Edgar Markov — ruling 1

Edgar Markov’s eminence ability is a triggered ability. Edgar must be on the battlefield or in the command zone when you cast another Vampire spell and also as the triggered ability resolves. If it’s on the battlefield or in the command zone when you cast another Vampire spell but leaves that zone before the ability resolves, the ability won’t do anything as it resolves.

Edgar Markov — ruling 2

Notably, if Edgar Markov is on the battlefield and its eminence ability triggers, but it’s put into the command zone before that ability resolves, that ability won’t do anything as it resolves. This is because an object that changes zones is considered a new object.

Edgar Markov : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

Edgar Markov 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

Eminence — Whenever you cast another Vampire spell, if Edgar is in the command zone or on the battlefield, create a 1/1 black Vampire creature token. First strike, haste Whenever Edgar attacks, put a +1/+1 counter on each Vampire you control.

How it works : Edgar Markov

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1January 24, 2025· Wizards of the Coast
Edgar Markov’s eminence ability is a triggered ability. Edgar must be on the battlefield or in the command zone when you cast another Vampire spell and also as the triggered ability resolves. If it’s on the battlefield or in the command zone when you cast another Vampire spell but leaves that zone before the ability resolves, the ability won’t do anything as it resolves.
Card named in this ruling
Vampire
#2January 24, 2025· Wizards of the Coast
Notably, if Edgar Markov is on the battlefield and its eminence ability triggers, but it’s put into the command zone before that ability resolves, that ability won’t do anything as it resolves. This is because an object that changes zones is considered a new object.
No other card is named in this ruling.

Popular combos

Real combos played by the community, sorted by popularity.

#1
Edgar Markov + Oathsworn Vampire + Phyrexian Altar
Infinite creature ETBInfinite creature LTBInfinite creature sacrifice triggersInfinite storm count
1Cast Oathsworn Vampire from your graveyard by paying .
2Edgar triggers, creating a 1/1 Vampire creature token.
3Activate Phyrexian Altar twice by sacrificing the Vampire token and Oathsworn Vampire, adding .
4Repeat.

#1
Edgar Markov + Oathsworn Vampire + Phyrexian Altar
Infinite creature ETBInfinite creature LTBInfinite creature sacrifice triggersInfinite storm count
1Cast Oathsworn Vampire from your graveyard by paying .
2Edgar triggers, creating a 1/1 Vampire creature token.
3Activate Phyrexian Altar twice by sacrificing the Vampire token and Oathsworn Vampire, adding .
4Repeat.

#4
Edgar Markov + Cloudstone Curio + Phyrexian Altar
Infinite death triggersInfinite creature ETBInfinite creature LTBInfinite creature sacrifice triggers
1Cast the nonartifact Vampire from your hand by paying its mana cost.
2Edgar triggers, creating a 1/1 Vampire creature token.
3The nontoken Vampire enters the battlefield, triggering Cloudstone Curio, returning any other nontoken, nonartifact Vampire that can be cast using one colored mana from the battlefield to your hand.
4Activate Phyrexian Altar by sacrificing the Vampire token, adding one mana of any color.
5Repeat.

Interactions with other cards

These cards' text mentions Edgar Markov.

Edgar, Charmed Groom // Edgar Markov's Coffin

Other Vampires you control get +1/+1. When Edgar dies, return it to the battlefield transformed under its owner's control. At the beginning of your upkeep, create a 1/1 white and black Vampire creature token with lifelink and put a bloodline counter on Edgar Markov's Coffin. Then if there are three or more bloodline counters on it, remove those counters and transform it.