Sauron, the Necromancer
LTR · rare · Released 2023-06-23
Power
Tier shown as baseline → best-case (in its ideal shell). The score (-8 to 19) is a rank signal derived from tier + kind + atoms; browse by it on the cards page.
Derived from the 7 atoms below.
above rate
minor value alone
wants support
scales up
one mode
situational
easily answered
Commander Bracket
Archetypes
Roles
Risks
Mechanics
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Typal
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Structural
Rationale
Sauron, the Necromancer is a 5cmc 4/4 menace that temporarily reanimates creatures from your graveyard as tapped, attacking 3/3 Wraith tokens whenever he attacks — permanently if he holds the Ring-bearer role. Signature in graveyard-based midrange and self-mill shells that can populate the yard with high-value targets. The token is only permanent if Sauron retains Ring-bearer status, making him heavily combo-reliant with "the Ring tempts you" enablers; without graveyard density, his attack trigger yields nothing.
Learnings (3)
The token copies the exiled creature card's name/abilities but enters as a 3/3 black Wraith with menace — so if you exile a creature with powerful ETB or attack triggers, the token will have those too (e.g. a Dragon with 'when this creature attacks, deal 3 damage'), which can be unexpectedly potent.
tagging · claude-sonnet-4-6
Keeping Sauron as Ring-bearer permanently is non-trivial; any later 'Ring tempts you' trigger on a different creature will strip the status, so building around permanent token retention requires careful management of Ring-bearer assignment.
tagging · claude-sonnet-4-6
Because the token is tapped and attacking when it enters, it bypasses summoning sickness and triggers attack-based abilities immediately — this is especially powerful with creatures that have 'whenever this creature attacks' triggers.
tagging · claude-sonnet-4-6
Popularity
- EDHREC rank: #5,735