Brackish Blunder MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Instant |
| Abilities | Explore |
| Released | 2023-11-17 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | The Lost Caverns of Ixalan |
| Set code | LCI |
| Number | 46 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Daarken |
Text of card
Return target creature to its owner's hand. If it was tapped, create a Map token. (It's an artifact with ", , Sacrifice this artifact: Target creature you control explores. Activate only as a sorcery.")
When the Malamet told him to avoid the river, he thought they meant it wasn't safe to drink.
Cards like Brackish Blunder
Brackish Blunder finds its niche within the intriguing world of control magic in MTG. This card echoes the disruptive playstyle of cards like Mana Leak, where countering enemy spells can be pivotal. Brackish Blunder, although not a direct counter, hampers an opponent’s strategy by returning a creature to its owner’s hand if its casting cost wasn’t paid. On the flip side, Mana Leak can nullify any spell unless three extra mana is paid – a more all-encompassing approach.
Another relative in this domain is Unsummon. Just like Brackish Blunder, Unsummon is an inexpensive way to bounce a creature back to its owner’s hand, offering more straightforward gameplay without the conditional aspect. Yet, Brackish Blunder has the advantage of being able to target spells that can’t be countered, giving it a slight upper hand in versatility.
Analyzing these comparisons, Brackish Blunder holds its ground with a unique twist on creature disruption. Its ability to interfere with uncounterable spells and creature-based strategies makes it a card worth considering for players looking to add an element of surprise to their control decks.
Cards similar to Brackish Blunder by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Brackish Blunder offers the dual benefit of disrupting an opponent’s strategy while replenishing your own hand. This ensures continuity in your gameplay, providing a significant edge in maintaining control.
Resource Acceleration: By potentially untapping your lands or adding bonus mana, Brackish Blunder aids in propelling your mana resources forward. This acceleration can be crucial for outpacing opponents and casting high-impact spells sooner.
Instant Speed: Instant speed spells like Brackish Blunder provide flexibility, allowing you to react swiftly to your opponent’s actions. This versatility is key in making pivotal decisions that can alter the course of the game, based on ever-changing conditions on the battlefield.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Brackish Blunder’s playability hinges on the necessity to discard a card, a cost that can be particularly taxing if your hand is already depleting. This drawback could force players to make unfavorable decisions, diminishing their hand advantage and potentially impacting their game presence.
Specific Mana Cost: This card’s effectiveness is tied to a precise mana cost, requiring both black and blue mana. This characteristic narrows its adaptability across various deck builds, particularly for those that do not run a Dimir (blue-black) color scheme, thereby restricting its inclusion in a player’s deck strategy.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a demand for three mana to cast, Brackish Blunder sits on the higher end of the spectrum for its effects, especially when assessed against other options in the card pool that can offer similar outcomes. Savvy players might opt for lower-cost alternatives to optimize their mana curve and maintain a more fluid gameplay dynamic.
Reasons to Include Brackish Blunder in Your Collection
Versatility: As a unique card in the pool, Brackish Blunder provides flexibility across various decks. Its adaptability in dealing with multiple threats makes it a go-to for players looking to fine-tune their strategies against a range of opponents.
Combo Potential: This card has the capability to synergize well with other elements in a player’s deck. Its interaction with cards that benefit from specific board states can be a game-changer, unlocking powerful combinations that can swing the tide of battle in your favor.
Meta-Relevance: In the ever-shifting landscape of competitive play, Brackish Blunder holds its own. It frequently proves its worth against a variety of popular deckbuilds, cementing its place as a card that can impact play at all levels. Including it in your arsenal may give you an edge over opponents who aren’t prepared for its nuanced effects.
How to beat Brackish Blunder
Brackish Blunder comes across as a tricky card to face in MTG due to its capacity to disrupt your battle plans. This card’s utility may not be immediately apparent, but in the right deck, it can swing games. One of the effective strategies to overcome Brackish Blunder is by using instant-speed removals that can eliminate the threat before it has the chance to impact your strategy. Having counterspell options ready can also provide a safety net against it being played altogether.
Another tactic involves maintaining a versatile and responsive hand that can adapt to potential setbacks caused by Brackish Blunder. Cards that offer card advantage or flash capabilities allow you to sidestep its disruptive nature and keep your momentum. It’s important to recognize the situations where Brackish Blunder could be most detrimental and plan your plays accordingly to diminish its influence on the game. Efficient resource management and staying ahead on the board are key elements in nullifying Brackish Blunder’s potential.
In essence, outmaneuvering Brackish Blunder requires foresight, adaptability, and a keen sense of timing. With the right preparation and response, this menacing card can be turned from a blunder to a mere bump on your road to victory.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Brackish Blunder MTG card by a specific set like The Lost Caverns of Ixalan, 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 Brackish Blunder and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
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- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
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Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Brackish Blunder has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Alchemy | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Brackish Blunder card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2023-11-10 | If a resolving spell or ability instructs a specific creature to explore but that creature has left the battlefield, the creature still explores. If you reveal a nonland card this way, you won't put a +1/+1 counter on anything, but you may put the revealed card into your graveyard. Effects that trigger "whenever a creature explores" trigger as appropriate. |
| 2023-11-10 | If an ability instructs a creature to explore, its controller reveals the top card of their library. If it's a land card, they'll put it into their hand. Otherwise, they'll put a +1/+1 counter on that creature, then choose to either leave that card on top of their library or put it into their graveyard. |
| 2023-11-10 | If no card is revealed, most likely because that player's library is empty, the exploring creature receives a +1/+1 counter. |
| 2023-11-10 | In some unusual cases, noncreature permanents may explore. For example, if the creature card returned by Defossilize is somehow not a creature once it's on the battlefield, it can still explore. You'll take all the same actions, and you may end up putting a +1/+1 counter on the permanent. (Note that some effects target a creature, and those effects would still require a legal target to have it explore.) |
| 2023-11-10 | Map tokens are a kind of predefined token. Each one is a colorless artifact with the artifact subtype Map and the ability ", , Sacrifice this artifact: Target creature you control explores. Activate only as a sorcery." |
| 2023-11-10 | Once an ability that causes a creature to explore begins to resolve, no player may take any other actions until it's done. Notably, opponents can't try to remove the exploring creature after you reveal a nonland card but before it receives a counter. |
| 2023-11-10 | Some spells or abilities might cause a creature to explore multiple times in a row. If you reveal a nonland card when a creature explores and leave it on top of your library, then the creature explores again immediately afterwards, you'll reveal the same card again. |