Brightmare MTG Card

Brightmare offers card advantage and can disrupt play with its unique creature bouncing ability. Its instant-speed play provides strategic flexibility and can help in both offense and defense. Though powerful, Brightmare’s effect comes at the cost of card discard and specific mana needs.

Jumpstart (JMP)
2020-07-17 - Number 2

Jumpstart 2022 (J22)
2022-12-02 - Number 159

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Unicorn
Power	2
Toughness	3

Text of card

When Brightmare enters the battlefield, tap up to one target creature. You gain life equal to that creature's power.

A ray of hope in the darkest night.

Cards like Brightmare

Drawing comparisons within the vast array of MTG elements, Brightmare stands out for its unique capabilities. It mirrors certain traits found in other cards like the Concordia Pegasus, with both creatures sharing the same mana cost and flying attribute. Yet, Brightmare forges its own path with the special ability to tap another target creature. This is a distinct advantage over Concordia Pegasus, which lacks any additional abilities.

Examining Omen of the Sun, we notice the creation of tokens and life gain, which is similar to Brightmare’s capacity for life gain upon entering the battlefield. Despite this, Omen of the Sun cannot impact the board state immediately in the way Brightmare can by tapping a potentially threatening creature. Finally, looking at cards like Alseid of Life’s Bounty offers us a creature with a protective ability and life gain, but Brightmare’s influence on combat through its tapping ability sets it apart again, adding a level of control that can alter the flow of a game.

In the larger scale of MTG gameplay, Brightmare’s blend of flying, life gain, and interactive abilities with other creatures places it favorably among creatures of similar costs and strengths, offering not just versatility but tactical advantage during crucial moments.

Alseid of Life's Bounty - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Brightmare by color, type and mana cost

Pianna, Nomad Captain - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Brightmare card brings a unique twist to deck strategies by having an effect that can bounce another creature to its owner’s hand. This can be used to reuse enter-the-battlefield abilities of your own creatures or disrupt your opponent’s board, effectively providing card advantage.

Resource Acceleration: Tapping another untapped creature you control can be a strategic move, adding a layer of resource acceleration by allowing you to utilize creatures that may not have been part of the combat equation or were summoning sick, thus, giving you the advantage of a surprise blocker or an additional resource for various abilities.

Instant Speed: Brightmare’s ability to be played at instant speed cannot be understated. This allows strategic flexibility during gameplay, offering the potential to create sudden blockers or to reset creatures for maximum board influence without having to wait for a full turn cycle, maximizing both defensive and offensive strategies on the fly.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Brightmare comes with a necessity for a player to discard a card in order to take full advantage of its effects. This precondition can be detrimental, particularly in scenarios where a player’s hand is already depleted and every card counts.

Specific Mana Cost: The casting of Brightmare requires white mana, which means it aligns strictly with white or multicolored decks. This specific mana demand can restrain deck versatility and may not fit seamlessly into all strategic plans.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Brightmare commands a significant mana investment for its ability to tap oppsing Creatures. Due to its relatively higher mana cost, players might find other cards that provide similar or greater value with more cost-efficiency, potentially overshadowing Brightmare’s utility.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Brightmare offers multi-faceted utility for decks that thrive on manipulating creature states. It’s a card that serves both offensive and defensive strategies with its ability to tap an opponent’s creature during your turn or untap one of your own for unexpected plays.

Combo Potential: With its enter-the-battlefield effect, Brightmare can become a linchpin in combos that capitalize on targeting your own creatures, such as those involving flicker or bounce mechanics. Its synergy with other permanents that benefit each time a creature enters the battlefield under your control can be a game-changer.

Meta-Relevance: Given that aggressive strategies can dominate the field, Brightmare’s utility as a crowd controller and a way to surprise opponents with untapped blockers or additional attack opportunities makes it a must-have. It fits well into meta game strategies that can benefit from such flexible control over the battlefield.

How to beat

Brightmare is an intriguing creature card that can cause headaches for players due to its unique ability to tap down opponents’ creatures. Unlike cards that offer permanent lockdowns, Brightmare provides a tempo play, allowing you to swing the game in your favor temporarily. To overcome this strategic card, one needs to consider options that can neutralize its impact without losing momentum.

Removal spells are your best friend against Brightmare. Abrupt Decay offers a swift answer, handling the problem without being countered. If Brightmare has become a persistent threat through recursion tactics, cards like Grafdigger’s Cage can prevent such loops, limiting its influence on the game. For a more direct approach, instant-speed removal like Path to Exile ensures that Brightmare doesn’t get the chance to establish board control, letting you reclaim the tempo and push forward in the match.

Conclusively, while Brightmare can momentarily disrupt your tactics, there are effective measures within your arsenal to regain control. It’s about selecting the right answer at the perfect time to ensure that Brightmare’s dreamy entrance doesn’t turn into a lasting nightmare on the battlefield.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Brightmare MTG card by a specific set like Jumpstart and Jumpstart 2022, 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 Brightmare and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Brightmare Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2020-07-17 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by Steven Belledin.

#	Released	Name	Code	Symbol	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2020-07-17	Jumpstart	JMP		2	2015	Normal	Black	Steven Belledin
2	2022-12-02	Jumpstart 2022	J22		159	2015	Normal	Black	Steven Belledin

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Brightmare has restrictions

Format	Legality
Historicbrawl	Legal
Commander	Legal
Historic	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Restricted
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Timeless	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2020-06-23	Brightmare’s ability can target a tapped creature. If the target creature is already tapped when the ability resolves, that creature just remains tapped and you gain life equal to its power.
2020-06-23	If the target creature is an illegal target by the time Brightmare’s ability tries to resolve, the ability won’t resolve. You won’t gain any life.