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Portcullis

{4}

Artifact

STHStronghold#139rare
Border
black
Frame
1997
Pull rate
about 1 per booster–1 in 44
Illustrator
Kev Walker
Found in
Stronghold Theme Deck Migraine · Stronghold Booster Pack
Printings1CombosIn 5
CommanderLegalModernNot legalStandardNot legal
Format legality
AlchemyNot legal
BrawlNot legal
CommanderLegal
Competitive BrawlNot legal
DuelLegal
Future StandardNot legal
GladiatorNot legal
HistoricNot legal
LegacyLegal
ModernNot legal
OathbreakerLegal
Old SchoolNot legal
PauperNot legal
Pauper CommanderNot legal
PennyNot legal
PioneerNot legal
PreDHLegal
PremodernLegal
StandardNot legal
Standard BrawlNot legal
TimelessNot legal
Tiny LeadersNot legal
VintageLegal
Whenever a creature enters, if there are two or more other creatures on the battlefield, exile that creature. Return that card to the battlefield under its owner's control when this artifact leaves the battlefield.

Plays as: Token Payoff

Market · per finishspark updated 9h ago · prices as of 2026-07-12
Nonfoil+0.0%
$1.78
$0.34 low$0.14 gap
Cheapest playable copy$1.78· across 1 printing

Rulings

5 · latest Oct 1, 2009 · one tap opens all
  • WotCOct 1, 2009

    The "when Portcullis leaves the battlefield" ability is set up as part of the ability that exiles the creature. It will trigger when Portcullis leaves the battlefield even if Portcullis has somehow lost its abilities at that time.

  • WotCOct 1, 2009

    The creature does enter, so any other abilities that trigger on it entering trigger. This follows the normal rules for timing triggered abilities: first, the current player puts their abilities on the stack in any order, then each other player in turn order does the same. Portcullis' own ability is included in this, so it could result in the creature being exiled after some abilities have resolved, but before others.

  • WotCOct 4, 2004

    Creatures which are phasing in will not trigger this card's ability.

  • WotCOct 4, 2004

    If the creature that triggered Portcullis is no longer on the battlefield when the ability resolves, then it fails to do anything.

  • WotCOct 4, 2004

    You check the count of the number of creatures on the battlefield again during resolution. The creature will not be exiled if the count is 2 or less.