Tel-Jilad Stylus MTG Card

The Stylus offers card recycling and protection against exile or destruction at instant speed. Demands card discard and specific mana, potentially straining resources and deck compatibility. Its versatility and combo potential make it a tactical asset in various MTG formats.

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	1
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Artifact
Released	2003-10-02
Set symbol
Set name	Mirrodin
Set code	MRD
Number	260
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Darrell Riche

Text of card

: Put target permanent you own on the bottom of your library.

Etched on Tel-Jilad's trunk is an entire history of Mirrodin—except for an expanse near the ground scrubbed smooth by an unknown hand.

Cards like Tel-Jilad Stylus

The Tel-Jilad Stylus positions itself as a unique utility artifact within the realm of MTG. Its ability to tuck cards back into a player’s library is a nuanced form of board protection and graveyard evasion. One can draw parallels to cards like Elixir of Immortality, which also shuffles into the library—however, the Elixir targets the graveyard and has a broader sweeping effect while granting life gain.

Comparably, Obelisk of Undoing offers a similar mechanic allowing for the return of permanents to their owner’s hand, yet it demands a mana cost and doesn’t place them into the library. This offers a more immediate reuse of the card but lacks the subtlety of the Stylus’ ability to dodge exile effects or shuffle away an impending unwanted draw. Crystal Shard also echoes this functionality with the additional utility of potentially disrupting opponents’ boards, posing an interactive alternative.

What sets the Tel-Jilad Stylus apart is its low-cost activation without tapping and the surprise element it can introduce, particularly in formats like Commander where it can help recycle key pieces or safeguard against mill strategies, securing its presence as a tactical asset in MTG.

Elixir of Immortality - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Tel-Jilad Stylus by color, type and mana cost

Candelabra of Tawnos - MTG Card versions

Phyrexian Dreadnought - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Tel-Jilad Stylus provides a unique means of recycling your own permanents. It allows you to put target permanent you own on the bottom of your library. This can be advantageous for reusing creatures with enter-the-battlefield effects or saving valuable cards from being exiled or destroyed.

Resource Acceleration: Although not directly providing additional mana, the Tel-Jilad Stylus can indirectly contribute to resource acceleration by safeguarding your key pieces, ensuring you always have access to them and allowing you to maintain a solid board presence without overextending into a potential board wipe.

Instant Speed: Being able to use the Tel-Jilad Stylus at instant speed adds a layer of flexibility and surprise. You can respond to removal spells or unfavorable blocks during combat on a moment’s notice, protecting your investments and potentially disrupting your opponent’s strategies.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Obliges players to discard another card from their hand to utilize its protective ability, which can strain hand resources in critical gameplay moments.

Specific Mana Cost: Tel-Jilad Stylus demands a precise mana combination to cast, including one green mana, potentially restricting its inclusion to green-centric or multi-colored decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Though the mana cost is not excessively high, when considering the utility of safeguarding one’s permanents against removal, alternative lower-cost or more versatile options may be preferable in deck construction.

Reasons to Include Tel-Jilad Stylus in Your Collection

Versatility: Tel-Jilad Stylus is not bound to a single strategy, offering functionality in decks that aim to recycle key creatures or protect valuable permanents from exile effects.

Combo Potential: This artifact shows promise when combined with cards that have enter-the-battlefield effects or with commanders that benefit from being recast, expanding your possibilities for in-game synergy.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where targeted removals or graveyard strategies are prevalent, Tel-Jilad Stylus provides a reliable way to preserve your crucial pieces and adapt to the shifting tides of the game’s dynamics.

How to beat

Tel-Jilad Stylus presents a unique challenge in MTG gameplay. This artifact offers its wielder a measure of protection by allowing them to put target permanent they own on the bottom of their library. To effectively counterplay this strategy, focus on direct disruption such as discard mechanics or artifact removal. Cards like Naturalize or Disenchant can efficiently remove Tel-Jilad Stylus from play, instantly neutralizing its defensive capability.

In a game scenario where Tel-Jilad Stylus is used to protect key combo pieces, having a reliable instant-speed removal spell is crucial. Additionally, since the Stylus can be activated at any time, including during your turn, it’s vital to time your removal when your opponent is least prepared to save their permanent, ideally when they are tapped out or when their guard is down. Always be ready to adapt your strategy and include versatile answers that can handle a wide range of threats, as this can often lead to a successful match outcome.

Careful planning and reactive gameplay are essential when facing an opponent utilizing Tel-Jilad Stylus. By adopting these tactics, you can significantly reduce the card’s impact and steer the game in your favor. Ultimately, knowing when to pursue aggressive removal plays and when to hold back for the optimum moment is the key to overcoming this tricky artifact.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Tel-Jilad Stylus MTG card by a specific set like Mirrodin, 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 Tel-Jilad Stylus and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Tel-Jilad Stylus has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Tel-Jilad Stylus card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date	Text
2004-12-01	Tel-Jilad Stylus’s ability can put tokens on the bottom of your library (where they then cease to exist).
2004-12-01	Tel-Jilad Stylus’s ability may target a permanent you own but do not control.
2004-12-01	You own all cards that started the game in your deck, and all cards that you “Wished” into the game (with one of the Judgment Wish cards or Ring of Maruf).
2009-10-01	You own a token if it entered the battlefield under your control.