Palace Jailer 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
When this creature enters, you become the monarch. When this creature enters, exile target creature an opponent controls until an opponent becomes the monarch.
Complete guide
Palace Jailer is a powerhouse in Magic: The Gathering, offering a unique blend of card advantage and removal. By entering the battlefield, it introduces the monarch mechanic to the game and locks away a threat until your crown is seized. This Human Soldier is a staple in formats like Legacy and Commander where controlling the flow of the game is essential.
Claiming the Throne
When Palace Jailer enters the battlefield, two abilities trigger. First, you become the monarch, which allows you to draw a card at your end step. Second, you exile a target creature an opponent controls. Unlike many 'Oblivion Ring' style effects, the duration of this exile is not tied to Palace Jailer staying on the battlefield; instead, it lasts until an opponent becomes the monarch.
How it Resolves
Step 1: Place the two triggers on the stack in any order. Step 2: You become the monarch, granting you the ability to draw a card later. Step 3: Target a creature an opponent controls to be exiled. Once exiled, the creature remains in the exile zone even if Palace Jailer is destroyed. The only way for that creature to return is for the monarchy to shift to an opponent, either through combat damage or another card effect.
Common Mistakes
A frequent error is assuming the creature returns if Palace Jailer dies; it does not. The game state specifically watches for when an opponent becomes the monarch. Additionally, if you are already not the monarch when the ability resolves (perhaps an opponent took it in response), the creature is still exiled and will only return when an opponent becomes the monarch again later. Remember, if a token is exiled this way, it ceases to exist and will never return.
When to Play It
Play Palace Jailer when you have a solid board presence to protect your status as the monarch. Since the creature only returns when an opponent takes the crown, you want to ensure you can block effectively. It is also excellent in 'Blink' decks, as re-entering the battlefield allows you to exile multiple creatures, all of which remain exiled until an opponent successfully takes the throne.
Interaction examples
Solemn SimulacrumYou cast Palace Jailer and target your opponent's Solemn Simulacrum. You become the monarch and the Golem is exiled. On your opponent's turn, they destroy Palace Jailer with a spell. Because the exile condition is tied to the monarchy and not the Jailer's presence, the Solemn Simulacrum remains exiled. It will only return if a creature deals combat damage to you or another effect makes an opponent the monarch.
Roaming ThroneWith Roaming Throne on the battlefield naming 'Human', you cast Palace Jailer. Both of the Jailer's abilities trigger twice. You become the monarch (the second trigger does nothing since you already are), and you get two separate exile triggers. You can exile two different creatures controlled by your opponents. Both of these creatures will remain exiled until any opponent becomes the monarch.
The MonarchYou have exiled an opponent's creature with Palace Jailer. On their turn, the opponent attacks you with a small creature and you don't block. As combat damage is dealt, the inherent triggered ability of The Monarch causes that opponent to become the monarch. Immediately, the exiled creature returns to the battlefield under its owner's control.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Palace Jailer
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
If you're not the monarch as Palace Jailer's second ability resolves, the creature will be exiled until there's a new monarch and that player is one of your opponents. The creature won't immediately return just because an opponent is the monarch.
Card named in this ruling
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
In a multiplayer game, if the monarch leaves the game, the player whose turn it is immediately becomes the monarch. If the player whose turn it is has left the game, instead the next player in turn order becomes the monarch.
Card named in this ruling
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
The game starts with no monarch. Once an effect makes one player the monarch, the game will have exactly one monarch from that point forward.
Card named in this ruling
- #4· Wizards of the Coast
Being the monarch carries two inherent triggered abilities. "At the beginning of the monarch's end step, that player draws a card" and "Whenever a creature deals combat damage to the monarch, its controller becomes the monarch."
Card named in this ruling
- #5· Wizards of the Coast
Palace Jailer leaving the battlefield won't cause the exiled creature to return. The game will continue to watch for the next time an opponent becomes the monarch.
Card named in this ruling
- #6· Wizards of the Coast
If a creature token is exiled, it ceases to exist. It won't return to the battlefield.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #7· Wizards of the Coast
Auras attached to the exiled creature will be put into their owners' graveyards. Equipment attached to the exiled creature will become unattached and remain on the battlefield. Counters on the exiled creature will cease to exist.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #8· Wizards of the Coast
The opponent that controlled the exiled card doesn't have to be the same opponent that becomes the monarch in order to cause that card to return to the battlefield. Any opponent becoming the monarch will cause the card to return.
Card named in this ruling
Related cards and tokens
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Palace Jailer
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.