Tibalt, Rakish Instigator

Legendary Planeswalker — Tibalt

Your opponents can't gain life.

-2: Create a 1/1 red Devil creature token with "When this creature dies (is put into the graveyard from the battlefield), it deals 1 damage to target creature, player or planeswalker."

Tokens

• Devil 1/1 R

Legality

Format	Legality
1v1 Commander	Legal
Archenemy	Legal
Arena	Legal
Block Constructed	Legal
Canadian Highlander	Legal
Casual	Legal
Commander / EDH	Legal
Commander: Rule 0	Legal
Custom	Legal
Duel Commander	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Highlander	Legal
Historic	Legal
Historic Brawl	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Leviathan	Legal
Limited	Legal
Modern	Legal
Modern Beyond Horizons	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Planar Constructed	Legal
Planechase	Legal
Quest Magic	Legal
Tiny Leaders	Legal
Vanguard	Legal
Vintage	Legal

Discussion (49)

Czarnian90 on Hellegion, Shadows and Flames (Raphael)

1 week ago

Commander Update: Shadows Rise, Flames Burn

After several games against tough opponents, I’ve made a few changes to the deck and, more importantly, swapped the commander of the Hellegion. The Balrog, Durin's Bane is still very much part of the deck—playing him as a commander was fun and flavorful, but I wanted a leader who can impact my board more directly and help set the pace of the game. The Balrog remains a force of nature, and having him lurking in the deck, ready to be unleashed, still feels great. I believe he’ll continue to be a major threat even when he's not always leading the charge.

Raphael, Fiendish Savior steps in as the new commander, supporting the game plan more consistently. He helps stabilize the board, buffs my army, and sets the stage for the Balrog’s arrival. I run several cards that can fetch him straight from the deck—Blood Speaker, Demonlord Belzenlok, Rune-Scarred Demon, Icon of Ancestry, Ob Nixilis, the Hate-Twisted, and others—so even as a lurking horror, he’s never too far away.

I also added more damage-dealing spells for better control and direct pressure on opponents. Beyond classics like Devil's Play, Terminate, and Dreadbore, I’ve added Hell to Pay and Rakdos's Return to punish hands and boards alike. On top of that, I doubled down on devil token synergy and death-triggered burn effects. These little fiends now serve not just as blockers or sac fodder, but as a win condition on their own—especially when paired with Raphael’s lifelink boost. Every dying devil becomes pain for the enemy and healing for me.

I’ve now included four versions of Ob Nixilis — yes, it’s a bit much, but each fills a unique role. This one Ob Nixilis, the Hate-Twisted punishes card draw and bolsters removal. Tibalt, Rakish Instigator is still here too, classic devil support: fueling tokens and preventing opponents from healing the damage my demons and devils dish out. They don’t live long, but if timed right, their impact is massive.

I’ve also added some recursion (Oversold Cemetery) and a spicy alternate wincon in Liliana's Contract.

Some bigger demons were swapped out for stronger synergy or pure flavor—welcome Asmodeus the Archfiend, Balor, Kardur, Doomscourge, and others to the Hellegion.

Sadly, a few cards had to go — Imskir Iron-Eater, Archfiend of Sorrows, some regenerating skeletons, and a handful of artifacts are no longer marching with the legion.

I still have a few cards waiting on the bench—Burn Down the House, Rakdos Keyrune, Doom Whisperer, Overseer of the Damned, Skirsdag High Priest, Spawn of Mayhem, Breath of Malfegor — and I’ll be testing space for them soon.

In the long run, I’d love to add some heavier hitters and staples like Kindred Dominance, Altar of Shadows, Bontu's Monument, Krav, the Unredeemed, Rite of Belzenlok, Demonic TutorGC, Sudden Spoiling, Grave Pact, Dark Prophecy, Attrition, Vilis, Broker of Blood, Razaketh, the Foulblooded, Pestilence Demon, Lord of the Void, Archfiend of Depravity, and especially Karlach, Fury of Avernus.

We’ll see where the Hellegion marches next—and who joins, or falls, along the way.

nuperokaso on Demons

2 years ago

Blade of the Oni is bad because most of your creatures already have decent power and toughness. It works best in a deck with tiny creatures

Charmbreaker Devils you need a few additional spells for this to work. I suggest adding Mizzium Mortars and Terminate

Altar of Bhaal this is best with enters the battlefield effects, which you don't play many

Arcane Signet this does nothing without Commander. Replace this with Rakdos Signet

Bolas's Citadel this is a suicide in a deck with high mana costs like yours. Replace this with Phyrexian Arena

Guardian Idol this is weak creature, and bad fixing. Play Talisman of Indulgence instead

Rakdos Locket I suggest Rakdos Keyrune instead

Davriel, Soul Broker this card is not legal. If you like the theme of devils, play Tibalt, Rakish Instigator

Andromedus on Waste not, want not, greed not

2 years ago

Oops! You're right, I was indeed thinking of Black Vise. I play more legacy than modern tbh and get those two mixed up.

In any case, one more thing I wanted to mention. I see lifegain as a problem for this deck. Some sideboard you may want to consider: Erebos, God of the Dead, Everlasting Torment, Knight of Dusk's Shadow, Rampaging Ferocidon, Roiling Vortex, or Tibalt, Rakish Instigator are all possible options.

thefiresoflurve on

2 years ago

Hey there!

As far as cuts: Krenko, Mob Boss doesn't really fit the deck, he can go.

Defiler of Instinct is a maybe cut. It does sort of what you want, but doesn't interact with instants and sorceries the way this deck really wants to.

Kumano, Master Yamabushi could be cut due to being a bit mana intensive.

Tunneling Geopede and Witty Roastmaster and Impact Tremors are also maybes on the chopping block - much like Defiler of Instinct, they do what you want (1 damage), but in a way this deck doesn't want to do it (landfall/creature ETB).

Tibalt, Rakish Instigator - actually really good. If you had a way of ensuring it would stick to the battlefield. I doubt the impact of this card would be enough to justify the slot when you're needing cuts.

Kyren Negotiations can definitely come out. Since a bunch of your creatures already have tap abilities, it's not quite as useful.

Obviously all this is just through a lens of someone who is unfamiliar with this deck, and your mileage may vary. I also may have missed some things like [infinite] combo pieces that are in here, but barring that, I'm fairly confident on my cut list.

Happy building!

to_regatha_and_beyond on zdevil burn

2 years ago

Good first draft! A few things to consider-

• Since Raphael, Fiendish Savior isn't modern-legal, you might want to consider some alternatives. Maybe something like Rakdos, the Showstopper could work in Raphael's place? It's pretty powerful removal and a strong body on its own, so it makes for a good finisher, and more importantly, it's allowed in the format.
• Try to look for better options for cards whenever you can. A few of the cards you're running have strictly superior alternatives that I would check out, for instance Blaze could be replaced by Fireball or Banefire.
• Set up a sideboard so that your deck will be a bit more alterable. Cards like Devils' Playground, Wild Slash, Tibalt, Rakish Instigator and Vengeful Devil might make good sideboard options.

Consider these, and I'm excited to see where you take the deck from here! Very interesting first iteration.

Necramus on Miirym, Dragon Mommy

2 years ago

Atarka's Command, Tibalt, Rakish Instigator, and Leyline of Punishment are all good ways to keep your friend from gaining life from pinging you, then you can bonk him with dragons to the dome.

Orbs of Warding and Witchbane Orb are both excellent for giving you hexproof, making him unable to target you with his Commander's ability.

Three Visits and Farseek are great ramp spells that are pretty cheap that can replace some of your more expensive ramp. I'd also definitely advise picking up the Talisman of Unity in your maybe board.

You have a good density of creatures, in particular your dragons. I'd consider cutting some of the higher cost ones that have no immediate impact on the board to sub out for things like Old Gnawbone, Dragon Tempest, Dragonlord's Servant, Utvara Hellkite and Goldspan Dragon, though. These are things that help your gameplan (Dragon storm) and have immediate impact on the board. Some of those are kinda spensive, but #longtermgoals. Shared Animosity is also a nuts card in tribal decks.

Love,

Poppa Blake

WriteToLive on PAIN!!! Agony!!!

3 years ago

Warlock Class, Havoc Festival, War's Toll, Davriel, Rogue Shadowmage, Heartless Hidetsugu, Tibalt, Rakish Instigator

Pheardemons on That is the most Rakdos way to win

3 years ago

SturmMana - I'm glad I can inspire you! My roommate also plays a similar style in Historic and he's upset that Blood Artist is there instead of Zulaport Cutthroat since he has to actually click a target for each death haha. Tibalt, Rakish Instigator is in the sideboard for here but Im not yet sure if it's needed. It is one of those cards that has definitely worked, but I also hate to see it sometimes.

I'm constantly trying to make this deck more efficient so if anything works for you in historic (and is pioneer legal) let me know so I can try it! Thanks for the comments and compliments my good sir.