The Archimandrite — ruling 1

You can’t gain negative amounts of life. If you have fewer than four cards in hand as the first ability resolves, you won’t gain any life, but you won’t lose any life either.

The Archimandrite — ruling 2

Since The Archimandrite’s activated ability doesn’t have a tap symbol in its cost, you can tap creatures that haven’t been under your control since your most recent turn began (including The Archimandrite itself) to pay the cost.

The Archimandrite : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

The Archimandrite 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

At the beginning of your upkeep, you gain X life, where X is the number of cards in your hand minus 4. Whenever you gain life, each Advisor, Artificer, and Monk you control gains vigilance and gets +X/+0 until end of turn, where X is the amount of life you gained. Tap three untapped Advisors, Artificers, and/or Monks you control: Draw a card.

Complete guide

The Archimandrite is a powerful leader for your library-focused decks, rewarding you for keeping a full hand and commanding specific creature types. This legendary Advisor turns your life gain into a massive offensive surge for your specialized army. By balancing card draw and life gain, you can transform humble Monks and Artificers into game-ending threats.

A Wealth of Knowledge and Power

The Archimandrite features three distinct abilities that work in harmony. First, it checks your hand size during your upkeep; if you have five or more cards, you gain life equal to the excess. Second, any time you gain life, your Advisors, Artificers, and Monks receive a power boost and vigilance. Finally, it provides a built-in way to draw cards by tapping three creatures of those specific types.

Step-by-Step Resolution

1. During your upkeep, the first ability triggers. It checks your hand size only when it resolves. If you have 7 cards, you gain 7 minus 4, which is 3 life. 2. This life gain triggers the second ability. All eligible creatures you control get +3/+0 and vigilance until the end of the turn. 3. At any point you have priority, you can tap three untapped Advisors, Artificers, or Monks to draw a card. Note that because this ability uses the word 'tap' rather than the tap symbol, you can tap creatures even if they have summoning sickness.

Common Pitfalls

A common mistake involves having fewer than four cards in hand during the upkeep. If you have three cards, the math results in -1, but the rules state you cannot gain negative life. In this scenario, nothing happens—you do not lose life, and your creatures do not get a bonus. Additionally, remember that the power bonus applies to each instance of life gain separately. If multiple sources cause you to gain life at different times, the bonuses will stack.

When to Play The Archimandrite

This card shines in decks that can maintain a large hand size through blue card draw or white's defensive maneuvers. Since it requires specific creature types, it is best played alongside efficient Artificers or Monks that can protect themselves or provide utility while waiting to be tapped for the draw ability.

Interaction examples

Double the Wisdom

Roaming Throne

If Roaming Throne enters the battlefield choosing 'Human' or 'Advisor', it will cause The Archimandrite's triggered abilities to trigger an additional time. During your upkeep, you will gain life twice based on your hand size. Consequently, the second ability will also trigger twice for each life gain event, leading to a massive power boost for your creatures.

Fueling the Engine

Solemn Simulacrum

Solemn Simulacrum is an Artificer, meaning it can be tapped as part of the cost for The Archimandrite's draw ability. If you tap the Simulacrum along with two other eligible creatures to draw a card, and the Simulacrum later dies to draw you another card, you are increasing your hand size to ensure a larger life gain trigger on your next upkeep.

Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.

How it works : The Archimandrite

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1October 14, 2022· Wizards of the Coast
You can’t gain negative amounts of life. If you have fewer than four cards in hand as the first ability resolves, you won’t gain any life, but you won’t lose any life either.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#2October 14, 2022· Wizards of the Coast
Since The Archimandrite’s activated ability doesn’t have a tap symbol in its cost, you can tap creatures that haven’t been under your control since your most recent turn began (including The Archimandrite itself) to pay the cost.
No other card is named in this ruling.