Crown of Empires
Artifact
, 
: Tap target creature. Gain control of that creature instead if you control artifacts named Scepter of Empires and Throne of Empires.
- CMC
- 2
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- C
- Rarity
- uncommon
- Set
- Magic 2012
- Price
- $0.15
- EDHREC rank
- #19702
Crown of Empires taps a creature an opponent controls for two mana — conditional, slow, and dependent on also running Throne of Empires and Scepter of Empires to justify the slot. Outside that specific artifact trio, it doesn't clear the bar for a 99-card deck.
Format Analysis
Where it lives, where it can’t
| Format | Verdict |
|---|---|
| commander | legal |
| legacy | legal |
| modern | legal |
| pioneer | not legal |
| standard | not legal |
| vintage | legal |
| pauper | not legal |
| oathbreaker | legal |
Crown of Empires sees essentially no competitive play in any format where it's legal. In Commander, the effect — tap a creature at sorcery speed for two mana — is well below the threshold for a utility slot unless you're committed to assembling the full Empires artifact set with Throne of Empires and Scepter of Empires. Legacy and Vintage have access to far more efficient tap or stax effects, so Crown never appears there. It's legal in Oathbreaker as well, where the same logic applies: two mana to tap one creature is a bad rate when removal and stax pieces do more for less.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Throne of EmpiresScepter of EmpiresCrown of EmpiresFiligree SagesPhyrexian Altar
Gain control of all creatures; Infinite colored mana; Infinite creature tokens; Infinite damage; Infinite death triggers; Infinite ETB; Infinite LTB; Infinite mana artifacts you control can produce; Infinite sacrifice triggers; Infinite untap of artifacts you control
View on Commander Spellbook ↗
Throne of EmpiresScepter of EmpiresCrown of EmpiresFiligree SagesEarthcraft
Gain control of all creatures; Infinite creature tokens; Infinite damage; Infinite death triggers; Infinite ETB; Infinite LTB; Infinite mana artifacts you control can produce; Infinite mana basic lands you control can produce; Infinite sacrifice triggers; Infinite untap of artifacts you control; Infinite untap of basic lands you control
View on Commander Spellbook ↗Price Context
Current price
$0.15 bulk tier
At $0.15, Crown of Empires is deep bulk — it costs less than a sleeve. That price reflects demand accurately; there's no meaningful spike risk here, and casual collectors chasing the Empires trifecta are the primary buyers.
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Sources
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.