Tibalt, Rakish Instigator MTG Card
2019-05-03 - Number 146★
2019-05-03 - Number 146
2019-05-04 - Number 146s★
2019-05-04 - Number 146s
2002-06-24 - Number 77981
2002-06-24 - Number 72247
2019-12-02 - Number 515
2020-09-26 - Number WAR-146
| Card sets | Released in 8 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Legendary Planeswalker — Tibalt |
| Loyalty | 5 |
Text of card
Your opponents can't gain life.
-2: Create a 1/1 red Devil creature token with "When this creature dies, it deals 1 damage to any target."
Cards like Tibalt, Rakish Instigator
Tibalt, Rakish Instigator stands out in the pantheon of red planeswalkers in Magic: The Gathering, offering unique disruption abilities akin to the likes of Harsh Mentor. Where Harsh Mentor targets players activating abilities of artifacts, creatures, and lands, Tibalt’s passive skill provides a broader sweep, preventing opponents from gaining life entirely. Both cards thrive in metas where opponents rely on life gain strategies.
Comparatively, Ankh of Mishra also delivers a passive punch to opponents’ life totals, dealing damage whenever a land enters the battlefield under their control. Tibalt, however, both disrupts opponent strategies and advances your board state by generating Devil creature tokens. This dual utility gives Tibalt an edge in versatility. Eidolon of the Great Revel is another significant comparison, punishing player strategies heavy on low-cost spells with repeated damage, parallel to Tibalt’s constant hindrance on life gain. However, Tibalt’s ability to create creatures also allows for defensive maneuvers or aggressive plays.
In essence, Tibalt, Rakish Instigator offers a multi-faceted approach to disrupting opponent play, distinguishing itself by hindering life gain and bolstering your battlefield presence, making it a formidable card in Magic: The Gathering’s red deck strategies.
Cards similar to Tibalt, Rakish Instigator by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Tibalt, Rakish Instigator. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Boros Aggro | Gladiator | Gladiator Proving Grounds: Week 12 2024 |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: As a planeswalker, Tibalt, Rakish Instigator offers multiple abilities to disrupt your opponent’s strategy. His passive ability prevents opponents from gaining life, effectively neutralizing strategies heavily reliant on life gain. Moreover, his second ability creates a 1/1 Devil token with a crucial death effect that can help keep the board in check and subtly shift card advantage in your favor.
Resource Acceleration: Tibalt’s ability to generate a steady stream of Devil tokens can ramp up your offensive resources without expending cards from your hand. This ability to accelerate your board presence can pressure opponents and force them to deal with the growing swarm of devils, diverting resources they may have otherwise used against you.
Instant Speed: While Tibalt himself is not an instant, the tokens his ability creates deal damage when they die, offering a form of instant-speed interaction. This can disrupt your opponent’s plans during their turn, particularly if they underestimate the impact of those Devil tokens in combat or while defending against other instant speed removals.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: With Tibalt, Rakish Instigator, there’s no direct discard requirement to worry about, you can focus on the strategic use of the card itself without the need to sacrifice other cards from your hand.
Specific Mana Cost: To tap into Tibalt’s potential, you’ll be needing both red and generic mana sources. This can sometimes restrict the card to decks that are red-heavy or have ample mana-fixing options to accommodate the double red cost.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: At three mana total to cast, Tibalt, Rakish Instigator, may appear steep compared to other planeswalkers or red spells that provide immediate impact. Allocating resources to summon him could delay other plays, potentially impacting the tempo of your deck’s strategy.
Reasons to Include Tibalt, Rakish Instigator in Your Collection
Versatility: Tibalt, Rakish Instigator is a flexible planeswalker that can be slotted into a variety of red decks. His ability to create Devil tokens every turn provides a steady stream of creatures, perfect for aggressive strategies or decks focused on sacrificing for value.
Combo Potential: Tibalt’s passive effect, which prevents opponents from gaining life, can be a key component in disrupting popular lifegain combos. The Devil tokens also offer synergy with cards that benefit from creature deaths or red spells.
Meta-Relevance: In an environment dominated by lifegain mechanics or decks dependent on incremental life increases, Tibalt comes into play as a countermeasure. His persistent token generation means he can also serve as a resilient threat in the face of board wipes common in control-centric metas.
How to beat
Tibalt, Rakish Instigator is a challenging planeswalker to face in Magic: The Gathering, known for its ability to shut down life gain and create pesky devil tokens. To successfully navigate against this fiery adversary, it’s crucial to alter your game plan. Prioritize removal spells like Murder or Bedevil that can target Tibalt directly. Also, consider enchantment-based removal like Banishing Light to nullify his presence on the battlefield.
Counterspells are another effective strategy. Cards like Negate or Dovin’s Veto can prevent Tibalt from ever entering the fray. Additionally, focus on advancing your board state without relying heavily on life gain strategies. Aggressive decks can outpace Tibalt by putting pressure on the opponent, forcing them to use resources defensively. Lastly, remember that Tibalt’s devil tokens are easily managed with cards that deal 1 damage to multiple creatures such as Cry of the Carnarium or Chainwhirler.
Dealing with Tibalt, Rakish Instigator requires adaptability and the right choice of cards, ensuring your gameplay isn’t derailed by his disruptive abilities. While he may pose a considerable threat, proper deck construction and strategic play can help you maintain the upper hand.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Tibalt, Rakish Instigator MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Magic Online Promos, 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 Tibalt, Rakish Instigator and other MTG cards:
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- Card Market
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Printings
The Tibalt, Rakish Instigator Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2019-05-03 and 2019-12-02. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 77981 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Chase Stone | ||
| 2 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 72247 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Clover.K | ||
| 3 | 2019-05-03 | War of the Spark | WAR | 146★ | 2015 | Normal | Black | Clover.K | |
| 4 | 2019-05-03 | War of the Spark | WAR | 146 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Chase Stone | |
| 5 | 2019-05-04 | War of the Spark Promos | PWAR | 146s★ | 2015 | Normal | Black | Clover.K | |
| 6 | 2019-05-04 | War of the Spark Promos | PWAR | 146s | 2015 | Normal | Black | Chase Stone | |
| 7 | Secret Lair Drop | SLD | 515 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Chase Stone | ||
| 8 | The List | PLST | WAR-146 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Chase Stone |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Tibalt, Rakish Instigator has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Tibalt, Rakish Instigator card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2019-05-03 | If an effect says to set an opponent’s life total to a number that’s higher than their current life total while Tibalt is on the battlefield, the player’s life total doesn’t change. |
| 2019-05-03 | Spells and abilities that cause opponents to gain life still resolve while Tibalt is on the battlefield. No opponent will gain life, but any other effects of that spell or ability will happen. |