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Saruman, the White Hand

{1}{U}{B}{R}

Legendary Creature — Avatar Wizard

LTCTales of Middle-earth Commander#8mythic

Over all his works a dark smoke hung and wrapped itself about the sides of Orthanc.

Finishes
Nonfoil · Foil
Border
black
Security stamp
triangle
Frame
2015
Pull rate
about 1 per booster–1 in 1053
Illustrator
Leonardo Borazio
Found in
The Lord of the Rings Tales of Middle earth Commander Deck The Hosts of Mordor · The Lord of the Rings Tales of Middle earth Set Booster Pack
Printings3Combos1EDHREC rank#3,717
CommanderLegalModernNot legalStandardNot legal
Format legality

Constructed

StandardNot legal
PioneerNot legal
ModernNot legal
LegacyLegal
VintageLegal
PauperNot legal

Commander

CommanderLegal
Pauper CommanderNot legal
Duel CommanderLegal
PreDHNot legal
OathbreakerLegal
Tiny LeadersNot legal

Arena

AlchemyNot legal
HistoricLegal
TimelessLegal
BrawlLegal
Standard BrawlNot legal
Competitive BrawlLegal
GladiatorLegal

Other

PremodernNot legal
Old SchoolNot legal
Penny DreadfulNot legal
Future StandardNot legal
Whenever you cast a noncreature spell, amass Orcs X, where X is that spell's mana value. (Put X +1/+1 counters on an Army you control. It's also an Orc. If you don't control an Army, create a 0/0 black Orc Army creature token first.) Goblins and Orcs you control have ward {2}.
2/5
Plays as:
Counter PlacerSpell PayoffCreature Token Maker
Market · per finishspark updated 24h ago · prices as of 2026-08-29
Nonfoil+22.6%
$0.65
$0.25 low-$1.10 gapTCGplayer
Foil+93.8%
$0.93
$0.35 low$0.15 gapTCGplayer
Cheapest playable copy$0.65· across 3 printings· you're viewing it

Rulings

9 · latest Jun 16, 2023
  • WotCJun 16, 2023

    A creature that is both a Goblin and an Orc still only gets one instance of ward {2} from Saruman, the White Hand's last ability.

  • WotCJun 16, 2023

    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.

  • WotCJun 16, 2023

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

  • WotCJun 16, 2023

    If Saruman, the White Hand is a Goblin or an Orc, it will have ward {2}.

  • WotCJun 16, 2023

    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.

  • WotCJun 16, 2023

    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.

  • WotCJun 16, 2023

    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.

  • WotCJun 16, 2023

    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.

  • WotCJun 16, 2023

    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.