Saradoc, Master of Buckland 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
Whenever Saradoc or another nontoken creature you control with power 2 or less enters, create a 1/1 white Halfling creature token. Tap two other untapped Halflings you control: Saradoc gets +2/+0 and gains lifelink until end of turn.
Complete guide
Saradoc, Master of Buckland is a central figure for any Halfling-themed deck, acting as both a token generator and a powerful attacker. This legendary citizen ensures your board remains populated with 1/1 Halflings whenever your small creatures join the fray. By rallying his kin, Saradoc can quickly grow in strength and provide a significant swing in life totals.
Creating the Halfling Horde
The primary function of Saradoc is its triggered ability. Whenever Saradoc enters the battlefield, or whenever another nontoken creature with power 2 or less enters under your control, you create a 1/1 white Halfling creature token. It is important to note that Saradoc triggers for itself regardless of its power at the time it enters the battlefield. However, for other creatures, the game checks their power as they exist on the battlefield immediately after they enter to determine if the ability triggers.
Activating Leadership
Saradoc features an activated ability that allows you to tap two other untapped Halflings you control to grant Saradoc +2/0 and lifelink until end of turn. Because this ability uses the tap symbol for 'other' Halflings and not Saradoc himself, you can activate this ability even if Saradoc has summoning sickness, provided the other Halflings are untapped and have been under your control since the start of your turn (or have haste).
Common Pitfalls
A common mistake involves continuous effects that increase power. If a creature would normally have power 2 but enters while an effect like a 'Lord' ability or an anthem is active, making its power 3 or greater, Saradoc will not trigger. Additionally, remember that Saradoc only triggers on 'nontoken' creatures; the Halfling tokens he creates will not trigger his own ability to create more tokens.
Interaction examples
Saradoc, Master of Buckland
Solemn SimulacrumWith Saradoc, Master of Buckland on the battlefield, you cast Solemn Simulacrum. When Solemn Simulacrum enters the battlefield, the game checks its power. Since it is a 2/2 creature (power 2 or less) and is a nontoken creature, Saradoc's ability triggers. You will put a 1/1 white Halfling creature token onto the battlefield in addition to the land-searching effect of the Simulacrum.
Roaming ThroneIf you control Saradoc, Master of Buckland and Roaming Throne (with 'Halfling' chosen as its type), any time a nontoken creature with power 2 or less enters, Saradoc's ability triggers twice thanks to the Throne. For example, if you then play a 1/1 creature, you will create two 1/1 Halfling tokens instead of one. Note that because Roaming Throne is power 4, it will not trigger Saradoc when the Throne itself enters.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Saradoc, Master of Buckland
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
If Saradoc, Master of Buckland's power is greater than 2 as it enters the battlefield, its first ability will still trigger.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Popular combos
Real combos played by the community, sorted by popularity.
Havengul Lich + Grimgrin, Corpse-Born + Ashaya, Soul of the Wild + Saradoc, Master of Buckland
- 1Activate Grimgrin's ability from Ashaya by tapping Grimgrin, adding one mana.
- 2Activate Grimgrin by sacrificing the creature castable for one mana, untapping Grimgrin and putting a +1/+1 counter on it.
- 3Activate Grimgrin's ability from Ashaya by tapping Grimgrin, adding one mana.
- 4Activate Havengul Lich by paying
, allowing you to cast the creature castable for one mana from your graveyard this turn. - 5Cast that creature spell from your graveyard by paying it mana cost.
- 6When you cast that creature or when it enters, Saradoc triggers, creating a creature token.
- 7Activate Grimgrin by sacrificing the creature token, untapping Grimgrin and putting a +1/+1 counter on it.
- 8Repeat.
Havengul Lich + Grimgrin, Corpse-Born + Karametra's Favor + Saradoc, Master of Buckland
- 1Activate Grimgrin's ability from Karametra's Favor by tapping Grimgrin, adding one mana.
- 2Activate Grimgrin by sacrificing the creature castable for one mana, untapping Grimgrin and putting a +1/+1 counter on it.
- 3Activate Grimgrin's ability from Karametra's Favor by tapping Grimgrin, adding one mana.
- 4Activate Havengul Lich by paying , allowing you to cast the creature castable for one mana from your graveyard this turn.
- 5Cast that creature spell from your graveyard by paying it mana cost.
- 6When you cast that creature or when it enters, Saradoc triggers, creating a creature token.
- 7Activate Grimgrin by sacrificing the creature token, untapping Grimgrin and putting a +1/+1 counter on it.
- 8Repeat.
Havengul Lich + Grimgrin, Corpse-Born + Citanul Hierophants + Saradoc, Master of Buckland
- 1Activate Grimgrin's ability from Citanul Hierophants by tapping Grimgrin, adding one mana.
- 2Activate Grimgrin by sacrificing the creature castable for one mana, untapping Grimgrin and putting a +1/+1 counter on it.
- 3Activate Grimgrin's ability from Citanul Hierophants by tapping Grimgrin, adding one mana.
- 4Activate Havengul Lich by paying , allowing you to cast the creature castable for one mana from your graveyard this turn.
- 5Cast that creature spell from your graveyard by paying it mana cost.
- 6When you cast that creature or when it enters, Saradoc triggers, creating a creature token.
- 7Activate Grimgrin by sacrificing the creature token, untapping Grimgrin and putting a +1/+1 counter on it.
- 8Repeat.
Havengul Lich + Grimgrin, Corpse-Born + Paradise Mantle + Saradoc, Master of Buckland
- 1Activate Grimgrin's ability from Paradise Mantle by tapping Grimgrin, adding one mana.
- 2Activate Grimgrin by sacrificing the creature castable for one mana, untapping Grimgrin and putting a +1/+1 counter on it.
- 3Activate Grimgrin's ability from Paradise Mantle by tapping Grimgrin, adding one mana.
- 4Activate Havengul Lich by paying , allowing you to cast the creature castable for one mana from your graveyard this turn.
- 5Cast that creature spell from your graveyard by paying it mana cost.
- 6When you cast that creature or when it enters, Saradoc triggers, creating a creature token.
- 7Activate Grimgrin by sacrificing the creature token, untapping Grimgrin and putting a +1/+1 counter on it.
- 8Repeat.
Havengul Lich + Grimgrin, Corpse-Born + Utopia Vow + Saradoc, Master of Buckland
- 1Activate Grimgrin's ability from Utopia Vow by tapping Grimgrin, adding one mana.
- 2Activate Grimgrin by sacrificing the creature castable for one mana, untapping Grimgrin and putting a +1/+1 counter on it.
- 3Activate Grimgrin's ability from Utopia Vow by tapping Grimgrin, adding one mana.
- 4Activate Havengul Lich by paying , allowing you to cast the creature castable for one mana from your graveyard this turn.
- 5Cast that creature spell from your graveyard by paying it mana cost.
- 6When you cast that creature or when it enters, Saradoc triggers, creating a creature token.
- 7Activate Grimgrin by sacrificing the creature token, untapping Grimgrin and putting a +1/+1 counter on it.
- 8Repeat.
Havengul Lich + Grimgrin, Corpse-Born + Honor-Worn Shaku + Saradoc, Master of Buckland
- 1Activate Honor-Worn Shaku's first ability by tapping it, adding
. - 2Activate Honor-Worn Shaku's last ability by tapping Grimgrin, untapping Honor-Worn Shaku.
- 3Activate Grimgrin by sacrificing the creature castable for one mana, untapping Grimgrin and putting a +1/+1 counter on it.
- 4Activate Honor-Worn Shaku's first ability by tapping it, adding an additional .
- 5Activate Honor-Worn Shaku's last ability by tapping Grimgrin, untapping Honor-Worn Shaku.
- 6Activate Havengul Lich by paying , allowing you to cast the creature castable for one mana from your graveyard this turn.
- 7Cast that creature spell from your graveyard by paying it mana cost.
- 8When you cast that creature or when it enters, Saradoc triggers, creating a creature token.
Havengul Lich + Grimgrin, Corpse-Born + Esika, God of the Tree // The Prismatic Bridge + Saradoc, Master of Buckland
- 1Activate Grimgrin's ability from Esika by tapping Grimgrin, adding one mana.
- 2Activate Grimgrin by sacrificing the creature castable for one mana, untapping Grimgrin and putting a +1/+1 counter on it.
- 3Activate Grimgrin's ability from Esika by tapping Grimgrin, adding one mana.
- 4Activate Havengul Lich by paying , allowing you to cast the creature castable for one mana from your graveyard this turn.
- 5Cast that creature spell from your graveyard by paying it mana cost.
- 6When you cast that creature or when it enters, Saradoc triggers, creating a creature token.
- 7Activate Grimgrin by sacrificing the creature token, untapping Grimgrin and putting a +1/+1 counter on it.
- 8Repeat.
Havengul Lich + Grimgrin, Corpse-Born + Saradoc, Master of Buckland + A Realm Reborn
- 1Activate Grimgrin's ability from A Realm Reborn by tapping Grimgrin, adding one mana.
- 2Activate Grimgrin by sacrificing the creature castable for one mana, untapping Grimgrin and putting a +1/+1 counter on it.
- 3Activate Grimgrin's ability from A Realm Reborn by tapping Grimgrin, adding one mana.
- 4Activate Havengul Lich by paying , allowing you to cast the creature castable for one mana from your graveyard this turn.
- 5Cast that creature spell from your graveyard by paying it mana cost.
- 6When you cast that creature or when it enters, Saradoc triggers, creating a creature token.
- 7Activate Grimgrin by sacrificing the creature token, untapping Grimgrin and putting a +1/+1 counter on it.
- 8Repeat.
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Meta decks with Saradoc, Master of Buckland
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