Court of Embereth — ruling 1

The game starts with no monarch. As a player becomes the monarch, the current monarch (if any) ceases being the monarch. There is never more than one monarch at a time.

Court of Embereth — ruling 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. 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."

Court of Embereth — ruling 3

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.

Court of Embereth — ruling 4

If the monarch leaves the game during another player's turn, that player becomes the monarch. If the monarch leaves the game during their turn, the next player in turn order becomes the monarch.

Court of Embereth — ruling 5

If combat damage dealt to the monarch causes that player to lose the game, the triggered ability that causes the controller of the attacking creature to become the monarch doesn't resolve. In most cases, the controller of the attacking creature will still become the monarch as it is likely their turn.

Court of Embereth : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

Court of Embereth is one of those cards players keep asking about. Here is, in plain words, what its official text says, the rulings published by Wizards of the Coast, and the combos players actually run.

Official card text

When this enchantment 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, this enchantment deals X damage to each opponent, where X is the number of creatures you control.

Complete guide

Court of Embereth is a powerful enchantment that brings the prestige of the monarchy to your battlefield. Not only does it secure your position as the ruler, but it also builds an army of Knights to defend your crown and punish your rivals.

Claiming the Crown

When Court of Embereth enters the battlefield, you immediately become the monarch. This gives you access to the monarch's inherent ability: drawing an extra card at the beginning of your end step. However, be careful; if a creature deals combat damage to you, that player will steal the crown for themselves!

Building the Round Table

At the start of each of your upkeeps, the Court produces a 3/1 red Knight creature token. This happens regardless of whether you are currently the monarch. This token generation provides a steady stream of attackers or blockers to help you maintain control of the game state.

Delivering the Final Blow

The true power of this card lies in its second upkeep effect. After creating the Knight token, the game checks if you are the monarch. If you are, Court of Embereth deals damage to each opponent equal to the total number of creatures you control. This counts the newly created Knight and any other creatures currently on your board.

Common Mistakes

Players often forget the order of operations. The damage check happens strictly after the token is created, so you always count the new Knight in the total damage. Additionally, if you lose the monarch status before your upkeep begins, the damage ability will not trigger, though you will still get the Knight token.

Interaction examples

Leading the Charge

Shared Animosity

With Court of Embereth and Shared Animosity on the field, your Knight tokens become devastating. In your upkeep, you create a Knight. In your combat phase, when that Knight and others attack, Shared Animosity grants them a massive power boost based on their shared Knight type, helping you protect your monarch status by eliminating threats.

Relentless Assaults

Aggravated Assault

If you have already established a wide board with Court of Embereth's upkeep tokens, you can use Aggravated Assault to take multiple combat phases. While this doesn't trigger the Court's damage ability again (which only happens at upkeep), it ensures you can deal massive combat damage to prevent opponents from ever being healthy enough to take the monarch status from you.

Defending the Throne

The Monarch

When Court of Embereth enters, you gain The Monarch. If an opponent attacks you with a creature and deals combat damage, they take The Monarch. On your next upkeep, you still create a 3/1 Knight, but since you are no longer the monarch, the enchantment will not deal any damage to your opponents.

Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.

How it works : Court of Embereth

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1September 1, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
The game starts with no monarch. As a player becomes the monarch, the current monarch (if any) ceases being the monarch. There is never more than one monarch at a time.
Card named in this ruling
The Monarch
#2September 1, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
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. 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."
Card named in this ruling
The Monarch
#3September 1, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
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.
Card named in this ruling
The Monarch
#4September 1, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
If the monarch leaves the game during another player's turn, that player becomes the monarch. If the monarch leaves the game during their turn, the next player in turn order becomes the monarch.
Card named in this ruling
The Monarch
#5September 1, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
If combat damage dealt to the monarch causes that player to lose the game, the triggered ability that causes the controller of the attacking creature to become the monarch doesn't resolve. In most cases, the controller of the attacking creature will still become the monarch as it is likely their turn.
Card named in this ruling
The Monarch