Circu, Dimir Lobotomist MTG Card
2005-10-07 - Number 196
2018-11-02 - Number 9
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Legendary Creature — Human Wizard |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 3 |
Text of card
Whenever you play a blue spell, remove the top card of target library from the game. Whenever you play a black spell, remove the top card of target library from the game. Your opponents can't play nonland cards with the same name as a card removed from the game with Circu, Dimir Lobotomist.
Cards like Circu, Dimir Lobotomist
Circu, Dimir Lobotomist is a unique figure in the landscape of Magic: The Gathering. Sharing certain traits with other notable commanders such as Oona, Queen of the Fae, both exploit library control to disrupt opponents. Where Circu shines is in his ability to exile an opponent’s card whenever you play a blue or black spell, preventing those card types from being a threat in the future. Oona’s ability to exile cards is based on mana spent, offering a potentially more immediate but less selective impact.
Leyline of the Void offers another point of comparison for its exile capacity, creating a constant presence that exiles cards as they hit the graveyard from anywhere. While Leyline of the Void is not a creature and therefore not a commander, it provides an ever-present threat against strategies relying on graveyard recursion. Circu requires strategic play of colored spells to trigger his ability, presenting a different approach to a similar end.
Analyzing the Modus operandi and impact on the game, Circu, Dimir Lobotomist stands out with a specialized focus on disrupting opponent’s strategies by using the deck as a resource, cementing his position within the control archetype in the format.
Cards similar to Circu, Dimir Lobotomist by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Circu, Dimir Lobotomist’s ability to exile the top card of a library whenever you play a blue or black spell can severely limit an opponent’s options. This unique talent incrementally depletes an opponent’s resources while enriching your gameplay strategy with potential information about their deck composition.
Resource Acceleration: While not directly providing mana acceleration, Circu’s consistent ability to exile cards can effectively serve as a form of resource acceleration. By disrupting an opponent’s strategic plans, you can speed up your own timeline for victory as they struggle to find answers to Circu’s continuous control.
Instant Speed: Circu, Dimir Lobotomist’s intrinsic value multiplies at instant speed. The ability to cast spells on an opponent’s turn and still trigger Circu’s exiling effect can create a tempo advantage. This gives you the flexibility to react to your opponent’s moves while strategically exiling key cards from their library, all during their turn.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: In the case of Circu, Dimir Lobotomist, while there isn’t a discard requirement, his ability necessitates a heavy reliance on casting blue or black spells to exile the top card of a library. This could limit your play options and force you to cast spells that may not be ideal at all times to trigger his effect.
Specific Mana Cost: Bearing a specific mana cost of two blue and two black, Circu presents a challenge in deck-building. Creating a mana base that consistently provides the right colors can be tricky, particularly if you’re trying to incorporate him into a multicolored deck that stretches beyond blue and black.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Having a four mana cost puts Circu in competition with numerous other impactful four-cost cards in the MTG universe. This mana investment could potentially delay critical plays, as other cards at the same cost offer immediate impact on the game state rather than a conditional ability that depends on further spellcasting.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Circu, Dimir Lobotomist offers a unique ability to disrupt opponents by exiling their cards, which can be extremely useful in a variety of blue and black deck builds seeking to control the game’s pace.
Combo Potential: With Circu in play, any blue or black spell you cast becomes a tool to whittle down your opponent’s options, creating opportunities to combo with other cards that capitalize on exiled cards, such as processors or spells with delve.
Meta-Relevance: In metas where libraries matter—such as those with reanimator strategies, combo decks, or even against “Tutor” effects—Circu can serve as a silver bullet, making him a relevant choice for competitive play.
How to beat
Circu, Dimir Lobotomist represents a unique tactical challenge in Magic: The Gathering. Much like a silent infiltrator, Circu can disrupt traditional deck strategies by exiling cards directly from opponents’ libraries whenever you play a blue or black spell. Neutralizing his ability to control the game requires a focused approach.
One effective tactic is to diminish the impact of Circu’s ability by utilizing cards that function from the graveyard. This permits continuation of your strategy even if key cards are exiled. Additionally, employing instant speed removal allows you to eliminate Circu before he can capitalize on his milling strategy. Cards like Path to Exile or Assassin’s Trophy are invaluable here as they offer swift solutions, turning the tide of battle back to an even keel.
Strategically speaking, saving your counter spells for protecting your removal options or hindering crucial spells that enable Circu’s ability is prudent. Constructing your deck with resilient threats that can weather the potential loss of key components is another layer of protection against this scheming spellcaster. In doing so, you outmaneuver and destabilize the foundation of Circu’s milling strategy, effectively disarming his disruptive power.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Circu, Dimir Lobotomist MTG card by a specific set like Ravnica: City of Guilds and GRN Guild Kit, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.
For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.
Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.
Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Circu, Dimir Lobotomist and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
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Printings
The Circu, Dimir Lobotomist Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2005-10-07 and 2018-11-02. Illustrated by Cyril Van Der Haegen.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2005-10-07 | Ravnica: City of Guilds | RAV | 196 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Cyril Van Der Haegen | |
| 2 | 2018-11-02 | GRN Guild Kit | GK1 | 9 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Cyril Van Der Haegen |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Circu, Dimir Lobotomist has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Circu, Dimir Lobotomist card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2005-10-01 | Circu’s last ability applies to all of its controller’s opponents, not just the owner of the exiled card. |
| 2005-10-01 | If a split card is exiled this way, opponents can’t cast either half of the split card. |
| 2005-10-01 | If you cast a blue and black spell, both of Circu’s triggered abilities trigger. You can target two different players or target the same player twice. |