Brutal Suppression MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	1
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Enchantment
Released	2000-06-05
Set symbol
Set name	Prophecy
Set code	PCY
Number	85
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Val Mayerik

Key Takeaways

Brutal Suppression disrupts opponents, simulating card advantage by hindering creature and planeswalker abilities.
It requires careful hand management due to discarding, and is color-specific, limiting its use in non-red/black decks.
Despite its mana cost, its utility in certain metas makes Brutal Suppression a worthy addition to control-oriented collections.

Text of card

Activated abilities on Rebel cards cost an additional "Sacrifice a land" to play.

"They no longer care about their own suffering. Show them something worse." —Latulla, Keldon overseer

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Brutal Suppression offers a unique kind of card advantage by disrupting your opponent’s strategy. Shutting down your opponent’s ability to activate abilities of their creatures or planeswalkers can equate to a virtual card advantage, leaving them with less operational resources on the board.

Resource Acceleration: Though Brutal Suppression doesn’t create resources directly, it slows down your adversary’s gameplan, potentially leading to a quicker route to victory. This stalling can be seen as a form of indirect resource acceleration, as it allows you to develop your board while hindering theirs.

Instant Speed: As an enchantment, Brutal Suppression doesn’t work at instant speed, but its ongoing effect is similar to having an instant on the field at all times. This presence forces opponents to think twice about their plays, granting you a psychological edge—and potentially causing them to waste mana or refrain from optimal plays.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The burden of discarding a card to harness the potential of Brutal Suppression can be detrimental when your hand is already stretched thin. This requirement essentially reduces your available options and could hinder your long-term strategy during the game.

Specific Mana Cost: Brutal Suppression demands both red and black mana, which narrows its versatility. Decks that do not run these colors or lack a consistent mana base may struggle to incorporate and play this card effectively.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana value that some might consider steep for the effect provided, players may find that Brutal Suppression isn’t as mana-efficient as other control options. In situations where speed and efficiency are crucial, the cost of this card might outweigh its benefits, especially when up against decks designed to operate quickly and with lower mana curves.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Brutal Suppression can easily integrate into various decks, particularly those that rely on disabling opponents’ abilities or require answers to creature-heavy strategies.

Combo Potential: This card can complement setups aiming to lock down opponents’ resources, pairing well with other control elements to keep the board in check.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where activated abilities are prevalent, Brutal Suppression can serve as a key sideboard card to neutralize these strategies and gain a competitive edge.

How to beat

Brutal Suppression is a nuanced card in the MTG realm that can pose a serious challenge for any player facing it. Dealing with this card effectively requires strategic play and a good understanding of the game mechanics. To counteract the potential lockdown effects of Brutal Suppression, it’s wise to turn toward enchantment removal spells which are quite effective. These spells are readily available in most decks and can quickly dismantle the oppressive power of Brutal Suppression. Additionally, incorporating instant-speed interactions in your deck can provide an upper hand, allowing you to address threats as they emerge and before your opponent’s suppression strategies gain too much traction.

Playing around Brutal Suppression also demands a measured and anticipatory approach to using the abilities of your creatures. By carefully planning and limiting the activation of these abilities, you can minimize the impact of Brutal Suppression’s taxing effect. Moreover, since Brutal Suppression targets activated abilities, focusing on passive or triggered abilities in your deck construction might help you sidestep its reach, thereby preserving your maneuverability throughout the match.

By employing these tactics, players can effectively neutralize the daunting presence of Brutal Suppression, ensuring it doesn’t disrupt their path to victory in the landscape of MTG matches.

Cards like Brutal Suppression

Brutal Suppression stands out in the MTG landscape with its distinctive ability to stifle activated abilities. In its ranks, you’ll find Suppression Bonds, which similarly limits the utility of a single nonland permanent by preventing its activated abilities from being executed. The key difference is that Suppression Bonds is not restricted to creatures, giving it broader application but at a higher mana cost.

Then there’s Arrest, another parallel, which neutralizes a creature by forbidding it from attacking or blocking in addition to shutting down its activated abilities. Both Brutal Suppression and Arrest contribute to strategic board control, but Brutal Suppression has the advantage of affecting multiple creatures, though it targets only creatures with abilities that require tapping, unlike the more expansive impact of Arrest.

In essence, Brutal Suppression offers a unique approach to creature control in MTG, particularly effective against decks that rely heavily on tap abilities. This targeted suppression can be a game-changer, putting it on the radar for players dedicated to maintaining board control through disruptive tactics.

Cards similar to Brutal Suppression by color, type and mana cost

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Brutal Suppression MTG card by a specific set like Prophecy, 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 Brutal Suppression and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Brutal Suppression has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Premodern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2016-06-08	Activated abilities contain a colon. They’re generally written “ -ost: -ffect].” Some keywords are activated abilities and will have colons in their reminder text.