Deadly Brew MTG Card


Deadly Brew excels in card advantage and strategic flexibility with its instant speed and resource acceleration. The card’s requirements can limit its playability, tying it to specific deck types and challenging mana balance. Versatility and combo potential make Deadly Brew a solid pick in decks exploiting sacrifice and graveyard tactics.
Deadly Brew - Strixhaven: School of Mages
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityUncommon
TypeSorcery
Released2021-04-23
Set symbol
Set nameStrixhaven: School of Mages
Set codeSTX
Number176
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byRandy Vargas

Text of card

Each player sacrifices a creature or planeswalker. If you sacrificed a permanent this way, you may return another permanent card from your graveyard to your hand.

No one ever asked what was in Dina's concoctions, so long as they worked.


Cards like Deadly Brew

Deadly Brew is an intriguing spell in the realm of Magic: The Gathering, standing out in the subset of cards that interact with both the battlefield and the graveyard. This card reminds seasoned players of cards like Cauldron’s Gift, another spell that capitalizes on creatures in the graveyard. While Cauldron’s Gift can resurrect a creature outright, Deadly Brew requires a sacrifice, in exchange for the additional boon of returning a permanent card from the graveyard to your hand.

Comparatively, Gruesome Fate carves a niche for itself with its ability to deal direct damage based on the number of creatures one controls, without involving the graveyard directly. Though both impact the game substantially when played strategically, the two cards serve different tactical purposes. Golgari Findbroker is another card that fetches a permanent card from the graveyard, but unlike Deadly Brew, it is a creature that presents a board presence, which might be more preferable in creature-focused decks.

Each card has its unique role, but Deadly Brew offers a distinct advantage with its flexible return of any permanent type. Adept MTG players will recognize its potential for clever plays and graveyard synergy that could tip the scales in a tightly contested game.

Cauldron's Gift - MTG Card versions
Gruesome Fate - MTG Card versions
Golgari Findbroker - MTG Card versions
Cauldron's Gift - MTG Card versions
Gruesome Fate - MTG Card versions
Golgari Findbroker - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Deadly Brew. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Titanic DryadTitanic Dryad LegacyNic Fit2023 Asia Legacy Championship
Nic FitNic Fit LegacyNic FitLegacy Preliminary 2024-04-08

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Deadly Brew provides a valuable trade-off by letting you return a card from your graveyard to your hand, ensuring you perpetually have access to resources and maintain pressure on your opponent.

Resource Acceleration: When paired with permanents you’re willing to sacrifice, this spell can essentially act as a ramp by bringing back high-impact, game-changing cards to cast sooner than expected.

Instant Speed: The ability to play Deadly Brew at instant speed offers strategic flexibility, allowing you to respond reactively to your opponent’s threats or end-of-turn maneuvers, keeping them guessing and off-balance.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Deadly Brew can provide significant value by returning a card from your graveyard to your hand, it does come with the stipulation that you must sacrifice a creature or planeswalker. For players who are already behind or have a sparse board presence, this requirement might not be feasible, turning an asset into a liability.

Specific Mana Cost: Deadly Brew’s mana cost includes both black and green mana, which ties it to specific deck archetypes, such as Golgari or other black-green combinations. This limitation means that the card isn’t necessarily a fit for all strategies and limits its versatility, especially in multicolored decks that might not have sufficient mana fixing.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost sitting at two mana, one might argue that Deadly Brew could be considered resource-heavy for its effect, given the additional sacrifice required. In a game where tempo and efficiency are crucial, the opportunity cost of playing Deadly Brew over other low-cost removal or recursion spells could be detrimental to your game plan, especially in a fast-paced match where mana efficiency is key.


Reasons to Include Deadly Brew in Your Collection

Versatility: Deadly Brew fits seamlessly into a multitude of deck archetypes, particularly those emphasizing permanents with sacrifice mechanics or graveyard synergy. Its ability to return a card to your hand from the graveyard grants it a high utility in many game scenarios.

Combo Potential: This card is a linchpin in strategies revolving around sacrificial combos. It can be used to recur key combo pieces while disrupting opponents through enforced sacrifice, making it a dual-threat on the battlefield.

Meta-Relevance: Considering the abundance of creature-centric and graveyard-based decks in the current competitive landscape, Deadly Brew is a valuable addition to your arsenal, offering strategic advantage in a head-to-head matchup.


How to beat

Deadly Brew is a versatile spell in Magic the Gathering that can disrupt strategies by forcing each player to sacrifice a creature or planeswalker. Its recursion ability, which allows a return of a card with lesser mana value from the graveyard to the hand, adds to its tactical advantages. To effectively counter this card, understand its reliance on having a permanent to return.

Graveyard hate cards, like Scavenging Ooze or Leyline of the Void, can prevent Deadly Brew from providing value by exiling cards before they can be returned. Efficient removal spells like Fatal Push or Path to Exile may also be used to deprive your opponent of valuable targets before they can cast Deadly Brew. Lastly, playing creature-light or creatureless decks minimizes the impact of the sacrifice, rendering the card much less effective against your strategy.

Each strategy against Deadly Brew requires anticipation and a deck built to mitigate its strengths. Regularly reviewing your own graveyard’s content and managing your creatures on the board will help maintain an edge over decks utilizing this multi-faceted spell.


BurnMana Recommendations

MTG players who thrive on strategic deck building will find that Deadly Brew offers compelling reasons to be included in their collection. From its resource acceleration potential and instant-speed play to the depth it adds to Golgari or graveyard-centric decks, this card weaves an intricate layer into the game’s dynamic play. Whether you’re looking to enhance your combos or gain a tactical edge with its sacrifice mechanics, Deadly Brew deserves consideration. To expand your understanding of how this spell can amplify your game plan and to navigate its trade-offs effectively, join our community where wisdom and winning strategies are shared freely for your next MTG triumph.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Deadly Brew MTG card by a specific set like Strixhaven: School of Mages, 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 Deadly Brew and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Deadly Brew has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2021-04-16 First the active player chooses which creature or planeswalker they’ll sacrifice, then each other player in turn order does the same, knowing choices made before their choice. Then all those permanents are sacrificed simultaneously.
2021-04-16 If you cast Deadly Brew and control any creatures or planeswalkers as it resolves, you must sacrifice one of them.
2021-04-16 You cannot return the same permanent card that you sacrificed.
2021-04-16 You choose which permanent card you’re returning to your hand, if any, as Deadly Brew resolves, after permanents are sacrificed.