Gisela, the Broken Blade // Brisela, Voice of Nightmares MTG Card


Despite lacking card draw, Gisela’s lifelink grants players effective life advantage, bolstering their longevity in the game. Early game presence with Gisela’s cost-efficient stats can shift momentum, allowing for strategic resource allocation. Her exacting white mana cost requires careful deck construction, demanding a strong white mana base.
Card setsReleased in 6 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityMythic
TypeLegendary Creature — Angel Horror
Abilities First strike,Flying,Lifelink,Meld
Power 4
Toughness 3

Text of card

Flying, first strike, lifelink At the beginning of your end step, if you both own and control Gisela, the Broken Blade and a creature named Bruna, the Fading Light, exile them, then meld them into Brisela, Voice of Nightmares.

She now hears only Emrakul's murmurs.


Cards like Gisela, the Broken Blade // Brisela, Voice of Nightmares

Gisela the Broken Blade stands out in Magic: The Gathering as a formidable force among angelic creatures. Her kinship is closely mirrored with Bruna, the Fading Light, another card that showcases a powerful synergy; when merged, they form the elusive Brisela, Voice of Nightmares. Gisela, noteworthy for her flying and first strike abilities, carves a place of her own in the four-mana slot.

Looking towards Lyra Dawnbringer, which provides a broader buff to all other angels and possesses lifelink, Gisela’s individual offensive presence is comparably substantial due to her built-in lifelink and lower casting cost. Lyra, however, stands as an independent powerhouse that can bolster the battlefield’s angelic might. Meanwhile, Shalai, Voice of Plenty, serves as a guardian angel to other creatures and players with her hexproof granting ability, but doesn’t have Gisela’s aggressive edge.

Each angel brings unique strengths, yet Gisela’s combination of cost-efficiency, life-gaining abilities, and potential for a game-altering meld with Bruna gives her a distinctive stance in the MTG landscape, catering to strategies that favor aggressive, resilient, and versatile approaches to board control.

Brisela, Voice of Nightmares - MTG Card versions
Lyra Dawnbringer - MTG Card versions
Shalai, Voice of Plenty - MTG Card versions
Brisela, Voice of Nightmares - MTG Card versions
Lyra Dawnbringer - MTG Card versions
Shalai, Voice of Plenty - MTG Card versions

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Card Pros

Card Advantage: Gisela the Broken Blade may not directly draw cards, but her lifelink ability allows you to effectively gain life points with each attack, offsetting potential life losses from other draw mechanics or the use of life as a resource, thus maintaining your advantage on the battlefield.

Resource Acceleration: While Gisela does not directly accelerate your mana resources, her low cost for a high-power angel creature ensures that you’re fielding a significant threat early in the game. This allows you to allocate resources toward other strategies without losing tempo.

Instant Speed: Gisela herself is a creature and does not operate at instant speed. However, her presence demands an immediate answer from opponents, thereby indirectly benefiting your instant-speed interactions. She can pressure opponents into using their removal spells prematurely, leaving the way clear for your instant-speed plays.


Card Cons

Specific Mana Cost: Gisela the Broken Blade requires a demanding mana cost to cast. With one colorless and three white mana required, this card is constrained to decks with a strong white mana base, potentially limiting deck building flexibility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Casting Gisela for four mana might be costly compared to other creatures of similar power levels. This could slow down your tempo in games where speed and efficiency are crucial, especially against decks that optimize lower-cost creatures.

Discard Requirement: While Gisela herself does not have a discard requirement, synergizing with her second form, Bruna, the Fading Light, involves additional steps that might lead to discarding valuable cards from your hand to achieve the meld condition. This process can place you at a disadvantage if you’re unable to maintain card advantage.


Reasons to Include Gisela the Broken Blade in Your Collection

Versatility: Gisela the Broken Blade offers a dynamic playstyle, fitting seamlessly into a variety of decks that favor flying creatures and lifelink abilities. Her solid stats allow her to be both offensive threat and defensive anchor.

Combo Potential: When paired with her other half, Bruna, the Fading Light, Gisela becomes part of a powerful duo. The meld into Brisela, Voice of Nightmares, is a game-changing play that can dominate the board and stun opponents with its might.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta that swings towards aggressive strategies, Gisela’s lifelink can be a tide-turner, granting staying power while contending with the plethora of fast-paced threats. Her presence in your lineup adds resilience and pressure, essentials for navigating current play environments.


How to beat

Gisela the Broken Blade is a compelling card, offering a robust presence in the game with both flying and first strike abilities. These features make her a formidable opponent on the battlefield, challenging players to devise strategies to outmaneuver her. When facing Gisela, it’s essential to consider removal spells that can bypass her first strike ability. Instant removal spells, such as Path to Exile or Murder, can be particularly effective as they can be cast before she gets a chance to engage in combat.

Additionally, board wipes like Wrath of God can clear the field, including Gisela, without engaging her in direct combat. Managing your deck’s threats and controls is crucial, ensuring you have answers ready when Gisela appears. Players may also explore the option of using deathtouch creatures, as they can eliminate Gisela regardless of the damage they deal, turning the tide in your favor.

In summary, while Gisela can be a tough adversary, a well-prepared strategy with the right mix of removals and controls can effectively neutralize her impact on the game. Recognizing her strengths allows players to tailor their responses accordingly, leading to a more calculated and successful approach against her.


BurnMana Recommendations

Exploring the depths of MTG is a never-ending adventure, especially with complicated yet rewarding cards like Gisela the Broken Blade. The nuanced advantages and considerations of incorporating Gisela into your deck are fascinating discussions for both newcomers and seasoned players. If you’re looking to sharpen your skills, optimize your deck, or simply appreciate the beauty of a well-crafted card, understanding Gisela’s role in various game situations is critical. At BurnMana, we’re passionate about guiding players towards triumph and deeper enjoyment of MTG. Dive in with us to discover strategies that can transform your collection and gameplay to new heights. Let’s continue this journey together, learn more and embrace the strategic intricacies of MTG.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Gisela, the Broken Blade // Brisela, Voice of Nightmares MTG card by a specific set like Eldritch Moon and Eldritch Moon Promos, 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 Gisela, the Broken Blade // Brisela, Voice of Nightmares and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Gisela, the Broken Blade // Brisela, Voice of Nightmares Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2016-07-22 and 2023-03-21. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12016-07-22Eldritch MoonEMN 282015MeldBlackClint Cearley
22016-07-22Eldritch Moon PromosPEMN 28s2015MeldBlackClint Cearley
32017-11-24From the Vault: TransformV17 102015MeldBlackClint Cearley
42019-12-02Secret Lair DropSLD 13872015MeldBorderlessScott M. Fischer
52019-12-02Secret Lair DropSLD 13352015MeldBorderlessScott M. Fischer
62023-03-21Shadows over Innistrad RemasteredSIR 302015MeldBlackClint Cearley

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Gisela, the Broken Blade // Brisela, Voice of Nightmares has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Gisela, the Broken Blade // Brisela, Voice of Nightmares card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2016-07-13 Effects that increase or reduce the cost to cast a spell (such as those of escalate and emerge) don’t affect the spell’s converted mana cost, so they won’t change whether Brisela’s last ability restricts that spell from being cast.
2016-07-13 For more information on meld cards, see the Eldritch Moon mechanics article (https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/feature/eldritch-moon-mechanics-2016-06-27).
2016-07-13 For spells with in their mana costs, use the value chosen for X to determine if the spell’s converted mana cost is 3 or less. For example, your opponent could cast Burn from Within (a spell with mana cost ) with X equal to 3, but not with X equal to 2.
2016-07-13 In a Commander game, your commander may be Bruna, the Fading Light or Gisela, the Broken Blade, and the other may be in your deck. If they meld into Brisela, Voice of Nightmares, Brisela will also be your commander; but if Brisela leaves the battlefield, only the card chosen as your commander at the start of the game may be put into the command zone.