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Thorn of the Black Rose, art by David Gaillet
Art by David Gaillet · ™ & © Wizards of the Coast · image via Scryfall
Selected printing · USD
$0.33
checked Jun 14, 2026 · Scryfall
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Thorn of the Black Rose

{3}{B} · Creature — Human Assassin

Deathtouch When this creature enters, you become the monarch.

Rulings (9)

Aug 23, 2016 · 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.

Aug 23, 2016 · 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.

Aug 23, 2016 · 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.

Aug 23, 2016 · Being the monarch carries two inherent triggered abilities. "At the beginning of the monarch's end step, that player draws a card" and "Whenever a creature deals combat damage to the monarch, its controller becomes the monarch."

Nov 10, 2020 · There are two inherent triggered abilities associated with being the monarch. These triggered abilities have no source and are controlled by the player who was the monarch at the time the abilities triggered. The full texts of these abilities are "At the beginning of the monarch's end step, that player draws a card" and "Whenever a creature deals combat damage to the monarch, its controller becomes the monarch."

Nov 10, 2020 · 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.

Nov 10, 2020 · If the monarch leaves the game during another player's turn, that player becomes the monarch. If the monarch leaves the game during their turn, the next player in turn order becomes the monarch.

Nov 10, 2020 · 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. As a player becomes the monarch, the current monarch (if any) ceases being the monarch.

Nov 10, 2020 · If combat damage dealt to the monarch causes that player to lose the game, the triggered ability that causes the controller of the attacking creature to become the monarch doesn't resolve. In most cases, the controller of the attacking creature will still become the monarch as it is likely their turn.

LegacyLegal
VintageLegal
ModernNot legal
PioneerNot legal
StandardNot legal
PauperLegal
PremodernNot legal
cEDHLegal

Where it’s played now

Inclusion by archetype · Pauper

% of archetype's lists running it · last 30 days · n=148 decks
ArchetypeFormatInclusionCopiesDecks (n)
Grixis FaeriesPauper100%12
Grixis ControlPauper100%2–3×3
Esper AffinityPauper100%2
Mono Black PestilencePauper100%2–4×2
Cat AltarPauper100%1
Dimir FaeriesPauper98.6%1–3×71
Orzhov MidrangePauper38.5%13
Dimir ControlPauper29.5%1–3×44
Data as of Jun 14, 2026 · MTGO + papercasthaven.com

Price

Thorn of the Black Rose — price trend

Daily cheapest printing · USD · last 90 days · n=2 snapshots
Data as of Jun 14, 2026 · Scryfallcasthaven.com

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