Caius the Shadow Monarch

 This monster appears in the artwork of By Order of the Emperor, Red Screen, Illusory Snatcher, March of the Monarchs, Domain of the True Monarchs and Tribute Carnival.

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This monster is the cover card for The Dark Emperor Structure Deck and Structure Deck: Advent of the Emperor.

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In Roman history, the names Caius and Gaius are interchangeable. Therefore, this card's name is likely a reference to many powerful figures of the late Roman Republic, including Gaius Gracchus, Gaius Julius Caesar and Gaius Augustus.

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This is supported by the name of this monster's Vassal counterpart, Lucius the Shadow Vassal, which is also a praenomen of Ancient Rome.

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This monster appears to be conjuring a Dark Core, whose effect is similar to this card.

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This monster has an upgraded form: Caius the Mega Monarch.

TCG Rulings

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{{RulingFlagged">TCGJudgeProgram =
"Solemn Judgment: Suppose that Player A wants to Tribute Summon "Caius the Shadow Monarch". Player A declares that they are Summoning "Caius the Shadow Monarch" and tribute one of their monsters. Player B has now the chance to activate an effect to negate the Summon, like "Solemn Judgment". If they chose not to activate a such effect now, then "Caius the Shadow Monarch" is Normal Summoned successfully, activate its effect, and choose a target for that effect. Player B cannot now try to negate the Summon.: Solemn Warning vs Monster Reborn/Call of the Haunted

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OCG Rulings

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Inflicting damage and removing the monster use the same chain link.: Effect Monster > Caius the Shadow Monarch: Plase explain, in detail, the effect of "Caius the Shadow Monarch".

You do not inflict damage when you remove from play DARK Monster Tokens or Trap Monsters are removed from play. However, you do inflict damage when a DARK Monster (which is being treated as an Equip Card) is removed from play.: With the effect of "Caius the Shadow Monarch", do you inflict damage when removing from play Monster Tokens? "Zoma the Spirit"? Monsters equipped to "Relinquished"?

This is a Trigger Effect which targets. Removing the monster and inflicting damage are considered to occur simultaneously.

If you remove "Caius the Shadow Monarch" with his own effect, you still inflict 1000 damage.

When the targetted card is a face-down card, the card is removed from play face-up. If it was a DARK Monster, you still inflict 1000 damage.: When "Caius the Shadow Monarch" removes a face-down monster, do you still inflict damage?

If "Imperial Iron Wall" is active, "Caius the Shadow Monarch"s effect activates and you target a card, but you do not remove the card from play.: When "Imperial Iron Wall" is active, can you remove cards with "Caius the Shadow Monarch"?

Mentions in Other Rulings

Shadow-Imprisoning Mirror / The Fabled Unicore: Suppose "Shadow-Imprisoning Mirror" and "The Fabled Unicore" are both face-up on the field, and a player Tribute Summons "Caius the Shadow Monarch". If both players have the same number of cards in their hands when resolving the effect of "Caius the Shadow Monarch", then the turn player's effect negates the effect of "Caius the Shadow Monarch". Or, if the same player controls both "Shadow-Imprisoning Mirror" and "The Fabled Unicore", then that player chooses which effect negates the effect of "Caius the Shadow Monarch

Previously Official Rulings

No damage is inflicted when "Caius the Shadow Monarch's" effect removes "Zoma the Spirit" from play or removes a DARK Monster Token.

Mentions in Other Rulings

Imperial Iron Wall: If "Caius the Shadow Monarch" is Tribute Summoned while "Imperial Iron Wall" is active, "Caius the Shadow Monarch's" effect still activates because it is mandatory, but its effect disappears when it resolves.

Judge List Rulings

Monarch's" effects activate at the time they are successfully Tribute Summoned. Their effects are Spell Speed 1. If the opponent wants to activate a card like "Bottomless Trap Hole", it will be placed onto the Chain with the "Monarch's" effect. But "Monarchs" don't need to remain on the field to resolve their effects, so destroying them with "Bottomless Trap Hole" will not negate their effect.: Bottomless Trap Hole Vs. Monarchs