Elder Brain MTG Card


Elder Brain ensures card advantage and superior deck performance, crucial for outplaying adversaries. Accelerates mana resources, allowing for early, game-changing spells or multiple threat deployment. Instant speed interaction offers flexibility and control, enabling quick and unpredictable responses.
Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost7
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Horror
Abilities Menace
Power 6
Toughness 6

Text of card

Menace Whenever Elder Brain attacks a player, exile all cards from that player's hand, then they draw that many cards. You may play lands and cast spells from among the exiled cards for as long as they remain exiled. If you cast a spell this way, you may spend mana as though it were mana of any color to cast it.


Cards like Elder Brain

When considering the strategic advantages of the Elder Brain card in Magic: The Gathering, one can’t help but draw comparisons to ground-shaking creatures like Grave Titan. Elder Brain offers a unique blend of control and card advantage by allowing players to cast creatures from the opponent’s graveyard. Grave Titan, akin in its ability to dominate the board, generates 2/2 zombie tokens, which can quickly overwhelm opponents.

Moving to another formidable force, Wrexial, the Risen Deep, resonates with Elder Brain in its utilization of opponents’ graveyards. It too casts spells from the graveyard, providing not only a creature advantage but also a psychological edge. Yet, it lacks the direct hand-disruption that Elder Brain so prominently features. Conversely, Sheoldred, Whispering One stands tall as a recurring nightmare for opponents with its relentless resurrection of creatures from your own graveyard.

Analyzing these similar cards in Magic: The Gathering, Elder Brain finds its niche by combining the best of reanimation with hand disruption. Its uniqueness lies in deploying threats from the opponent’s graveyard, a trait that can pivot the tide of battle, making it a distinct and compelling choice for any MTG player looking for control and adaptability on the battlefield.

Grave Titan - MTG Card versions
Wrexial, the Risen Deep - MTG Card versions
Sheoldred, Whispering One - MTG Card versions
Grave Titan - MTG Card versions
Wrexial, the Risen Deep - MTG Card versions
Sheoldred, Whispering One - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Elder Brain by color, type and mana cost

Lord of the Pit - MTG Card versions
Minion of Tevesh Szat - MTG Card versions
Minion of Leshrac - MTG Card versions
Veldrane of Sengir - MTG Card versions
Cateran Overlord - MTG Card versions
Deathbringer Regent - MTG Card versions
Black Dragon - MTG Card versions
Reaper of Night // Harvest Fear - MTG Card versions
Zombie Brute - MTG Card versions
Patron of the Nezumi - MTG Card versions
Pus Kami - MTG Card versions
Tresserhorn Skyknight - MTG Card versions
Lim-Dûl the Necromancer - MTG Card versions
Phage the Untouchable - MTG Card versions
Ebon Dragon - MTG Card versions
Kalitas, Bloodchief of Ghet - MTG Card versions
Sheoldred, Whispering One - MTG Card versions
Butcher of Malakir - MTG Card versions
Sutured Ghoul - MTG Card versions
Abhorrent Overlord - MTG Card versions
Lord of the Pit - MTG Card versions
Minion of Tevesh Szat - MTG Card versions
Minion of Leshrac - MTG Card versions
Veldrane of Sengir - MTG Card versions
Cateran Overlord - MTG Card versions
Deathbringer Regent - MTG Card versions
Black Dragon - MTG Card versions
Reaper of Night // Harvest Fear - MTG Card versions
Zombie Brute - MTG Card versions
Patron of the Nezumi - MTG Card versions
Pus Kami - MTG Card versions
Tresserhorn Skyknight - MTG Card versions
Lim-Dûl the Necromancer - MTG Card versions
Phage the Untouchable - MTG Card versions
Ebon Dragon - MTG Card versions
Kalitas, Bloodchief of Ghet - MTG Card versions
Sheoldred, Whispering One - MTG Card versions
Butcher of Malakir - MTG Card versions
Sutured Ghoul - MTG Card versions
Abhorrent Overlord - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Elder Brain excels at ensuring you always have the upper hand in terms of card advantage. With its ability to sift through the top cards of your library, it not only refines your deck’s performance but also floods your hand with strategic options, pivotal in outmaneuvering opponents. This level of card selection and draw power is a cornerstone in maintaining a dominant position on the battlefield.

Resource Acceleration: Second to none, the Elder Brain spells trouble for the opposition by ramping up your mana resources swiftly. This is a game-changer as it facilitates casting formidable spells earlier or deploying multiple threats in a single turn, which can quickly tip the scales in your favor.

Instant Speed: Its instant speed interaction is nothing short of a tactical advantage. The sheer flexibility to affect the game state on an opponent’s turn or end step can catch them off guard, allowing you to respond to threats immediately or alter strategies without skipping a beat. The ability to act at instant speed ensures that you wield control with unpredictability and precision.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Elder Brain card necessitates discarding a card to utilize its potent abilities. For some MTG players, this could be a steep price to pay, especially in tight situations where every card in hand is vital for strategy and survival.

Specific Mana Cost: This card’s casting cost demands a mix of generic and black mana, which means it is naturally suited for a black-focused or a multicolor deck with black mana access. Decks that don’t incorporate black mana may find it hard or impossible to play this card, therefore reducing its flexibility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Elder Brain comes with a high mana cost. In the fast-paced dynamics of many MTG games, the mana investment to get Elder Brain onto the battlefield can be prohibitive, leaving the player vulnerable to quicker strategies or making it a late-game card when immediate impact is often needed.


Reasons to Include Elder Brain in Your Collection

Versatility: Elder Brain thrives in a variety of deck styles that appreciate top-tier control mechanics. It can become a keystone in decks that manipulate opponents’ hands and strategies.

Combo Potential: This card offers excellent synergy with mechanics that capitalize on opponents discarding cards, thereby enhancing various combo enablers and potentially disrupting opponents’ plans.

Meta-Relevance: With the ever-shifting MTG landscape, Elder Brain holds its ground by being particularly potent against decks that rely on hand resources, thus keeping your edge in diverse competitive environments.


How to beat

Elder Brain presents a formidable challenge for Magic: The Gathering players due to its distinctive ability to manipulate opponents’ hands. Unlike many other creatures, Elder Brain has the potential to turn the tide of a game by forcing an opponent to play with revealed cards, granting its controller significant strategic advantage. To counter this threat, it’s crucial to focus on strategies that reduce its impact.

Effective tactics include employing removal spells before Elder Brain can establish board dominance, or using counter spells to prevent its casting altogether. It is also advisable to manage your own hand carefully, retaining cards that can neutralize Elder Brain once it’s on the battlefield. Cards with flash allow you to wait until the end of your opponent’s turn to play creatures or spells, minimizing the information Elder Brain’s controller gains from you.

Moreover, graveyard retrieval cards can be vital, recovering important spells if Elder Brain compels their discard. Understanding the tempo of the game also plays a key role in outmaneuvering an opponent using Elder Brain. By playing conservatively and timing your plays with precision, you can undermine the card’s potential and maintain control over the match.


BurnMana Recommendations

Understanding the dynamics of Elder Brain can elevate your MTG plays, giving you a decided edge in card advantage and battlefield control. Its abilities lend well to sophisticated strategies that can disrupt your opponent’s game plan while accelerating your own. In the world of MTG, staying ahead means continuous learning and adapting. Dive deeper with us into the mechanics and strategic applications of powerful cards like Elder Brain. Enhance your collection, refine your tactics, and gain the upper hand in your next duel. For insights, strategies, and the art of mastering MTG intricacies, join the BurnMana community.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Elder Brain MTG card by a specific set like Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate and Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate, 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 Elder Brain and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Elder Brain Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2022-06-10 and 2022-06-10. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12022-06-10Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's GateCLB 1252015NormalBlackDaarken
22022-06-10Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's GateCLB 5732015NormalBlackDaarken
32022-06-10Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's GateCLB 9362015NormalBlackNino Is
42022-06-10Battle for Baldur's Gate PromosPCLB 125s2015NormalBlackDaarken
52022-06-10Battle for Baldur's Gate Art SeriesACLB 132015Art seriesBorderless

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Elder Brain has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2022-06-10 The cards are exiled face up.