Brackwater Elemental MTG Card
2009-02-06 - Number 21
2011-09-02 - Number 46
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Elemental |
| Abilities | Unearth |
| Power | 4 |
| Toughness | 4 |
Text of card
When Brackwater Elemental attacks or blocks, sacrifice it at end of turn. Unearth (: Return this card from your graveyard to play. It gains haste. Remove it from the game at end of turn or if it would leave play. Unearth only as a sorcery.)
Cards like Brackwater Elemental
In the diverse ecosystem of Magic: The Gathering, the Brackwater Elemental card finds its kin in other ephemeral creatures. Resembling its mechanics, the Aetherling offers players the ability to phase out and return with ease, though at a higher mana investment. Where Brackwater Elemental’s strength lies in its cheap cost and Unearth ability, allowing you to bring it back for one more potential swing, Aetherling requires a keen sense of resource management but benefits from greater flexibility in combat.
Elemental creatures like Ball Lightning share the fleeting battle presence with Brackwater Elemental, entering the fray with a burst of power and exiting just as quickly. Ball Lightning brings a higher initial damage impact, but lacks the resurgence potential granted by the Unearth mechanic. This positions Brackwater Elemental as a strategic play; it may strike not with the might of a lightning bolt but with the persistent tide that erodes defenses over time.
Ultimately, Magic: The Gathering aficionados appreciate Brackwater Elemental for what it is – a low-cost elemental creature with the potential for a powerful reentry, differentiating itself from others with the unique blend of Unearth and a thrifty mana cost. This MTG card delivers a valuable tactical option for players looking to optimize their mana curve and battlefield tactics.
Cards similar to Brackwater Elemental by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Brackwater Elemental can present a unique form of card advantage, especially in decks that capitalize on creatures entering or leaving the battlefield. It can retrigger enter-the-battlefield effects for added value upon returning to play.
Resource Acceleration: Although not directly a resource accelerator, it can be a cost-effective play. Returning to your hand after being unmorphed allows for repeated use of abilities that are triggered when a creature is played, thus indirectly contributing to overall resource acceleration.
Instant Speed: With its ability to sacrifice itself at instant speed, this card provides strategic flexibility, allowing players to ambush attackers, evade removal, and potentially benefit from death triggers at the most opportune times.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Brackwater Elemental necessitates discarding another card should you opt to evoke it. This can be a potential setback, especially when you find yourself short on options in hand.
Specific Mana Cost: This elemental demands a dedicated mana combination to be cast—the need for both blue and black mana restricts its integration to decks that can reliably produce both.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that competes with other impactful four-mana spells, Brackwater Elemental may not always be the optimal play. Players must gauge its value against other options available in the same mana range.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Brackwater Elemental isn’t confined to a single type of blue deck. Thanks to its nature as a creature with evoke, it easily slips into decks that exploit creature enter-the-battlefield or death triggers, making it adaptable across various gameplay approaches.
Combo Potential: This creature’s ability to return to your hand upon hitting the graveyard during your turn opens the door to multiple combo opportunities. It can be paired with cards that benefit from creatures entering the battlefield or being cast multiple times to maximize synergistic effects.
Meta-Relevance: With the ever-evolving meta of MTG, week-to-week changes can make flexibility crucial. In metagames where blue tempo decks are prominent, Brackwater Elemental offers a recurring threat that demands answers, creating pressure while you control the game’s pace.
How to Beat Brackwater Elemental
Brackwater Elemental proves to be an intriguing creature card with an interesting lifecycle in the world of Magic: The Gathering. Its ephemeral nature, due to the fact that it sacrifices itself at the end of a turn in which it attacked, adds a layer of strategy for both the player wielding it and the opponent facing it.
To effectively counter Brackwater Elemental, timing is key. Since it’s a creature that doesn’t linger on the battlefield for long, consider holding off on using removal spells until the opportune moment. If the Elemental has unleashed an attack, you might contemplate letting that attack go through, especially if your life total is not in immediate danger. This patience allows the card to follow through on its own sacrifice clause without wasting your resources.
Additionally, you can leverage abilities or spells that tap a creature, thus preventing it from attacking and consequently, from sacrificing itself. This tactic can stall an opponent’s aggressive strategy. Minding the Elemental’s graveyard-centric characteristic, be wary of effects that can bring it back to the battlefield and plan your graveyard control strategies accordingly. By understanding the nuances of this card and timing your plays accurately, you tip the scales in your favor.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Brackwater Elemental MTG card by a specific set like Conflux and Duel Decks: Ajani vs. Nicol Bolas, 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 Brackwater Elemental and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
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Printings
The Brackwater Elemental Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2009-02-06 and 2011-09-02. Illustrated by Thomas M. Baxa.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2009-02-06 | Conflux | CON | 21 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Thomas M. Baxa | |
| 2 | 2011-09-02 | Duel Decks: Ajani vs. Nicol Bolas | DDH | 46 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Thomas M. Baxa |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Brackwater Elemental has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |