
Bilbo, Retired Burglar
The Commander
When Bilbo enters or leaves the battlefield, the Ring tempts you.
Whenever Bilbo deals combat damage to a player, create a Treasure token.
Guide
Gameplan
Bilbo wants to connect for combat damage while your Ring-bearer evades and snowballs Treasure. You use the Ring's growing temptation (legendary creatures, blink loops on Bilbo, and recurring temptation triggers) plus unblockable/evasion enablers to chip damage, ramp into big spells or extra combats, and grind value in a midrange UR shell.
Strengths
Weaknesses
- Relies on combat damage, so chump blockers and removal stall the plan
- Low base power means Bilbo can be outclassed by bigger boards
- No built-in protection — easy to kill before he connects
- UR lacks reliable noncombat removal for enchantments and big lifegain
Key Cards
- The Ring — Bilbo's temptation engine makes the Ring-bearer unblockable, guaranteeing combat damage and Treasure.
- Aggravated Assault — Treasure from combat damage can pay for repeated extra combats, snowballing into a kill.
- Ascendant Spirit — Cheap evasive Ring-bearers and threats turn the Ring temptations into reliable damage.
- Reconnaissance — Lets Bilbo attack safely and connect without trading, maximizing Treasure generation.
- Sword of Feast and Famine — Evasion plus untap-lands payoff stacks perfectly with extra-combat Treasure plans.
Upgrade Path
Add efficient evasion and protection (Swiftfoot Boots, Whispersilk Cloak) so Bilbo connects every turn, then lean into Treasure payoffs like Reckless Fireweaver, Marionette Master, or extra-combat enablers. Improve the mana and card flow with fast rocks and UR draw, and include a couple of decisive haymakers (Aggravated Assault, big equipment) to convert Treasure into lethal turns.
Core Cards
The most-played cards for this commander, built from aggregated deck data (the Mythic Graph). Build public decks to seed it.
Win Conditions
- ▸Voltron commander damage with an unblockable Ring-bearer Bilbo
- ▸Extra-combat loops fueled by Treasure for one-shot kills
- ▸Big Treasure-ramped X spells or artifact payoffs
- ▸Evasive beatdown plus burn to finish
Archetypes
- Treasure/Artifacts — Combat damage churns out Treasure to fuel artifact synergies and explosive ramp.
- Voltron — Equip and aura up the unblockable Ring-bearer Bilbo to close games with commander damage.
- Spellslinger — UR identity and Treasure mana support a big-spell control-tempo build around Bilbo's ramp.
- Extra Combats — Treasure pays for repeatable extra-combat effects to multiply triggers and damage.
Combos
- Ratadrabik of Urborg + Bilbo, Retired Burglar + Bartolomé del Presidio
→ Infinite LTB, Infinite ETB, Infinite sacrifice triggers
- Ratadrabik of Urborg + Phyrexian Altar + Bilbo, Retired Burglar
→ Infinite LTB, Infinite ETB, Infinite colored mana
- Ratadrabik of Urborg + Ashnod's Altar + Bilbo, Retired Burglar
→ Infinite LTB, Infinite ETB, Infinite sacrifice triggers
- Ratadrabik of Urborg + Bilbo, Retired Burglar + Carrion Feeder
→ Infinite LTB, Infinite ETB, Infinite sacrifice triggers
- Bilbo, Retired Burglar + Myojin of Cryptic Dreams + Xorn + Aggravated Assault
→ Infinite combat damage, Infinite combat phases, Infinite mana creatures you control can produce
Combos via Commander Spellbook.
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