Deceive the Messenger

ltrThe Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth#47common
{U}
Legal in 14 of 23 formats
Treatments
Foil
Price today · this printing
Nonfoil$0.13
Foil$0.21

Playset (4 copies) ≈ $0.52 at this printing's market price.

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Card text & rulings

Oracle text

Instant

Target creature gets -3/-0 until end of turn.

Amass Orcs 1. (Put a +1/+1 counter 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.)

Ability breakdown
Abilities
SpellTarget creature gets -3/-0 until end of turn.
SpellAmass Orcs 1. (Put a +1/+1 counter 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.)
Rulings
  • 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 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.

Deck role

Plays as
Counter PlacerCreature Token Maker

Combos

Loading combos…

Format legality

commander
Legal to play
All formats
Format legality
AlchemyNot legal
BrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
competitivebrawlLegal
DuelLegal
Future StandardNot legal
GladiatorLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
Old SchoolNot legal
PauperLegal
Pauper CommanderLegal
PennyNot legal
PioneerNot legal
PreDHNot legal
PremodernNot legal
StandardNot legal
Standard BrawlNot legal
TimelessLegal
Tiny LeadersLegal
VintageLegal

All printings (cheapest copy)

2 printings across 1 sets
Printings
2 total
The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth#47
2023 · Tomas Duchek
$0.13$0.21
The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth#498
2023 · Tomas Duchek
$0.26$0.36
Market & price history
Flavor & art
"Tell Gandalf that he must seek my aid at once." —Saruman
Illustrated by
Tomas Duchek
Reference & links
Card details
Artist
Tomas Duchek
Frame
2015
Language
EN
Border
black
Security stamp
triangle