EDH Optimizer
Zidane, Tantalus Thief
Legendary Creature — Human Mutant Scout · 3RW
Color identity: Red · White · Boros
Zidane, Tantalus Thief is Boros (red and white): its deck can only run cards of those colors plus colorless ones.
Rules text:
When Zidane enters, gain control of target creature an opponent controls until end of turn. Untap it. It gains lifelink and haste until end of turn.
Whenever an opponent gains control of a permanent from you, you create a Treasure token.
Reference price of the card: €0.11
Average lands in decks for Zidane, Tantalus Thief: 35
TheftBlinkTreasureDonateGroup HugControlAggroTokens
Build your Zidane, Tantalus Thief deck step by step, with in-depth analysis and AI optimization of your list.
🛠️ Build a deck for Zidane, Tantalus Thief 📥 Analyze my deck🎲 How the average Zidane, Tantalus Thief deck starts over 4,000 games
The list people actually play per EDHREC (the 99 most-included cards, with its average land count), simulated with the EDH Optimizer engine: hands, mulligans, lands, curve and commander. It does not model opponents; it measures whether the plan gets going.
Deck health of the average list: D (47/100)
- Consistency35
- Speed48
- Interaction35
- Resilience69
- Closing48
See the cards of the average deck · 99 cards, 35 lands (23 nonbasic, 5 Plains, 7 Mountain)
Sol Ring · Arcane Signet · Humble Defector · Cloudshift · Treasure Nabber · Ephemerate · Stiltzkin, Moogle Merchant · Alexios, Deimos of Kosmos · Yes Man, Personal Securitron · Swords to Plowshares · Seize the Spotlight · Call for Aid · Insurrection · The Jolly Balloon Man · Flicker of Fate · Path to Exile · Talisman of Conviction · Discerning Financier · Hithlain Rope · Professional Face-Breaker · Captivating Crew · Conjurer's Closet · Restoration Angel · Zealous Conscripts · Mass Mutiny · Boros Signet · Magda, the Hoardmaster · Mob Rule · Bucknard's Everfull Purse · Loran of the Third Path · Xorn · Chaos Warp · Slicer, Hired Muscle // Slicer, High-Speed Antagonist · Unexpected Request · Assault Suit · Firbolg Flutist · Khârn the Betrayer · Furnace Reins · Claim the Firstborn · Panharmonicon · Blasphemous Act · Iroh, Tea Master · Coveted Jewel · Slip On the Ring · Teleportation Circle · Acrobatic Maneuver · Bazaar Trader · Tataru Taru · Frenzied Fugue · Fling · Generous Gift · Goldspan Dragon · Boros Charm · Brion Stoutarm · Scrollshift · Daydream · Hideous Taskmaster · Big Score · Academy Manufactor · Nahiri's Resolve · Gilraen, Dúnedain Protector · Yuffie, Materia Hunter · Eldrazi Displacer · Jinxed Idol · Command Tower · Clifftop Retreat · Battlefield Forge · Rugged Prairie · Furycalm Snarl · Sacred Foundry · Sundown Pass · Exotic Orchard · Spectator Seating · Boros Garrison · Temple of Triumph · Rogue's Passage · Homeward Path · Sunbillow Verge · Sunscorched Divide · High Market · Arid Mesa · Needleverge Pathway // Pillarverge Pathway · Radiant Summit · Evolving Wilds · Elegant Parlor · Reliquary Tower · Sunhome, Fortress of the Legion
🃏 Recommended cards for Zidane, Tantalus Thief
The highest-synergy cards in decks for Zidane, Tantalus Thief, with their inclusion rate.
| Card | Inclusion | Synergy |
|---|---|---|
| Humble Defector | 80% | +77% |
| Cloudshift | 77% | +73% |
| Treasure Nabber | 74% | +70% |
| Stiltzkin, Moogle Merchant | 72% | +70% |
| Ephemerate | 73% | +68% |
| Yes Man, Personal Securitron | 68% | +66% |
| Alexios, Deimos of Kosmos | 70% | +64% |
| Seize the Spotlight | 60% | +58% |
| Call for Aid | 58% | +57% |
| Insurrection | 58% | +55% |
| Flicker of Fate | 56% | +54% |
| Discerning Financier | 54% | +52% |
| Hithlain Rope | 53% | +52% |
| Conjurer's Closet | 52% | +51% |
| The Jolly Balloon Man | 57% | +51% |
| Captivating Crew | 52% | +50% |
| Restoration Angel | 51% | +48% |
| Mass Mutiny | 49% | +48% |
| Bucknard's Everfull Purse | 47% | +46% |
| Mob Rule | 48% | +46% |
| Magda, the Hoardmaster | 48% | +46% |
| Xorn | 47% | +46% |
| Zealous Conscripts | 50% | +45% |
| Unexpected Request | 46% | +45% |
💰 The best cards for your Zidane, Tantalus Thief deck, by budget
Three tiers based on the maximum price PER CARD you are willing to pay. Paste your list and hit Optimize: you pick that cap and the AI only suggests swaps that fit under it.
Tier 1 · Budget up to €2/card
The most value for almost nothing. Coming from a precon? Start here.
- Humble Defector
- Cloudshift
- Treasure Nabber
- Stiltzkin, Moogle Merchant
- Yes Man, Personal Securitron
- Alexios, Deimos of Kosmos
Tier 2 · Balanced up to €10/card
The real step up: pieces that are no longer cheap but still sensible.
- Ephemerate
- Insurrection
- Conjurer's Closet
- Bucknard's Everfull Purse
- Xorn
- Khârn the Betrayer
Tier 3 · No cap no cap
The cards your price cap was hiding from you.
- Seize the Spotlight
- Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer
Reference prices (cheapest English printing). They change daily.
♾️ Known combos with Zidane, Tantalus Thief
- Dualcaster Mage + Twinflame → Infinite creature LTB, Infinite creature ETB, Infinite creature tokens with haste, Infinite magecraft triggers
- Restoration Angel + Felidar Guardian → Infinite creature ETB, Infinite creature LTB
- Dualcaster Mage + Molten Duplication → Infinite creature LTB, Infinite creature ETB, Infinite creature sacrifice triggers, Infinite death triggers, Infinite creature tokens with haste, Infinite magecraft triggers
- Aurelia, the Warleader + Helm of the Host → Infinite combat phases, Infinite creature tokens with haste, Infinite creature ETB, Infinite mana creatures you control can produce, Infinite untap of creatures you control
- Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker + Zealous Conscripts → Infinite creature tokens with haste, Infinite death triggers, Infinite creature ETB, Infinite creature LTB, Infinite creature sacrifice triggers
- Preston, the Vanisher + Felidar Guardian + Ephemerate → Infinite creature ETB, Infinite creature LTB, Infinite creature tokens, Infinite landfall triggers, Infinite blinking of permanents, Infinite mana lands you control that enter the battlefield untapped can produce, Exile all nonland permanents opponents control, Infinite mana lands you control can produce
Other commanders
Frequently asked questions
What is Zidane, Tantalus Thief's color identity?
Zidane, Tantalus Thief is Boros (red and white): its deck can only run cards of those colors plus colorless ones. Color identity comes from every mana symbol on the card, including those in the rules text, not just the casting cost.
What turn does Zidane, Tantalus Thief come down, and how often does the deck get stuck?
In the average Zidane, Tantalus Thief deck (the 99 most-included cards per EDHREC, with 35 lands), simulated 4,000 times, the commander comes down on turn 4.8 on average and is on the battlefield before turn 7 in 95 % of games. It misses at least one land drop in the first six turns 18 % of the time and floods 29 %. Deck health: D (47/100).
How many lands should a Zidane, Tantalus Thief deck run?
Real Zidane, Tantalus Thief decks run 35 lands on average. That is a starting point, not a rule: a lower curve can shave one or two, big-mana builds want more. The EDH Optimizer simulator tells you, over 10,000 games, how often you get mana screwed or flooded with your exact count.
What are the best cards for Zidane, Tantalus Thief?
The three highest-synergy cards are Humble Defector, Cloudshift, Treasure Nabber. This page lists the top 24 with their real inclusion rate in Zidane, Tantalus Thief decks.
What combos does Zidane, Tantalus Thief have?
Zidane, Tantalus Thief has 6 known combos. The most popular one is Dualcaster Mage + Twinflame. Note that two-card combos raise your deck's bracket, so it is worth knowing which ones you are running before you sit down.
How much does a Zidane, Tantalus Thief deck cost?
You can start cheap: Humble Defector, Cloudshift, Treasure Nabber are under €2 each. The "Level up" section on this page splits the best cards into three price caps PER CARD (up to €2, up to €10 and no cap), and the optimizer only suggests swaps that fit the cap you pick.