Shelkin Brownie MTG Card


Shelkin Brownie - Legends
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Ouphe
Released1994-06-01
Set symbol
Set nameLegends
Set codeLEG
Power 1
Toughness 1
Number204
Frame1993
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byDouglas Shuler

Key Takeaways

  1. Shelkin Brownie can lead to indirect card advantage by neutralizing enemy cards’ effects.
  2. Its instant speed ability provides strategic flexibility and can disrupt opponent combos.
  3. Despite its utility, the card’s discard requirement could potentially weaken your hand.

Text of card

oc T: Remove the bands with other ability from target creature until end of turn.

Leave a bowl of milk on your doorstep each night for the brownies, or they'll cause you no end of mischief.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: As a unique creature card, Shelkin Brownie offers strategic options for overcoming defenses or removing key enchantments. While not directly drawing cards, it can level the playing field and indirectly lead to card advantage by negating opponent’s card effects.

Resource Acceleration: Although Shelkin Brownie isn’t designed to accelerate resources in the traditional sense of providing additional mana, its low casting cost allows for quick deployment potentially freeing up mana resources for more actions within a single turn.

Instant Speed: Shelkin Brownie’s ability can be activated at instant speed, giving you the flexibility to respond to opponents’ enchantments during their turn. This tactical advantage can disrupt combo plays, giving you an edge at crucial moments in the game.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Shelkin Brownies demand a card be discarded to unleash their ability. This can significantly impede your hand, especially if you’re running low on options or grappling with an empty grip.

Specific Mana Cost: This creature necessitates a precise mana combination to cast—both green and colorless. Such a requirement can sometimes stifle its inclusion in multi-colored decks that could struggle with mana flexibility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With mana investments typically reserved for creatures boasting more considerable impact, Shelkin Brownies may not seem like an optimal choice. When other creatures or spells of similar cost can provide larger stat lines or more impactful effects, this cost can be a hard sell in competitive play.


Reasons to Include Shelkin Brownie in Your Collection

Versatility: Shelkin Brownie offers a unique function by being able to untap all creatures enchanted with enchantments. This trait makes it valuable in decks centered around aura strategies or those that seek to counter opponents’ enchantment-based tactics.

Combo Potential: Its ability to untap multiple creatures has synergy with cards that trigger upon tapping or untapping, potentially leading to unlimited combos or repetitive value exploitation within a game.

Meta-Relevance: In metas where enchantments play a significant role, the Shelkin Brownie can be a game-changer by disrupting well-established strategies, making it a smart inclusion for adaptable deck builders looking to have an edge.


How to beat

Shelkin Brownie might seem unassuming on the battlefield at first glance, but this small creature holds a versatile role within MTG. Known for its ability to nullify the abilities of other creatures, it can be a subtle yet powerful tool in disrupting your opponent’s strategies. Overlooking its significance could cost you, as it dismantles the synergies you so carefully craft.

To counteract the influence of Shelkin Brownie, the key lies in timing and choosing the right moment to strike. Incorporating instant-speed removal spells that can eliminate it before it activates its ability is one strategy. Cards like Fatal Push or Swords to Plowshares can be invaluable here. It’s also effective to use creatures that come with hexproof or shroud, rendering Shelkin Brownie’s ability useless against them.

Another angle to consider is taking advantage of the fact that Shelkin Brownie targets only one creature at a time. Spreading your abilities across multiple creatures could mitigate your vulnerability. Ultimately, knowing that your opponent has Shelkin Brownie means preparing to safeguard your most valuable creatures or having a backup plan should their abilities be shut down.


Cards like Shelkin Brownie

Shelkin Brownie may not be a household name in the sprawling universe of Magic the Gathering, but it holds a unique niche. It’s often compared to other cards that can neutralize abilities, such as Unraveling Aether or Naturalize. While these cards are utilized to destroy artifacts or enchantments directly, Shelkin Brownie serves a more subtle purpose. It can target creatures with activated abilities and nullify those for the turn, which can disrupt your opponent’s strategy without the need to remove the creature entirely.

Another card that hints at similar functionality is Linvala, Keeper of Silence. Linvala has a broader effect, completely silencing activated abilities of creatures your opponents control without targeting them individually. However, the differences in mana cost and rarity make Shelkin Brownie a more accessible option for players not seeking to invest heavily in their mana base. Additionally, its lower casting cost allows it to slide into play earlier in the game, making it a crafty defensive play against early game activated abilities.

While not as universally applicable as some of its counterparts, Shelkin Brownie secures its place by offering tactical control over the battlefield. Its ability to selectively incapacitate key creatures can be unexpectedly useful, making it a card worth considering for certain MTG decks that aim to hinder opponent strategies.

Naturalize - MTG Card versions
Linvala, Keeper of Silence - MTG Card versions
Naturalize - Onslaught (ONS)
Linvala, Keeper of Silence - Rise of the Eldrazi (ROE)

Cards similar to Shelkin Brownie by color, type and mana cost

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Whirling Dervish - MTG Card versions
River Boa - MTG Card versions
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Mayor of Avabruck // Howlpack Alpha - MTG Card versions
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Albino Troll - World Championship Decks 1999 (WC99)
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Priest of Titania - World Championship Decks 2000 (WC00)
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Blurred Mongoose - Invasion (INV)
Grizzly Bears - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Llanowar Loamspeaker - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Genesis Hydra - Iconic Masters (IMA)
Jolrael, Mwonvuli Recluse - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Scavenging Ooze - Modern Masters 2017 (MM3)
Heir of the Wilds - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Mayor of Avabruck // Howlpack Alpha - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Wren's Run Vanquisher - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Muscle Sliver - Secret Lair Drop (SLD)
Utopia Tree - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Bloodline Shaman - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Sakura-Tribe Elder - Junior APAC Series (PJAS)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Shelkin Brownie MTG card by a specific set like Legends, 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 Shelkin Brownie and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Shelkin Brownie has restrictions

FormatLegality
OldschoolLegal
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2004-10-04 Can only remove “bands with other” and not normal “banding” ability.

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