Crown of Empires MTG Card

Gains card advantage by commandeering opponent’s creatures, swinging the game’s momentum. Heightens resource management, enabling strategic plays by utilizing opponent’s assets. Instant speed threat creates psychological pressure, affecting opponents’ strategies.

Magic 2012 (M12)
2011-07-15 - Number 203

The List (PLST)
2020-09-26 - Number M12-203

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Artifact

Text of card

, : Tap target creature. Gain control of that creature instead if you control artifacts named Scepter of Empires and Throne of Empires.

"With this crown, assert your authority." —Crown inscription

Cards like Crown of Empires

Crown of Empires stands out in Magic: The Gathering as a notable artifact that offers a unique approach to controlling opponents’ creatures. When compared to Scepter of Dominance, which also gives the ability to tap down opponent’s creatures, Crown of Empires requires an additional mana to activate but does not confer the color restrictions that Scepter of Dominance does.

Looking at another related card, Gideon’s Avenger, we see a creature that thrives on tapping mechanisms by getting stronger every time an opponent’s creature becomes tapped, without requiring any mana to do so. However, unlike Crown of Empires, Gideon’s Avenger does not provide direct control over creature tapping. Then there’s the Icy Manipulator, a classic artifact that shares the tap ability with Crown of Empires but functions at instant speed, offering more strategic flexibility during the opponent’s turn.

Assessing their strengths and synergies, Crown of Empires offers a strategy that can be enhanced when combined with its other counterparts, the Scepter and Throne of Empires, hinting at a potential for superior board control when all the pieces are brought together.

Scepter of Dominance - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Crown of Empires by color, type and mana cost

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Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Crown of Empires shines in its ability to take control of an opponent’s creature. This essentially denies your opponent one of their cards while simultaneously providing you with an additional asset, which can be a significant swing in card advantage over the course of a game.

Resource Acceleration: Although the Crown of Empires doesn’t directly produce mana or tokens, it accelerates your resources by allowing you to utilize an opponent’s creature for your advantage without spending resources to summon your own. This lets you allocate resources elsewhere, bolstering your board state and strategic options.

Instant Speed: The beauty of the Crown of Empires lies in the threat of activation at instant speed. This leaves opponents in a constant state of concern, unsure when their creatures might be commandeered. It puts significant pressure on them, potentially forcing misplays or deterring them from deploying their best threats while you hold up the Crown’s activation cost.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Crown of Empires may not directly require a discard, but to fully utilize its potential, you need to gather its complementary pieces, which can be a cumbersome process during gameplay. This often results in holding onto cards that may otherwise be useful if played, effectively reducing your hand size and limiting your options.

Specific Mana Cost: Activating Crown of Empires requires a specific investment of three mana. While this may not seem restrictive, it can be a hurdle in multicolored decks that need to manage mana efficiently across different spells and effects.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Further, the card’s activation cost, though not exorbitant, is significant when considering the incremental advantages it provides. For three mana, players could potentially cast spells that have an immediate impact on the board state, rather than a gradual one that Crown of Empires offers through its tap ability, which may not always be relevant or timely.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Crown of Empires is a unique artifact that can smoothly integrate into a variety of deck builds, particularly those that aim to control the battlefield and manage opponents’ threats by tapping potential attackers or blockers.

Combo Potential: This card shines when paired with its counterparts, Scepter of Empires and Throne of Empires. Together, they form a powerful combination that can summon a vast army while controlling the pace of the game.

Meta-Relevance: In a game setting where board control and utility artifacts play a crucial role, Crown of Empires provides consistent utility by disrupting enemy formations, making it a fitting inclusion in decks that want to dictate combat and leverage incremental advantages.

How to beat

The Crown of Empires card presents a unique challenge for players in the realm of MTG, due to its potential to control opponents’ creatures. The key to overcoming this artifact lies in preemptive actions and strategic play. Cards like Naturalize enable you to directly destroy target artifacts, effectively rendering the opponent’s Crown of Empires useless. Similarly, employing instant-speed spells such as Krosan Grip can interrupt your opponent’s plans by stopping the Crown’s activation.

It’s essential to keep a vigilant eye on the board state and anticipate the Crown’s activation. Cards with the ability to counter spells, like Negate or Counterspell, can also provide a robust defense against this artifact. Meanwhile, discard strategies that force opponents to discard cards from their hand can dismantle the combo pieces necessary to utilize Crown of Empires fully before they have a chance to impact the game.

Ultimately, beating the Crown of Empires card requires a mixture of disruption, removal, and counterplay. By integrating these tactics into your deck, you can efficiently neutralize the threat that this powerful artifact poses and maintain control over the battlefield.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Crown of Empires MTG card by a specific set like Magic 2012 and The List, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Crown of Empires and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Crown of Empires Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2011-07-15 and 2011-07-15. Illustrated by John Avon.

#	Released	Name	Code	Symbol	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2011-07-15	Magic 2012	M12		203	2003	Normal	Black	John Avon
2	~~2020-09-26~~	The List	PLST		M12-203	2003	Normal	Black	John Avon

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Crown of Empires has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Crown of Empires card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date	Text
2011-09-22	If any of the named cards stops being an artifact, it won’t be considered by these abilities.
2011-09-22	If you control artifacts named Scepter of Empires and Throne of Empires, the targeted creature won’t be tapped. You’ll just gain control of it.
2011-09-22	Whether or not you control the correct artifacts is determined when the ability resolves.