It is easily noted that Tibalt's +1 is situationally a hindrance as well as a boon. Even in decks that utilize the discard, graveyard, or have cheap low-cost spells that they dump easily its random nature will often have the chance of leaving the best plays of a turn unrealized. Thus, his following abilities could arguably be gained at a cheaper rate since to gain loyalty you can actually be paying a true "cost". For all his CMC speed he arguably doesn't do much for coming out so early. Unless all you need is his +1, he is actually a slow and vulnerable planeswalker when looking at his further abilities.
I find it interesting that this is the first time to my knowledge Wizards has explored the design in a planeswalker, even tentatively as here, where the planeswalker actually has a reasonable chance of punishing you for their loyalty. I wonder if they will explore this further? I could see a suicide-black demon (just one option) 'walker that has at least one ability to straight-u... (see all)
Posted By:
Stuflames
(3/11/2014 7:22:47 PM)
If they had just left out that 'at random' bit from his ability he would have been great. Heck, he could even force you to discard two cards and I wouldn't mind as much. As is, he's... decent. Can't say I'll be considering running him in any of my decks any time soon.
Posted By:
Reishyn
(3/24/2014 10:01:19 AM)
My friend runs this in a proliferate deck. He never activates the +1 ability -- he just proliferates the counters until he reaches the ultimate...
Posted By:
Arkanian
(4/2/2014 6:37:50 PM)
People (on both printings) are paying too much attention to his +1 more so than the rest of his abilities. Yes he makes you draw and discard at random - meaning you might get rid of something useful - but that's only if you're running him in a deck where it's impossible to return your spells back from the graveyard. In red/black, it's not that hard to find spells that do that.
His -4 is to me just a nifty add-on. Someone running a Spellbook/Venser's Journal/etc. draw deck? Well, sucks for them.
But his -6 is where he shines - taking control of every creature on the field is pretty damn good, especially in a multiplayer setting. I've won quite a few games by just taking everyone's field and swinging it against them because, after all, Tibalt sucks, right? Why swing at him when there's more important targets?
That being said once people realize he's pretty decent they target him pretty quick, and having just 3 loyalty counters to start with ... (see all)
Posted By:
OnyxSturm
(4/3/2014 6:29:42 AM)
@Chttrbox88
"His -6 is completely useless... Nobody will willingly play creatures just so you can steal them."
You know, I kind of like it when my opponents choose not to play creatures.
Also, one thing that you can use Tibalt with is Volt Charge, which kills a creature that would've damaged him AND gives him another loyalty counter. Just an idea.
Posted By:
OlvynChuru
(4/21/2014 10:00:26 AM)
Has it occurred to no one that he was printed in a block that embraces red card advantage? (LOT of flashback burns, Dangerous Wager, Reforge the Soul...)
Run him alongside a few Gambles and a playset of Library of Lengs; you will never truly discard something that you need. Throw in some Miracles (for that Leng abuse) and some Madness and you have yourself a deck.
Posted By:
MacBizzle
(5/2/2014 5:14:48 AM)
Best use of him I've seen is possibility storm into bolas/karn.
Posted By:
jonrds
(5/10/2014 2:55:41 PM)
So I chucked Tibalt into my Niv-Mizzet, Dracogenius EDH deck because I figured he would languish in my trade binder....
Lemme tell ya... either people forget he's there or stop taking you seriously when he drops, because his "minus" abilities are great sneak attacks!
Oh you cast Praetor's Counsel? -4.
"I'll use the -6.... aaaaaand I'll one shot.... you."
"Man I forgot he was even on the battlefield!"
Posted By:
SeriouslyFacetious
(5/24/2014 7:45:10 AM)
I don't have one, but if I did he would run in my Tymaret, the Murder King deck. Take control of all creatures, then sacrifice them all to deal damage to their original controller. It's a beautiful thing.
Posted By:
JPerson
(5/27/2014 7:50:31 AM)