In the ever-evolving universe of Magic: The Gathering, the release of new sets often brings fresh characters and mechanics that breathe life into deck strategies. One such addition is Tyvar, Jubilant Brawler a dynamic planeswalker from the Phyrexia: All Will Be One expansion. Tyvar’s design offers a unique blend of synergy with creatures, activated abilities, and graveyard strategies, making him a potent inclusion for various formats. His energetic presence and thematic alignment with green and black mana have stirred discussions in both casual and competitive MTG communities. Let’s take a closer look at what makes Tyvar, Jubilant Brawler such a compelling card to build around.
Card Overview
Mana Cost and Type
Tyvar, Jubilant Brawler is a three-mana planeswalker, specifically costing one generic, one black, and one green mana (1BG). Being in Golgari colors, he leans into strategies that involve graveyard recursion, creatures with activated abilities, and aggressive tempo plays. His relatively low mana cost makes him fast enough to influence the battlefield in early turns.
Loyalty Abilities
Tyvar enters the battlefield with 3 loyalty and has the following abilities:
- Static Ability: You may activate abilities of creatures you control as though those creatures had haste.
- +1: Untap up to one target creature.
- -2: Mill three cards. Then you may return a creature card with mana value 2 or less from your graveyard to the battlefield.
Each of these abilities supports a synergistic playstyle that emphasizes speed, utility, and board presence. They also offer flexibility in how you deploy him either to enable immediate threats or build long-term value from the graveyard.
Synergy with Activated Abilities
Enabling Creatures with Tap Effects
Tyvar’s static ability is one of the most impactful aspects of his design. It allows creatures with tap abilities to be used the turn they enter the battlefield. Cards likeDevoted Druid,Llanowar Elves, andElvish Mysticbecome immediately useful instead of needing to wait a turn cycle.
In Commander or Pioneer decks, this opens up powerful combos or tempo plays that would otherwise be delayed. For example:
- Devoted Druid + Tyvar: With haste granted to the tap ability, you can start producing infinite mana immediately when paired with cards that remove -1/-1 counters, like Vizier of Remedies.
- Dusk Legion Zealot: Immediately draw a card upon entering, and if needed, untap it for recursion purposes.
Untap for Extra Value
The +1 ability is simple but effective. In aggressive decks, it allows you to untap an attacker to defend. In value decks, it’s great for getting extra uses out of mana dorks or utility creatures. Creatures likePriest of Forgotten GodsorScavenging Oozebenefit from this additional untap.
Graveyard Strategy Support
Mill and Reanimation
Tyvar’s -2 ability enables self-mill, an important mechanic in Golgari builds. Milling three cards not only sets up graveyard recursion but can fuel other synergies likeDelirium,Escape, orReanimateeffects. His ability to bring back a cheap creature straight to the battlefield creates momentum and board presence from seemingly lost resources.
Some optimal targets for reanimation include:
- Young Wolf: A persistent 1-drop that returns with undying, making it even better when looped with Tyvar.
- Blood Artist: Provides life drain effects that stack over time.
- Stitcher’s Supplier: If milled, can fuel even more graveyard depth when it re-enters the battlefield.
Recursive Aggro Value
Because Tyvar can retrieve small creatures, he works well in decks that go wide or use aristocrats-style sacrifice strategies. Cards likeCauldron FamiliarandWoe Stridersynergize perfectly with his ability, creating endless value loops when supported by sac outlets such asWitch’s Oven.
Deck Archetypes That Benefit from Tyvar
Elf Tribal
Elf decks are particularly fond of Tyvar due to their abundance of low-mana creatures with tap abilities. The ability to activate mana-producing elves immediately gives Golgari Elf builds explosive speed. Combining Tyvar withElvish ArchdruidorMarwyn, the Nurturercan result in huge mana swings early in the game.
Combo-Oriented Builds
Players who enjoy complex, multi-piece combos will find a place for Tyvar. His support for low-cost creature recursion and untapping enables multiple infinite combos when paired with the right cards. He provides consistency to decks that want to rely on graveyard loops or mana engines.
Graveyard Midrange
In midrange strategies, Tyvar serves as both a recursion engine and utility planeswalker. Unlike traditional midrange walkers who generate card draw or removal, Tyvar builds the board through retrieval and haste for abilities, allowing aggressive board development and sustained pressure.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths
- Low mana cost allows early deployment.
- Supports multiple strategies combo, tribal, sacrifice, and value decks.
- Synergizes with popular creatures that already see play in multiple formats.
- Flexibility in abilities makes him useful in different game states.
Weaknesses
- Low initial loyalty makes him vulnerable to early attacks.
- Requires creatures with specific activated abilities to fully shine.
- Might be a ‘win-more’ card in decks that don’t consistently draw into combos.
Commander Potential
Supporting Role
While Tyvar can’t be a Commander himself, he finds a welcome spot in any Golgari-colored Commander deck focused on graveyard recursion or activated abilities. His synergy with cards likeMeren of Clan Nel Toth,Golgari Grave-Troll, orYarok, the Desecratedmakes him a valuable addition in EDH.
Enabling Powerful Loops
In longer games, especially multiplayer Commander, Tyvar’s ability to repeatedly mill and retrieve small creatures becomes part of grindy engine loops. If protected well, he can serve as a recursion engine that eventually overwhelms opponents through sheer value.
Tyvar, Jubilant Brawler brings a fresh angle to Magic: The Gathering’s planeswalker lineup. With a suite of abilities that combine tempo, graveyard value, and combo potential, he stands out as a flexible and exciting card. His support for low-cost creatures with tap abilities opens doors to strategies both new and old. Whether you enjoy building synergistic tribal decks, grinding out value in Commander, or finding sneaky infinite combos, Tyvar deserves a spot on your deckbuilding radar. Fast, thematic, and bursting with potential, he’s a planeswalker worth celebrating.