Meriadoc Brandybuck MTG Card


Meriadoc Brandybuck provides card advantage through scrying, offering players strategic foresight and sustained momentum. Its friends-at-arms mechanic facilitates resource acceleration, allowing for rapid plays and advantageous creature untapping. Instant speed activation of Meriadoc’s abilities affords players flexibility in responding to opponents’ moves.
Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityUncommon
TypeLegendary Creature — Halfling Citizen
Abilities Food
Power 2
Toughness 2

Text of card

Whenever one or more Halflings you control attack a player, create a Food token. (It's an artifact with ", , Sacrifice this artifact: You gain 3 life.")


Cards like Meriadoc Brandybuck

Meriadoc Brandybuck card brings unique elements to the Magic: The Gathering deck, similar to characters like Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamgee. Meriadoc, or Merry, shares the Hobbit trait with these cards, offering advantages specific to this creature type. Like Frodo, Merry can surprise opponents with abilities that go beyond his modest appearance. While Frodo offers resourcefulness in pivotal game moments, Merry typically provides strategic flexibility, often allowing for unexpected plays.

Moreover, Pippin, another Hobbit from the lore, also complements Merry by enhancing the capabilities of Hobbit-centric strategies. This synergy creates dynamics other cards may not easily replicate. While Pippin might boost power levels, Merry excels in game tempo alteration, giving players a tactical edge. Comparatively, cards of the same vein may lack either the subtlety of Merry’s in-game tactical surprises or the raw power Pippin could provide to the field.

Deciding on which Hobbit characters to incorporate into your deck boils down to the intended gameplay style and synergy with other cards. Nonetheless, the shrewdness and thematic consistency of having Merry as part of your strategy may offer unique advantages in the complex landscape of Magic: The Gathering.

Frodo Baggins - MTG Card versions
Samwise Gamgee - MTG Card versions
Frodo Baggins - MTG Card versions
Samwise Gamgee - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Meriadoc Brandybuck by color, type and mana cost

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Quirion Elves - MTG Card versions
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Jolrael, Mwonvuli Recluse - MTG Card versions
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Heir of the Wilds - MTG Card versions
Mayor of Avabruck // Howlpack Alpha - MTG Card versions
Wren's Run Vanquisher - MTG Card versions
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Card Pros

Card Advantage: With Meriadoc Brandybuck, players have the opportunity to uncover additional options by scrying, thus setting themselves up for subsequent turns and maintaining momentum throughout the game.

Resource Acceleration: This characterful card taps into the friends-at-arms mechanic, potentially untapping creatures you control, thereby accelerating your resources and paving the way for swift, unexpected plays.

Instant Speed: The swiftness of a hobbit is not to be underestimated, as Meriadoc’s abilities can be activated at instant speed, allowing you to adapt to the unfolding board state, outmaneuvering opponents with timing and precision.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: This card asks you to discard another card to unleash its potential. This isn’t always optimal, especially if your hand is full of valuable options you’d rather keep.

Specific Mana Cost: With a mana cost that includes specific color alignments, it could be challenging to cast for decks not tailored to these requirements, potentially limiting its versatility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Sitting at a higher mana cost compared to other options in the game for similar effects may deter players from including it in a tightly-curated deck.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Meriadoc Brandybuck is a flexible addition to many decks, with the ability to fit a wide variety of roles due to its unique abilities. It shines in builds that leverage characters and themes from its lineage, making it adaptable across various strategies.

Combo Potential: This card has the potential to create significant advantages when coupled with other cards that synergize with hobbit traits or with those that capitalize on its particular mechanics. Its capacity to interact with certain effects can amplify a deck’s performance exponentially.

Meta-Relevance: With each evolving meta, cards like Meriadoc Brandybuck that offer dynamic gameplay options can become instrumental. Its impact may fluctuate with different player trends, ensuring that it remains a clever choice for anyone looking to stay competitive and adaptable in changing environments.


How to beat

Understanding the tactics to tackle Meriadoc Brandybuck in your Magic: The Gathering matches can give you a strategic edge. As a hobbit with a penchant for mischief, this card can be tricky, but with the right approach, it can be managed effectively. Meriadoc, often known as Merry, can surprise an unwary opponent with his abilities, making early anticipation and control key when facing him across the battlefield.

One effective approach is to maintain a sharp focus on resource denial. As with any card that relies on specific synergies or combos to shine, cutting off the resources necessary for those combinations can neuter its impact. Keeping control of the board state with targeted removal or making smart trades to limit your opponent’s creature presence can mitigate the advantages conferred by Merry’s abilities. Another tactic could be utilizing graveyard disruption to prevent any advantage that might be gained from recurring effects that cards like Merry often depend on. Taking these techniques into account, an informed player can restrain Meriadoc Brandybuck’s influence and maintain a solid defensive stance in MTG contests.

In the landscape of Magic: The Gathering, every card has its counter, and every powerful move can be answered tactically. With these strategies, Meriadoc Brandybuck, while a formidable card, can be rendered significantly less threatening.


BurnMana Recommendations

Meriadoc Brandybuck may be small in stature, but on the MTG battlefield, this hobbit has significant tactics up his sleeve. Capitalizing on his pros, including card advantage, resource acceleration, and instant speed abilities, can lead to victory if played wisely. However, being mindful of the cons like discarding cards, color-specific mana costs, and higher casting requirements is crucial for an optimal deck strategy. Looking to weave Meriadoc Brandybuck into your gameplay for that competitive edge? Dive deeper into deck building strategies with us, and discover how Merry can turn the tides in your favor, ensuring your MTG battles are as strategic as they are enjoyable.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Meriadoc Brandybuck MTG card by a specific set like The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth and The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth, 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 Meriadoc Brandybuck and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Meriadoc Brandybuck Magic the Gathering card was released in 1 different sets between 2023-06-23 and 2023-06-23. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12023-06-23The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earthLTR 8062015NormalBorderlessMarko Manev
22023-06-23The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earthLTR 3142015NormalBorderlessMarko Manev
32023-06-23The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earthLTR 1772015NormalBlackMarie Magny
42023-06-23The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earthLTR 6282015NormalBlackMarie Magny

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Meriadoc Brandybuck has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
GladiatorLegal
AlchemyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2023-06-16 Do not eat the delicious cards. No, not even for second breakfast.
2023-06-16 Food is an artifact type. Even though it appears on some creatures in other sets, it's never a creature type.
2023-06-16 Halflings attacking a planeswalker or battle won't cause Meriadoc Brandybuck's ability to trigger.
2023-06-16 If an effect refers to a Food, it means any Food artifact, not just a Food artifact token. For example, you can sacrifice Lembas, an artifact card with the Food subtype, to activate the last ability of Bill the Pony.
2023-06-16 Meriadoc Brandybuck's ability has you create just one Food token per player you attack with a Halfling, no matter how many Halflings you attack them with beyond the first.
2023-06-16 Some spells and abilities that create Food tokens may require targets. If each target chosen is an illegal target as that spell or ability tries to resolve, it won't resolve. You won't create any Food tokens.
2023-06-16 You can't sacrifice a Food token to pay multiple costs. For example, you can't sacrifice a Food token to activate its own ability and also to activate the last ability of Bill the Pony.