Markov Baron 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
Convoke (Your creatures can help cast this spell. Each creature you tap while casting this spell pays foror one mana of that creature's color.) Lifelink Other Vampires you control get +1/+1. Madness
(If you discard this card, discard it into exile. When you do, cast it for its madness cost or put it into your graveyard.)
Complete guide
Markov Baron is a versatile Vampire Noble that provides a significant boost to your undead army while offering unique casting flexibility. Whether you are using your creatures to pay its mana cost through Convoke or casting it via Madness after a discard, it is a powerful lord for any Vampire deck.
Dual Casting Options
Markov Baron features two distinct ways to enter the battlefield efficiently. Convoke allows you to tap your untapped creatures to pay for its mana cost; each creature taps for {1} or one mana of its color. Alternatively, if an effect causes you to discard Markov Baron, its Madness ability triggers, allowing you to cast it for {2}{B} from exile, even on an opponent's turn.
Resolution Step-by-Step
When casting via Convoke, first determine the total cost, then tap creatures to pay for it. If you discard Markov Baron, it moves to exile instead of the graveyard. A triggered ability then goes on the stack. When that trigger resolves, you choose whether to cast the spell for its Madness cost. If you do, it enters the stack like any other spell; if you don't, it is placed into your graveyard.
Common Mistakes
A frequent error is trying to use the same creature for both a mana ability and Convoke. If you sacrifice a creature or tap it for mana (like a mana dork), it cannot be tapped again to satisfy the Convoke cost. Additionally, remember that Madness only works if the card is discarded from your hand; putting cards directly from your library into your graveyard will not trigger Madness.
When to Play It
Play Markov Baron when you have a board of small Vampires ready to benefit from its +1/+1 anthem and Lifelink. Because it has Madness, it is an excellent inclusion in decks with discard outlets, allowing you to bypass normal timing restrictions and surprise your opponent with a blocker or a stat boost during their turn.
Interaction examples
Solemn SimulacrumIf you control Solemn Simulacrum, you can tap it while casting Markov Baron to pay for {1} of its cost. Since Solemn Simulacrum is colorless, it can only pay for the generic portion of the Baron's cost, not the black mana requirement.
Roaming ThroneIf you name 'Vampire' as Roaming Throne enters the battlefield, it becomes a Vampire. Markov Baron will then grant Roaming Throne +1/+1. Furthermore, if any other Vampire you control has a triggered ability, Roaming Throne will cause that ability to trigger twice.
If an opponent forces you to discard a card during their combat phase, you can discard Markov Baron to exile. You may then cast it using its Madness cost. Once it resolves and enters the battlefield, all your other Vampires immediately receive +1/+1, potentially changing the outcome of the current combat.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Markov Baron
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
You can tap any untapped creature you control to convoke a spell, even one you haven't controlled continuously since the beginning of your most recent turn.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
Tapping an untapped creature that's attacking or blocking to convoke a spell won't cause that creature to stop attacking or blocking.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
When calculating a spell's total cost, include any alternative costs, additional costs, or anything else that increases or reduces the cost to cast the spell. Convoke applies after the total cost is calculated. Convoke doesn't change a spell's mana cost or mana value.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #4· Wizards of the Coast
If a creature you control has a mana ability with
in the cost, activating that ability while casting a spell with convoke will result in the creature being tapped before you pay the spell's costs. You won't be able to tap it again for convoke. Similarly, if you sacrifice a creature to activate a mana ability while casting a spell with convoke, that creature won't be on the battlefield when you pay the spell's costs, so you won't be able to tap it for convoke.No other card is named in this ruling.
- #5· Wizards of the Coast
Because convoke isn't an alternative cost, it can be used in conjunction with alternative costs.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #6· Wizards of the Coast
Tapping a multicolored creature using convoke will pay for
or one mana of your choice of any of that creature's colors.No other card is named in this ruling.
- #7· Wizards of the Coast
If you discard a card with madness to pay the cost of a spell or activated ability, that card's madness triggered ability (and the spell that card becomes, if you choose to cast it) will resolve before the spell or ability the discard paid for.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #8· Wizards of the Coast
Cards are discarded in a Magic game only from a player's hand. Effects that put cards into a player's graveyard from anywhere else do not cause those cards to be discarded.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #9· Wizards of the Coast
If you discard a card with madness while a spell or ability is resolving, it moves immediately to exile. Continue resolving that spell or ability, noting that the card you discarded is not in your graveyard at this time. Its madness triggered ability will be placed onto the stack once that spell or ability has completely resolved.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #10· Wizards of the Coast
Madness works independently of why you're discarding the card. You could discard it to pay a cost, because a spell or ability tells you to, or because you have too many cards in your hand during your cleanup step. You can't discard a card with madness just because you want to, though.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #11· Wizards of the Coast
A card with madness that's discarded counts as having been discarded even though it's put into exile rather than a graveyard. If it was discarded to pay a cost, that cost is still paid. Abilities that trigger when a card is discarded will still trigger.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #12· Wizards of the Coast
A spell cast for its madness cost is put onto the stack like any other spell. It can be countered, copied, and so on. As it resolves, it's put onto the battlefield if it's a permanent card or into its owner's graveyard if it's an instant or sorcery card.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #13· Wizards of the Coast
Casting a spell with madness ignores the timing rules based on the card's card type. For example, you can cast a creature with madness if you discard it during an opponent's turn.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #14· Wizards of the Coast
If you choose not to cast a card with madness when the madness triggered ability resolves, it's put into your graveyard. Madness doesn't give you another chance to cast it later.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Markov Baron
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