Brightling MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Mythic |
| Type | Creature — Shapeshifter |
| Released | 2018-06-08 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Battlebond |
| Set code | BBD |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 3 |
| Number | 25 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Steve Argyle |
Text of card
: Brightling gains vigilance until end of turn. : Brightling gains lifelink until end of turn. : Return Brightling to its owner's hand. : Brightling gets +1/-1 or -1/+1 until end of turn.
Cards like Brightling
Brightling offers a unique take on versatile creature cards within Magic: The Gathering. Deck builders might find similarities with the Morphling, also referred to as the “Swiss Army Knife” of MTG due to its multitude of abilities. Like Morphling, Brightling can increase its power and toughness, gain protection from colors, and even return to its owner’s hand. However, Brightling allows you to bounce itself back without mana cost by simply paying life, adding a layer of flexibility in games where life is a resource you can afford to spend.
Another comparable card is Aetherling, which presents some parallels in the way it manipulates combat and protects itself from removal. Aetherling, however, has the quintessential unblockable ability, contrasting with Brightling’s lifelink that bolsters its user’s life total. Furthermore, Aetherling demands more specific color resources, whereas Brightling requires only generic mana for its key abilities, allowing it to slot into a more extensive array of decks.
Considering the vast ecosystem of creature cards with adaptable skills, Brightling stands tall because of its dynamic viability in various situations, providing MTG players with not just a mere creature, but a multi-functional tool that can adjust to the tides of battle on the fly.
Cards similar to Brightling by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: With its versatile ability to bounce back to your hand, Brightling helps you retain card presence on the board while dodging removal. This creates a sustainable advantage as your opponents will find it difficult to deal with it permanently.
Resource Acceleration: Brightling can stir up the game’s pace as it can be returned to your hand at a whim for just one white mana. This flexible mechanism keeps your mana open, allowing you to respond dynamically to the evolving game board.
Instant Speed: The ability to change its power and toughness at instant speed grants you the ability to respond to threats or opportunities on the fly. Whether it’s growing to overpower an opponent’s creature or shrinking for a favorable block, Brightling provides instant adaptability in combat situations.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: For MTG gamers looking to incorporate Brightling into their decks, one challenge surfaces promptly: resource management. Activating Brightling’s abilities often hinges on a player’s willingness to discard, presenting a dilemma during tight resource situations. This discard requirement can leave players at a disadvantage, especially when grappling with a dwindling hand size that could reduce their ability to respond to an opponent’s moves effectively.
Specific Mana Cost: Brightling anchors itself firmly in white mana’s domain, demanding a strict commitment to white to leverage its full potential. This specific mana cost can confine its use, often relegating it to mono-white or two-color decks where white plays a predominant role. As such, Brightling may not seamlessly slot into a diverse range of decks, somewhat narrowing its appeal across the broad spectrum of MTG play styles.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Assessing the mana curve is critical in MTG, and Brightling sits at a comparatively high spectrum for its versatile yet situational abilities. While its array of skills is undeniably appealing, some players may find the initial three mana investment—a significant early game resource allocation—a hindrance, particularly when considering other creatures and spells that provide immediate impact without the continuous resource demands presented by Brightling.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Brightling boasts a unique adaptability, seamlessly slotting into various decks with its ability to adapt to board states, protect itself, and operate as both an offensive and defensive asset.
Combo Potential: With its various abilities to pump up its power, gain lifelink or vigilance, Brightling works wonders in tactical plays and synergizes brilliantly with cards that key off of those abilities or depend on creature flexibility.
Meta-Relevance: In a landscape that values resilience and adaptability, Brightling shines by being able to answer a wide range of threats while offering significant gameplay advantages in matches that can swing either way.
How to beat
Brightling is a versatile creature in Magic: The Gathering that can adapt to numerous battle situations. Its ability to increase its resilience with lifelink or bounce back to its owner’s hand makes it a tough adversary on the battlefield. To effectively counter Brightling, it’s essential to have removal spells that don’t target, as this creature can easily dodge targeted spells. Board wipes like Wrath of God or Damnation can remove it no matter how it shifts.
An alternative strategy is to use cards that restrict the opponent’s ability to activate Brightling’s abilities, such as Pithing Needle or Phyrexian Revoker, which can shut off its activated abilities completely. Lastly, racing against Brightling with aggressive strategies can also prove effective, as its abilities require a significant mana investment, which might slow down your opponent’s tempo, giving you a window to secure your victory before Brightling becomes a larger threat.
Remember, Brightling can be an ever-shifting challenge, so keeping your opponent off balance with a smart mix of removals, restrictions, and pressure can tip the scales in your favor against this shapeshifting menace.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Brightling MTG card by a specific set like Battlebond, 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 Brightling 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
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Brightling has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Brightling card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2018-06-08 | If you activate Brightling’s last ability, you don’t choose whether Brightling gets +1/-1 or -1/+1 until that ability resolves. |
| 2018-06-08 | Multiple instances of lifelink on the same creature are redundant. |
Guide to Vigilance card ability
In the strategic universe of Magic: The Gathering (MTG), the vigilance ability stands out as a powerful tool for players. This potent keyword allows creatures to attack without tapping, keeping them ready and alert to defend against incoming threats. It represents a perfect balance between aggression and defense, offering a dynamic approach to gameplay. Lets dive deeper into how vigilance shapes the battlefield.