Brainstealer Dragon MTG Card


Gives card advantage by exiling the top card from opponents, boosting your hand with new options. Allows instant-speed plays with exiled cards, broadening your in-game tactical possibilities. Requires careful hand management with discard needs and specific mana for casting.
Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost7
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Dragon Horror
Abilities Flying
Power 6
Toughness 6

Text of card

Flying At the beginning of your end step, exile the top card of each opponent's library. You may play those cards for as long as they remain exiled. If you cast a spell this way, you may spend mana as though it were mana of any color to cast it. Whenever a nonland permanent an opponent owns enters the battlefield under your control, they lose life equal to its mana value.


Cards like Brainstealer Dragon

The Brainstealer Dragon introduces an intriguing dynamic to creature cards within Magic: The Gathering. While comparing it to its peers, one might look at the strong lineage of multi-ability dragons such as the Broodmate Dragon. Both cards create immediate threats for opponents, but the Brainstealer Dragon offers the control of an opponent’s creature upon dealing combat damage, an action Broodmate Dragon does not provide.

Examining further, you might find parallels with Dragonlord Silumgar, another dragon renowned for taking control of opponent’s creatures or planeswalkers. However, Brainstealer Dragon allows for this effect with each combat damage instance, potentially leading to control over multiple threats, outpacing the one-time effect of Dragonlord Silumgar.

The uniqueness of Brainstealer Dragon is also seen when pitted against Keiga, the Tide Star. While Keiga also permits you to gain control of creatures upon its death, the Brainstealer Dragon’s repeatable mind-controlling ability arguably puts it in a class of its own, reinforcing its status as a formidable card in creature control strategies. These comparative insights reveal that Brainstealer Dragon provides a considerable edge in managing the battlefield.

Broodmate Dragon - MTG Card versions
Dragonlord Silumgar - MTG Card versions
Keiga, the Tide Star - MTG Card versions
Broodmate Dragon - MTG Card versions
Dragonlord Silumgar - MTG Card versions
Keiga, the Tide Star - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Brainstealer Dragon by color, type and mana cost

Lord of the Pit - MTG Card versions
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Abhorrent Overlord - MTG Card versions
Lord of the Pit - MTG Card versions
Minion of Tevesh Szat - MTG Card versions
Minion of Leshrac - MTG Card versions
Veldrane of Sengir - MTG Card versions
Cateran Overlord - MTG Card versions
Deathbringer Regent - MTG Card versions
Black Dragon - MTG Card versions
Reaper of Night // Harvest Fear - MTG Card versions
Zombie Brute - MTG Card versions
Patron of the Nezumi - MTG Card versions
Pus Kami - MTG Card versions
Tresserhorn Skyknight - MTG Card versions
Lim-Dûl the Necromancer - MTG Card versions
Phage the Untouchable - MTG Card versions
Ebon Dragon - MTG Card versions
Kalitas, Bloodchief of Ghet - MTG Card versions
Sheoldred, Whispering One - MTG Card versions
Butcher of Malakir - MTG Card versions
Sutured Ghoul - MTG Card versions
Abhorrent Overlord - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Brainstealer Dragon lets you pilfer the top card of an opponents library every time it inflicts combat damage, potentially stocking your hand with additional resources and tipping the scales in your favor.

Resource Acceleration: When the dragon enters the battlefield, it allows for immediate impact by giving you access to the pilfered cards without paying their mana costs, translating into a significant leap in resource acceleration.

Instant Speed: While not instant itself, Brainstealer Dragon’s ability to use exiled cards with any mana opens the door for instant-speed plays, previously restricted to your own deck’s color identity and current available mana.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One hindrance is the need to discard a card to fully utilize Brainstealer Dragon’s abilities. This can deplete resources, making it less favorable when your hand is already running thin.

Specific Mana Cost: Casting this mystic creature demands an exact combination of mana types, including both blue and black. This prerequisite confines it to specific deck archetypes, potentially excluding it from broader play.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a notable investment of six mana required, this dragon arrives later in the game. Other options might offer more immediate or lower-cost benefits to your strategy, making it a costly choice against decks aiming to win quickly.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Brainstealer Dragon isn’t just a powerhouse in combat; its ability to grant you access to the best spells of your opponents makes it a flexible addition to various deck archetypes. It fits well in control, midrange, and even some more aggressive builds that can capitalize on its flying and card advantage.

Combo Potential: This creature can set up formidable combos by using the spells it exiles. Combining it with cards that manipulate the top of the library ensures that you get maximum value from the opponent’s deck, thus enabling dynamic gameplay twists.

Meta-Relevance: As creature-based strategies often dominate the scene, having a flying dragon that can chip away at an opponent’s strategy is critical. Brainstealer Dragon’s disruption potential can tilt the scales in your favor in a meta that values card selection and tempo.


How to beat

The arrival of Brainstealer Dragon on the battlefield presents a unique strategic challenge for Magic: The Gathering players. As a powerful creature card with flying, it poses a significant threat from above, and with its ability to control an opponent’s creature upon dealing combat damage, it underscores the need for a solid defense or preemptive removal strategy. To safeguard against this formidable dragon, one viable tactic is to maintain a robust lineup of instant-speed removal spells in your deck. Cards like Doom Blade or Path to Exile enable you to respond swiftly to threats, potentially removing the dragon before it accumulates too much advantage.

Ensnaring an opponent’s powerful asset like Brainstealer Dragon can also be another method to diminish its impact. Utilizing control cards or abilities that freeze or lock down creatures will prevent the dragon from swinging in for an attack and triggering its daunting effect. Lastly, ensure your own creatures have sufficient blocking potential. A well-timed block with a deathtouch creature, for instance, can eliminate the dragon regardless of its size. When prepared with these tactics, players can effectively neutralize the dangers posed by such a high-impact card during gameplay.


BurnMana Recommendations

Diving into the depths of MTG tactics, the Brainstealer Dragon emerges as a formidable force, offering both threat and opportunity. Pros include its card advantage leverage and resource acceleration, while cons consider its high mana cost and restrictive color identity. Beyond these, it’s the strategic versatility and meta match-up that really spotlight its worth in your collection. Are you looking to harness the potential of Brainstealer Dragon to swing the tide in your favor? Explore advanced deck-building strategies, unearth invaluable synergies, and fine-tune your game plan with us. Ready to make your matches memorable with this cunning dragon? Learn more and let the Brainstealer Dragon be the cornerstone of your next victorious deck.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Brainstealer Dragon MTG card by a specific set like Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate and Battle for Baldur's Gate Art Series, 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 Brainstealer Dragon and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Brainstealer Dragon Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2022-06-10 and 2024-04-19. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12022-06-10Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's GateCLB 6212015NormalBlackBrent Hollowell
22022-06-10Battle for Baldur's Gate Art SeriesACLB 312015Art seriesBorderlessBrent Hollowell
32022-06-10Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's GateCLB 6702015NormalBlackBrent Hollowell
42024-04-19Outlaws of Thunder Junction CommanderOTC 1272015NormalBlackJoshua Raphael

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Brainstealer Dragon has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal