Rule of Law MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeEnchantment

Key Takeaways

  1. Rule of Law equalizes game tempo by restricting each player to one spell per turn.
  2. Efficient resource allocation is achieved despite the absence of extra mana generation.
  3. Strategic deck building around Rule of Law enhances both control and combo plays.

Text of card

Each player can't play more than one spell each turn.

Appointed by the kha himself, members of the tribunal ensure all disputes are settled with the utmost fairness.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Although Rule of Law doesn’t inherently allow you to draw additional cards, it levels the playing field by ensuring that your opponent can’t outpace you with multiple spells each turn. This gives you more control over the game’s pace, indirectly maintaining your card advantage.

Resource Acceleration: While Rule of Law doesn’t generate additional mana or tokens, it makes efficient use of existing resources. By constraining your opponents to a single spell per turn, your own mana and resources can be allocated more strategically, setting the stage for powerful plays that can tip the scales in your favor without requiring additional mana resources.

Instant Speed: Rule of Law operates at a level beyond instant speed. Once it hits the battlefield, it’s an enduring game mechanic that continuously shapes the flow of the match. Each player’s turn is affected, not just the instant moment when an effect on the stack resolves, and that ongoing influence remains as long as Rule of Law is active on the field.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Rule of Law doesn’t require a card to be discarded, it can force you to essentially discard the additional spells you can’t play each turn due to its one-spell-per-turn limit. This can be particularly restrictive when you have a hand full of playable cards but are constrained by the rule.

Specific Mana Cost: Rule of Law has a specific mana cost, requiring one white mana in addition to two generic mana. This requirement can limit the decks that can comfortably accommodate it, typically confining it to white-based or multicolored decks that can reliably produce white mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana, Rule of Law may come into play later than some of the lower-cost control or disruption options available. This delay allows opponents more time to set up their game before the restriction applies, potentially giving them an advantage in building board presence or executing their strategy.


Reasons to Include Rule of Law in Your Collection

Versatility: Rule of Law is an enchantment that can be seamlessly integrated into various control or prison deck archetypes. Its ability to limit each player to casting one spell per turn makes it a flexible tool for managing the tempo of the game, regardless of the opponent’s strategy.

Combo Potential: While it may seem counterintuitive, Rule of Law can be a key component in decks designed around specific combos. It helps by staving off opponents’ responses, ensuring your carefully crafted sequence of plays can resolve without interference.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where players tend to cast multiple spells in a single turn, Rule of Law shines by disrupting these strategies. Whether it’s in a local game lounge or a competitive scene, this card has the potential to tilt the scales in your favor against decks that rely on casting numerous spells each turn.


How to beat

Rule of Law is a unique enchantment in the world of Magic: The Gathering, setting a strict boundary on the number of spells each player can cast – permitting only one spell per turn. This card is well-regarded for its capacity to slow down opponents and disrupt strategies reliant on casting multiple spells within a single turn. It’s a considerable obstacle for combo decks and others that thrive on such mechanics.

Overpowering the restrictions imposed by Rule of Law involves tweaking your game plan. Prioritize casting spells of higher impact or those that provide lasting advantages. Utilizing abilities that don’t count as casting a spell, such as activated or triggered abilities, is another effective strategy. Additionally, playing at instant speed during your opponent’s turn effectively doubles your spell capacity under Rule of Law. Cards that remove enchantments or allow you to play spells without casting them, like those with flashback or suspend, can also help bypass Rule of Law’s constraints.

In essence, surpassing the limitations of Rule of Law requires a combination of strategic adjustments and including cards that can neutralize enchantments or circumvent the casting restriction. Adapting to its presence on the battlefield is critical for maintaining the momentum of your game plan.


BurnMana Recommendations

Gaining an upper hand in MTG often hinges on the nuanced layers of strategy Rule of Law introduces. It’s a card that can significantly alter the tempo of any match, tipping the balance in your favor. By understanding its strengths and how it weaves into various deck builds, you’re equipping yourself with a potent tool for control. If you’re keen on expanding your gameplay dynamics, consider how adding Rule of Law to your collection could be a game-changer. Ready to dial up your game and make every turn count? Dive deeper with us and optimize your MTG journey today.


Cards like Rule of Law

The Rule of Law card presents a strategic approach to control within Magic: The Gathering. It’s often compared to its counterparts like Eidolon of Rhetoric. Both enforce a strict limit of one spell per turn, effectively slowing down opponents who rely on casting multiple spells in rapid succession. However, Eidolon of Rhetoric brings an additional creature on the board, which can be a double-edged sword – beneficial as a blocker or susceptible to removal.

Moreover, we observe Arcane Laboratory, another card with an identical effect to Rule of Law. While Arcane Laboratory shares the same functionalities, it’s part of the older sets, making Rule of Law a more accessible choice for players with its reprints in more recent editions. Then there’s Deafening Silence, which is slightly more lenient as it only restricts the player to one noncreature spell per turn, offering a bit more flexibility for decks focusing on creature-based strategies.

Assessing these similar cards, Rule of Law is favored for its robust inhibiting capability and for being a noncreature spell, shielding it from the common creature removals, thus ensuring its place as a keystone in control decks across numerous MTG formats.

Eidolon of Rhetoric - MTG Card versions
Arcane Laboratory - MTG Card versions
Deafening Silence - MTG Card versions
Eidolon of Rhetoric - Journey into Nyx (JOU)
Arcane Laboratory - Urza's Saga (USG)
Deafening Silence - Throne of Eldraine (ELD)

Cards similar to Rule of Law by color, type and mana cost

Damping Field - MTG Card versions
Farmstead - MTG Card versions
Cooperation - MTG Card versions
Noble Steeds - MTG Card versions
Aura of Silence - MTG Card versions
Empyrial Armor - MTG Card versions
Cessation - MTG Card versions
Arrest - MTG Card versions
Glorious Anthem - MTG Card versions
Samite Sanctuary - MTG Card versions
Pariah - MTG Card versions
Tattoo Ward - MTG Card versions
Sparring Regimen - MTG Card versions
Shielded by Faith - MTG Card versions
The Restoration of Eiganjo // Architect of Restoration - MTG Card versions
Oblivion Ring - MTG Card versions
Cage of Hands - MTG Card versions
Rune-Tail, Kitsune Ascendant // Rune-Tail's Essence - MTG Card versions
Guardian's Magemark - MTG Card versions
Celestial Dawn - MTG Card versions
Damping Field - Antiquities (ATQ)
Farmstead - Summer Magic / Edgar (SUM)
Cooperation - Ice Age (ICE)
Noble Steeds - Alliances (ALL)
Aura of Silence - Commander 2015 (C15)
Empyrial Armor - Weatherlight (WTH)
Cessation - Urza's Legacy (ULG)
Arrest - Mystery Booster (MB1)
Glorious Anthem - Junior Super Series (PSUS)
Samite Sanctuary - Prophecy (PCY)
Pariah - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Tattoo Ward - Odyssey (ODY)
Sparring Regimen - Strixhaven: School of Mages Promos (PSTX)
Shielded by Faith - Signature Spellbook: Gideon (SS2)
The Restoration of Eiganjo // Architect of Restoration - Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty (NEO)
Oblivion Ring - Magic Online Theme Decks (TD0)
Cage of Hands - Commander Legends (CMR)
Rune-Tail, Kitsune Ascendant // Rune-Tail's Essence - The List (PLST)
Guardian's Magemark - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Celestial Dawn - Time Spiral Timeshifted (TSB)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Rule of Law MTG card by a specific set like Mirrodin and Tenth Edition, 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 Rule of Law and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Rule of Law Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2003-10-02 and 2019-07-12. Illustrated by Scott M. Fischer.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12003-10-02MirrodinMRD 192003normalblackScott M. Fischer
22007-07-13Tenth Edition10E 372003normalblackScott M. Fischer
32019-07-12Core Set 2020M20 352015normalblackScott M. Fischer

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Rule of Law has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2019-07-12 If you cast a spell that was countered, you can’t cast another spell during the same turn.
2019-07-12 Rule of Law looks at the entire turn to see if a player has cast a spell, even if Rule of Law wasn’t on the battlefield when that spell was cast. Notably, you can’t cast Rule of Law and then cast another spell during the same turn.

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