Dragon Throne of Tarkir 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
Equipped creature has defender and ",
: Other creatures you control gain trample and get +X/+X until end of turn, where X is this creature's power." Equip
Complete guide
Dragon Throne of Tarkir is a powerful legendary equipment that turns a single mighty creature into a tactical commander for your entire army. While it prevents the equipped creature from attacking, it provides a massive stat boost and trample to every other soldier on your side of the field. This artifact is a staple for decks that look to go wide with creatures and finish the game in one decisive swing.
A Seat of Power
Dragon Throne of Tarkir grants two distinct properties to the creature sitting upon it. First, the creature gains defender, meaning it can no longer be declared as an attacker. Second, it gains an activated ability costing two mana and tapping the creature. This ability grants every other creature you control trample and a power and toughness bonus equal to the equipped creature's current power.
Resolving the Crown's Command
When you activate the ability, it goes on the stack. The value of X is determined only when the ability resolves, not when it is activated. If the equipped creature is removed from the battlefield in response, the game uses 'last known information' to determine its power. If the creature's power is less than zero at the time of resolution, X is treated as zero, providing no stat bonus but still granting trample.
Strategic Considerations
A common mistake is forgetting that the bonus only applies to 'other' creatures; the creature equipped with the Throne does not buff itself. Furthermore, because the ability requires the creature to tap, you cannot use it the same turn the creature enters the battlefield unless that creature has haste. Timing is key, as you must activate this during your pre-combat main phase or the beginning of combat to ensure your attackers benefit from the trample and stat boost.
Interaction examples
Solemn SimulacrumYou equip Solemn Simulacrum with Dragon Throne of Tarkir. Since the Golem has a power of 2, you can pay two mana and tap it to give all your other creatures +2/+2 and trample until end of turn. Even though the Golem has defender and cannot attack, it effectively acts as a lord for the rest of your board.
Commander's SphereIf you are short on the two mana required to activate the Throne's granted ability, you can tap Commander's Sphere to add one mana to your pool. This helps ensure you can activate the buff during your combat phase even if you spent most of your mana casting creatures to receive the bonus.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Dragon Throne of Tarkir
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
If the equipped creature's power is negative while resolving the activated ability it gains, X is considered to be 0.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
The value of X is determined as the activated ability resolves. If the equipped creature isn't on the battlefield at that time, use its power the last time it was on the battlefield to determine the value of X.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Dragon Throne of Tarkir
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