Gut, Brutal Fanatic MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 7 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Legendary Creature — Goblin Shaman |
| Released | 2022-07-07 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Alchemy Horizons: Baldur's Gate |
| Set code | HBG |
| Power | 5 |
| Toughness | 4 |
| Number | 13b |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Wayne Reynolds |
Key Takeaways
- Gut, Brutal Fanatic provides card advantage and instant-speed interaction, enhancing strategic depth.
- High mana cost and specific color needs may limit deck-building versatility and mid to late-game power.
- Despite its drawbacks, its potential for game-changing combos makes it a useful addition to your collection.
Text of card
When this creature specializes, create a token that's a copy of a creature card exiled with this creature, except it's 4/4 and has menace and haste. Sacrifice it at the beginning of your next end step.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Playing Gut, Brutal Fanatic offers a meaningful boost in card advantage under the right conditions. When this card is on the battlefield, it lashes out against opponents’ creatures and rewards you with card draw, helping to maintain a steady flow of resources and options in your hand.
Resource Acceleration: Gut, Brutal Fanatic’s ability to potentially eliminate a blocker or attacker can accelerate your game plan. This removal aspect translates into less resistance for your creatures and can tip the scales in your favor by letting your other spells and creatures apply more pressure on the opponent, indirectly contributing to your overall resource advantage.
Instant Speed: The flexibility of Gut, Brutal Fanatic cannot be overstated. At instant speed, this card offers the element of surprise, providing you with the tactical advantage of responding to your opponent’s moves during their turn. This not only disrupts their strategy but also allows you to efficiently manage your resources while keeping the pressure on them.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One of the key drawbacks associated with Gut, Brutal Fanatic is its upfront cost that goes beyond mana. This creature commands a discard from your hand upon casting, potentially upsetting your strategic reserves and diminishing your late-game potential.
Specific Mana Cost: Building a deck around Gut, Brutal Fanatic means conforming to specific mana requirements, as the card’s cost demands a strict combination of mana colors. This can be restrictive and hinder deck flexibility, making it a less versatile pick for multi-colored or mana fluid builds.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: When considering the balance between cost and impact, Gut, Brutal Fanatic comes at a steep price for its capabilities. With other cards in the same mana range offering similar or more powerful effects without necessitating a discard, it’s essential to evaluate whether the card is a worthwhile investment for your game plan.
Reasons to Include Gut, Brutal Fanatic in Your Collection
Versatility: Gut, Brutal Fanatic is a dynamic card that can be slotted into numerous deck archetypes. Its ability to influence the board immediately upon entry makes it a versatile option for players looking to exert control or shift momentum in their favor.
Combo Potential: With its unique mechanics, Gut, Brutal Fanatic opens up a world of combo possibilities. It can synergize with strategies that capitalize on sacrifice or power buffs, making it a formidable presence in any stack that leverages creature-based interactions.
Meta-Relevance: Given the ever-changing landscape of the game, having a card like Gut, Brutal Fanatic, which can adapt to different playing styles and counter various threats, is crucial. Its relevance in the current meta makes it a card worth holding onto, as it has the potential to outplay the popular strategies and archetypes that dominate the play environment.
How to beat
Gut, Brutal Fanatic can seem overwhelming at first with its impressive abilities that effectively clear the battlefield while advancing your opponent’s board state. It can be a challenge to counter, but it’s not invincible. First, timing is crucial. Play around Gut’s activation by holding onto your instant-speed removal spells. This ensures that you can respond to its casting or its triggered abilities before it wreaks havoc.
To mitigate its impact, consider running more exile-based removal spells like Path to Exile or Swords to Plowshares, which can handle Gut without triggering its death ability. Additionally, utilizing counterspells when Gut is on the stack will prevent it from entering the battlefield entirely. Lastly, having graveyard hate cards like Rest in Peace or Leyline of the Void can nullify its last ditch efforts by preventing it from returning cards to your opponent’s hand from the graveyard.
Understanding Gut, Brutal Fanatic’s strengths and weaknesses is key. Prioritize its removal distinctly, and use the aforementioned strategies to keep it from taking over the game. Respect its power, but don’t let it intimidate you into misplays.
Cards like Gut, Brutal Fanatic
Gut, Brutal Fanatic adds a unique dynamic to the array of aggressive red creatures in Magic: The Gathering. Its similarities to other cards like the fervent Champion can’t be overlooked. Both cards are designed for aggressive strategies and come at a low mana cost. However, Gut, Brutal Fanatic introduces a distinct twist with its life loss ability to boost its power. Unlike the Champion, which focuses on first strike and buffing knights, Gut’s life trade-off allows for potentially greater damage output, albeit at a risk.
Siege-Gang Commander is another card that shares a theme of utilizing creatures to deal damage. While the Commander requires a larger mana investment and operates at a slower tempo creating multiple bodies on the battlefield, Gut, Brutal Fanatic’s singular, more immediate approach poses a quicker threat. Additionally, unlike Gut, the Commander offers a way to deal damage without engaging in combat.
Considering the nuances and the impact on gameplay, Gut, Brutal Fanatic offers MTG enthusiasts an aggressive option with high-risk, high-reward gameplay that could pivot the board’s state in your favor under the right circumstances.
Cards similar to Gut, Brutal Fanatic by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Gut, Brutal Fanatic MTG card by a specific set like Alchemy Horizons: 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 Gut, Brutal Fanatic 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
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