Brainstone MTG Card
Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
Mana cost | |
Converted mana cost | 1 |
Rarity | Uncommon |
Type | Artifact |
Text of card
, , Sacrifice Brainstone: Draw three cards, then put two cards from your hand on top of your library in any order.
One day, it might provide a flash of insight that turns the tide of battle. Meanwhile, it looks lovely on an end table.
Cards like Brainstone
Brainstone enters the landscape of card advantage tools within Magic: The Gathering with its own subtle flair. It’s reminiscent of the renowned artifact, Sensei’s Divining Top, which provides players the ability to manipulate the top cards of their library. Brainstone offers a similar potential for deck inspection and filtering, but instead of peeking and reordering, it enables a draw and discard maneuver after a single use. Unlike the Top, Brainstone sacrifices itself in the process, providing a burst of card selection potential rather than ongoing control.
Another parallel can be drawn with Crystal Ball which allows for scrying, repeatedly sharpening the quality of draws over time. Brainstone, however, swaps this sustained advantage for a one-time deeper look with its draw three, then discard two cards effect. It may lack the continuous foresight provided by Crystal Ball, but it compensates with an immediate deeper refresh of the player’s hand. Still, it’s essential to consider resource allocation, as activating Brainstone requires mana investment, meaning timing and strategic use are paramount for players looking to maximize its benefits.
As players explore the utility of various artifacts that mold their draws in Magic: The Gathering, Brainstone stands out as a powerful, albeit single-use, tool for sculpting the perfect hand or digging for answers in critical moments of the game.
Cards similar to Brainstone by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Brainstone. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
# | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
---|---|---|---|---|
The EPIC Storm | Legacy | The EPIC Storm | Legacy League 2023-12-26 | |
Azorius Control (Kaheera) | Modern | Miracles | Axion Now MEGA Modern | |
Cephalid Breakfast | Legacy | Cephalid Breakfast | 2 LPL OPEN - SEASON V - Liga Paulista Legacy | |
Miracles | Modern | Miracles | Modern League 2024-02-12 | |
Sultai Combo | Legacy | 98 / The 98th Legacy at Home | ||
Mono-Black Combo | Legacy | 96 / The 96th Legacy at Home | ||
Affinity | Modern | Affinity | Modern Challenge 64 2023-12-31 | |
4-color Loam | Legacy | Curses | 2023 NA Legacy Champs | |
Mono-Black Helm | Legacy | 2023 Asia Legacy Championship |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Brainstone provides players the ability to manipulate their deck and improve their hand by drawing three cards and then putting two cards from their hand on top of their library. This can lead to enhanced card quality and strategic planning for upcoming turns.
Resource Acceleration: While Brainstone itself does not directly accelerate resources, it helps dig through the deck to find necessary land drops or ramp spells, thereby indirectly enhancing a player’s resource development.
Instant Speed: The flexibility of Brainstone’s activation at instant speed allows players to wait for the best moment to use it, such as at the end of an opponent’s turn or in response to an action that would otherwise disrupt their strategy.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Brainstone requires you to put three cards from the top of your library into your graveyard to activate its ability. This can sometimes backfire by discarding essential cards you might need later in the game.
Specific Mana Cost: To use Brainstone’s ability, you need to pay one colorless mana and also tap it, making it a resource-specific commitment. Mana flexibility can be a concern when weaving the card into multi-color decks that may rely on every bit of available mana.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Despite Brainstone itself being low cost to play, the cumulative mana investment, including the cost to activate, can be inefficient compared to other cards offering immediate card draw or selection without the tap requirement.
Reasons to Include Brainstone in Your Collection
Versatility: Brainstone slips seamlessly into a variety of deck archetypes, particularly those that thrive on fine-tuning their next draws and manipulating the graveyard for strategic advantages.
Combo Potential: This artifact is adept at setting up game-changing combinations, as it enables players to draw cards and synergizes with strategies that capitalize on graveyard interactions and card draw triggers.
Meta-Relevance: In an ever-shifting meta, Brainstone maintains relevance by offering deck thinning and selection, critical for overcoming opponents in a landscape filled with surprise strategies and tight competition.
How to Defeat Brainstone
Brainstone harnesses the potential to shift the tides in a Magic: The Gathering match by offering a player the chance to sift through their deck and enhance their hand quality. Similar to the celebrated artifact Ponder, which also grants players insight into their upcoming draws sans the shuffle clause. Despite Brainstone’s allure, it can be countered by targeting its core strength – its activation.
Therefore, one tactic is to thwart Brainstone’s power by deploying artifact destruction or counterspells like Abrade or Disenchant, ensuring that Brainstone’s controller never gets to capitalize on its ability. Hand disruption strategies, using cards such as Thoughtseize or Inquisition of Kozilek, can also be effective by forcing the player to discard it before it can be activated.
Focusing on Brainstone’s constraints, such as its one-time use and the requirement of tapping it down, allows a savvy MTG player to outmaneuver their opponent. Ultimately, while Brainstone offers a glimmer of hope for the right strategist, understanding and reining in its capabilities can prove pivotal in the clash between two minds over the MTG arena.
BurnMana Recommendations
Dive deeper into strategizing your MTG deck with Brainstone, an artifact offering unique card manipulation capabilities. Whether you’re looking to optimize your next draw, set up potent combos, or stay one step ahead in the ever-evolving meta, Brainstone can be the key piece in your collection. If you appreciate insight on crafting hands and leveraging graveyard strategies, consider the investment into this intriguing card. Uncover the full potential of Brainstone by integrating it wisely into your gameplay, and ensure your arsenal is well-equipped to handle diverse challenges. Join us for comprehensive guides, tips, and tricks to make the most of Brainstone’s abilities in your MTG conquests.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Brainstone MTG card by a specific set like Modern Horizons 2 and Modern Horizons 2, 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 Brainstone 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
See MTG Products
Printings
The Brainstone Magic the Gathering card was released in 1 different sets between 2021-06-18 and 2021-06-18. Illustrated by Drew Tucker.
# | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2021-06-18 | Modern Horizons 2 | MH2 | 223 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Drew Tucker | |
2 | 2021-06-18 | Modern Horizons 2 | MH2 | 426 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Drew Tucker |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Brainstone has restrictions
Format | Legality |
---|---|
Commander | Legal |
Legacy | Legal |
Modern | Legal |
Oathbreaker | Legal |
Vintage | Legal |
Duel | Legal |