---
name: "Sauron, the Dark Lord"
mana_cost: "{3}{U}{B}{R}"
cmc: 6
type_line: "Legendary Creature — Avatar Horror"
colors: []
color_identity: ["B", "R", "U"]
keywords: ["Amass", "Ward"]
set: "HOC"
set_name: "The Hobbit Commander"
collector_number: "76"
rarity: "mythic"
artist: "Kieran Yanner"
oracle_id: "9f8f29ba-7e64-455d-be05-ec7973f2bd0a"
canonical_url: "https://avascry.com/printing/sauron-the-dark-lord-hoc"
legalities:
  commander: "legal"
  standard: "not_legal"
  modern: "legal"
  pioneer: "not_legal"
  legacy: "legal"
  vintage: "legal"
  pauper: "not_legal"
  penny: "legal"
---

# Sauron, the Dark Lord
- **Mana Cost:** `{3}{U}{B}{R}` (CMC: 6)
- **Type:** Legendary Creature — Avatar Horror
- **Keywords:** Amass, Ward

## Oracle Text
Ward—Sacrifice a legendary artifact or legendary creature.
Whenever an opponent casts a spell, amass Orcs 1.
Whenever an Army you control deals combat damage to a player, the Ring tempts you.
Whenever the Ring tempts you, you may discard your hand. If you do, draw four cards.

## Top 4096-Dim Neural Synergies
1. [Sauron, Lord of the Rings](/printing/sauron-lord-of-the-rings-ltc.md) — Legendary Creature — Avatar Horror
2. [Saruman, the White Hand](/printing/saruman-the-white-hand-ltc.md) — Legendary Creature — Avatar Wizard
3. [Sauron, the Lidless Eye](/printing/sauron-the-lidless-eye-ltr.md) — Legendary Creature — Avatar Horror
4. [Sauron, the Necromancer](/printing/sauron-the-necromancer-ltr.md) — Legendary Creature — Avatar Horror
5. [Saruman the White](/printing/saruman-the-white-ltr.md) — Legendary Creature — Avatar Wizard
6. [The Mouth of Sauron](/printing/the-mouth-of-sauron-ltr.md) — Legendary Creature — Human Advisor

## Printing Details
- **Set:** The Hobbit Commander (HOC) #76
- **Rarity:** Mythic
- **Artist:** Kieran Yanner
- **Total Printings:** 10 across all historical editions

## Format Legalities
Commander: `legal` | Standard: `not_legal` | Modern: `legal` | Pioneer: `not_legal` | Legacy: `legal` | Vintage: `legal` | Pauper: `not_legal` | Penny: `legal`

## Official Rulings
- *(2023-06-16)* 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.
- *(2023-06-16)* Each player can have only one emblem named The Ring and only one Ring-bearer at a time.
- *(2023-06-16)* The Ring can tempt you even if you don't control a creature. In this case, abilities that trigger "whenever the Ring tempts you" will still trigger.
- *(2023-06-16)* 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.
- *(2023-06-16)* Some spells and abilities that cause the Ring to tempt you may require targets. If each target chosen is an illegal target as that spell or ability tries to resolve, it won't resolve. The Ring won't tempt you.
- *(2023-06-16)* The Ring gains its abilities in order from top to bottom. Once it gains an ability, it has that ability for the rest of the game.