Brass Herald MTG Card
2001-06-04 - Number 133
2003-07-28 - Number 293★
2003-07-28 - Number 293
2020-11-20 - Number 301
| Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 6 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Artifact Creature — Golem |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Text of card
As Brass Herald comes into play, choose a creature type. When Brass Herald comes into play, reveal the top four cards of your library. Put all creature cards of the chosen type revealed this way into your hand and the rest on the bottom of your library. Creatures of the chosen type get +1/+1.
Cards like Brass Herald
The Brass Herald serves as a strategic asset within creature-focused deck types in Magic: The Gathering. Its closest counterparts are adaptive automaton and metallic mimic, both of which augment creatures of a particular type. The Brass Herald goes a step further by not only boosting creatures of the chosen type but also allowing for potential card draw when it enters the battlefield.
Looking at Door of Destinies, its effect is more pronounced as it grows with each spell cast of the chosen type, yet it doesn’t provide the immediate board impact or card advantage that Brass Herald offers upon entry. Vanquisher’s Banner is another comparable card delivering a similar effect, but with the added benefit of drawing a card each time you cast a creature spell of the chosen type, although at a higher initial mana cost.
To sum up, Brass Herald aligns with a unique niche in Magic: The Gathering. The card delivers a blend of utility through creature enhancement and card advantage that can pivot the course of a game. This versatility makes it a noteworthy option for tribal decks aiming to escalate their threats while refilling their hand.
Cards similar to Brass Herald by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Brass Herald doubles as a creature and a deck filtering tool. When it enters the battlefield, you choose a creature type and it lets you look at the top four cards of your library, potentially netting you extra creature cards of the chosen type and putting them into your hand. This provides you with immediate card advantage, ensuring you have more resources to work with than your opponent.
Resource Acceleration: This artifact creature can act as a force multiplier by giving other creatures of the chosen type a +1/+1 boost, which can accelerate your game plan towards overwhelming the board. The herald itself may not produce mana or tokens, but it enhances your army, allowing you to put pressure on your opponent more quickly with an augmented force.
Instant Speed: While Brass Herald doesn’t operate at instant speed, its static ability compensates for this by providing a persistent buff to your creature army. The ability to strengthen your creatures with no further mana investment lets you freely cast other spells at instant speed, maintaining a responsive and flexible game state.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: When playing with Brass Herald, no discard is necessary upon casting. However, it has other limitations to consider, such as its somewhat niche role in decks.
Specific Mana Cost: Brass Herald demands a commitment of six mana, which includes a colorless spread that can be challenging to muster in multicolor decks preferring more color-specific spells.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of six mana, Brass Herald can be considered costly, particularly when evaluated against other cards that could potentially provide more immediate board impact or lower-cost tribal support.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Brass Herald is a multifaceted addition to many decks, fitting perfectly into strategies that seek to boost a particular creature type. With its ability to potentially draw multiple cards on entering the battlefield, it offers both information advantage and resource maximization.
Combo Potential: As a creature that also functions as a lord, Brass Herald synergizes in decks aiming to assemble powerful combinations. It can be the lynchpin in an engine that buffs your creatures while also digging deeper into your deck to chain together other key combo pieces.
Meta-Relevance: In game environments where tribal decks are prevalent or particularly potent, Brass Herald gains increased significance. Its ability to support and empower creature-based strategies can make it a force to be reckoned with against the right meta backdrop.
How to Beat
Brass Herald stands out in MTG as an adaptive creature card offering both a boost to your allies and a surge in card advantage. Being a creature that impacts the board immediately, it requires a strategic approach to overcome its advantages. Initially, the key is to prevent it from resolving on the battlefield. Counterspells are your first line of defense, ensuring that its abilities never come into play.
If Brass Herald has already been summoned, removal spells are your next best option. Quick and cost-efficient removal like Path to Exile or Fatal Push can deal with it before it starts to give your opponent too much benefit. Remember, removing it before the combat phase is crucial to minimize the boost it gives to other creatures of the chosen type.
Finally, dealing with the creatures it supports is just as important. Board wipes like Wrath of God or Blasphemous Act can reset the board, nullifying the Herald’s influence. This way, even if your opponent draws additional cards, your swift reaction could still keep you ahead in the game. By staying one step ahead with anticipation and timely removal, Brass Herald’s impact can be significantly lessened.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Brass Herald MTG card by a specific set like Apocalypse and Eighth Edition, 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 Brass Herald 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 Brass Herald Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2001-06-04 and 2020-11-20. Illustrated by Daren Bader.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2001-06-04 | Apocalypse | APC | 133 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Daren Bader | |
| 2 | 2003-07-28 | Eighth Edition | 8ED | 293★ | 2003 | Normal | Black | Daren Bader | |
| 3 | 2003-07-28 | Eighth Edition | 8ED | 293 | 2003 | Normal | White | Daren Bader | |
| 4 | 2020-11-20 | Commander Legends | CMR | 301 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Daren Bader |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Brass Herald has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Brass Herald card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2020-11-10 | Because damage remains marked on a creature until the damage is removed as the turn ends, nonlethal damage dealt to creatures of the chosen type may become lethal if Brass Herald leaves the battlefield during that turn. |
| 2020-11-10 | The choice of creature type is made as Brass Herald enters the battlefield. Players can't take any actions between the time the choice is made and the time the appropriate creatures begin to get +1/+1. |
| 2020-11-10 | You must choose an existing creature type, such as Human or Warrior. You could even choose Coward, if you dared. Card types such as artifact and supertypes such as legendary can't be chosen. |