Brooding Saurian MTG Card

Guarantees ownership of your creatures each end step, countering theft and mind control tactics. Being green-specific may limit its use but offers unique resource-saving protections. While costly, it is a versatile defender against prevalent control strategies in MTG.

Coldsnap (CSP)
2006-07-21 - Number 106

Commander 2013 (C13)
2013-11-01 - Number 138

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Rare
Type	Creature — Lizard
Power	4
Toughness	4

Text of card

At the end of each turn, each player gains control of all nontoken permanents he or she owns.

"I have been trapped in the lizard's lair for days. It seems to regard me as its child and will not let me leave." —Aevar Borg, northern guide, journal entry

Cards like Brooding Saurian

Brooding Saurian serves a distinct role in the realm of creature control within Magic: The Gathering. It shares the battlefield with creatures like Homeward Path, which also grants ownership of your creatures back to you at the cost of tapping it. However, Brooding Saurian operates differently by returning creatures at the end each turn, providing a more consistent defense against control-changing strategies.

Constricting Sliver is another creature that can alter the ownership of creatures, yet it specifically targets those it exiles, making it somewhat conditional compared to Brooding Saurian’s broader effect. Perennial favorite Gruul Draz Specter adds a twist to creature control by gaining control of an opponent’s creature when it connects with a player, though it lacks Brooding Saurian’s global return ability.

In the landscape of MTG, where maintaining command over your creatures is crucial, Brooding Saurian stands out as a reliable ward against various control effects. It earns its place in collections as a safeguard, particularly in casual and Commander formats where it can thwart a multitude of theft-based strategies.

Cards similar to Brooding Saurian by color, type and mana cost

Ulvenwald Oddity // Ulvenwald Behemoth - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Brooding Saurian is a clever asset when it comes to card advantage. Its unique ability to return all creatures you own to your control at each end step ensures that your key creatures always remain under your command. This can thwart your opponent’s temporary theft effects or mind control strategies, maintaining your grip on the game’s flow.

Resource Acceleration: While Brooding Saurian itself doesn’t directly accelerate resources, its effect of protecting your creatures can save resources in the long run. You’re less likely to need to cast spells to reclaim your creatures or spend mana to protect them, which allows you to allocate those resources to develop your board or disrupt opponents.

Instant Speed: Even though Brooding Saurian operates at sorcery speed, its continuous check on creature ownership at each end step interacts well with instant speed removals and bounce spells that you might play. It ensures that any creature you bounce or temporarily exile during your opponent’s turn will return to your battlefield, giving you an inherent synergy with instant speed plays, creating unexpected swings and maintaining battlefield presence.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Brooding Saurian doesn’t directly require discarding cards, it may force a strategic discard due to hand size limits when returning multiple creatures to your hand at the end of the turn, potentially causing a disadvantage if not played with forethought.

Specific Mana Cost: Brooding Saurian has a specific mana cost of two green mana and two of any color which can restrict its integration into multicolor decks that may not focus on green mana generation.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of four mana overall, Brooding Saurian can be considered a significant investment, especially since green decks favor early board development, which may push players to opt for other creatures or spells that provide more immediate board impact or value.

Reasons to Include Brooding Saurian in Your Collection

Versatility: Brooding Saurian offers a unique type of board protection in green decks. Its ability to return all creatures you own to your control at the end of each turn allows for flexibility in trading or temporarily sacrificing creatures without fear of permanent loss.

Combo Potential: Paired with cards that encourage creature control swapping, such as exchange or donate mechanics, Brooding Saurian can be particularly potent. It ensures that any temporary exchange becomes reversed, guarding your assets and frustrating opponents.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where control decks utilizing theft effects are common, Brooding Saurian serves as a safeguard. As metas shift, having an answer to popular Treachery or Control Magic cards can position your deck favorably against the competition.

How to beat Brooding Saurian

The Brooding Saurian can be a real roadblock with its ability to reclaim any creatures snatched by your opponents during each end step. To effectively combat this resilient reptile, players need to be tactical. One method is to prioritize removal spells that exile it permanently, which circumvents its ability to return to your hand. Cards like Path to Exile or Swords to Plowshares come in handy.

Additionally, exploiting the timing of its ability is crucial. By applying instant speed removal like Murder at the end step right before your turn begins, you ensure the Saurian doesn’t have a chance to bring any creatures back to its owner. You could also lean on counter magic, countering Brooding Saurian as it is cast, with spells such as Counterspell or Mana Leak, preventing it from ever entering the battlefield and activating its formidable ability.

Remember, the essence of overcoming this card rests on anticipation and timing. Keep your responses sharp, and the Brooding Saurian will be far less daunting to tackle on the battlefield, keeping your creatures safely under your control.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Brooding Saurian MTG card by a specific set like Coldsnap and Commander 2013, 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 Brooding Saurian and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Brooding Saurian Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2006-07-21 and 2013-11-01. Illustrated by rk post.

#	Released	Name	Code	Symbol	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2006-07-21	Coldsnap	CSP		106	2003	Normal	Black	rk post
2	2013-11-01	Commander 2013	C13		138	2003	Normal	Black	rk post

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Brooding Saurian 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 Brooding Saurian card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date	Text
2006-07-15	If a permanent is enchanted with an Aura such as Confiscate when Brooding Saurian’s ability resolves, the enchanted permanent’s owner will regain control of it. The Aura will not be removed. The Aura will still be controlled by its owner, but its effect will be overridden.