Brittle Effigy MTG Card

Effectively minimizes opponents’ board presence leading to an indirect card advantage over time. It acts as a preemptive play, ready to be activated at instant speed without tapping. Provides strategic flexibility for any deck, particularly when facing indestructible creatures.

Magic 2011 (M11)
2010-07-16 - Number 202

Brittle Effigy - Duel Decks: Merfolk vs. Goblins (DDT)

Duel Decks: Merfolk vs. Goblins (DDT)
2017-10-24 - Number 56

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	1
Rarity	Rare
Type	Artifact

Text of card

, , Exile Brittle Effigy: Exile target creature.

"In my early experiments in phylactery, I found that fragile forms have their uses." —Rocati, Duke of Martyne

Cards like Brittle Effigy

Brittle Effigy stands out in the realm of Magic: The Gathering as a versatile removal artifact. It shares some common ground with Scour from Existence, offering the utility to exile any target creature. However, Brittle Effigy requires no colored mana and is cheaper to activate, but unlike Scour from Existence, it demands foresight due to its single-use nature and the need to be on the battlefield ahead of time.

Relic of Progenitus is another artifact that offers graveyard interaction. While it doesn’t remove creatures from the battlefield like Brittle Effigy, it can purge an entire graveyard at once, interrupting strategies reliant on graveyard synergies. Relic of Progenitus provides a repeatable effect but focuses solely on graveyard control rather than direct creature removal.

When considering the inclusion of removal artifacts in your deck, Brittle Effigy’s ability to unconditionally exile a creature places it in a unique spot. It bypasses indestructible and regeneration abilities, making it a powerful tool against formidable threats. The strategic value of such targeted, flexible removal can be pivotal in tight gameplay scenarios.

Scour from Existence - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Brittle Effigy by color, type and mana cost

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Brittle Effigy. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#	Name	Format	Archetype	Event
	Five-color Combo	Legacy	Painter	Charlotte Legacy League Season 2 Week 1

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Brittle Effigy does not directly allow you to draw extra cards, it provides strategic advantage by removing key creatures from your opponent’s board, effectively minimizing their resources and potential threats. This can lead to indirect card advantage as your creatures and spells face less resistance.

Resource Acceleration: Brittle Effigy is a cost-effective tool. For a single initial mana investment, it sits on the battlefield ready for activation. Although it doesn’t produce mana or tokens, it accelerates your game plan by dealing with problematic creatures without expending multiple resources.

Instant Speed: The true power of Brittle Effigy lies in its ability to be activated at instant speed. This allows players to respond to threats immediately or during an opponent’s turn, keeping the board state favorable. It’s especially potent because it doesn’t require tapping, making it a formidable and always-ready piece of removal.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Although Brittle Effigy does not require you to discard a card, having it as a one-time use artifact means it can be a steep cost in terms of card advantage. Once used, it’s gone, leaving you with one less piece of permanence on the board.

Specific Mana Cost: Brittle Effigy demands a single colorless mana to play, which gives it flexibility across all deck types. However, the cost for its exile ability is four colorless mana, which could be too specific and high for some mana curves, particularly in early game scenarios where mana resources are precious.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Despite its initial low cost, activating Brittle Effigy’s ability comes at a comparatively high price. Four mana to exile a single creature may not be cost-effective, especially when compared to other removal options in the game that could deal with more threats or offer additional benefits.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Brittle Effigy offers a form of removal that can be slipped into any deck, regardless of color. Its colorless nature makes it a flexible inclusion, especially in formats where targeted exile effects are scarce.

Combo Potential: This card can set the stage for plays in decks that care about artifacts. Synergizing with mechanics like improvise or inspire, it can be a cog in a larger machine, unleashing powerful plays while disrupting your opponent.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where indestructible or graveyard-based creatures prevail, Brittle Effigy stands out as an unassuming yet potent answer. Having an exile effect on a stick could tilt the scales in matchups where such abilities are at a premium.

How to Beat Brittle Effigy

Brittle Effigy stands out in MTG as a versatile artifact, giving players the unique capability to exile any creature from the battlefield. This particular quality makes it a defiant obstacle to overcome, especially if you rely on powerhouse creatures to dominate the game. Despite its utility, Brittle Effigy does have its vulnerabilities, providing opportunities for strategic counterplay.

Key strategies to dismantle the efficacy of Brittle Effigy revolve around nimble and proactive gameplay. To circumvent its threat, consider deploying an array of low-value creatures rather than a single monumental threat. This dilutes the impact of Brittle Effigy and forces your opponent to make tough decisions about its use. Additionally, cards that grant your creatures hexproof or indestructible can directly negate the power of Brittle Effigy, as they can no longer be targeted or will survive the exiling process, respectively. Lastly, employing artifact removal spells allows you to directly destroy or disable Brittle Effigy before its ability can be activated, disrupting your opponent’s plans and preserving your board presence.

By employing these strategies, players can efficiently deal with the challenges Brittle Effigy presents, keeping their most valuable creatures safe and maintaining the upper hand in the game.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Brittle Effigy MTG card by a specific set like Magic 2011 and Duel Decks: Merfolk vs. Goblins, 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 Brittle Effigy and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Brittle Effigy Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2010-07-16 and 2017-10-24. Illustrated by John Avon.

#	Released	Name	Code	Symbol	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2010-07-16	Magic 2011	M11		202	2003	Normal	Black	John Avon
2	2017-10-24	Duel Decks: Merfolk vs. Goblins	DDT		56	2015	Normal	Black	John Avon

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Brittle Effigy has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2010-08-15	Brittle Effigy is exiled as a cost to activate its ability, not as part of its effect. If the targeted creature is an illegal target by the time the ability would resolve, the ability doesn’t resolve, but Brittle Effigy remains exiled.