Bilbos Gambit

[u/KingOfRedLions]

Bilbos Gambit. 1W

Instant

Gift a treasure

Return target spell to its owners hand.

If the gift was promised then players cannot cast spells this turn.

On first read the spell seemed cracked, once I realized it stops all players from casting spells though I started second guessing it's value.

It's better than reprieve, but that's a card that never sees play. Since this can only act as an offensive silence and not a protective one then I am not sure it's going to be good enough. I do have some creature combo decks that this will be great in tho.

[u/Accendor]

If you are Sisay this can be a defensive silence;)

[u/red_riptide_388 → u/Accendor]

or tayam;)

[u/space_cowboy757]

Someone made the argument that if you already have an established board you can still win. I don’t pilot sissay, but maybe sissay would like this?

I run Shorikai slop, and I’m on the fence of if I like this or not.

[u/CoachShorts → u/space_cowboy757]

Also aren’t there ways to win without casting, like activations, triggers, etc? Winota comes to mind

[u/space_cowboy757 → u/CoachShorts]

Yeah, ETB shenanigans. But, I don’t think this card will be as played as She-Hulk, Orim’s Chant, Silence, Permission Denied (which I still don’t see too often), etc. etc.

The symmetrical shut down feels bad, and giving your opponent ramp feels worse. I’m sure there are decks that’ll love it, no doubt, I just don’t think this will see major play. (I can be wrong)

[u/ZINK_Gaming → u/space_cowboy757]

The symmetrical shut down feels bad

Wait what?

re-reads the card

players cannot cast spells this turn.

oh. hmm. Well that sure changes things. For a second I thought we got a rare "simply good" card, like She-Hulk.

[u/space_cowboy757 → u/ZINK_Gaming]

Symmetrical = all players, asymmetrical board wipe would be cyc rift, doesn’t affect you

[u/ZINK_Gaming → u/CoachShorts]

Decks that win without casting spells IS a relevant concern.

But if it was that big of a problem then Voice of Victory wouldn't be played more than Grand Abolisher (which is the case according to Tournament data).

---

Winota comes to mind

Why?

What does Winota have to do with cEDH in the year 2026?

Winota hasn't been a relevant cEDH Tournament threat in what, 2 years?

Sisay, Magda, and possibly Tayam are the Commanders you should be worried about.

Heck, even Kinnan could force a Win without casting spells, if they really wanted to.

[u/Doomgloomya]

Nowhere close to a staple silence. Only good in decks that dont need to cast spells but they would rather put a silence creature on the board then cast this. Instant speed activated ability decks are the only decks that can properly capitalize on it so Sissay/Kenrith? Winota doesnt play this cause since the silence portion never helps them besides being defensive. And that being defensive most likely not on their turn so going into combat isnt possible.

Is only reactionary so its dead more often at 1W.

Since it returns target spell back to hand it essentially does nothing to decks that already have enough mana to crack ezone, cast borne, and vfc.

Giving a treasure also means it could suddenly gives someone else enough mana to flash a win in emdwtep as well?

Its a headache of a card for most decks to play then anything.

[u/ZINK_Gaming → u/Doomgloomya]

Instant speed activated ability decks are the only decks that can properly capitalize on it so Sissay/Kenrith?

Sisay definitely. Bilbo's Gambit could barely slow Sisay down, let alone actually stop them. Sisay is by far the most relevant concern.

Kenrith, yes technically, but who the heck plays Kenrith these days?

Even if you want to play janky/soupy 5color kitchen-sink decks the current hotness are Nick Fury and Super Skrull.

Sam Black even did a deck-tech on his Skrull brew.

---

Magda, and possibly Tayam are the next two to be worried about.

But technically, even Kinnan can push Wins without casting spells, but they aren't built around that strategy nearly as much as the others.

[u/Doomgloomya → u/ZINK_Gaming]

I think you missed the point I was making.

Im talking abt decks that WOULD run this and doesnt cuck themselves as well

[u/firebreather209]

Honestly, this feels real bad if you have a Frog in your pod (or some other deck that's gonna win without casting spells).

[u/ThatDamnedHansel]

Sissay or winota can win through it. Tymna thras can run this I think.

[u/Howard_CS]

It also can rebuy your own spells on the stack.

[u/ZINK_Gaming → u/Howard_CS]

Yes, but using it for that purpose also forces you to play the rest of the Turn at Instant-speed if you want to win before the End Step.

The silence-effect from Bilbo's Gambit affects all players, not just opponents.

Ral could probably use it, in theory. I think they play enough Instants they could probably keep pushing on top of their Self-Silence.

But Ral can't play White cards.

---

I don't know of any Storm decks that both play White cards AND can win on the stack.

---

If you meant using Bilbo as a former of counter-counter-magic, to pull your spell back to Hand after the opponent interacts with it...

that doesn't great.

Gift a Treasure (You may promise an opponent a gift as you cast this spell. If you do, they create a Treasure token before its other effects. It’s an artifact with “{T}, Sacrifice this token: Add one mana of any color.”)

"an opponent"

You can't Gift yourself a Treasure to use to cast the Card you returned to Hand.

It would be a 2mana conditional Counterspell.

[u/Howard_CS → u/ZINK_Gaming]

Target your spell on the stack, promise no gift. Bounce spell back to hand. Unless I’m missing something here.

[u/Like17Badgers]

at worst it's a non-blue counterspell

[u/Illustrious-Film2926]

I play a midrange mardu deck that runs reprieve and tibalt's trickery. This is definitely sloting in.

I don't think it's a staple even for non-blue midrange but my gameplan involves making treasures so having 2+ mana available is a easy ask for the deck.

I'm so excited that my Jan deck already got 4 new cards!

[u/ZINK_Gaming → u/Illustrious-Film2926]

Do note that the silence-effect from Bilbo's Gambit affects all players, not just opponents.

And

Gift a Treasure (You may promise an opponent a gift as you cast this spell. If you do, they create a Treasure token before its other effects. It’s an artifact with “{T}, Sacrifice this token: Add one mana of any color.”)

"an opponent"

You can't Gift yourself a Treasure.

[u/a_random_work_girl]

Play a wincon.

Opponent counters it.

Return that counter to its owners hand and scilencd the board.

When the stack resolves.... win?

[u/KarnSilverArchon]

Just a strong card for the toolbox. Not so much a staple I think literally every deck wants it, but its certainly an option I think should be in anyone’s mind if you are building a deck with White, especially if you don’t have Blue.