Brallin, Skyshark Rider MTG Card


Brallin excels in card advantage and can drastically increase your card access when coupled with Shabraz. Its resource acceleration and instant-speed trigger make it a dynamic force on the battlefield. Despite its power, it comes with a specific mana cost that can limit deck options.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityMythic
TypeLegendary Creature — Human Shaman
Abilities Partner,Partner with
Power 3
Toughness 3

Text of card

Partner with Shabraz, the Skyshark (When this creature enters the battlefield, target player may put Shabraz into their hand from their library, then shuffle.) Whenever you discard a card, put a +1/+1 counter on Brallin, Skyshark Rider and it deals 1 damage to each opponent. : Target Shark gains trample until end of turn.


Cards like Brallin, Skyshark Rider

Brallin, Skyshark Rider is a distinctive presence among creature cards in MTG, offering a blend of abilities that synergize well in the right deck. A notable comparison would be to Niv-Mizzet, Parun, which similarly provides an outlet for dealing damage whenever you draw a card. While Niv-Mizzet is renowned for its no-maximum-hand-size trait and its ability to draw whenever an opponent casts an instant or sorcery spell, Brallin stands out with its potential for infinite combos in commander formats when paired with certain cards like Glint-Horn Buccaneer.

Another akin card is The Locust God, which also capitalizes on card draw to create creature tokens. However, Brallin distinguishes itself with its capability to gain flying until end of turn and its pairing with Shabraz, the Skyshark for added synergy and impact. Brallin can impose a fierce clock on opponents by compounding damage with each wheel effect activated.

Brallin, Skyshark Rider might not have the raw card advantage some of its peers boast, but with its aggressive cost and flexible damage output in response to drawing cards, it competes effectively within the landscape of creature cards that trigger off card draw actions.

Niv-Mizzet, Parun - MTG Card versions
Glint-Horn Buccaneer - MTG Card versions
The Locust God - MTG Card versions
Shabraz, the Skyshark - MTG Card versions
Niv-Mizzet, Parun - MTG Card versions
Glint-Horn Buccaneer - MTG Card versions
The Locust God - MTG Card versions
Shabraz, the Skyshark - MTG Card versions

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Flowstone Giant - MTG Card versions
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Mogg Bombers - MTG Card versions
Warmonger - MTG Card versions
Bloodfire Kavu - MTG Card versions
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Nalathni Dragon - MTG Card versions
Everquill Phoenix - MTG Card versions
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Card Pros

Card Advantage: When partnered with Shabraz, the Skyshark, Brallin, Skyshark Rider becomes a powerhouse, allowing you to naturally cycle through your deck with each turn’s draw. This capability to discard and draw cards frequently can significantly maintain card advantage, making sure you have the resources needed to respond to your opponent’s moves.

Resource Acceleration: One of Brallin’s strengths lies in enabling resource acceleration. Each time you discard a card while he’s on the battlefield, Brallin gains a +1/+1 counter. This not only makes him a growing threat each turn but also synergizes with other cards that benefit from or trigger upon discarding, possibly unlocking additional mana sources or other effects.

Instant Speed: Brallin’s ability to trigger at instant speed when you discard a card on either player’s turn adds a layer of flexibility to your strategy. This permits reactionary play, allowing you to wait for the optimal moment during your opponent’s actions to discard and strengthen Brallin, potentially dealing damage as well without consuming resources on your turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Brallin Skyshark Rider necessitates a player to discard a card to trigger its effect. This can deplete hand resources, putting a player at a disadvantage in the later stages of the game when maintaining a robust hand is crucial.

Specific Mana Cost: Brallin demands an exclusive combination of one colorless and two red mana. This specificity can create a barrier, limiting its inclusion to decks that can consistently generate the required mana types.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a total converted mana cost of four, Brallin comes with a hefty price that might sway players towards more cost-efficient alternatives. This is particularly noticeable in formats where speed and efficiency are vital to outpacing opponents.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Brallin Skyshark Rider fits perfectly into decks that thrive on wheel effects and discarding cards for value. With its ability to deal damage whenever you discard a card during your turn, it can be a key piece in decks aiming to draw multiple cards and control the pace of the game.

Combo Potential: This card’s true strength lies in its synergy with other cards that allow you to continuously discard and draw. Pairing Brallin with cards like Glint-Horn Buccaneer or Teferi’s Ageless Insight can create explosive turns where you rapidly deal damage to opponents.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment filled with control or slower combo decks, Brallin offers a resilient threat that can accumulate value as the game progresses. Its ability to potentially end games with a flurry of card draw and discard makes it a formidable inclusion against many popular strategies.


How to beat

Brallin, Skyshark Rider, with its ability to deal damage based on the number of cards in your hand, presents a unique challenge on the battlefield. To counter this flying threat, it is key to minimize your hand size, making Brallin’s impact less damaging. Moreover, employing removal spells that can target creatures with flying, like Murder or Rapid Hybridization, can swiftly remove Brallin from the field before its damage becomes overwhelming.

Additionally, using cards that restrict the number of times a player can draw per turn, such as Narset, Parter of Veils, hinders Brallin’s damage-dealing capabilities. Hand disruption is likewise effective; Thoughtseize or Duress can extract key pieces from your opponent’s hand and disrupt their synergies. Utilize these strategies to keep Brallin at bay and maintain control of the game, neutralizing the threat before it dominates the skies and the game itself.

Ultimately, a well-timed removal or hand disruption, coupled with pressuring your opponent to empty their hand, can prevent Brallin from taking flight and leading the opponent to victory. By adopting the right tactics, you can ensure Brallin, Skyshark Rider becomes less of a menace and more of a manageable opponent on the MTG landscape.


BurnMana Recommendations

Achieving mastery in MTG is akin to honing a fine craft. It’s about the detail, the complexity, and the knowledge that every card can make a difference. Brallin, Skyshark Rider is not just a card, it’s a game-changer that requires deft handling and an understanding of its nuanced pros and cons. As you refine your deck and play style, consider how this unique creature can serve as both a powerful ally and a challenge to surmount. Embrace the strategy, discover new combos, and leverage Brallin’s potential to its fullest. For more insights and a deeper dive into the world of MTG, join us in elevating your gameplay to triumph with precision.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Brallin, Skyshark Rider MTG card by a specific set like Commander 2020 and The List, 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 Brallin, Skyshark Rider and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Brallin, Skyshark Rider Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2020-04-17 and 2020-04-17. Illustrated by Paul Scott Canavan.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12020-04-17Commander 2020C20 42015NormalBlackPaul Scott Canavan
22020-09-26The ListPLST C20-42015NormalBlackPaul Scott Canavan

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Brallin, Skyshark Rider has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2020-04-17 A creature with a “partner with” ability can’t partner with any creature other than its designated partner. Losing a partner ability during the game doesn’t cause either to cease to be your commander.
2020-04-17 Both commanders start in the command zone, and the remaining 98 cards of your deck are shuffled to become your library.
2020-04-17 Brallin’s middle ability deals 1 damage to each opponent even if you can’t put a +1/+1 counter on Brallin, most likely because Brallin has left the battlefield.
2020-04-17 Brallin’s middle ability gives it only one +1/+1 counter each time it resolves, no matter how many opponents are dealt damage.
2020-04-17 If a spell or ability causes you to put cards into your hand without specifically using the word “draw,” it’s not a card drawn.
2020-04-17 If you discard a card as a cost to cast a spell or activate an ability, Brallin’s middle ability resolves before that spell or ability but after you’ve chosen targets for it. If you discard a card while a spell or ability is resolving, that spell or ability finishes resolving before Brallin’s triggered ability does.’
2020-04-17 If your Commander deck has two commanders, you can only include cards whose own color identities are also found in your commanders’ combined color identities. If Haldan and Pako are your commanders, your deck may contain cards with blue, red, and/or green in their color identity, but not cards with white or black.
2020-04-17 Note that the target player searches their library (which may be affected by effects such as that of Stranglehold) and that the card they find is revealed, even though these words aren’t included in the ability’s reminder text.
2020-04-17 Once the game begins, your two commanders are tracked separately. If you cast one, you won’t have to pay an additional the first time you cast the other. A player loses the game after having been dealt 21 damage from one of them, not from both of them combined. Command Beacon’s effect puts one into your hand from the command zone, not both.
2020-04-17 Shabraz’s middle ability has you gain 1 life even if you can’t put a +1/+1 counter on Shabraz, most likely because Shabraz has left the battlefield.
2020-04-17 The second ability represented by the “partner with
-ame]” keyword modifies the rules for deck construction in the Commander variant and has no function outside of that variant. If a legendary creature card with “partner with
-ame]” is designated as your commander, the named legendary creature card can also be designated as your commander.
2020-04-17 The triggered ability of the “partner with” keyword still triggers in a Commander game. If your other commander has somehow ended up in your library, you can find it. You can also target another player who might have that card in their library.
2020-04-17 “Partner with
-ame]” represents two abilities. The first is a triggered ability: “When this permanent enters the battlefield, target player may search their library for a card named
-ame], reveal it, put it into their hand, then shuffle their library.”