Sauron's Ransom 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
Choose an opponent. They look at the top four cards of your library and separate them into a face-down pile and a face-up pile. Put one pile into your hand and the other into your graveyard. The Ring tempts you.
Complete guide
Sauron's Ransom is a versatile Instant that forces your opponent into a psychological game over your resources. By combining strategic card selection with the Ring's corrupting influence, you can gain card advantage while advancing your position in the game.
Mind Games and Pile Splitting
When you cast Sauron's Ransom, you choose one opponent to handle the top four cards of your library. That opponent must split those cards into two piles: one face-up and one face-down. They can distribute the cards however they like, including a split of four cards in one pile and zero in the other. Once the piles are set, you make the final choice of which pile goes to your hand and which goes to your graveyard. If you take the face-down pile, you do not have to reveal its contents to anyone else.
The Ring Tempts You
After the cards are moved, the Ring tempts you. If you don't have a 'The Ring' emblem, you gain one. Your emblem then advances to its next ability in order (from top to bottom). Finally, you must choose a creature you control to become your Ring-bearer. If you control no creatures, the Ring still tempts you and your emblem still levels up, but you simply don't designate a Ring-bearer.
Common Mistakes
A common error is thinking other opponents can see the face-down cards. Only the chosen opponent looks at the cards to make the piles; other players in a multiplayer game remain in the dark unless that opponent chooses to share information. Additionally, remember that the pile selection happens during resolution; if the spell is countered by cards like Counterspell, no cards are moved and the Ring does not tempt you.
When to Play
Because it is an Instant, Sauron's Ransom is best played at the end of an opponent's turn. This allows you to keep your mana open for interaction while refilling your hand and progressing your Ring emblem just before you start your own turn.
Interaction examples
Sauron's RansomYou cast Sauron's Ransom choosing your opponent. They look at your top four cards and see two powerful spells and two lands. They put all four cards into a single face-down pile and leave the face-up pile empty. You choose the face-down pile, putting all four cards into your hand without showing them, then the Ring tempts you.
CounterspellYou cast Sauron's Ransom. In response, your opponent casts Counterspell targeting it. Sauron's Ransom is moved to the graveyard from the stack. Because the spell never resolved, no opponent looks at your library, you draw no cards, and the Ring does not tempt you.
The Ring // The Ring Tempts YouYou resolve Sauron's Ransom and pick a pile. Afterward, the Ring tempts you for the first time. You gain 'The Ring' emblem, and its first ability makes your Ring-bearer legendary and harder to block. If you control a creature, you must choose it to be your Ring-bearer now.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Sauron's Ransom
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
You choose just one opponent to look at the top four cards of your library and put them into piles. Other players can't look, but they may attempt to offer advice without knowing what cards are there. The player who looks may choose what information to share with others if that player wants advice on how to split the cards, but that player doesn't have to share any information at all.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
You don't have to reveal the cards in the face-down pile if you put it into your hand.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
The opponent may split the cards into one pile of four and one pile of zero. The pile of four cards could be the face-up pile or the face-down pile.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #4· Wizards of the Coast
As the Ring tempts you, you get an emblem named The Ring if you don't have one. Then your emblem gains its next ability and you choose a creature you control to become (or remain) your Ring-bearer.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #5· Wizards of the Coast
The Ring can tempt you even if you don't control a creature. In this case, abilities that trigger "whenever the Ring tempts you" will still trigger.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #6· Wizards of the Coast
If the creature you choose as your Ring-bearer was already your Ring-bearer, that still counts as choosing that creature as your Ring-bearer for the purpose of abilities that trigger "whenever you choose a creature as your Ring-bearer" or abilities that care about which creature was chosen as your Ring-bearer.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #7· Wizards of the Coast
The Ring gains its abilities in order from top to bottom. Once it gains an ability, it has that ability for the rest of the game.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #8· Wizards of the Coast
Each time the Ring tempts you, you must choose a creature if you control one.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #9· Wizards of the Coast
Each player can have only one emblem named The Ring and only one Ring-bearer at a time.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #10· Wizards of the Coast
Some spells and abilities that cause the Ring to tempt you may require targets. If each target chosen is an illegal target as that spell or ability tries to resolve, it won't resolve. The Ring won't tempt you.
No other card is named in this ruling.
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Meta decks with Sauron's Ransom
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