Throne Warden MTG Card

Throne Warden offers defensive prowess and the potential for formidable card advantage in the right setup. The card’s need for specific mana types and potential hand depletion are significant factors to consider. With combo potential and meta-game relevance, Throne Warden can be a standout addition to your collection.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Human Soldier
Power 2
Toughness 2

Text of card

At the beginning of your end step, if you're the monarch, put a +1/+1 counter on Throne Warden.

"Rulers come and go, but my allegiance belongs to the throne."

Cards like Throne Warden

When we delve into the rich tapestry of creature cards within Magic: The Gathering, Throne Warden is a notable figure in the roundtable of defender cards. Its parallels are seen with cards like Palace Guard, which also prevents multiple creatures from taking the offensive against you. However, Throne Warden has an edge with its ability to accumulate +1/+1 counters each time you’re crowned the monarch—something Palace Guard lacks.

Exploring further, Knight of the White Orchid stands as another kin in terms of battlefield presence, with a unique upside of fetching lands when you are lagging behind in the race. Though not a defender, its tactical advantage enables a ramp in play, distinguishing it from Throne Warden’s defensive posture. Contrastingly, Prestige Guard shares similarities in duty, providing the same stalwart defense, but it too misses out on the monarch mechanic that buffs Throne Warden turn after turn.

Through this comparative lens, Throne Warden doesn’t just guard your kingdom, it flourishes as its allegiance rewards are acknowledged, solidifying its position as a formidable protector of life totals in Magic: The Gathering, especially in formats where becoming the monarch is more than a mere possibility.

Palace Guard - MTG Card versions
Knight of the White Orchid - MTG Card versions
Palace Guard - MTG Card versions
Knight of the White Orchid - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Throne Warden can contribute to card advantage by encouraging more conservative attacks from your opponent, thus preserving your hand and battlefield presence. Its ability to bolster your life total plays a strategic role in outlasting opponents, effectively giving you more time to benefit from your deck’s resources.

Resource Acceleration: As a vigilant creature, Throne Warden continues to defend while also being available to attack, providing a form of resource acceleration by efficiently fulfilling two roles at once. This allows you to extend your reach on the game by committing less resources to the board while maintaining a strong defensive and offensive position.

Instant Speed: Although Throne Warden itself is not an instant, it can synergize with instant-speed spells by protecting your life total and holding the board steady. This means you can safely wait and play instants on your opponent’s turn without having to worry as much about your defenses, knowing Throne Warden is on watch.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One drawback of the Throne Warden card is the necessity to discard another card to activate certain abilities. This can deplete your hand quickly, especially in a game where maintaining card advantage is crucial.

Specific Mana Cost: Throne Warden’s mana cost requires a specific color combination which may not seamlessly fit into all deck types, potentially limiting its versatility across various MTG strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost that’s on the higher side for its abilities, some MTG players might find the Throne Warden less efficient compared to other options. Its cost-effectiveness is often debated, particularly in formats where speed is essential.

Reasons to Include Throne Warden in Your Collection

Versatility: Throne Warden is a versatile card that can bolster any deck focusing on +1/+1 counters. This card is adept at empowering your creatures incrementally, making it an asset in both offensive and defensive strategies.

Combo Potential: When it comes to synergies, Throne Warden shines. It opens up numerous possibilities with cards that benefit from, or add to, the proliferation of counters. Whether fueling larger attacks or enhancing board stability, Throne Warden can be the linchpin of potent combos.

Meta-Relevance: Given its capacity to steadily grow creatures, Throne Warden maintains relevance in various metas, particularly when slower, strategy-driven games dominate. The ability to accumulate and leverage +1/+1 counters can make all the difference in closely fought battles.

How to beat

Understanding Throne Warden’s role in a Magic: The Gathering match is crucial for strategizing a counterattack. As a creature known for bolstering your defenses and reinforcing your other creatures with +1/+1 counters each turn, it can quickly become a dominating force. To effectively neutralize this threat, removal spells that can bypass its toughness are efficient. Cards like Path to Exile or Murderous Rider can handle the Warden before its effect becomes overwhelming.

Alternatively, using board wipes such as Wrath of God or Damnation can clear the field of Throne Warden alongside any creatures that might have benefited from its ability. This is especially potent as it prevents your opponent from stacking advantages over multiple turns. Timing is key; striking after the Warden’s skill is activated but before the end of turn ensures maximum disruption.

Moreover, direct player damage spells and abilities can circumvent the Warden’s defensive capabilities by focusing on lowering the opponent’s life total itself. By maintaining a diverse toolkit that can address various threats, you can ensure Throne Warden doesn’t stand in your way for long.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Throne Warden MTG card by a specific set like Conspiracy: Take the Crown and Treasure Chest, 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 Throne Warden and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Throne Warden Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2016-08-26 and 2016-11-16. Illustrated by Chris Rallis.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12016-08-26Conspiracy: Take the CrownCN2 252015NormalBlackChris Rallis
22016-11-16Treasure ChestPZ2 12015NormalBlackChris Rallis

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Throne Warden has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2016-08-23 Abilities that trigger whenever you “become the monarch” trigger only if you aren’t already the monarch. For example, if you are already the monarch as Custodi Lich enters the battlefield, its last ability won’t trigger.
2016-08-23 If the triggered ability that causes the monarch to draw a card goes on the stack, and a different player becomes the monarch before that ability resolves, the first player will still draw the card.
2016-08-23 The game starts with no monarch. Once an effect makes one player the monarch, the game will have exactly one monarch from that point forward.
2016-08-23 The last ability of Throne Warden checks to see if you’re the monarch as your end step begins. If you’re not, the ability won’t trigger at all. You won’t be able to do anything that would make you the monarch during your end step in time to have that ability trigger. The ability will also check to see if you’re the monarch as it tries to resolve. If you’re not the monarch at that time, the ability will have no effect.