Sauron, the Dark Lord

Rulings

20 official rulings, in the order Wizards published them.

• 2023-06-16

  Each time the Ring tempts you, you must choose a creature if you control one.

• 2023-06-16

  Some spells and abilities that amass Orcs may require targets. If each target chosen is an illegal target as that spell or ability tries to resolve, it won't resolve. You won't amass Orcs.

• 2023-06-16

  In the rare case that you control multiple Army creatures (perhaps because you played a creature with changeling) while you amass Orcs, you choose which of your Army creatures to put the +1/+1 counters on. If that creature isn't an Orc, it becomes an Orc in addition to its other types.

• 2023-06-16

  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.

• 2023-06-16

  If you don't control an Army, the Orc Army token you create enters the battlefield as a 0/0 creature before receiving counters. Any abilities that trigger when a creature with a certain power enters the battlefield, such as that of Mentor of the Meek, will see the token enter as a 0/0 creature before it gets +1/+1 counters.

• 2023-06-16

  Amass abilities are now written as "amass [subtype] N." Previous cards with amass have received errata to say "amass Zombies N."

• 2023-06-16

  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.

• 2023-06-16

  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.

• 2023-06-16

  Some cards refer to the "amassed Army." That means the Army creature you chose to receive counters, even if no counters were placed on it for some reason.

• 2023-06-16

  To amass Orcs N, if you don't control an Army creature, create a 0/0 black Orc Army creature token. Then you choose an Army creature you control and put N +1/+1 counters on it. If that Army isn't already an Orc, it becomes an Orc in addition to its other types.

• 2023-06-16

  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.

• 2023-06-16

  Each player can have only one emblem named The Ring and only one Ring-bearer at a time.

• 2023-06-16

  Amass Zombies works the same way, except you create a 0/0 black Zombie Army creature token if you don't control an Army. If the Army creature you chose isn't already a Zombie, it becomes a Zombie in addition to its other types. By combining cards with amass Orcs and amass Zombies, you can end up with an Orc Zombie Army.

• 2023-06-16

  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.

• 2026-06-29

  In the rare case that you control multiple Army creatures (perhaps because you control a creature with changeling) while you amass Goblins, you choose which of your Army creatures to put the +1/+1 counters on. If that creature isn't a Goblin, it becomes a Goblin in addition to its other types.

• 2026-06-29

  Amass Orcs works the same way, except you create a 0/0 black Orc Army creature token if you don't control an Army. And if the Army creature you chose isn't already an Orc, it becomes an Orc in addition to its other types. By combining cards with amass Orcs and amass Goblins, you can end up with a Goblin Orc Army.

• 2026-06-29

  Some spells and abilities that amass Goblins may require targets. If each target chosen is an illegal target as that spell or ability tries to resolve, it won't resolve. You won't amass Goblins.

• 2026-06-29

  To amass Goblins N, if you don't control an Army creature, create a 0/0 black Goblin Army creature token. Then you choose an Army creature you control and put N +1/+1 counters on it. If that Army isn't already a Goblin, it becomes a Goblin in addition to its other types.

• 2026-06-29

  Some cards refer to the "amassed Army." That means the Army creature you chose to receive counters, even if no counters were placed on it for some reason.

• 2026-06-29

  If you don't control an Army, the Goblin Army token you create enters the battlefield as a 0/0 creature before receiving counters. Any abilities that trigger when a creature with a certain power enters the battlefield, such as that of Mentor of the Meek, will see the token enter as a 0/0 creature before it gets +1/+1 counters.

Rulings are Wizards of the Coast's own, mirrored from Scryfall and refreshed nightly.

As a commander

Decks built with Sauron, the Dark Lord in the command zone.

Published decks

Decklists players have published with Sauron, the Dark Lord in the command zone, newest first. A deck that has been played carries the win rate it earned in real tracked games.

• Orcs 0 games —
• SAURON by Federico Quadranti 8 games 0%

In the 99

Every deck whose current list includes Sauron, the Dark Lord, whatever its commander.