Emperor of Bones Graveyard Monarch
Emperor of Bones is a Skeleton Noble from Modern Horizons 3 that leans into graveyard oriented play. The card provides a steady setup by exiling a card from a graveyard at the start of combat, creating a resource for later turns. It uses a straightforward cost {1}{B} to activate Adapt 2, giving the body a chance to grow or pressure the opponent. This combination rewards careful timing and deck design that can leverage exile and counters for incremental value. The artwork depicts a spectral monarch rising from icy depths, underscoring the theme of bone craft and cold strategy.
Whenever one or more +1/+1 counters are put on Emperor of Bones, put a creature card exiled with Emperor of Bones onto the battlefield under your control with a +1/+1 counter on it. It gains haste. Sacrifice it at the beginning of the next end step. The interaction creates a temporary board presence that can swing for extra damage while the main body remains on the battlefield. In decks that lean into the graveyard and counter synergy, Emperor of Bones functions as a measured engine that converts exile into value without overstaying the hand.
Card Details:
- Mana Cost – {1}{B}
- Card Type – Creature — Skeleton Noble
- Subtypes – Skeleton Noble
- Card Text / Rules Text (Printed) – At the beginning of combat on your turn, exile up to one target card from a graveyard. {1}{B}: Adapt 2. Whenever one or more +1/+1 counters are put on Emperor of Bones, put a creature card exiled with Emperor of Bones onto the battlefield under your control with a +1/+1 counter on it. It gains haste. Sacrifice it at the beginning of the next end step.
- Power / Toughness – 2/2
- Loyalty – N/A