Glen Elendra Archmage — ruling 1

If a creature with persist stops being a creature, persist will still work.

Glen Elendra Archmage — ruling 2

The persist ability triggers when the permanent is put into a graveyard. Its last known information (that is, how the creature last existed on the battlefield) is used to determine whether it had a -1/-1 counter on it.

Glen Elendra Archmage — ruling 3

If a permanent has multiple instances of persist, they'll each trigger separately, but the redundant instances will have no effect. If one instance returns the card to the battlefield, the next to resolve will do nothing.

Glen Elendra Archmage — ruling 4

If a token with no -1/-1 counters on it has persist, the ability will trigger when the token is put into the graveyard. However, the token will cease to exist and can't return to the battlefield.

Glen Elendra Archmage — ruling 5

When a permanent with persist returns to the battlefield, it's a new object with no memory of or connection to its previous existence.

Glen Elendra Archmage — ruling 6

If multiple creatures with persist are put into the graveyard at the same time (due to combat damage or a spell that destroys all creatures, for example), the active player (the player whose turn it is) puts all of their persist triggers on the stack in any order, then each other player in turn order does the same. The last trigger put on the stack is the first one that resolves. That means that in a two-player game, the nonactive player's persist creatures will return to the battlefield first, then the active player's persist creatures do the same. The creatures return to the battlefield one at a time.

Glen Elendra Archmage — ruling 7

If a creature with persist that has +1/+1 counters on it receives enough -1/-1 counters to cause it to be destroyed by lethal damage or put into its owner's graveyard for having 0 or less toughness, persist won't trigger and the card won't return to the battlefield. That's because persist checks the creature's existence just before it leaves the battlefield, and it still has all those counters on it at that point.

Glen Elendra Archmage : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

Glen Elendra Archmage 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

Flying , Sacrifice this creature: Counter target noncreature spell. Persist (When this creature dies, if it had no -1/-1 counters on it, return it to the battlefield under its owner's control with a -1/-1 counter on it.)

Complete guide

Glen Elendra Archmage is a staple of control decks, providing a repeatable way to negate your opponent's most powerful noncreature spells. Thanks to the persist keyword, this Faerie Wizard can jump back from the graveyard for a second round of protection. Understanding how its sacrifice cost interacts with the persist trigger is key to mastering this card.

Dual-Layer Defense

Glen Elendra Archmage features a powerful activated ability that allows you to sacrifice it for a single blue mana to counter a noncreature spell. Because it has persist, when it dies while having no -1/-1 counters, it immediately returns to the battlefield with a -1/-1 counter. This effectively gives you two counterspells for the price of one card, though the second time it is on the battlefield, it will be a 1/1 creature that cannot persist again unless that counter is removed.

Step-by-Step Resolution

When you want to counter a spell, you first activate the Archmage's ability by paying one blue mana and sacrificing the creature as a cost. The ability goes on the stack targeting a noncreature spell. Simultaneously, the persist ability triggers because the Archmage was put into the graveyard from the battlefield without a -1/-1 counter. You can stack these so the persist trigger resolves first, bringing the Archmage back to the battlefield as a new object, and then the original activated ability resolves to counter your opponent's spell.

Timing and Counter Mechanics

It is important to remember that persist checks the 'last known information' of the creature. If the Archmage had a -1/-1 counter on it at the moment it was sacrificed or destroyed, persist will not trigger. Conversely, if the Archmage had both a +1/+1 counter and a -1/-1 counter that would have cancelled out via state-based actions, but it dies before that happens (such as by having 0 toughness), persist looks at the counters it had right before leaving. If it still had a -1/-1 counter then, it stays in the graveyard.

When to Deploy

Glen Elendra Archmage is best played when you have at least one blue mana open to protect it or yourself. It serves as a strong deterrent against board wipes, planeswalkers, and powerful enchantments. Since it is a Faerie and a Wizard, it also benefits from tribal synergies that can trigger additional effects or reduce costs.

Interaction examples

Double Persist with Roaming Throne

Roaming Throne

If you control Roaming Throne with 'Wizard' chosen as the creature type and your Glen Elendra Archmage dies without a -1/-1 counter, persist triggers twice. The first persist trigger resolves, returning the Archmage to the battlefield with a -1/-1 counter. The second persist trigger then resolves but does nothing, as the card has already changed zones and is now a new object on the battlefield.

Protecting Your Board

Solemn Simulacrum

Suppose your opponent casts a spell to destroy all artifacts, which would destroy your Solemn Simulacrum. You can pay one blue mana and sacrifice Glen Elendra Archmage to counter that spell. The Archmage will persist back to the battlefield as a 1/1, your Solemn Simulacrum remains safe, and you still have the Archmage available to counter another noncreature spell later.

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

How it works : Glen Elendra Archmage

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1June 7, 2013· Wizards of the Coast
If a creature with persist stops being a creature, persist will still work.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#2June 7, 2013· Wizards of the Coast
The persist ability triggers when the permanent is put into a graveyard. Its last known information (that is, how the creature last existed on the battlefield) is used to determine whether it had a -1/-1 counter on it.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#3June 7, 2013· Wizards of the Coast
If a permanent has multiple instances of persist, they'll each trigger separately, but the redundant instances will have no effect. If one instance returns the card to the battlefield, the next to resolve will do nothing.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#4June 7, 2013· Wizards of the Coast
If a token with no -1/-1 counters on it has persist, the ability will trigger when the token is put into the graveyard. However, the token will cease to exist and can't return to the battlefield.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#5June 7, 2013· Wizards of the Coast
When a permanent with persist returns to the battlefield, it's a new object with no memory of or connection to its previous existence.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#6June 7, 2013· Wizards of the Coast
If multiple creatures with persist are put into the graveyard at the same time (due to combat damage or a spell that destroys all creatures, for example), the active player (the player whose turn it is) puts all of their persist triggers on the stack in any order, then each other player in turn order does the same. The last trigger put on the stack is the first one that resolves. That means that in a two-player game, the nonactive player's persist creatures will return to the battlefield first, then the active player's persist creatures do the same. The creatures return to the battlefield one at a time.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#7June 7, 2013· Wizards of the Coast
If a creature with persist that has +1/+1 counters on it receives enough -1/-1 counters to cause it to be destroyed by lethal damage or put into its owner's graveyard for having 0 or less toughness, persist won't trigger and the card won't return to the battlefield. That's because persist checks the creature's existence just before it leaves the battlefield, and it still has all those counters on it at that point.
No other card is named in this ruling.