>Reality Fracture Commander, 2026 (preview)<\/em><\/td>rare<\/td>—<\/td>#28,195<\/td><\/tr>\n
Chief Magistrate of Mercadia<\/strong><\/td>{4}{R}{W}<\/td>Legendary Creature \u2014 Human Noble<\/td>Enters (itself)<\/td>When Chief Magistrate of Mercadia enters, you become the monarch. \/ At the beginning of your upkeep, create a 2\/1 red Goblin creature token with haste. Then if you’re the monarch, for each creature token you control, create a token that’s a copy of it.<\/td>Mystery Booster Commander Edition, 2026 (preview)<\/em><\/td>rare<\/td>—<\/td>#27,217<\/td><\/tr>\n<\/tbody><\/table>\r\n\r\n

Ten years, eleven products, never Standard<\/h2>\r\n\r\n

The monarch was designed for Conspiracy: Take the Crown, a multiplayer draft set, and it has stayed in supplemental products ever since. The eleven products that have introduced a monarch card (Garland, Royal Kidnapper’s Final Fantasy Commander printing carries a 5 December 2025 date, six months after the rest of that product) are three draft-innovation sets (Conspiracy: Take the Crown, Commander Legends and the upcoming Mystery Booster Commander Edition), one Transformers crossover, one Masters set and six Commander-deck releases. Not one is a Standard-legal expansion or core set<\/strong>: Scryfall counts zero monarch cards legal in Standard, zero in Pioneer, zero in Modern — and, because none of the eleven products has been ported to MTG Arena, zero legal in Historic, Timeless, Brawl or Alchemy. The Lord of the Rings cards are the near-miss: Aragorn, Faramir, \u00c9omer, Denethor and the rest are in the Tales of Middle-earth Commander<\/em> decks, not the Modern-legal main set. Meanwhile 60 of the 63 are legal in Legacy, Vintage and Commander, and ten commons are legal in Pauper. Few mechanics this widely played have never once been legal in a rotating format.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\n\n
Product<\/th>Kind<\/th>Released<\/th>New monarch cards<\/th>Standard-legal?<\/th>Cards<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Conspiracy: Take the Crown<\/strong><\/td>Supplemental draft set<\/td>2016-08-26<\/td>17<\/td>No<\/td>Canal Courier, Crown-Hunter Hireling, Custodi Lich, Entourage of Trest, Garrulous Sycophant, Keeper of Keys, Knights of the Black Rose, Marchesa’s Decree, Palace Jailer, Palace Sentinels, Protector of the Crown, Queen Marchesa, Regal Behemoth, Skyline Despot, Thorn of the Black Rose, Throne Warden, Throne of the High City<\/td><\/tr>\n
Commander Legends<\/strong><\/td>Supplemental draft set<\/td>2020-11-20<\/td>14<\/td>No<\/td>Archon of Coronation, Azure Fleet Admiral, Court of Ambition, Court of Bounty, Court of Cunning, Court of Grace, Court of Ire, Crimson Fleet Commodore, Dawnglade Regent, Emberwilde Captain, Fall from Favor, Feast of Succession, Jared Carthalion, True Heir, Staunch Throneguard<\/td><\/tr>\n
Transformers<\/strong><\/td>Universes Beyond crossover<\/td>2022-11-18<\/td>1<\/td>No<\/td>Starscream, Power Hungry<\/td><\/tr>\n
Tales of Middle-earth Commander<\/strong><\/td>Commander decks<\/td>2023-06-23<\/td>10<\/td>No<\/td>Aragorn, King of Gondor, Archivist of Gondor, Champions of Minas Tirith, Crown of Gondor, Denethor, Stone Seer, Faramir, Steward of Gondor, Fealty to the Realm, Forth Eorlingas!, Oath of Eorl, \u00c9omer, King of Rohan<\/td><\/tr>\n
Commander Masters<\/strong><\/td>Masters set<\/td>2023-08-04<\/td>1<\/td>No<\/td>Regal Sliver<\/td><\/tr>\n
Wilds of Eldraine Commander<\/strong><\/td>Commander decks<\/td>2023-09-08<\/td>5<\/td>No<\/td>Court of Ardenvale, Court of Embereth, Court of Garenbrig, Court of Locthwain, Court of Vantress<\/td><\/tr>\n
Final Fantasy Commander<\/strong><\/td>Commander decks<\/td>2025-06-13<\/td>2<\/td>No<\/td>Coin of Fate, Garland, Royal Kidnapper<\/td><\/tr>\n
Lorwyn Eclipsed Commander<\/strong><\/td>Commander decks<\/td>2026-01-23<\/td>1<\/td>No<\/td>Grave Venerations<\/td><\/tr>\n
Marvel Super Heroes Commander<\/strong><\/td>Commander decks<\/td>2026-06-26<\/td>9<\/td>No<\/td>Fight for the Throne, Heart-Shaped Herb, King Solomon’s Frogs, M’Baku, Jabari Chieftain, Nakia, Wakandan Operative, Okoye, Mighty and Adored, Queen Mother Ramonda, T’Chaka, Venerable King, The Spear of Bashenga<\/td><\/tr>\n
Reality Fracture Commander<\/strong><\/td>Commander decks<\/td>2026-10-02 (upcoming)<\/em><\/td>2<\/td>No<\/td>Ginger, Queen of Sweets, Tamiyo, Upriser Crowned<\/td><\/tr>\n
Mystery Booster Commander Edition<\/strong><\/td>Supplemental draft set<\/td>2026-11-09 (upcoming)<\/em><\/td>1<\/td>No<\/td>Chief Magistrate of Mercadia<\/td><\/tr>\n<\/tbody><\/table>\r\n\r\n

The curve is lumpy: 17 cards in 2016, a four-year silence, 14 in 2020, one in 2022, 16 across three products in 2023, two in 2025 and thirteen dated 2026 — one in Lorwyn Eclipsed Commander, nine in Marvel Super Heroes Commander, where the Wakanda deck was built around the crown as its throne, and three still to come (two in Reality Fracture Commander on 2 October, one in Mystery Booster Commander Edition on 9 November).<\/p>\r\n\r\n\n\n
Format<\/th>Legal monarch cards<\/th>Banned<\/th>Note<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Standard<\/strong><\/td>0<\/td>—<\/td>No monarch card has ever been in a Standard-legal set<\/td><\/tr>\n
Pioneer<\/strong><\/td>0<\/td>—<\/td>Same — nothing since Return to Ravnica qualifies<\/td><\/tr>\n
Modern<\/strong><\/td>0<\/td>—<\/td>The Middle-earth cards are in the Commander decks, not the Modern-legal main set<\/td><\/tr>\n
Legacy<\/strong><\/td>60<\/td>—<\/td>Everything released; Palace Jailer is the format’s monarch<\/td><\/tr>\n
Vintage<\/strong><\/td>60<\/td>—<\/td>Everything released<\/td><\/tr>\n
Commander<\/strong><\/td>60<\/td>—<\/td>Everything released; the three previews become legal on release<\/td><\/tr>\n
Pauper<\/strong><\/td>10<\/td>Fall from Favor<\/td>11 commons printed; Fall from Favor banned 14 January 2021<\/td><\/tr>\n
Historic (Arena)<\/strong><\/td>0<\/td>—<\/td>No monarch product is on Arena (Scryfall: 0 cards)<\/td><\/tr>\n
Timeless (Arena)<\/strong><\/td>0<\/td>—<\/td>Same<\/td><\/tr>\n
Brawl (Arena)<\/strong><\/td>0<\/td>—<\/td>Same<\/td><\/tr>\n
Alchemy (Arena)<\/strong><\/td>0<\/td>—<\/td>Same — Alchemy Horizons: Baldur’s Gate carried none<\/td><\/tr>\n<\/tbody><\/table>\r\n\r\n

The ten Courts<\/h2>\r\n\r\n

Commander Legends printed five enchantments — Court of Grace, Cunning, Ambition, Ire and Bounty — on one template: “When this enchantment enters, you become the monarch. At the beginning of your upkeep, [small effect]. If you’re the monarch, [large effect] instead.” Wilds of Eldraine Commander added five more in 2023 (Ardenvale, Vantress, Locthwain, Embereth, Garenbrig) with the same skeleton and bigger payoffs. They are the most-played monarch cards on EDHREC by a wide margin: Court of Grace is the highest-ranked card in the whole population at #1,667, and Court of Ire is a 60% inclusion in decks tagged monarch. The design is clean because it self-corrects: the Court makes you the monarch, the upkeep check rewards you for still being the monarch a full turn cycle later, and if you were hit in between you get the small mode and a reason to take it back.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\n\n
Card<\/th>Cost<\/th>Every upkeep<\/th>If you’re the monarch<\/th>First printed<\/th>Price<\/th>EDHREC rank<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Court of Ambition<\/strong><\/td>{2}{B}{B}<\/td>each opponent loses 3 life unless they discard a card<\/td>instead each opponent loses 6 life unless they discard two cards<\/td>Commander Legends, 2020<\/td>$5.44<\/td>#2,515<\/td><\/tr>\n
Court of Bounty<\/strong><\/td>{2}{G}{G}<\/td>you may put a land card from your hand onto the battlefield<\/td>instead you may put a creature or land card from your hand onto the battlefield<\/td>Commander Legends, 2020<\/td>$0.99<\/td>#6,478<\/td><\/tr>\n
Court of Cunning<\/strong><\/td>{1}{U}{U}<\/td>any number of target players each mill two cards<\/td>each of those players mills ten cards instead<\/td>Commander Legends, 2020<\/td>$4.13<\/td>#2,719<\/td><\/tr>\n
Court of Grace<\/strong><\/td>{2}{W}{W}<\/td>create a 1\/1 white Spirit creature token with flying<\/td>create a 4\/4 white Angel creature token with flying instead<\/td>Commander Legends, 2020<\/td>$2.86<\/td>#1,667<\/td><\/tr>\n
Court of Ire<\/strong><\/td>{3}{R}{R}<\/td>this enchantment deals 2 damage to any target<\/td>it deals 7 damage instead<\/td>Commander Legends, 2020<\/td>$0.37<\/td>#3,294<\/td><\/tr>\n
Court of Ardenvale<\/strong><\/td>{2}{W}{W}<\/td>return target permanent card with mana value 3 or less from your graveyard to your hand<\/td>return that permanent card to the battlefield instead<\/td>Wilds of Eldraine Commander, 2023<\/td>$8.93<\/td>#3,759<\/td><\/tr>\n
Court of Embereth<\/strong><\/td>{2}{R}{R}<\/td>create a 3\/1 red Knight creature token<\/td>this enchantment deals X damage to each opponent, where X is the number of creatures you control<\/td>Wilds of Eldraine Commander, 2023<\/td>$5.34<\/td>#3,760<\/td><\/tr>\n
Court of Garenbrig<\/strong><\/td>{1}{G}{G}<\/td>distribute two +1\/+1 counters among up to two target creatures<\/td>double the number of +1\/+1 counters on each creature you control<\/td>Wilds of Eldraine Commander, 2023<\/td>$16.16<\/td>#2,253<\/td><\/tr>\n
Court of Locthwain<\/strong><\/td>{2}{B}{B}<\/td>exile the top card of target opponent’s library. You may play that card for as long as it remains exiled, and mana of any type can be spent to cast it<\/td>until end of turn, you may cast a spell from among cards exiled with this enchantment without paying its mana cost<\/td>Wilds of Eldraine Commander, 2023<\/td>$4.99<\/td>#3,370<\/td><\/tr>\n
Court of Vantress<\/strong><\/td>{2}{U}{U}<\/td>choose up to one other target enchantment or artifact<\/td>you may create a token that’s a copy of it. If you’re not the monarch, you may have this enchantment become a copy of it, except it has this ability<\/td>Wilds of Eldraine Commander, 2023<\/td>$5.05<\/td>#3,225<\/td><\/tr>\n<\/tbody><\/table>\r\n\r\n

The monarch in Pauper: ten commons and one ban<\/h2>\r\n\r\n

Eleven of the 63 are commons, which means they are Pauper cards, and the crown has been a defining Pauper engine since Palace Sentinels and Thorn of the Black Rose reached Magic Online. Boros Monarch runs Palace Sentinels with Prismatic Strands, Kor Skyfisher and Battle Screech; Mono-Black Control runs Thorn of the Black Rose over Pestilence, Chainer’s Edict and Crypt Rats. The plan in both is identical: take the crown, make combat impossible, and draw an extra card every turn until the opponent is buried.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Commander Legends added a third engine in November 2020 — Fall from Favor<\/strong>, a three-mana Aura that taps a creature, keeps it tapped while you hold the crown and makes you the monarch — and it lasted eight weeks. It is the only monarch card banned in any format. Wizards’ announcement of 14 January 2021 put it plainly: “Fall from Favor pushes out aggressive creature decks and places too much emphasis on a player becoming and remaining the monarch before opposing decks can prepare counterplay,” and the stated goal was to “reduce the importance of the monarch mechanic early in the game.” The other ten commons remain legal.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\n\n
Card<\/th>Cost<\/th>Type<\/th>Text<\/th>First printed<\/th>Pauper<\/th>Price<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Canal Courier<\/strong><\/td>{5}{U}<\/td>Creature \u2014 Human Rogue<\/td>When this creature enters, you become the monarch. \/ Whenever this creature and another creature attack different players, this creature can’t be blocked this combat.<\/td>Conspiracy: Take the Crown, 2016<\/td>Legal<\/td>$0.21<\/td><\/tr>\n
Crown-Hunter Hireling<\/strong><\/td>{4}{R}<\/td>Creature \u2014 Ogre Mercenary<\/td>When this creature enters, you become the monarch. \/ This creature can’t attack unless defending player is the monarch.<\/td>Conspiracy: Take the Crown, 2016<\/td>Legal<\/td>$0.17<\/td><\/tr>\n
Entourage of Trest<\/strong><\/td>{4}{G}<\/td>Creature \u2014 Elf Soldier<\/td>When this creature enters, you become the monarch. \/ This creature can block an additional creature each combat as long as you’re the monarch.<\/td>Conspiracy: Take the Crown, 2016<\/td>Legal<\/td>$0.08<\/td><\/tr>\n
Garrulous Sycophant<\/strong><\/td>{2}{B}<\/td>Creature \u2014 Human Advisor<\/td>At the beginning of your end step, if you’re the monarch, each opponent loses 1 life and you gain 1 life.<\/td>Conspiracy: Take the Crown, 2016<\/td>Legal<\/td>$0.29<\/td><\/tr>\n
Palace Sentinels<\/strong><\/td>{3}{W}<\/td>Creature \u2014 Human Soldier<\/td>When this creature enters, you become the monarch.<\/td>Conspiracy: Take the Crown, 2016<\/td>Legal<\/td>$0.17<\/td><\/tr>\n
Thorn of the Black Rose<\/strong><\/td>{3}{B}<\/td>Creature \u2014 Human Assassin<\/td>Deathtouch \/ When this creature enters, you become the monarch.<\/td>Conspiracy: Take the Crown, 2016<\/td>Legal<\/td>$0.18<\/td><\/tr>\n
Throne Warden<\/strong><\/td>{1}{W}<\/td>Creature \u2014 Human Soldier<\/td>At the beginning of your end step, if you’re the monarch, put a +1\/+1 counter on this creature.<\/td>Conspiracy: Take the Crown, 2016<\/td>Legal<\/td>$0.29<\/td><\/tr>\n
Azure Fleet Admiral<\/strong><\/td>{3}{U}<\/td>Creature \u2014 Human Pirate<\/td>When this creature enters, you become the monarch. \/ This creature can’t be blocked by creatures the monarch controls.<\/td>Commander Legends, 2020<\/td>Legal<\/td>$0.14<\/td><\/tr>\n
Crimson Fleet Commodore<\/strong><\/td>{3}{R}<\/td>Creature \u2014 Ogre Pirate<\/td>Trample \/ When this creature enters, you become the monarch.<\/td>Commander Legends, 2020<\/td>Legal<\/td>$0.11<\/td><\/tr>\n
Fall from Favor<\/strong><\/td>{2}{U}<\/td>Enchantment \u2014 Aura<\/td>Enchant creature \/ When this Aura enters, tap enchanted creature and you become the monarch. \/ Enchanted creature doesn’t untap during its controller’s untap step unless that player is the monarch.<\/td>Commander Legends, 2020<\/td>Banned<\/strong> (14 Jan 2021)<\/td>$0.17<\/td><\/tr>\n
Staunch Throneguard<\/strong><\/td>{5}<\/td>Artifact Creature \u2014 Construct<\/td>Vigilance \/ When this creature enters, you become the monarch.<\/td>Commander Legends, 2020<\/td>Legal<\/td>$0.13<\/td><\/tr>\n<\/tbody><\/table>\r\n\r\n\n\n
Card<\/th>Cost<\/th>Deck<\/th>Role<\/th>Pauper<\/th>Price<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Prismatic Strands<\/strong><\/td>{2}{W}<\/td>Boros Monarch<\/td>The Fog that keeps the crown: prevent a colour’s damage this turn, then flash it back by tapping a white creature<\/td>Legal<\/td>$6.10<\/td><\/tr>\n
Kor Skyfisher<\/strong><\/td>{1}{W}<\/td>Boros Monarch<\/td>Bounces Palace Sentinels to be recast for a second crown<\/td>Legal<\/td>$0.42<\/td><\/tr>\n
Battle Screech<\/strong><\/td>{2}{W}{W}<\/td>Boros Monarch<\/td>Four fliers for four mana; the bodies that block while you draw<\/td>Legal<\/td>$0.16<\/td><\/tr>\n
Lightning Bolt<\/strong><\/td>{R}<\/td>Boros Monarch<\/td>Kills the creature that would connect<\/td>Legal<\/td>$0.75<\/td><\/tr>\n
Journey to Nowhere<\/strong><\/td>{1}{W}<\/td>Boros Monarch<\/td>Exile for the creature Bolt cannot kill<\/td>Legal<\/td>$0.20<\/td><\/tr>\n
Pestilence<\/strong><\/td>{2}{B}{B}<\/td>Mono-Black Control<\/td>Wipes the board every turn; the monarch draws back the cards it costs<\/td>Legal<\/td>$0.30<\/td><\/tr>\n
Chainer’s Edict<\/strong><\/td>{1}{B}<\/td>Mono-Black Control<\/td>Edict with flashback — two creatures gone for one card<\/td>Legal<\/td>$0.19<\/td><\/tr>\n
Crypt Rats<\/strong><\/td>{2}{B}<\/td>Mono-Black Control<\/td>The scalable wipe that leaves Thorn of the Black Rose alive at X=1<\/td>Legal<\/td>$0.56<\/td><\/tr>\n
Guardian of the Guildpact<\/strong><\/td>{3}{W}<\/td>Mono-Black Control<\/td>Protection from monocolored: the wall that cannot be Bolted<\/td>Legal<\/td>$1.13<\/td><\/tr>\n
Rally the Peasants<\/strong><\/td>{2}{W}<\/td>Boros Monarch<\/td>Turns the Screech tokens into a clock once the crown has done its work<\/td>Legal<\/td>$0.16<\/td><\/tr>\n<\/tbody><\/table>\r\n\r\n

The Legacy contrast: Palace Jailer, and what happened to the initiative<\/h2>\r\n\r\n

In Legacy the crown belongs to Palace Jailer: a four-mana Human Soldier that makes you the monarch and exiles a creature “until an opponent becomes the monarch.” The 2021 rulings spell out the trap on both sides. If you are not the monarch when the exile resolves, the creature stays gone until an opponent becomes<\/em> the monarch — not while one already is. Palace Jailer leaving the battlefield does not return the creature. And any opponent becoming the monarch returns it, not just the one who owned it. Death and Taxes has played it for years, because against a fair deck the opponent has to connect through Thalia and Mother of Runes to get their creature back.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

The instructive comparison is the initiative. Nine months after Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur’s Gate, Wizards banned White Plume Adventurer in Legacy (6 March 2023) “to reduce the consistency and speed of this gameplay pattern,” noting that the initiative “has had a large impact on the Legacy format and continues to rise in popularity.” The monarch’s sequel was banned in Legacy within a year; the monarch itself has never been. The difference is the front-loading: the initiative ventures the moment you take it (Undercity’s first room fetches a basic land on the spot) and again every upkeep, while the crown pays nothing until your end step and hands the opponent a full turn to take it.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\n\n
Card<\/th>Cost<\/th>Mechanic<\/th>Note<\/th>Legacy<\/th>Price<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
White Plume Adventurer<\/strong><\/td>{2}{W}<\/td>The initiative<\/td>Three mana, takes the initiative on entering; banned in Legacy 6 March 2023<\/td>Banned<\/strong><\/td>$2.49<\/td><\/tr>\n
Seasoned Dungeoneer<\/strong><\/td>{3}{W}<\/td>The initiative<\/td>Takes the initiative on entering; the four-mana version that survived the ban<\/td>Legal<\/td>$4.22<\/td><\/tr>\n
Caves of Chaos Adventurer<\/strong><\/td>{3}{R}<\/td>The initiative<\/td>Takes the initiative on entering; red, four mana, trample<\/td>Legal<\/td>$0.38<\/td><\/tr>\n
Coveted Jewel<\/strong><\/td>{6}<\/td>Combat-damage steal, on an artifact<\/td>Whoever attacks you unblocked draws three and takes the Jewel — the monarch’s steal clause on a mana rock<\/td>Legal<\/td>$0.25<\/td><\/tr>\n
Tendershoot Dryad<\/strong><\/td>{4}{G}<\/td>The city’s blessing<\/td>Ascend; the tokens get +2\/+2 once you hold the blessing, which nobody can take<\/td>Legal<\/td>$1.22<\/td><\/tr>\n
Kumena’s Awakening<\/strong><\/td>{2}{U}{U}<\/td>The city’s blessing<\/td>Ascend on an enchantment; once you hold the blessing only you draw, and nobody can take it<\/td>Legal<\/td>$0.39<\/td><\/tr>\n<\/tbody><\/table>\r\n\r\n
\"Thorn
Thorn of the Black Rose — the Pauper crown in mono-black. Art by David Gaillet, Commander Masters; © Wizards of the Coast, via Scryfall.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n\r\n

Keeping the crown<\/h2>\r\n\r\n

The steal trigger needs a creature to deal combat damage to you, so every card that taxes attackers, limits attackers or punishes attackers is a monarch card in practice. The pillow-fort family — Ghostly Prison, Propaganda, Windborn Muse, Sphere of Safety, Baird — charges mana per attacker; Crawlspace and Silent Arbiter cap the number; Maze of Ith and Kor Haven neutralise the one that gets through; No Mercy destroys anything that connects, one hit too late for the crown but early enough that nobody tries twice; Hissing Miasma and Marchesa’s Decree make the attack itself cost life. The stax guide<\/a> covers the family in full; the table below is the monarch-specific shortlist with every card’s wording checked against its oracle text.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\n\n
Card<\/th>Cost<\/th>How it keeps the crown<\/th>Price<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Ghostly Prison<\/strong><\/td>{2}{W}<\/td>Attackers pay {2} each to attack you<\/td>$5.52<\/td><\/tr>\n
Propaganda<\/strong><\/td>{2}{U}<\/td>The same tax in blue<\/td>$2.12<\/td><\/tr>\n
Windborn Muse<\/strong><\/td>{3}{W}<\/td>The same tax on a 2\/3 flier<\/td>$0.53<\/td><\/tr>\n
Sphere of Safety<\/strong><\/td>{4}{W}<\/td>Attackers pay {X} each, X = your enchantments — the Courts count<\/td>$3.92<\/td><\/tr>\n
Archangel of Tithes<\/strong><\/td>{1}{W}{W}{W}<\/td>Attackers pay {1} each while she is untapped<\/td>$4.71<\/td><\/tr>\n
Baird, Steward of Argive<\/strong><\/td>{2}{W}{W}<\/td>Attackers pay {1} each; a commander-legal body<\/td>$0.23<\/td><\/tr>\n
Crawlspace<\/strong><\/td>{3}<\/td>At most two creatures can attack you each combat<\/td>$8.00<\/td><\/tr>\n
Silent Arbiter<\/strong><\/td>{4}<\/td>At most one creature can attack each combat<\/td>$10.70<\/td><\/tr>\n
Ensnaring Bridge<\/strong><\/td>{3}<\/td>Nothing bigger than your hand can attack — and the crown keeps your hand full<\/td>$5.78<\/td><\/tr>\n
Blazing Archon<\/strong><\/td>{6}{W}{W}{W}<\/td>Creatures can’t attack you, full stop<\/td>$0.35<\/td><\/tr>\n
Maze of Ith<\/strong><\/td>—<\/td>Untap the attacker and prevent its damage — the crown stays<\/td>$9.03<\/td><\/tr>\n
Kor Haven<\/strong><\/td>—<\/td>Prevent one attacker’s combat damage<\/td>$17.71<\/td><\/tr>\n
No Mercy<\/strong><\/td>{2}{B}{B}<\/td>Destroy any creature that damages you<\/td>$16.57<\/td><\/tr>\n
Hissing Miasma<\/strong><\/td>{1}{B}{B}<\/td>Each creature that attacks you costs its controller 1 life<\/td>$2.56<\/td><\/tr>\n<\/tbody><\/table>\r\n\r\n

Two population cards deserve a note here. Champions of Minas Tirith makes an opponent pay {X} equal to their hand size to attack you while you hold the crown, and Tamiyo, Upriser Crowned (Reality Fracture Commander) taps and stuns every creature that connects with you as the monarch — the crown moves, but the creatures that took it miss their next untap.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Taking the crown<\/h2>\r\n\r\n

Taking it back is the mirror image: you need one creature to connect. Evasion does it (Rogue’s Passage, Whispersilk Cloak), and so does the mechanic designed to be the crown’s partner — goad. Conspiracy: Take the Crown introduced both in the same set for a reason: a goaded creature must attack a player other than the one who goaded it, and in a game with a monarch that player is very often the monarch. Disrupt Decorum goads every creature you do not control; Karazikar, Marisi and Baeloth goad on a schedule. The tokens from myriad attack every opponent at once, which makes a myriad creature<\/a> the cleanest crown-thief in the game — one of its copies is attacking the monarch whoever the monarch is.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\n\n
Card<\/th>Cost<\/th>How it takes the crown<\/th>Price<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Disrupt Decorum<\/strong><\/td>{2}{R}{R}<\/td>Goads every creature you don’t control — they must attack someone else, usually the monarch<\/td>$3.87<\/td><\/tr>\n
Karazikar, the Eye Tyrant<\/strong><\/td>{3}{B}{R}<\/td>Goads on attack; a commander whose whole plan is other people’s combats<\/td>$13.69<\/td><\/tr>\n
Marisi, Breaker of the Coil<\/strong><\/td>{1}{R}{G}{W}<\/td>Goads whatever your creatures hit<\/td>$10.43<\/td><\/tr>\n
Baeloth Barrityl, Entertainer<\/strong><\/td>{4}{R}<\/td>Every opposing creature with power less than his is goaded, permanently<\/td>$14.98<\/td><\/tr>\n
Bloodthirsty Blade<\/strong><\/td>{2}<\/td>Equip an opponent’s creature: it is goaded for as long as it wears the Blade<\/td>$0.36<\/td><\/tr>\n
Rogue’s Passage<\/strong><\/td>—<\/td>Unblockable for {4} — one creature connects, the crown moves<\/td>$0.39<\/td><\/tr>\n
Whispersilk Cloak<\/strong><\/td>{3}<\/td>Unblockable and shroud on the creature that takes it<\/td>$2.07<\/td><\/tr>\n
Trailblazer’s Boots<\/strong><\/td>{2}<\/td>Nonbasic landwalk: unblockable against almost every Commander manabase<\/td>$1.12<\/td><\/tr>\n<\/tbody><\/table>\r\n\r\n

Doubling the draw, and countering the steal<\/h3>\r\n\r\n

Because the draw is a triggered ability you control, it can be copied. Strionic Resonator and Lithoform Engine both read “copy target triggered ability you control,” and the sourceless monarch trigger qualifies. Obeka, Splitter of Seconds is the commander EDHREC files under monarch for a different reason: she grants additional upkeep<\/em> steps when she connects, and the crown draws at the end step, not the upkeep — what she doubles is every Court, Skyline Despot and Queen Marchesa trigger, not the draw itself. And because the steal is also a triggered ability, Stifle and Tale’s End counter it: the creature connects, the trigger goes on the stack, and for one blue mana it never resolves. (Sundial of the Infinite does not<\/em> do this job — it can only be activated during your own turn, and the steal happens during theirs.)<\/p>\r\n\r\n\n\n
Card<\/th>Cost<\/th>What it does with the crown<\/th>Price<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Strionic Resonator<\/strong><\/td>{2}<\/td>{2}, {T}: copy the monarch’s draw trigger<\/td>$6.46<\/td><\/tr>\n
Lithoform Engine<\/strong><\/td>{4}<\/td>{2}, {T}: copy the monarch’s draw trigger (or a spell, or a permanent)<\/td>$5.80<\/td><\/tr>\n
Obeka, Splitter of Seconds<\/strong><\/td>{1}{U}{B}{R}<\/td>Extra upkeeps<\/em> when she connects — not extra draws, but every extra upkeep fires every Court, Skyline Despot and Queen Marchesa again<\/td>$0.27<\/td><\/tr>\n
Stifle<\/strong><\/td>{U}<\/td>Counter the steal trigger: the creature connected, the crown stays<\/td>$9.79<\/td><\/tr>\n
Tale’s End<\/strong><\/td>{1}{U}<\/td>The same, at two mana with a legendary-spell mode<\/td>$3.40<\/td><\/tr>\n<\/tbody><\/table>\r\n\r\n

Rulings that decide games<\/h2>\r\n\r\n