Briarbridge Patrol MTG Card
2016-04-08 - Number 195
2023-03-21 - Number 187
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Human Warrior |
| Abilities | Investigate |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 3 |
Text of card
Whenever Briarbridge Patrol deals damage to one or more creatures, investigate. (Put a colorless Clue artifact token onto the battlefield with ", Sacrifice this artifact: Draw a card.") At the beginning of each end step, if you sacrificed three or more Clues this turn, you may put a creature card from your hand onto the battlefield.
Cards like Briarbridge Patrol
Briarbridge Patrol is a unique creature card that offers players in Magic: The Gathering an intriguing dynamic of investigation and creature deployment. When examining cards with similar mechanics, we can closely look at Bygone Bishop, another card that triggers the investigation process upon casting creature spells with a specific mana value. Briarbridge Patrol, however, initiates its clue gathering whenever a creature you control deals damage to a player, presenting a more combat-focused approach to accruing clues.
Another comparable card is Tireless Tracker, a creature that creates a clue token every time a land enters the battlefield under your control. Tireless Tracker intensifies the clue accumulation through land plays, while Briarbridge Patrol capitalizes on combat success. Both cards offer growth mechanics, though Tracker grows in power and toughness with each clue sacrificed, contrasting with Briarbridge Patrol’s ability to cheat powerful creatures into play directly from your hand.
In the realm of green creatures designed for the long game, Briarbridge Patrol stands out for its potential to dramatically shift the board state with surprise creature deployments—a nuanced strategy that differs from the incremental value provided by likes of Tireless Tracker and Bygone Bishop.
Cards similar to Briarbridge Patrol by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Delving into the merits of Briarbridge Patrol within the MTG realm, card advantage emerges as a noteworthy benefit. This card has the unique capability to investigate whenever another creature you control is dealt damage, potentially translating into drawing additional cards. These clues can be crucial in outpacing your opponents by amassing more options at your disposal.
Resource Acceleration: Resource acceleration is another arena where Briarbridge Patrol shines. Its synergy with creatures entering the battlefield not only ramps up your board presence but also can lead to cheating out a creature card from your hand without paying its mana cost. This mechanic can significantly accelerate your game plan, providing a surprising element to catch opponents off guard.
Instant Speed: While Briarbridge Patrol itself isn’t an instant, its ability to bring creatures into play can be triggered during any player’s turn. This means that if you can damage one of your creatures on an opponent’s turn, perhaps with an instant-speed effect, you can leverage the Patrol’s ability swiftly and unexpectedly. Such flexibility can give you a strategic edge, allowing you to adapt to and manipulate the course of the game as it unfolds.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Briarbridge Patrol doesn’t necessitate a discard upon casting. However, to take full advantage of its abilities, synergizing with other cards that may require discarding can be important. This can potentially deplete your hand, leaving you vulnerable if not managed properly.
Specific Mana Cost: Briarbridge Patrol has a mana cost that includes green. While not overly restrictive, it does mean that this card is better suited for green-based decks or those that can reliably produce green mana, potentially limiting its inclusion in a wider variety of decks.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a converted mana cost of four, Briarbridge Patrol sits at a point on the mana curve that competes with various other impactful four-mana creatures and spells. As such, deck builders must consider whether its investigative benefits outshine other options available at this cost bracket.
Reasons to Include Briarbridge Patrol in Your Collection
Versatility: Briarbridge Patrol blends well into a variety of green-centric decks. Its ability to investigate whenever a creature you control deals damage ensures sustained card draw in creature-heavy strategies.
Combo Potential: This card shines in combinations that exploit clues. Pair it with mechanics like proliferate to rake in more clues or use artifacts-matter cards to capitalize on your growing inventory.
Meta-Relevance: Given its capacity to churn out card advantage and synergize with clues, the Briarbridge Patrol can be quite impactful in a game where long-term value trumps quick aggression.
How to beat
Briarbridge Patrol is a unique creature card in Magic: The Gathering that can create challenges for players with its ability to investigate—a mechanic that essentially translates to drawing additional cards. Not only does it encourage players to deal with more threats, but it also potentially brings a big creature into play without paying its mana cost.
To counteract Briarbridge Patrol, efficient removal spells are key. Spells like Fatal Push or Path to Exile can effectively deal with the creature before the investigation tokens stack up. Additionally, graveyard disruption tactics can prevent the payoff from the Patrol’s triggered ability, making cards like Grafdigger’s Cage particularly useful. Keeping the board clear of creatures and denying the opponent the opportunity to investigate is crucial. Prioritizing spell timing can also go a long way; casting removals in response to the triggered ability can prevent the opponent from gaining the upper hand, maintaining control over the game.
In essence, staying ahead of Briarbridge Patrol requires strategic removal and graveyard management. By doing so, players can minimize the impact of its abilities and maintain an advantage on the battlefield. Successful mitigation of the Patrol’s advantages can mean the difference between victory and defeat in the game of Magic: The Gathering.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Briarbridge Patrol MTG card by a specific set like Shadows over Innistrad and Shadows over Innistrad Remastered, 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 Briarbridge Patrol 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
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Printings
The Briarbridge Patrol Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2016-04-08 and 2023-03-21. Illustrated by Greg Opalinski.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2016-04-08 | Shadows over Innistrad | SOI | 195 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Greg Opalinski | |
| 2 | 2023-03-21 | Shadows over Innistrad Remastered | SIR | 187 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Greg Opalinski |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Briarbridge Patrol has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Briarbridge Patrol card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2016-04-08 | Briarbridge Patrol’s first ability will only trigger once per combat damage step, regardless of how many creatures it deals damage to. |
| 2016-04-08 | Briarbridge Patrol’s second ability looks at the entire turn, even if Briarbridge Patrol wasn’t on the battlefield for some of the turn. It will see Clues sacrificed for any reason, not just Clues sacrificed to their own ability. |
| 2016-04-08 | If you sacrifice a Clue for another card’s cost or effect, such as that of Angelic Purge or Tamiyo’s Journal, you can’t also pay and sacrifice it to draw a card. |
| 2016-04-08 | The token is named Clue and has the artifact subtype Clue. Clue isn’t a creature type. |
| 2016-04-08 | The tokens are normal artifacts. For example, they can be sacrificed to cast Angelic Purge or targeted by Root Out. |