Garland, Royal Kidnapper — ruling 1

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.

Garland, Royal Kidnapper — ruling 2

The owner of a token is the player who created that token or, in the case of a resolving copy of a permanent spell that became a token, the player who controlled that spell as it resolved.

Garland, Royal Kidnapper — ruling 3

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.

Garland, Royal Kidnapper — ruling 4

While Garland is on the battlefield, creatures you control but don't own can't be sacrificed for any reason. If an effect instructs you to sacrifice one of them, you can't and it remains on the battlefield. You also can't sacrifice one of them to pay a cost that requires you to sacrifice a creature.

Garland, Royal Kidnapper — ruling 5

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.

Garland, Royal Kidnapper — ruling 6

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."

Garland, Royal Kidnapper — ruling 7

If an effect instructs you to sacrifice a creature and you control any creatures other than ones you control but don't own, you must sacrifice one of those other creatures. You can't try to sacrifice a creature you control but don't own.

Garland, Royal Kidnapper — ruling 8

While Garland's second ability is on the stack, if that opponent stops being the monarch before it resolves, you won't gain control of the target creature at all.

Garland, Royal Kidnapper : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

Garland, Royal Kidnapper 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 Garland enters, target opponent becomes the monarch. Whenever an opponent becomes the monarch, gain control of target creature that player controls for as long as they're the monarch. Creatures you control but don't own get +2/+2 and can't be sacrificed.

How it works : Garland, Royal Kidnapper

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1October 2, 2025· 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.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#2October 2, 2025· Wizards of the Coast
The owner of a token is the player who created that token or, in the case of a resolving copy of a permanent spell that became a token, the player who controlled that spell as it resolved.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#3October 2, 2025· 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.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#4October 2, 2025· Wizards of the Coast
While Garland is on the battlefield, creatures you control but don't own can't be sacrificed for any reason. If an effect instructs you to sacrifice one of them, you can't and it remains on the battlefield. You also can't sacrifice one of them to pay a cost that requires you to sacrifice a creature.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#5October 2, 2025· 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.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#6October 2, 2025· 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."
No other card is named in this ruling.
#7October 2, 2025· Wizards of the Coast
If an effect instructs you to sacrifice a creature and you control any creatures other than ones you control but don't own, you must sacrifice one of those other creatures. You can't try to sacrifice a creature you control but don't own.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#8October 2, 2025· Wizards of the Coast
While Garland's second ability is on the stack, if that opponent stops being the monarch before it resolves, you won't gain control of the target creature at all.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#9October 2, 2025· 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.
No other card is named in this ruling.