Tombstalker: A Formidable Demon Creature

TL;DR Summary Tombstalker is a five-drop demon creature with flying and delve abilities, making it an excellent late-game threat in decks that emphasize card draw and removal synergies.

Detailed Card Mechanics and Interactions

Tombstalker's mana cost of {6}{B}{B} can be challenging to pay without careful planning, but its delve ability mitigates this issue by allowing players to pay one mana for each card exiled from their graveyard while casting the spell. This creates a dynamic where players can choose between paying the full six mana cost upfront or using their graveyard as a resource.

The flying keyword on Tombstalker is a significant advantage in Magic: The Gathering, enabling it to evade many forms of removal and attack opponent's creatures with impunity. Its five power and toughness make it an excellent attacking creature that can also serve as a formidable defense against enemy board presence.

One notable interaction with delve mechanics involves cards like Vraska's Contempt or Abrupt Decay. These removal spells often generate card advantage by exiling creatures, which can be used to pay for Tombstalker. This creates a self-sustaining loop where players can use their graveyard as a resource to fuel their delve ability and cast more powerful spells.

Strategic Uses, Combos, and Synergies

Tombstalker excels in decks that emphasize card draw and removal synergies. A popular strategy is to combine it with Rakdos Guildgate or similar mana fixing spells to create a consistent, low-tide approach. This allows players to ramp up to their expensive spells while maintaining a high level of card advantage.

Another synergy involves using cards like Liliana's Caress or Mistbind Clique to generate card advantage and graveyard fodder for Tombstalker's delve ability. These creatures can also serve as sacrificial lambs, clearing the way for more aggressive plays and generating additional card draw.

In a more aggressive context, players might pair Tombstalker with creatures like Kurkesh or Falkenrath Marauders to create a formidable attacking force. The flying keyword on both creatures allows them to attack enemy planeswalkers and creatures without fear of being blocked, while Tombstalker's delve ability ensures that the player has sufficient resources to pay for their spells.

Deckbuilding Roles and Archetypes

Tombstalker is most commonly found in black-based decks that emphasize card draw and removal synergies. Some possible deck archetypes include:

• Black-Red Aggro: A high-tide, aggressive strategy that focuses on quickly developing board presence and swarming the opponent with cheap creatures.
• Midrange: A more controlling approach that uses Tombstalker as a late-game threat while maintaining a balance of card draw and removal synergies.
• Graveyard-focused strategies like Izzet or Rakdos decks: These archetypes use their graveyard as a resource to fuel delve mechanics, often generating an advantage through card draw and removal synergies.

Format Viability and Competitive Context

Tombstalker has seen moderate play in various formats over the years, with its viability depending on the metagame context. In Modern, for example, it's occasionally included in black-red aggro or midrange decks to provide a strong attacking presence.

In more competitive contexts like Legacy or Commander, Tombstalker is often used as a late-game threat due to its formidable power and flying keyword. Its delve ability makes it an attractive choice for players looking to create complex synergies and card draw plans.

Rules Interactions and Technical Notes

Tombstalker's rules interactions are generally straightforward, with one notable exception being its interaction with Doom Blade. Since Doom Blade exiles creatures as soon as they're cast, it can be used to remove Tombstalker from play before it attacks. This highlights the importance of having removal spells that generate card advantage in combination with delve mechanics.

Another technical note is the way delve interacts with Eternal Witness or similar cards that allow players to return exiled cards to their hand. These synergies can help fuel delve ability, but they also create an interesting dynamic where players must carefully balance their graveyard management and spellcasting plans.

Art, Flavor, and Historical Context

Tombstalker's art features a hauntingly beautiful depiction of the creature itself, showcasing its demon-like appearance and imposing presence on the battlefield. The artwork is reminiscent of dark fantasy stories and folklore, fitting for a Magic: The Gathering card that embodies the darkness and menace associated with demons.

Flavor-wise, Tombstalker exists within the context of Planeswalker Atraxa's storyline in the Izzet League. This connection highlights the demon's role as a formidable foe against planeswalkers and its potential for use in aggressive black-red strategies.

Deckbuilding Considerations

When building a deck around Tombstalker, it's essential to consider the following:

• Card draw: A reliable source of card advantage is crucial when playing with delve mechanics. Cards like Vraska's Contempt or Liliana's Caress can help generate graveyard fodder for Tombstalker.
• Removal synergies: Spells like Doom Blade or Abrupt Decay can be used in combination with delve mechanics to create a self-sustaining loop.
• Graveyard management: Players must carefully balance their graveyard management and spellcasting plans, as delve interactions can create complex dynamics.

Synergy Examples

Some examples of synergy combinations that include Tombstalker are:

• Rakdos Guildgate + Vraska's Contempt: This combination allows players to ramp up to their expensive spells while maintaining a high level of card advantage.
• Liliana's Caress + Mistbind Clique: These creatures can generate card advantage and graveyard fodder for Tombstalker, while also serving as sacrificial lambs.
• Kurkesh + Falkenrath Marauders: This combination creates a formidable attacking force that can attack enemy planeswalkers and creatures without fear of being blocked.

Conclusion

Tombstalker is a complex and versatile card that offers a unique combination of flying keyword and delve ability. Its strategic uses and synergies make it an attractive addition to aggressive black-red strategies, midrange decks, and graveyard-focused archetypes.

While its format viability may vary depending on the metagame context, Tombstalker remains a formidable presence in Magic: The Gathering. As players continue to develop new deck archetypes and strategies, this card is sure to remain a popular choice for those seeking to create complex synergies and card draw plans.