Saruman, the White Hand
~$0.77 low · ~$48.23 high
Multicolor. Legendary Creature — Avatar Wizard
Tales of Middle-earth Commander #8 · Illustrated by Leonardo Borazio
Tales of Middle-earth Commander #8 · Illustrated by Leonardo BorazioWhat is Saruman, the White Hand worth?
Highest TCGplayer price
~$48.23
Showcase foil · Tales of Middle-earth Commander #477
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TCGplayer market prices in USD, updated October 14, 2026. Each price is for one printing and one finish.
Oracle text
Whenever you cast a noncreature spell, amass Orcs X, where X is that spell's mana value. (Put X +1/+1 counters 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.)
Goblins and Orcs you control have ward 
.
2/5
Over all his works a dark smoke hung and wrapped itself about the sides of Orthanc.
Format legality
All 3 printings of Saruman, the White Hand
| Printing | Rarity | Non-foil | Foil | Cardmarket (EUR) | My collection |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Tales of Middle-earth Commander ltc #477· 2023Showcasemythic· Cardmarket €18.33 | mythic | $19.21 | $48.23 | €18.33 | |
 Tales of Middle-earth Commander ltc #8· 2023mythic· Cardmarket €0.98 · €1.01 foil | mythic | $0.77 | $1.37 | €0.98€1.01 foil | |
 Tales of Middle-earth Commander ltc #91· 2023Extended Artmythic· Cardmarket €2.88 · €2.96 foil | mythic | $5.51 | $4.76 | €2.88€2.96 foil |
Prices are TCGplayer market prices in USD for each printing and finish, via Scryfall. They are a guide, not an appraisal.
Where to buy Saruman, the White Hand
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Card details
- First printed
- 2023
- Printings
- 3
- Mana value
- 4
- EDHREC rank
- #3,653 on EDHREC (Commander popularity)
- Keywords
- Amass
- Artist
- Leonardo Borazio
What the codes mean
The small print at the bottom of the Tales of Middle-earth Commander card (#8).
0008 · LTC · M · EN
- 0008Collector number: this card's place in the set list.
- LTCSet code for Tales of Middle-earth Commander
- MMythic rare
- ENPrinted in English
How to read a Magic card: every part and code, on real cards.
Card breakdown
The parts of Saruman, the White Hand, read from the Tales of Middle-earth Commander printing. Tap a label to highlight its line. How to read any Magic card.
The info line, magnified
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Also on this card
- Flavor text
- Italic story text below the rules. It has no effect on the game, and it can differ between printings.
Keywords
- AmassCR 701.47
- Put +1/+1 counters on your Army, creating a 0/0 Army token first if you have none.
Rule numbers from the Magic Comprehensive Rules, version of September 25, 2026.
Rulings (9)
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
Amass abilities are now written as "amass [subtype] N." Previous cards with amass have received errata to say "amass Zombies N."
2023-06-16
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.
2023-06-16
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.
2023-06-16
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.
2023-06-16
If Saruman, the White Hand is a Goblin or an Orc, it will have ward
.2023-06-16
A creature that is both a Goblin and an Orc still only gets one instance of ward
from Saruman, the White Hand's last ability.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
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.
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