Brainbite MTG Card

Brainbite disrupts opponent strategies while providing card advantage to the player. Flexibility at instant speed allows strategic plays during an opponent’s turn. The card’s requirements include both colored mana and a card to discard.

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Common
Type	Sorcery
Released	2009-04-30
Set symbol
Set name	Alara Reborn
Set code	ARB
Number	18
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Mark Hyzer

Text of card

Target opponent reveals his or her hand. You choose a card from it. That player discards that card. Draw a card.

An Esper mage will leave a hole in your memory with surgical precision. A Grixis mage sees no reason to be so kind.

Cards like Brainbite

In the realm of hand disruption spells within Magic: The Gathering, Brainbite stands as a unique option. It rivals with cards like Mind Rot, allowing a player to discard two cards; the difference lies in Brainbite’s additional ability to draw a card. This synergy of discarding and drawing offers a slight edge over Mind Rot’s singular effect.

Thoughtseize is another card in contention, offering targeted discard that affects the hand for a mere one mana and two life. While the life cost is a factor, the precision of Thoughtseize can be crucial in disrupting an opponent’s strategy early on. Conversely, Brainbite offers a mid-game advantage by replenishing your hand after the disruption takes place, albeit at a higher mana cost.

Distended Mindbender might be considered a distant cousin, with its emerge mechanic allowing a player to delve into the opponent’s hand and exile cards from it while also putting a creature on the board. The card advantage of Brainbite doesn’t apply here, but the impact of a creature presence does factor into the overall utility.

Taking these comparisons into account, Brainbite may not exhibit the same early game impact as Thoughtseize or the board presence of Distended Mindbender, but its blend of disruption and card draw can pivot a game in one’s favor, especially in formats where resource balance is key.

Distended Mindbender - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Brainbite by color, type and mana cost

Call of the Nightwing - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Brainbite offers a dual utility by enabling the player not only to draw a card but also forcing an opponent to discard one, potentially disrupting their strategy while bolstering your hand.

Resource Acceleration: While Brainbite itself doesn’t directly accelerate resources, the card you draw could very well be a mana source or a spell that leads to ramping up your capabilities on the battlefield.

Instant Speed: The power of Brainbite comes from the flexibility afforded by its instant speed. This allows players to act reactively, making strategic decisions during the opponent’s turn or at the end of their phase for maximum surprise and effect.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Brainbite requires the player to discard a card, which can be a significant downside, especially when hand size is crucial for maintaining strategic options throughout the game.

Specific Mana Cost: Necessitating a mix of colored mana, Brainbite demands both blue and black sources, limiting its inclusion to only those decks that can reliably produce both types of mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a combined cost that may be seen as steep for its effect, Brainbite competes for a spot in a deck with other cards that could potentially provide a more cost-effective impact on the game state.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Brainbite offers the dual benefit of disruption and card advantage, making it a flexible option for decks focusing on control or information denial. It seamlessly fits into blue or black-centered strategies that thrive on knowing and manipulating the opponent’s hand.

Combo Potential: In decks that capitalize on opponents’ discard or search library strategies, Brainbite can be a key piece. It complements cards that benefit from opponents discarding or provides added value when paired with spells that care about the number of cards in an opponent’s hand.

Meta-Relevance: As the meta shifts towards decks that rely heavily on hand synergy and carefully curated plays, Brainbite’s ability to disrupt your opponent’s plans while drawing you a card keeps it relevant and often unexpectedly powerful in the current competitive environment.

How to Beat Brainbite

Brainbite is a unique card in MTG that combines the act of drawing cards with the strategic element of hand disruption. It allows players not only to draw a card themselves but also forces the opponent to reveal their hand, thus enabling informed decisions in subsequent turns. To outplay this card, it’s critical to maintain a well-rounded hand that can recover from potential information leakage and surprise your Brainbite-wielding opponent.

Employing instant-speed spells that can be played in response to Brainbite will minimize its impact and keep your strategic options open. One effective tactic is to hold onto low-importance cards, presenting less valuable targets for your opponent’s disruption. Additionally, cards with flash allow you to play on your opponent’s turn, effectively working around the timing of Brainbite’s reveal mechanic. This hinders your opponent’s ability to plan around your moves based on the revealed information.

In summary, beating Brainbite requires a blend of cunning play and responsive card choices. By minimizing the advantages Brainbite provides to your opponent, you can dampen its impact and preserve the integrity of your game plan.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Brainbite MTG card by a specific set like Alara Reborn, 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 Brainbite and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Brainbite has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2009-05-01	When Brainbite resolves, you’ll draw a card even if the targeted opponent has no cards in hand.
2009-05-01	You may target an opponent who has no cards in hand.