Derevi, Empyrial Tactician MTG Card


Derevi excels in card advantage, instantly untapping permanents for recurring benefits and strategic depth. With instant activation, Derevi enables swift adaptations to any turn, bolstering both offense and defense. Formidable resource acceleration is granted upon Derevi’s entry or damage, propelling you ahead of opponents.
Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityMythic
TypeLegendary Creature — Bird Wizard
Abilities Flying
Power 2
Toughness 3

Text of card

Flying Whenever Derevi, Empyrial Tactician enters the battlefield or a creature you control deals combat damage to a player, you may tap or untap target permanent.: Put Derevi onto the battlefield from the command zone.


Cards like Derevi, Empyrial Tactician

Derevi, Empyrial Tactician stands out in Magic: The Gathering for its unique ability to untap permanents and its evasion of the command zone tax. Looking at cards with a similar impact, we can observe Edric, Spymaster of Trest, which also rewards players for dealing combat damage with extra card draw. However, Derevi offers a more direct manipulation of the game state by untapping or tapping down permanents and is not restricted to drawing cards.

Another comparable commander is Brago, King Eternal, providing a blink effect for all nonland permanents you control when dealing combat damage. While both commanders manipulate the battlefield, Derevi’s ability can be triggered multiple times in a turn cycle, unlike Brago’s once-per-combat limitation. This makes Derevi a more flexible commander for combos.

Yeva, Nature’s Herald could be seen as a counterpart, allowing the casting of green creatures as though they had flash, thereby providing instant speed play. Yet, Derevi’s influence over the battlefield dynamics and instant speed activation outside of casting creatures places it in a higher tier of tactical commanders.

Players looking for a commander that offers continuous board control and variable strategic options will find Derevi, Empyrial Tactician to be an exceptional choice, especially for those who value responsiveness and versatility in their gameplay.

Edric, Spymaster of Trest - MTG Card versions
Brago, King Eternal - MTG Card versions
Yeva, Nature's Herald - MTG Card versions
Edric, Spymaster of Trest - MTG Card versions
Brago, King Eternal - MTG Card versions
Yeva, Nature's Herald - MTG Card versions

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Card Pros

Card Advantage: Derevi Empyrial Tactician’s ability to untap any permanent directly impacts card advantage. This means more activations of mana rocks, card-draw engines, or any utility creature with a tap function. It’s a formidable way to build up your resources while constraining your opponent’s board state.

Resource Acceleration: Once Derevi enters the battlefield, you get immediate access to untapping lands or mana dorks, essentially ramping up your available resources. This acceleration is essential for outpacing opponents by having access to more mana for strategic plays or responding to threats. Even better, this effect triggers on both combat damage and when Derevi is cast from the command zone, offering consistent acceleration.

Instant Speed: Derevi’s ability can be activated at instant speed, meaning you can untap your permanents during anyone’s turn. This flexibility allows for surprise defenses, increases the utility of your tapped permanents, and can lead to advantageous political plays during multiplayer games. It encourages a dynamic gameplay style where you can react on-the-fly to shifting circumstances on the battlefield.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Derevi, Empyrial Tactician doesn’t have a discard requirement itself, but its ability to manipulate untaps could force strategic discarding if your hand overflows due to resultant card draw or if you’re leveraging cards that require discarding as a cost for synergistic effects.

Specific Mana Cost: The unique mana cost of Derevi, including one of each blue, green, and white implies a strict three-color commitment, making it less flexible for deck inclusion compared to two-color or monocolored commanders.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although Derevi’s casting cost is not exceptionally high, it becomes more demanding when considering the need to repeatedly pay the commander tax in a typical game. This can make redeployment from the command zone increasingly costly as the game progresses, especially if Derevi is targeted for removal multiple times.


Reasons to Include Derevi Empyrial Tactician in Your Collection

Versatility: Derevi Empyrial Tactician offers exceptional utility, adapting to multiple deck styles. Its ability to untap any permanent on creature hits or enters the battlefield aligns with a variety of strategies from controlling the board to advancing your mana base.

Combo Potential: Derevi’s unique triggered abilities enable numerous combos, particularly in decks that thrive on tapping and untapping mechanics. Whether it’s leveraging mana, tweaking combat, or exploiting enters-the-battlefield effects, Derevi can be the linchpin in several powerful synergies.

Meta-Relevance: Derevi remains relevant in today’s MTG landscape by being a formidable foe against many popular deck archetypes. Its ability to bypass the commander tax and control specific board states makes it a resilient presence in commander-focused playgroups.


How to beat

Derevi, Empyrial Tactician is a formidable commander in the realm of Magic: The Gathering due to its unique ability to untap or tap permanents while circumventing the commander tax. Contending with Derevi requires strategic foresight and effective control measures. A key approach is to limit Derevi’s ability activations which can be done by employing cards that restrict actions during other players’ turns, such as Teferi, Time Raveler, or instant speed removal to handle Derevi the moment it hits the battlefield.

Another tactic to consider is the use of continuous board wipes or stax effects that diminish Derevi’s impact. Cards like Supreme Verdict ensure the board stays clear, while stax pieces such as Winter Orb can slow down Derevi’s strategy substantially. Remember, one of the effective strategies against Derevi specifically lies in maintaining a control over the board and reducing the windows of opportunity for Derevi to exploit its abilities. With careful planning and the right counters, overcoming the challenge posed by Derevi, Empyrial Tactician is absolutely within reach for adept players.

Ultimately, staying one step ahead of Derevi’s game plan and being proactive with control and interruption are paramount to claim victory against this tactical adversary. Adapting your playstyle and having the right answers at the right time are the cornerstones of defeating a commander as resilient and versatile as Derevi.


BurnMana Recommendations

Derevi, Empyrial Tactician is a powerhouse in MTG, known for its capacity to control the pace of the game by untapping or tapping down permanents at instant speed. This versatile commander can be a cornerstone in your deck, offering both offensive and defensive utilities. With its ability to bypass the commander tax and fit into various strategies, Derevi is a valuable addition for anyone looking to enhance their gameplay and outmaneuver opponents. If you’re aiming to refine your strategy and discover potent combos to dominate the battlefield, delve deeper into the intricacies of Derevi with us. Learn how to seamlessly integrate this commander into your arsenal and pilot your deck to victory.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Derevi, Empyrial Tactician MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Commander 2013, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Derevi, Empyrial Tactician and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Derevi, Empyrial Tactician Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2013-11-01 and 2020-11-20. Illustrated by Michael Komarck.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 861982015NormalBlackMichael Komarck
22013-11-01Commander 2013C13 1862003NormalBlackMichael Komarck
32017-06-09Commander AnthologyCMA 1762015NormalBlackMichael Komarck
42020-11-20Commander LegendsCMR 5182015NormalBlackMichael Komarck

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Derevi, Empyrial Tactician has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelRestricted

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Derevi, Empyrial Tactician card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2015-01-19 Derevi, Empyrial Tactician is banned as a commander in Duel Commander format, but it may be part of your deck.
2020-11-10 When you activate Derevi's last ability, you're not casting Derevi as a spell. The ability can't be countered by something that counters only spells. The ability isn't subject to the commander tax, nor does it increase the tax if you cast Derevi from the command zone later in the game.
2020-11-10 You can activate Derevi's last ability only when it is in the command zone.