Jugan Defends the Temple // Remnant of the Rising Star 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
(As this Saga enters and after your draw step, add a lore counter.) I — Create a 1/1 green Human Monk creature token with ": Add
." II — Put a +1/+1 counter on each of up to two target creatures. III — Exile this Saga, then return it to the battlefield transformed under your control. Flying Whenever another creature you control enters, you may pay
. When you do, put X +1/+1 counters on that creature. As long as you control five or more modified creatures, this creature gets +5/+5 and has trample. (Equipment, Auras you control, and counters are modifications.)
Complete guide
Jugan Defends the Temple is a versatile green Saga that ramps your mana and strengthens your board before transforming into a powerful Dragon Spirit. This double-faced card captures the essence of growth, rewarding players for modifying their creatures with counters, Auras, and Equipment.
Scaling Up the Temple
As a Saga, Jugan Defends the Temple progresses through three chapters. The first chapter provides a 1/1 Human Monk token that can tap for green mana, aiding your acceleration. The second chapter allows you to place +1/+1 counters on up to two target creatures, which helps build your board presence and triggers 'modified' synergies. The final chapter exiles the Saga and returns it as Remnant of the Rising Star, a 2/2 flying creature that can grow your future threats.
Resolution Step by Step
When the third lore counter is added, the Saga's final ability triggers. You must exile the card first; then, it returns to the battlefield transformed with its back face up. Once it is Remnant of the Rising Star, its triggered ability watches for other creatures entering your control. When one does, you may pay any amount of mana (X) to place that many +1/+1 counters on the entering creature. Finally, the Remnant checks your board state: if you control five or more modified creatures, it gains a massive +5/+5 boost and trample.
Common Mistakes and Clarifications
A common point of confusion is what counts as 'modified.' A creature is modified if it has a counter (of any kind), an Equipment attached to it, or an Aura you control attached to it. Note that if an opponent attaches an Aura to your creature, it does not count as modified for your effects. Additionally, if you use a card that isn't double-faced to copy this Saga, it will remain in exile when the third chapter attempts to transform it.
When to Play It
This card is best utilized in decks that focus on creature density and counter synergies. It is an excellent turn-three play to establish mana ramp. The back side, Remnant of the Rising Star, is particularly effective in the late game when you have excess mana to dump into new creatures, ensuring even small utility creatures become significant threats while pushing the Dragon toward its +5/+5 threshold.
Interaction examples
Jugan Defends the Temple // Remnant of the Rising Star
Human MonkOn turn three, you cast Jugan Defends the Temple. The first lore counter is added, and the first chapter ability triggers, creating a 1/1 green Human Monk token. On your next turn, you can tap that Human Monk for green mana, effectively refunding part of the Saga's cost and helping you cast bigger spells while the Saga progresses.
Solemn SimulacrumWith Remnant of the Rising Star on the battlefield, you cast Solemn Simulacrum. When the Golem enters, the Remnant's ability triggers. You choose to pay four mana (X=4). You then put four +1/+1 counters on the Solemn Simulacrum, turning it into a 6/6 creature alongside its land-searching trigger.
Sakura-Tribe ElderIf you have a Human Monk token with a counter from Chapter II, a Sakura-Tribe Elder with a counter from Chapter II, and three other creatures with any counters or Auras you control, you now control five modified creatures. Remnant of the Rising Star immediately gains +5/+5 and trample, becoming a 7/7 flying threat.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Jugan Defends the Temple // Remnant of the Rising Star
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
Each face of a transforming double-faced card has its own set of characteristics: name, types, subtypes, abilities, and so on. While a transforming double-faced permanent is on the battlefield, consider only the characteristics of the face that's currently up. The other set of characteristics is ignored.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
Each transforming double-faced card in this set is cast face up. In every zone other than the battlefield, consider only the characteristics of its front face. If it is on the battlefield, consider only the characteristics of the face that's up; the other face's characteristics are ignored.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
The mana value of a transforming double-faced card is the mana value of its front face, no matter which face is up.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #4· Wizards of the Coast
The back face of a transforming double-faced card usually has a color indicator that defines its color.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #5· Wizards of the Coast
A transforming double-faced card enters the battlefield with its front face up by default, unless a spell or ability instructs you to put it onto the battlefield transformed or you cast it transformed, in which case it enters with its back face up.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #6· Wizards of the Coast
If you are instructed to put a card that isn't a double-faced card onto the battlefield transformed, it will not enter the battlefield at all. In that case, it stays in the zone it was previously in. For example, if a single-faced card is a copy of Azusa's Many Journeys, the chapter III ability will cause it to be exiled and then remain in exile.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #7· Wizards of the Coast
An Aura controlled by an opponent does not cause a creature you control to be modified.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #8· Wizards of the Coast
A creature with a counter on it is considered modified no matter what kind of counter it is or which player put it on that creature.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #9· Wizards of the Coast
A creature that is equipped is considered modified no matter who controls the Equipment that's attached to it.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Popular combos
Real combos played by the community, sorted by popularity.
Jugan Defends the Temple // Remnant of the Rising Star + Ashnod's Altar + Woodfall Primus
- 1Activate Ashnod's Altar by sacrificing Woodfall Primus, adding
. - 2Woodfall Primus dies, triggering its persist ability, returning it from your graveyard to the battlefield with a -1/-1 counter on it.
- 3Woodfall Primus enters the battlefield, triggering itself and Remnant of the Rising Star.
- 4Resolve the Woodfall Primus trigger, failing to destroy an indestructible noncreature permanent.
- 5Resolve the Remnant of the Rising Star trigger, causing you to pay
to put a +1/+1 counter on Woodfall Primus. - 6Repeat.
Jugan Defends the Temple // Remnant of the Rising Star + Phyrexian Altar + Woodfall Primus
- 1Activate Phyrexian Altar by sacrificing Woodfall Primus, adding .
- 2Woodfall Primus dies, triggering its persist ability, returning it from your graveyard to the battlefield with a -1/-1 counter on it.
- 3Woodfall Primus enters the battlefield, triggering itself and Remnant of the Rising Star.
- 4Resolve the Woodfall Primus trigger, failing to destroy an indestructible noncreature permanent.
- 5Resolve the Remnant of the Rising Star trigger, causing you to pay to put a +1/+1 counter on Woodfall Primus.
- 6Repeat.
Ramos, Dragon Engine + Jugan Defends the Temple // Remnant of the Rising Star + Emiel the Blessed
- 1Activate Emiel by paying
, blinking Ramos. - 2Ramos entering the battlefield triggers Remnant of the Rising Star, causing you to pay
to put five +1/+1 counters on Ramos. - 3Activate Ramos by removing five +1/+1 counters from it, causing you to add
. - 4Repeat.
Jugan Defends the Temple // Remnant of the Rising Star + Ashnod's Altar + Lesser Masticore
- 1Activate Ashnod's Altar by sacrificing Lesser Masticore, adding .
- 2Lesser Masticore dies, triggering its persist ability, returning it from your graveyard to the battlefield with a -1/-1 counter on it.
- 3Lesser Masticore enters the battlefield, triggering Remnant of the Rising Star, causing you to pay to put a +1/+1 counter on Lesser Masticore.
- 4Repeat.
Ramos, Dragon Engine + Jugan Defends the Temple // Remnant of the Rising Star + Deadeye Navigator
- 1Activate Ramos by paying , blinking itself.
- 2Ramos enters the battlefield, triggering Deadeye Navigator and Remnant of the Rising Star.
- 3Resolve the Deadeye Navigator trigger, repairing it and Ramos.
- 4Resolve the Remnant of the Rising Star trigger, causing you to pay to put five +1/+1 counters on Ramos.
- 5Activate Ramos by removing five +1/+1 counters from it, causing you to add .
- 6Repeat.
Jugan Defends the Temple // Remnant of the Rising Star + Ashnod's Altar + Murderous Redcap
- 1Activate Ashnod's Altar by sacrificing Murderous Redcap, adding .
- 2Murderous Redcap dies, triggering its persist ability, returning it from your graveyard to the battlefield with a -1/-1 counter on it.
- 3Murderous Redcap enters the battlefield, triggering itself and Remnant of the Rising Star.
- 4Resolve the Murderous Redcap trigger, dealing damage equal to its power to any target.
- 5Resolve the Remnant of the Rising Star trigger, causing you to pay to put a +1/+1 counter on Murderous Redcap.
- 6Repeat.
Jugan Defends the Temple // Remnant of the Rising Star + Phyrexian Altar + Lesser Masticore
- 1Activate Phyrexian Altar by sacrificing Lesser Masticore, adding .
- 2Lesser Masticore dies, triggering its persist ability, returning it from your graveyard to the battlefield with a -1/-1 counter on it.
- 3Lesser Masticore enters the battlefield, triggering Remnant of the Rising Star, causing you to pay to put a +1/+1 counter on Lesser Masticore.
- 4Repeat.
Sage of Hours + Jugan Defends the Temple // Remnant of the Rising Star + Soulherder
- 1At the beginning of your end step, Soulherder triggers, blinking Sage of Hours.
- 2Soulherder and Remnant of the Rising Star trigger.
- 3Resolve the Soulherder trigger, putting a +1/+1 counter on Soulherder.
- 4Resolve the Remnant of the Rising Star trigger, causing you to pay to put five +1/+1 counters on Sage of Hours.
- 5Activate Sage of Hours by removing all +1/+1 counters from it, taking at least one extra turn after this one.
- 6Move to your next turn.
- 7Repeat.
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