Immaculate Magistrate 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
: Put a +1/+1 counter on target creature for each Elf you control.
Complete guide
Immaculate Magistrate is a powerful engine for green decks, turning a board of small creatures into a massive threat. This Elf Shaman excels at scaling your presence, ensuring that your army grows taller with every additional Elf you recruit. Whether you are aiming for a lethal swing or building an immovable blocker, this card is a centerpiece for any tribal strategy.
Scaling Power with Tribal Synergy
Immaculate Magistrate features an activated ability that requires you to tap it. Upon activation, it checks how many Elves you control to determine how many +1/+1 counters to place on a target creature. It is important to note that the Magistrate itself is an Elf, so if it is the only Elf you control when the ability resolves, it will still provide at least one counter.
The Resolution Process
When you activate the ability, you choose a target creature. The ability then goes on the stack. The critical moment occurs during resolution: the game checks the number of Elves you control at that exact time. If an opponent removes an Elf in response to the ability, you will get fewer counters. Conversely, if you flash in an Elf before resolution, you will get more. Once the counters are placed, they remain on the target regardless of what happens to your Elves later.
Versatile Targeting
A common misconception is that Immaculate Magistrate can only target other Elves. According to the official rulings, the target creature does not have to be an Elf. You can place these counters on any creature you control, or even a creature an opponent controls if you have a strategic reason to do so. This flexibility allows you to buff non-tribal utility creatures or even the Magistrate itself.
Timing and Strategy
Because this ability requires tapping the Magistrate, you usually want to wait until your opponent's end step or after they have declared attackers. If the Magistrate does not have Haste, you must wait a full turn cycle before using this ability. It is a fantastic way to punish opponents who lack immediate interaction, as the power boost can quickly become insurmountable.
Interaction examples
Solemn SimulacrumYou control Immaculate Magistrate and two other Elves. You tap the Magistrate targeting Solemn Simulacrum. Upon resolution, the game counts three Elves (the Magistrate and the two others) and places three +1/+1 counters on Solemn Simulacrum, making the Golem a 5/5 threat.
Eternal WitnessAfter casting Eternal Witness to return a card from your graveyard, you decide to bolster its stats. You tap Immaculate Magistrate targeting Eternal Witness. Since Eternal Witness is a Human Shaman and not an Elf, it still receives counters based on the number of Elves you currently control, transforming your utility creature into a capable fighter.
If you control only Immaculate Magistrate, you can tap it to target itself. When the ability resolves, it counts one Elf (itself) and places one +1/+1 counter on itself. This allows the Magistrate to grow even if your other creatures have been removed from the battlefield.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Immaculate Magistrate
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
The number of counters to put on the target creature is determined only as Immaculate Magistrate's ability resolves. Elves coming and going later won't cause that creature to gain or lose +1/+1 counters.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
The target creature doesn't have to be an Elf.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Popular combos
Real combos played by the community, sorted by popularity.
Thranduil, the Elvenking + Devoted Druid + Immaculate Magistrate
- 1Activate Thranduil using Immaculate Magistrate's ability by tapping it, putting a +1/+1 counter on Thranduil for each Elf you control.
- 2Activate Thranduil using Devoted Druid's second ability by putting a -1/-1 counter on it, untapping it.
- 3Repeat.
Agatha's Soul Cauldron + Immaculate Magistrate + Devoted Druid
- 1Activate Immaculate Magistrate by tapping it, putting a +1/+1 counter on it for each Elf you control.
- 2Activate Immaculate Magistrate using Devoted Druid's second ability by putting a -1/-1 counter on it, untapping it.
- 3Repeat.
- 4Once you have infinite +1/+1 counters on Immaculate Magistrate, you may instead target any other creature, or use Devoted Druid's first ability.
- 5If you give other creatures +1/+1 counters, you may also untap them infinitely using Devoted Druid's second ability.
Immaculate Magistrate + Sage of Hours
- 1Activate Immaculate Magistrate by tapping it, putting at least five +1/+1 counters on Sage of Hours.
- 2Activate Sage of Hours' ability by removing all +1/+1 counters from it, causing you to take at least one extra turn after this one.
- 3Repeat each turn.
Agatha's Soul Cauldron + Immaculate Magistrate + Cinderhaze Wretch
- 1Activate Immaculate Magistrate by tapping it, putting a +1/+1 counter on it for each Elf you control.
- 2Activate Immaculate Magistrate using Cinderhaze Wretch's second ability by putting a -1/-1 counter on it, untapping it.
- 3Repeat.
- 4Once you have infinite +1/+1 counters on Immaculate Magistrate, you may instead target any other creature, and you may also untap them infinitely using Cinderhaze Wretch's second ability.
Berta, Wise Extrapolator + Agatha's Soul Cauldron + Farmstead Gleaner + Immaculate Magistrate
- 1Activate Berta using Immaculate Magistrate's ability by tapping them, putting a +1/+1 counter on Berta for each Elf you control.
- 2Berta's second ability triggers, adding one mana of any color.
- 3Activate Berta using Farmstead Gleaner's ability by paying
and untapping them, putting a +1/+1 counter on Berta. - 4Berta's second ability triggers, adding one mana of any color.
- 5Repeat.
Agatha's Soul Cauldron + Immaculate Magistrate + Barrenton Medic
- 1Activate Immaculate Magistrate by tapping it, putting a +1/+1 counter on it for each Elf you control.
- 2Activate Immaculate Magistrate using Barrenton Medic's second ability by putting a -1/-1 counter on it, untapping it.
- 3Repeat.
- 4Once you have infinite +1/+1 counters on Immaculate Magistrate, you may instead target any other creature, and you may also untap them infinitely using Barrenton Medic's second ability.
- 5You may also repeat this loop whenever damage would be dealt to you or a permanent you control, and then use Barrenton Medic's first ability to prevent the damage.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Immaculate Magistrate
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.