Archivist of Gondor (LTC #420) MTG

Archivist of Gondor is a rare printing from Tales of Middle-earth Commander (LTC #420), a Creature — Human Advisor. Illustrated by Wisnu Tan.

Card text

When your commander deals combat damage to a player, if there is no monarch, you become the monarch.

At the beginning of the monarch's end step, that player draws a card.

"If indeed you look only, as you say, for records of ancient days and the beginnings of the City, read on!"

Mana cost	{2}{U}
Type	Creature — Human Advisor
Power / Toughness	2 / 3
Rarity	Rare
Set	Tales of Middle-earth Commander (LTC)
Collector number	420
Artist	Wisnu Tan
Released	2023-11-03

As of 2026-10-18, Scryfall listed this printing at non-foil $0.48, foil $0.80 (USD). Prices change constantly, so check the live price before buying.

June 16, 2023 — 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.
June 16, 2023 — 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."
June 16, 2023 — 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.
June 16, 2023 — 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.
June 16, 2023 — 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.