Cursed Courtier 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
Lifelink When this creature enters, create a Cursed Role token attached to it. (Enchanted creature is 1/1.)
Complete guide
Cursed Courtier is a tragic Noble from the Wilds of Eldraine that highlights the double-edged nature of Role tokens. While it boasts a solid body for its cost, it enters the battlefield already burdened by a curse that diminishes its strength. Understanding how to manage this Role is key to unlocking the card's full potential in white-based aggressive or enchantment decks.
Understanding the Cursed Role
Cursed Courtier features Lifelink and a triggered ability that creates a Cursed Role token attached to it upon entry. This Role is an Aura token that sets the enchanted creature's base power and toughness to 1/1. Because this effect changes the base values, the Courtier effectively becomes a 1/1 with Lifelink as soon as its enters-the-battlefield ability resolves.
The Timing of the Curse
When Cursed Courtier enters the battlefield, it initially exists as a 3/3 creature. Its ability triggers and goes on the stack. Once that ability resolves, the Cursed Role is created and attached to the Courtier. If the Courtier is removed from the battlefield before the ability resolves, the Role token is never created. Additionally, if you have ways to replace the Role, the most recent Role token controlled by the same player will stay, and the old one will be moved to the graveyard.
Common Mistakes and Role Rules
A common mistake is forgetting that a creature can only have one Role controlled by the same player at a time. If you attach a 'Monster' or 'Royal' Role to Cursed Courtier later, the Cursed Role is put into the graveyard as a state-based action. This is a great way to 'break' the curse and return the Courtier to its natural 3/3 stats (plus whatever bonuses the new Role provides). Also, note that if the Courtier has Hexproof, the token still attaches because the ability does not use the word 'target'.
When to Play Cursed Courtier
Cursed Courtier is best utilized in decks that can exploit 'Bargain' costs or enchantment synergies. Since the Cursed Role is a permanent, you can sacrifice it to other spells to restore the Courtier to a 3/3. It is also excellent in 'Go-Wide' strategies where Lifelink helps stabilize your life total while you search for a way to remove the negative Aura.
Interaction examples
Roaming ThroneIf you control Roaming Throne and chose 'Human' or 'Noble,' the Cursed Courtier's ability triggers twice. Two Cursed Role tokens will attempt to attach to it. According to state-based actions, you choose one to keep and the other is immediately put into the graveyard. This results in the Courtier being a 1/1, but triggers 'when an enchantment leaves the battlefield' abilities for the discarded token.
With no other cards involved, Cursed Courtier enters as a 3/3. The trigger goes on the stack. Upon resolution, it becomes a 1/1 with Lifelink. Any combat damage it deals will gain you 1 life. If you can later destroy the Cursed Role token, the Courtier immediately reverts to being a 3/3 creature with Lifelink.
Wicked // CursedIf you later cast a spell that grants the Courtier a 'Wicked' Role, you will control two Roles on the same creature. You must keep the new Wicked Role and move the old Cursed Role to the graveyard. The Courtier's base stats return to 3/3, and the Wicked Role then adds +1/+1, making it a 4/4 with Lifelink.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Cursed Courtier
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
Roles are colorless enchantment tokens. Each one has the Aura and Role subtypes and the enchant creature ability.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
If a permanent has more than one Role attached to it controlled by the same player, each of those Roles except the one with the most recent timestamp is put into its owner’s graveyard. This is a state-based action.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
If two or more Roles controlled by the same player become attached to a permanent at the same time (perhaps due to an effect such as that of Doubling Season), that player chooses which one to keep and which are put into their owners’ graveyards.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #4· Wizards of the Coast
A permanent can have multiple Roles attached to it if each one is controlled by a different player.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #5· Wizards of the Coast
Some spells and abilities that create Role tokens require targets. If each target chosen is an illegal target as that spell or ability tries to resolve, it won’t resolve. The Role token won’t be created.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #6· Wizards of the Coast
In rare cases, a spell or ability might attempt to create a Role token enchanting a permanent that it can’t legally enchant (because of an ability like protection from enchantments). In such cases, the Role token isn’t created.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #7· Wizards of the Coast
Hexproof and shroud won’t prevent a Role from becoming attached to a permanent if the ability creating that Role attached to that permanent doesn’t target it.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #8· Wizards of the Coast
Cards in the Wilds of Eldraine main set create six different Role tokens: Cursed, Monster, Royal, Sorcerer, Wicked, and Young Hero. A seventh Role token, Virtuous, is created by Ellivere of the Wild Court, the commander of the “Virtue and Valor” Commander Deck.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Related cards and tokens
Legal formats
Commentaires
- Sois le premier à commenter cette carte.
Read next
Meta decks with Cursed Courtier
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.