Thunderfoot Baloth is a 5/5 green Beast creature with trample costing {4}{G}{G}. Its key ability lies in its Lieutenant keyword. The Lieutenant ability states that as long as you control your commander, Thunderfoot Baloth gets +2/+2, and all other creatures you control also receive +2/+2 and gain trample. This means that if your commander leaves the battlefield, the buffs provided by Thunderfoot Baloth immediately cease. This is crucial for game planning, as the power boost is significant, potentially turning otherwise weak creatures into formidable attackers. The +2/+2 buff to Thunderfoot Baloth itself stacks additively with any other buffs it might receive. For example, if it already had +1/+1 from Giant Growth, it would become a 8/8 with trample while the Lieutenant effect is active.

The trample granted by Thunderfoot Baloth's Lieutenant ability applies to all other creatures you control, not just creatures that were already on the battlefield when the Baloth entered. This means newly summoned creatures immediately benefit from the buff and the trample keyword. Note that only creatures you control receive the buff; opposing creatures or creatures controlled by other players will not be affected.

One edge case to consider involves effects that remove creatures from the battlefield without destroying them. For instance, if your commander is exiled by Chaos Warp, Thunderfoot Baloth's Lieutenant ability will immediately deactivate, removing the +2/+2 and trample from all affected creatures. Conversely, if your commander is merely temporarily unavailable, such as being bounced to your hand by a Cyclonic Rift, the Lieutenant effect remains active until the commander is no longer under your control.

Thunderfoot Baloth excels in Commander decks that leverage the Lieutenant mechanic and want a significant boost to their board presence. Its high base power and toughness, coupled with trample, already make it a formidable threat. However, the Lieutenant ability catapults it to another level. As long as your commander remains on the battlefield, Thunderfoot Baloth provides a substantial +2/+2 to itself and all other creatures under your control, granting them trample as well. This makes it a powerful engine for quickly overwhelming opponents.

Decks that benefit most from this card include those featuring high-power creatures that can leverage the additional power and trample, enabling them to push through lethal damage efficiently. This synergy is particularly strong in strategies centered around Overrun-style effects or massive board wipes followed by a redeployment of creatures. Consider pairing this with commanders that provide additional creature buffs or protection, such as Rishkar, Peema Renegade to further maximize its impact.

The roles Thunderfoot Baloth fills include:

• Powerful Threat: Its base stats are respectable, becoming even more formidable with its Lieutenant ability.
• Board-Wide Buff: The +2/+2 and trample boost affects all creatures, synergizing well with wide strategies.
• Lieutenant Engine: The core of its strategy is acting as a powerful engine to enable your other creatures.

Essentially, Thunderfoot Baloth acts as a significant power multiplier, transforming a moderately strong board state into a potentially lethal one. Its reliance on a commander staying alive means it's less effective in strategies that focus on sacrificing creatures or don't prioritize commander protection. However, in the right deck, it can be a truly game-winning card.

The Thunderfoot Baloth's strength lies in its Lieutenant ability, creating a powerful engine for aggressive strategies in green-based Commander decks. Its inherent stats of 5/5 with trample are already respectable for a 6-mana creature, but the Lieutenant ability elevates it significantly. The +2/+2 boost to itself and all other creatures under your commander's control creates a substantial board presence quickly. The added trample ensures that damage gets through even against blockers.

Building around Thunderfoot Baloth requires a focus on other creatures that benefit from the +2/+2 and trample buff. Large creatures benefit the most, turning them into overwhelming threats. Consider including cards like Overrun, Craterhoof Behemoth, and Triumph of the Hordes to capitalize on the boosted power and trample, converting the board advantage into swift victory. Smaller creatures with relevant abilities, such as Beast Whisperer or Ezuri, Renegade Leader, can also form strong synergies, creating a wide and powerful board state. Cards that pump creatures, like Giant Growth or Rancor, amplify the effect further.

Considering the high mana cost, ramp is crucial. Including multiple mana-producing creatures or artifacts like Sakura-Tribe Elder and Sol Ring is vital to ensure that Thunderfoot Baloth enters the battlefield in a timely manner. Furthermore, protection for your commander is necessary, as losing your commander negates the Baloth's Lieutenant ability. Cards like Swiftfoot Boots or Lightning Greaves can protect your commander from removal spells. Strategies that focus on protecting your commander will allow the Baloth's effects to persist, guaranteeing a decisive advantage.

Thunderfoot Baloth's viability hinges heavily on the Lieutenant ability and the presence of a commander. Its inherent stats of 5/5 with trample are respectable for a seven-mana creature, but not exceptionally powerful on their own in most formats. In Standard and Historic, its high mana cost makes it unlikely to see play unless a specific archetype emerges that strongly supports high-cost, impactful creatures and synergizes with the Lieutenant trigger. It lacks the immediate impact of many other creatures at that mana cost, such as Voracious Hydra or Terror of Mount Cinder.

However, Thunderfoot Baloth shines brightly in Commander. Its Lieutenant ability provides a significant buff to both itself and other creatures when paired with a commander, effectively transforming it into a potent engine for board presence. The +2/+2 boost to all creatures under a commander's control, combined with the added trample, can quickly overwhelm opponents. The effect works best in strategies that focus on a large board presence of creatures, enabling powerful attacks. This synergy is especially noticeable in decks featuring commanders that focus on creature buffs or mass creature strategies, such as Krenko, Mob Boss or Ghalta, Primal Hunger. The increased power and trample also work effectively with effects like Triumph of Ferocity and Overrun. Even if the commander is temporarily removed, the Baloth still provides a reasonable 5/5 body with trample.

In other formats like Brawl or formats using pre-constructed decks with specific commanders, Thunderfoot Baloth’s potential is also elevated. Its power lies in its ability to create a significant swing in board presence and combat advantage, particularly beneficial in formats with longer games and more complex interactions.

Thunderfoot Baloth shines in scenarios where you already have a board presence and a strong commander. One impactful scenario involves having a commander like Marath, Will of the Wild on the battlefield alongside a few smaller creatures. Suppose you control Marath, a 3/3 Elvish Mystic, and a 1/1 Birds of Paradise. Playing Thunderfoot Baloth would immediately boost Marath to 5/5, the Mystic to 5/5, and the Birds to 3/3, giving all three trample. This creates a powerful swing turn capable of overwhelming many opponents. The combined power quickly becomes lethal.

Another scenario highlights Thunderfoot Baloth's synergy with commanders that care about creature size. Imagine a board state with Ruxa, Patient Professor and a few smaller creatures like a 2/2 Silvergill Adept and a 1/1 Arbor Elf. Playing Thunderfoot Baloth not only grants all your creatures +2/+2 and trample but also increases the power of Ruxa's ability to create even more tokens. This exponential growth in creature count and power makes for a rapid victory.

Finally, consider a situation where your commander has been removed from the battlefield. Thunderfoot Baloth, without the Lieutenant ability active, still provides a strong 5/5 body with trample, a significant contribution to the board state, and allowing for aggressive plays to quickly get your commander back into the field. This resilience makes it a valuable creature even in less-than-ideal situations.

Thunderfoot Baloth, a rare creature from the Dominaria United set (dsc), arrived as a significant addition to Commander strategies focusing on green's ramp and creature-based strategies. Its immediate impact stemmed from the Lieutenant ability, a relatively new mechanic at the time, offering a powerful boost to both itself and the rest of the board state. The +2/+2 and Trample conferred on all creatures under the Commander's control created a sudden and substantial swing in board presence, quickly turning a seemingly manageable board into a significant threat. This effect synergized extremely well with strategies already using impactful Commanders like Saskia, the Unyielding or Marwyn, the Nurturer, which already sought to flood the board with creatures.

The base stats of 5/5 with Trample are already respectable for a 6-mana creature, making it a solid addition to many decks even without the Lieutenant trigger. Its immediate success led to its inclusion in numerous Commander decks across a variety of strategies, ranging from aggressive beatdown strategies to more midrange, value-oriented builds. However, its effectiveness is intrinsically linked to the presence of a Commander, making it less potent in other formats like Standard or Pioneer. The relative lack of reprints further solidifies its value within the Commander community, as the supply has not been significantly inflated, keeping its price reasonably high for a rare.

The card's design also highlights a shift in the power level of Commander cards. While not overtly broken, Thunderfoot Baloth represents a significant power increase compared to earlier, less impactful creature-based boosts found in older sets. The widespread adoption of this card underscores the increasing importance of efficient and impactful cards in the Commander format, influencing future card design and potentially driving a trend towards more impactful lieutenant or similar tribal-support effects within the format. The absence of reprints so far suggests its continuing power level remains well-balanced for the format despite its initial impact.

Thunderfoot Baloth's flavor text perfectly captures the image of a powerful, charging beast. The art depicts this well, showcasing a massive, muscular baloth, radiating power and ready to trample over foes. The 5/5 base stats, combined with the Lieutenant ability, further solidify this image of a formidable leader. The trample ability is a fitting mechanic, reinforcing the creature's aggressive nature and ability to break through enemy defenses.

The Lieutenant ability synergizes well with the overall theme of commanders and their impact on the battlefield. It creates a powerful incentive for players to keep their commander alive, turning the Baloth into a potent engine for both its own growth and that of the rest of their army. This complements cards like Ruric Thar, the Unbowed which reward aggressive play, or commanders that have inherent survivability, encouraging dedicated strategies around keeping that commander safe. The significant boost to both the Baloth and other creatures is substantial, presenting a serious threat to opponents, especially when combined with other large creatures or those with high power. This effect makes it a potentially powerful inclusion in many commander decks, especially those with a strong focus on green's creature-heavy strategies. The mana cost of {4}{GG} is appropriate for a creature of this size and ability, making it a natural fit in mid-to-late game plays. The card's rarity reflects its potent ability; it's powerful enough to warrant its place as a rare, but not so overpowered that it would disrupt the balance of the set.

The Thunderfoot Baloth, with its mana cost of {4}{G}{G}, is not strictly budget-friendly, especially for decks focused on minimizing costs. The rarity itself (rare) indicates a higher price point compared to commons and uncommons. While its power level is considerable, especially in a Commander deck, the mana investment might be a deterrent for players on a tight budget.

Several cheaper alternatives provide similar effects, although perhaps not exactly replicating the Lieutenant ability. Beastmaster Ascension offers a global +1/+1 bonus and a benefit for controlling multiple creatures, though it lacks trample. For a more focused trample effect, Triumph of the Hordes can provide a significant swing, but only temporarily. Depending on your deck's strategy, cards like Overrun or Crushing Canopy could be more cost-effective ways to generate board-wide damage and trample. Ultimately, the best alternative will depend heavily on your specific Commander deck and its overall strategy.

Thunderfoot Baloth's Lieutenant ability offers surprising synergy with a variety of commanders and strategies beyond simply boosting power. Its +2/+2 buff to all creatures isn't just about raw power; it significantly enhances the effectiveness of smaller creatures, pushing them over crucial thresholds. A 1/1 creature suddenly becomes a 3/3 with trample, potentially lethal in the right circumstances. This makes it particularly effective with token strategies, transforming a swarm of weak creatures into a formidable attacking force. Collected Company becomes even more potent, as you can find a combination of creatures that will synergize exceptionally well with the Baloth's Lieutenant trigger.

The trample conferred by the Baloth is also crucial. It allows for efficient use of excess damage, preventing your opponents from simply absorbing attacks from your beefed-up army. This is especially important when paired with commanders that already generate a significant amount of creatures or have effects that benefit from dealing combat damage, such as Krenko, Mob Boss. The combination of plentiful creatures and trample ensures nearly all damage dealt makes an impact.

Furthermore, the high base power and toughness of the Baloth itself (5/5) makes it a respectable threat even if your commander is removed from the battlefield. While it loses its buffing effect, it still provides a relevant body on the board, capable of pressuring opponents. This resilience against board wipes or commander removal is a key factor in evaluating its strategic value. Its ability to maintain relevance even when its Lieutenant ability is inactive positions it as a valuable inclusion in a variety of green-based decks.

Common Mistakes with Thunderfoot Baloth often stem from misunderstanding its Lieutenant ability or failing to leverage its synergy with other cards. A frequent error is assuming the +2/+2 and trample bonuses only apply to the Baloth itself. The Lieutenant ability boosts all creatures under your control, provided your commander remains on the battlefield. Misplaying this can lead to missed opportunities for overwhelming attacks.

Another common mistake involves failing to protect Thunderfoot Baloth and your commander. Since the Baloth's power is intrinsically linked to the presence of your commander, losing either significantly weakens your board state. Strategies should account for this vulnerability, perhaps by including protection spells like Sheltering Walls or Lightning Greaves. Conversely, over-protecting the Baloth at the expense of other important cards can also be a misplay. Resource management is crucial; deciding when to use removal or counter spells to protect the commander or Baloth is a critical tactical decision.

Finally, some players may underestimate the value of trample in conjunction with the power boost. While the +2/+2 is significant, the ability to deal excess combat damage beyond a creature's toughness is often overlooked. This is particularly relevant against opponents with multiple creatures with low toughness and high defenses such as Wall of Roots. Proper evaluation of the board state, including opponent's life total and creature defenses, is vital for maximizing the effectiveness of Thunderfoot Baloth's trample effect.