God-Eternal Rhonas — ruling 1

Rhonas's first triggered ability affects only creatures you control at the time it resolves. Creatures you begin to control later in the turn won't have their power doubled or gain vigilance.

God-Eternal Rhonas — ruling 2

If an effect instructs you to "double" a creature's power, that creature gets +X/+0, where X is its power as that effect begins to apply.

God-Eternal Rhonas — ruling 3

If one of these Gods leaves the graveyard or exile while its last ability is on the stack, it will remain in its new zone, even if that zone is a graveyard or exile.

God-Eternal Rhonas — ruling 4

If the God's owner has two or fewer cards in their library, the God is put on the bottom of their library as its last ability resolves.

God-Eternal Rhonas — ruling 5

If you control another player's God when it dies, you decide whether to put that card into its owner's library.

God-Eternal Rhonas — ruling 6

If an effect exiles the God and immediately returns it to the battlefield, its last ability triggers but will have no effect. However, if an effect exiles it and would return it to the battlefield at a later time, the God's ability may return that card to its owner's library first. If it does, the effect that exiled it won't return it later.

God-Eternal Rhonas — ruling 7

In a multiplayer game, if you put another player's God onto the battlefield under your control, it will be exiled as you leave the game. If you were still the controller of that God, you would control its triggered ability but you have left the game; that ability won't resolve and the card remains in exile. Similarly, if you lose the game at the same time that another player's God that you put onto the battlefield is destroyed, it remains in its owner's graveyard.

God-Eternal Rhonas — ruling 8

If one of these Gods dies and it's your commander, you may put it into the command zone before its ability puts it into your library. If you save your commander this way, it won't put it into your library. The same is true if it would be exiled.

God-Eternal Rhonas : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

God-Eternal Rhonas 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

Deathtouch When God-Eternal Rhonas enters, double the power of each other creature you control until end of turn. Those creatures gain vigilance until end of turn. When God-Eternal Rhonas dies or is put into exile from the battlefield, you may put it into its owner's library third from the top.

Complete guide

God-Eternal Rhonas is a powerhouse from the Amonkhet story arc, representing the indomitable strength of a fallen deity. This legendary Zombie God specializes in overwhelming your opponents by turning a modest board state into a lethal army of vigilant attackers. With its unique 'God-Eternal' clause, Rhonas is also exceptionally difficult to keep off the battlefield for long.

Doubling Down on Power

When God-Eternal Rhonas enters the battlefield, its triggered ability checks the current power of every other creature you control. For each creature, Rhonas provides a power bonus equal to that creature's current power at the moment the ability resolves. For example, if you control a 2/2 creature, it gets +2/+0 for a total of 4/2. Crucially, this effect only applies to creatures you already control when the ability resolves; any creatures entering later in the turn will not receive the bonus or vigilance.

Resolution and the Library Clause

God-Eternal Rhonas features a resilient triggered ability that triggers when it dies or is exiled from the battlefield. You have the choice to place Rhonas into its owner's library, third from the top. If the library has two or fewer cards, Rhonas simply goes to the bottom. In Commander, if Rhonas is your commander, you can choose to move it to the Command Zone instead of the library, but if you do, the library-tucking ability will not move it from the Command Zone later.

Strategic Timing and Common Mistakes

Players often forget that the power boost is a one-time calculation based on the creature's power as the ability resolves. If a creature's power changes later in the turn, the bonus from Rhonas does not update. Additionally, remember that Rhonas does not double its own power—only 'each other creature' you control gets the buff. Because the creatures also gain vigilance, you can attack aggressively without leaving yourself open to a counterattack.

Interaction examples

The Mechanical Army

Solemn Simulacrum

If you have Solemn Simulacrum (a 2/2 creature) on the battlefield and cast God-Eternal Rhonas, Rhonas's ability triggers upon entry. When it resolves, Solemn Simulacrum gets +2/+0 and vigilance. It becomes a 4/2 creature until end of turn. If the Simulacrum dies later that turn, you still get to draw a card from its own ability, and Rhonas remains on the field as a 5/5 with deathtouch.

Doubling the Divine Might

Roaming Throne

With Roaming Throne on the battlefield, you choose 'Zombie' as its type. When God-Eternal Rhonas (a Zombie God) enters, Roaming Throne causes Rhonas's entry ability to trigger twice. The first resolution doubles your other creatures' power. The second resolution then doubles that new, already-doubled power. A creature that started as a 2/2 would first become a 4/2, and then receive another +4/+0 from the second trigger, ending as a massive 8/2 with vigilance!

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

How it works : God-Eternal Rhonas

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1May 3, 2019· Wizards of the Coast
Rhonas's first triggered ability affects only creatures you control at the time it resolves. Creatures you begin to control later in the turn won't have their power doubled or gain vigilance.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#2May 3, 2019· Wizards of the Coast
If an effect instructs you to "double" a creature's power, that creature gets +X/+0, where X is its power as that effect begins to apply.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#3May 3, 2019· Wizards of the Coast
If one of these Gods leaves the graveyard or exile while its last ability is on the stack, it will remain in its new zone, even if that zone is a graveyard or exile.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#4May 3, 2019· Wizards of the Coast
If the God's owner has two or fewer cards in their library, the God is put on the bottom of their library as its last ability resolves.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#5May 3, 2019· Wizards of the Coast
If you control another player's God when it dies, you decide whether to put that card into its owner's library.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#6May 3, 2019· Wizards of the Coast
If an effect exiles the God and immediately returns it to the battlefield, its last ability triggers but will have no effect. However, if an effect exiles it and would return it to the battlefield at a later time, the God's ability may return that card to its owner's library first. If it does, the effect that exiled it won't return it later.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#7May 3, 2019· Wizards of the Coast
In a multiplayer game, if you put another player's God onto the battlefield under your control, it will be exiled as you leave the game. If you were still the controller of that God, you would control its triggered ability but you have left the game; that ability won't resolve and the card remains in exile. Similarly, if you lose the game at the same time that another player's God that you put onto the battlefield is destroyed, it remains in its owner's graveyard.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#8May 3, 2019· Wizards of the Coast
If one of these Gods dies and it's your commander, you may put it into the command zone before its ability puts it into your library. If you save your commander this way, it won't put it into your library. The same is true if it would be exiled.
No other card is named in this ruling.