Bone Pit Brute MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 6 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Cyclops |
| Abilities | Menace |
| Released | 2020-07-03 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Core Set 2021 |
| Set code | M21 |
| Power | 4 |
| Toughness | 5 |
| Number | 132 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | normal |
| Border | black |
| Illustred by | Victor Adame Minguez |
Key Takeaways
- Bone Pit Brute can force card advantage through its threat level and unfavorable blocks for the opponent.
- Despite a lack of instant speed, it compensates with combat-altering abilities once on the board.
- High mana cost and specific red mana requirements could limit its versatility across various decks.
Text of card
Menace (This creature can't be blocked except by two or more creatures.) When Bone Pit Brute enters the battlefield, target creature gets +4/+0 until end of turn.
Welcome to the club.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: While Bone Pit Brute itself does not directly allow you to draw cards, it potentially creates card advantage by acting as a formidable threat that can force unfavorable blocks or the use of opponents’ removal spells. This can result in a two-for-one situation where the brute takes down a creature and draws out a spell from the opponent’s hand.
Resource Acceleration: Although not directly contributing to resource acceleration in the traditional sense of providing additional mana, Bone Pit Brute’s Menace ability can be seen as a tempo acceleration, pushing your offensive strategy forward and possibly shortening the timeline for your victory by compelling multiple blockers and complicating resource allocation for your opponent.
Instant Speed: Bone Pit Brute is a creature and does not have instant speed. However, its strength lies in its ability to rapidly alter combat dynamics once it’s on the battlefield, forcing immediate responses from your opponent during combat phases. With careful planning, it supports a strategy that pressures the opponent into spending resources hastily or facing substantial damage.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Bone Pit Brute comes with a downside for players who need to maintain card advantage. Casting it doesn’t force a discard, but when looking to optimize its Menace granting ability, you’re required to sacrifice another creature. For many MTG enthusiasts, having to give up board presence could be a steep price to pay, especially if you’re struggling to keep creatures on the battlefield.
Specific Mana Cost: The casting cost of Bone Pit Brute is heavy on red mana, demanding three red sources. This requirement can create challenges in multicolored decks, potentially restricting it to mono-red builds or those with a strong red mana base. It may not fit seamlessly into all strategies, particularly in formats where mana flexibility is key.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: At six mana total, Bone Pit Brute sits on the higher end of the mana curve. In environments where speed and efficiency reign, allocating six mana to cast a creature that doesn’t have an immediate board impact can be a liability. While its role as a finisher in limited formats is undeniable, in constructed formats, there are alternatives that may offer more immediate or versatile effects for a similar or lower investment.
Reasons to Include Bone Pit Brute in Your Collection
Versatility: Bone Pit Brute serves as a flexible choice in decks that aim to capitalize on both creature power and game-ending potential. Its ability to boost another creature’s power makes it a valuable addition in aggressive strategies.
Combo Potential: With Bone Pit Brute, players can unlock synergy by pairing it with cards that benefit from high-power creatures. As a 4/3 creature that can potentially give another creature +4/+0, it works well with mechanics like Ferocious or Formidable, which require creatures with substantial power.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where bigger creatures can control the board and finish games, Bone Pit Brute becomes a key player. This card aids in overwhelming defense-oriented decks and can create favorable trades or direct damage scenarios that pave the way to victory.
How to Beat Bone Pit Brute
The challenge of overcoming a card like Bone Pit Brute in Magic: The Gathering lies in its formidable strength as a Menace creature. At six mana for a 4/5 body, the brute is a significant presence, making it a decent late-game play, especially in limited formats. When Bone Pit Brute enters the battlefield, its ability to give another creature +4/+0 can turn the tides in combat, potentially leading to a devastating attack.
To counter this looming threat, consider removal spells capable of bypassing the Menace attribute, like Murder or Doom Blade, which can cleanly remove the brute before it has the opportunity to enhance another creature. Alternatively, low-cost board control spells such as Pacifism can neutralize the brute without needing to destroy it, mitigating the risk of an empowered attack from your opponent. Finally, having instant speed removal in your hand ensures you can respond to the brute’s entrance effectively, maintaining control of the board.
Therefore, while Bone Pit Brute carries the potential to alter the course of a match, a strategic approach with appropriate counters can effectively diminish its impact, allowing you to maintain dominance on the battlefield. Keeping a balance of such spells in your deck is crucial to manage such threats effectively.
Understanding Bone Pit Brute’s Role in MTG
In the realm of creature cards, Bone Pit Brute carves out a stout presence with its formidable power. When measuring its power level, it’s important to contrast it with other creatures that are also on the higher end of the mana curve. Similar to Bone Pit Brute, Colossal Dreadmaw stands out as a common green creature, featuring equivalent stats and trample, yet it forgoes the potential to boost another creature’s power.
Cards like Bone Pit Brute
Bone Pit Brute is an example of a card that can shift the dynamics on the battlefield due to its strength-enhancing ability. Its parallel in terms of function could be seen with Havoc Jester, a creature card that shares the same mana cost. While Havoc Jester lacks the immediate power boost Bone Pit Brute provides, it compensates by creating a reactively hostile environment whenever the player sacrifices a permanent. Another kin in this category is Onakke Ogre, which has a lower cost but without the ability to empower another creature or provide formidable board presence like Bone Pit Brute.
Ultimately, MTG players often weigh the choices between such creatures when fine-tuning their red decks. The selection is not solely about power and toughness but also how these creatures interact with the overall strategy. Bone Pit Brute’s capacity to give a substantial and immediate power boost gives it a tactical edge in certain strategies that desire aggressive plays.
Cards similar to Bone Pit Brute by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Bone Pit Brute MTG card by a specific set like Core Set 2021, 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 Bone Pit Brute and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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 Magic products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Bone Pit Brute has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
