Brinebarrow Intruder MTG Card


Brinebarrow Intruder - Kaldheim
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Human Rogue
Abilities Flash
Released2021-02-05
Set symbol
Set nameKaldheim
Set codeKHM
Power 1
Toughness 2
Number49
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byScott Murphy

Key Takeaways

  1. Brinebarrow Intruder’s flash ability allows for unexpected combat disruptions and strategic plays.
  2. The card’s dual mana cost means careful deck construction is required for optimal use.
  3. It holds potential for combos and can be integral in certain MTG meta environments.
Flash card art

Guide to Flash card ability

Explore the dynamic Flash ability in Magic: The Gathering (MTG), a feature that allows you to cast spells at lightning speed, often leaving your opponents reeling and your strategy several steps ahead. This versatile ability can turn the tide of a game, providing the element of surprise and tactical advantage. It places a premium on timing and foresight, transforming an ordinary deck into a formidable arsenal of instant threats and responses.

Text of card

Flash When Brinebarrow Intruder enters the battlefield, target creature an opponent controls gets -2/-0 until end of turn.

Locked in the ice of Karfell, the treasures of ancient nobles await in ruins guarded by the dead.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Brinebarrow Intruder can influence the board state immediately upon entry by picking off smaller creatures or weakening larger threats, which can indirectly lead to card advantage when these weakened creatures are easier to remove in future turns.

Resource Acceleration: Although Brinebarrow Intruder itself doesn’t accelerate your mana resources directly, it helps maintain a lean mana curve allowing you to keep more expensive spells in hand while still affecting the board. This can lead to more efficient use of your mana in the long run.

Instant Speed: Brinebarrow Intruder’s flash ability gives it the flexibility to be played at instant speed, surprising an opponent or disrupting their strategy. This can be especially effective during the combat phase, either deterring an attack or turning the tide of battle in your favor.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: As a keeper of your hand’s integrity, the Brinebarrow Intruder might throw you off balance. Unlike other cards without such demands, this pesky Intruder insists on a sacrifice from your hand upon entry, a move that could leave you with fewer options as the game unfolds.

Specific Mana Cost: Careful now, as this card’s allegiance lies with both blue and green mana sources. If your deck isn’t tuned to the whispers of forests and the echoes of the sea, the Intruder might overstay its welcome in your hand, far from the battlefield it seeks to haunt.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Tread lightly on the mana you accumulate, for this creature commands a sum that may eclipse its potential. Swifter alternatives exist, capable of sneaking past your foes for a lesser toll, leaving your coffers richer for the battles to come.


Reasons to Include Brinebarrow Intruder in Your Collection

Versatility: Brinebarrow Intruder serves as a flexible addition to decks that need to thwart aggro opponents by offering a cost-effective creature that can also disrupt early combat maths.

Combo Potential: This sneaky rogue can supplement strategies that capitalize on enter-the-battlefield effects or tempo plays, potentially paving the way for more intricate plays down the line.

Meta-Relevance: Given that creature-heavy strategies often populate the meta, having Brinebarrow Intruder in your arsenal means you possess an affordable method to offset the board state and remain one step ahead.


How to beat Brinebarrow Intruder

Brinebarrow Intruder is one of those sneaky creatures in Magic: The Gathering that can tip the combat scale in your opponent’s favor. It’s deceptively powerful in the right deck, with its flash ability allowing it to surprise an attacker and strengthen the defense abruptly. But fear not, there are strategies to outplay this crafty card.

One effective method is to hold onto removal spells that can be cast at instant speed. By doing so, you can patiently wait for Brinebarrow Intruder to be revealed and respond accordingly before it wreaks havoc during combat. Sweepers that clear multiple creatures at once also negate the advantage of playing multiple Intruders over the course of a single game. Moreover, spells that prevent your opponent from casting spells at instant speed or cards that limit the number of spells each player can cast each turn will clip the wings of this agile adversary.

To conclude, while Brinebarrow Intruder may occasionally disrupt your battle plans, a strategic mix of removals and control elements can effectively neutralize its impact, letting you maintain the upper hand in the skirmish.


Cards like Brinebarrow Intruder

Brinebarrow Intruder finds its niche within the realm of small, utility creatures in Magic: The Gathering. Comparable creatures like Faerie Miscreant also cost one mana, with the added benefit of drawing a card if another is in play. Although Brinebarrow Intruder lacks the card draw ability, it compensates with its enter-the-battlefield effect, giving an opposing creature -2/-0 until the end of the turn, potentially disrupting opponent’s strategies during combat.

Another parallel can be drawn with Fervent Champion. This swift creature carries its weight with a first strike and ability to bolster other knights. While Fervent Champion shines in a dedicated knight deck, Brinebarrow Intruder’s flexibility in weakening an opponent’s creature can be valuable in a wider range of situations without requiring tribal synergy.

Ultimately, whether opting for the subtlety of Brinebarrow Intruder’s combat trick or the aggressive push of Fervent Champion’s swift attacks, players have a variety of versatile one-drops at their disposal to steer the early game in Magic: The Gathering. Distinct in their applications yet similar in mana cost, these cards cater to different facets of a carefully crafted strategy.

Faerie Miscreant - MTG Card versions
Fervent Champion - MTG Card versions
Faerie Miscreant - MTG Card versions
Fervent Champion - MTG Card versions

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Fledgling Osprey - MTG Card versions
Manta Riders - MTG Card versions
Faerie Squadron - MTG Card versions
Faerie Seer - MTG Card versions
Fugitive Wizard - MTG Card versions
Wandering Ones - MTG Card versions
Teardrop Kami - MTG Card versions
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Sage of Epityr - MTG Card versions
Screeching Sliver - MTG Card versions
Timebender - MTG Card versions
Cloud Sprite - MTG Card versions
Merrow Witsniper - MTG Card versions
Cursecatcher - MTG Card versions
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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Brinebarrow Intruder MTG card by a specific set like Kaldheim, 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 Brinebarrow Intruder and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Brinebarrow Intruder has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
BrawlLegal
TimelessLegal

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