Protector of the Crown MTG Card


Increases card draw by conferring monarch status, essential for card advantage in gameplay. Its specific mana cost requires planning but is viable in monarch-themed or defensive decks. Despite its cost, it excels in aggro-heavy metas by providing reliable damage redirection.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost6
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Giant Soldier
Power 2
Toughness 5

Text of card

When Protector of the Crown enters the battlefield, you become the monarch. All damage that would be dealt to you is dealt to Protector of the Crown instead.

"I gladly offer my weapon and my life to the glory of my sovereign."


Cards like Protector of the Crown

Protector of the Crown is a unique monarch mechanic enforcer within the MTG landscape, akin to cards like Palace Jailer. Protector of the Crown itself provides an immediate shift in the game’s dynamic by making you the monarch upon entry and redirecting any damage from you to itself. This contrasts with Palace Jailer who also bestows the monarch status but instead offers a detainment ability for opposing creatures.

A similar guardian in MTG’s broad arsenal is the Guardian of the Gateless. While it lacks the monarch mechanic, it shares the protector role by being able to block any number of creatures and gaining strength for each one of them. However, it doesn’t shield its owner from harm. Meanwhile, the simple yet efficient High Priest of Penance offers a different sort of protection. Upon being damaged, it eliminates a pesky nonland permanent, an action sometimes more priceless than defense itself.

As we dissect the features of these cards, we see that Protector of the Crown carves out a niche, standing out with its monarch-related perks and damage redirection effect, presenting a formidable defense strategy in MTG.

Palace Jailer - MTG Card versions
Guardian of the Gateless - MTG Card versions
High Priest of Penance - MTG Card versions
Palace Jailer - MTG Card versions
Guardian of the Gateless - MTG Card versions
High Priest of Penance - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Protector of the Crown is capable of granting monarch status to its controller, which opens up an additional card draw at the end of their turn. This recurring mechanic is a significant source of card advantage, ensuring a steady flow of options each turn.

Resource Acceleration: Although Protector of the Crown doesn’t accelerate resources directly, becoming the monarch can indirectly lead to acceleration by drawing into more lands or ramp spells. Moreover, a well-defended monarch can deter opponents from attacking, allowing a player to allocate resources towards their own board development instead of defense.

Instant Speed: While Protector of the Crown is not itself an instant, it synergizes well with cards that operate at instant speed. Being able to flash in protection spells or activate abilities to safeguard the crown can catch an opponent off guard and maintain the advantage of drawing an extra card each turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Protector of the Crown does not require a discard, it demands a player to become the monarch, potentially making them a target for opponents seeking to draw an extra card. This shift in focus can deplete a player’s defensive resources quickly.

Specific Mana Cost: Protector of the Crown requires an exact mana investment of 6, with two of those being white mana. This specificity can constrain its integration into multicolored decks that may have issues generating the necessary mana consistently.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Costing six mana can be burdensome, as there are other defensive creatures or enchantments available at a lower mana cost. This can slow down your game strategy, especially in formats where speed is critical.


Reasons to Include Protector of the Crown in Your Collection

Versatility: Protector of the Crown can be a pivotal card in a variety of Commander decks, particularly in those that revolve around the monarch mechanic or that need a sturdy line of defense. Its ability to become the monarch upon entering the battlefield adds a consistent draw mechanism to any deck.

Combo Potential: When combined with cards that trigger on becoming the monarch or taking damage, Protector of the Crown adds robustness and resilience to your strategies. It fits well within political or pillow fort strategies where protecting your life total is key.

Meta-Relevance: In metas where aggro strategies are common, this card shines by absorbing potentially game-ending damage. Its role as a defender and facilitator of card draw makes it a card worth considering as the meta shifts towards more combat-focused interactions.


How to beat

When facing off against the Protector of the Crown card in Magic: The Gathering, it’s important to remember that this card can become a formidable obstacle. Its ability to redirect damage from you to itself under the monarch mechanic makes it a sturdy roadblock. To overcome this challenge, consider using targeted removal spells that bypass its defenses. Options such as Path to Exile or Murder offer swift and effective ways to remove Protector of the Crown from the battlefield.

Additionally, direct damage spells or those capable of dealing with multiple creatures, like Wrath of God, can be particularly useful. They ensure that even if the Protector is guarding your opponent as the monarch, you can still clear the way. Keep in mind, strategies like going wide with many creatures or utilizing ways to deal direct damage to your opponent can circumvent the protective aspect of Protector of the Crown and target the monarch status directly.

Ultimately, while Protector of the Crown presents a unique challenge, a well-prepared deck with various removal options or alternative approaches to dealing damage can overcome this royal defense and claim victory on the MTG battlefield.


BurnMana Recommendations

Protector of the Crown is an interesting choice for MTG players looking to enhance their game with monarch mechanics and defensive strategies. Its ability to draw extra cards and protect your life total makes it a valuable asset in winning the throne of the game. However, integrating this six-mana-cost card into your deck requires careful consideration due to its potential to slow down your play. If you’re curious about how its unique abilities can be leveraged to fortify your board and maintain card advantage, or if you need strategies to overcome decks employing this formidable card, step into our realm to gather insights and strengthen your MTG expertise.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Protector of the Crown MTG card by a specific set like Conspiracy: Take the Crown and Treasure Chest, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Protector of the Crown and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Protector of the Crown Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2016-08-26 and 2016-11-16. Illustrated by Johannes Voss.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12016-08-26Conspiracy: Take the CrownCN2 212015NormalBlackJohannes Voss
22016-11-16Treasure ChestPZ2 82015NormalBlackJohannes Voss

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Protector of the Crown has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Protector of the Crown card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2016-08-23 Abilities that trigger whenever you “become the monarch” trigger only if you aren’t already the monarch. For example, if you are already the monarch as Custodi Lich enters the battlefield, its last ability won’t trigger.
2016-08-23 Applying this redirection effect doesn’t change whether the damage is combat damage.
2016-08-23 If the triggered ability that causes the monarch to draw a card goes on the stack, and a different player becomes the monarch before that ability resolves, the first player will still draw the card.
2016-08-23 If you control more than one Protector of the Crown, you choose which redirection effect to apply. You can’t divide damage dealt by one source. For example, if an attacking creature would deal 6 damage to you and you control two Protectors of the Crown, you may have that damage dealt to either of the Protectors. You can’t have 3 damage dealt to each one.
2016-08-23 Protector of the Crown’s last ability doesn’t depend on you being the monarch. It will create a redirection effect even if an opponent is the monarch.
2016-08-23 The game starts with no monarch. Once an effect makes one player the monarch, the game will have exactly one monarch from that point forward.