Tyrant's Familiar MTG Card

Card Pros

Card Advantage: When Tyrant’s Familiar enters the battlefield, it presents a significant threat that opponents must answer, indirectly working towards card advantage as it demands multiple resources to deal with its formidable presence.

Resource Acceleration: This card synergizes well with decks that accelerate the summoning of large creatures. Harnessing the Lieutenant ability, Tyrant’s Familiar becomes even more powerful when played alongside your commander, providing disproportionate value and accelerating your route to victory.

Instant Speed: Although Tyrant’s Familiar itself does not have an instant speed ability, it can be quickly brought onto the battlefield with various instant-speed reanimation effects, allowing for unexpected plays and swings in board presence during crucial moments in a match.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Tyrant’s Familiar’s effectiveness is directly tied to having your commander on the field. Without your commander, its abilities are significantly diminished, essentially equating to a vanilla creature in scenarios where you’re unable to meet this condition.

Specific Mana Cost: This powerful creature requires a substantial red mana investment which may not be easily accommodated in multicolored decks, potentially limiting its versatility outside of predominantly red builds.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The seven mana required to cast this creature is no small sum, and while its abilities are powerful, in faster paced games or metas where lower cost creatures rule, Tyrant’s Familiar can feel cumbersome and slow to get off the ground.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Tyrant’s Familiar proves to be a dynamic addition to Commander and other high-powered formats where its presence can sway the tide of a game. As a creature with flying and haste, it adapts well to various strategies, fitting seamlessly into decks that require a quick and potent aerial threat.

Combo Potential: This card thrives in decks that utilize the Lieutenant mechanic, maximizing its impact when your commander is on the battlefield. The 7 damage dealt to a creature when it attacks not only clears the way for your other creatures but can work in tandem with effects that capitalize on high power or dragon synergies.

Meta-Relevance: Against decks that dominate by establishing a board presence with key creatures, Tyrant’s Familiar becomes an essential tool. Its ability to remove problematic blockers or threats every combat phase keeps the battlefield in your favor, aligning well with the pace of current multiplayer formats.

How to beat

Tyrant’s Familiar is a powerful creature card that can tilt the battlefield in favor of its controller. To neutralize this threat, it’s essential to employ effective counter-strategies. One method is to take advantage of its reliance on having a commander to unlock its full potential. Without the commander present, it is deprived of its devastating lieutenant ability, making it less formidable. Therefore, controlling or removing the commander card from play can significantly reduce the impact of Tyrant’s Familiar.

Spot removal spells are also invaluable in dealing with this creature. Cards like Swords to Plowshares, Path to Exile, or Murderous Rider can directly eliminate the Familiar before it unleashes havoc. In addition, the use of board wipes such as Wrath of God or Damnation can clear the board of multiple threats, including the Familiar, regardless of its power. Strategies that focus on indirect means like depleting life totals or locking down the game with control elements can also circumvent the Familiar’s power. By staying ahead in card advantage and keeping a varied arsenal of answers at the ready, players can overcome the challenge posed by Tyrant’s Familiar.

BurnMana Recommendations

Understanding the balance of power in MTG can be the key to your success, and Tyrant’s Familiar is a card that certainly tips the scales. With its considerable presence and the lieutenant ability awaiting your command, this card shapes the battlefield to your advantage. If you’re captivated by the prospect of dominating the skies and crunching your opponents’ defenses, integrating Tyrant’s Familiar into your arsenal is a wise move. Delve deeper with us, explore its synergies, and harness its strength in your deck. Ready to assert your dominance? Join our MTG community for more insights.