Tavern Brawler MTG Card


Tavern Brawler fosters card advantage, swinging the game decisively in your favor through strategic creature removal. Its ability to accelerate land plays grants you an upper hand, launching you toward casting pivotal spells ahead of time. Functioning instantaneously, it offers the element of surprise, pivotal in turning the tide during critical moments of play.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeLegendary Enchantment — Background

Text of card

Commander creatures you own have "At the beginning of your upkeep, exile the top card of your library. This creature gets +X/+0 until end of turn, where X is that card's mana value. You may play that card this turn."

The only thing you love more than a good drink is a good fight. Luckily, one usually follows the other.


Cards like Tavern Brawler

The Tavern Brawler brings a unique twist to the roster of creature spells in MTG. Its kinship lies with cards like Bloodrage Brawler, which also encourages player engagement through discarding cards to unlock potent abilities. However, Tavern Brawler differentiates itself by providing on-demand power, giving players the flexibility to employ strategic discards during combat or to pave the way for larger game plays.

Meanwhile, cards like Rummaging Goblin present a similar discard mechanic but lean more on a sustained advantage, letting you control your hand throughout the game, though they sacrifice the immediate power boost that Tavern Brawler offers. Then we have the likes of Hazoret the Fervent, another similar card that benefits from having fewer cards in hand. Unlike Tavern Brawler, Hazoret brings indestructibility to the field, but at a higher mana cost, making Tavern Brawler a potentially faster alternative in aggressive strategies.

Tavern Brawler finds its niche among creatures that favor an aggressive discard strategy while offering immediate pressure on the opponent. This adaptability in mid-combat makes it a favorable option for players seeking flexible and powerful in-game tactics.

Bloodrage Brawler - MTG Card versions
Rummaging Goblin - MTG Card versions
Hazoret the Fervent - MTG Card versions
Bloodrage Brawler - MTG Card versions
Rummaging Goblin - MTG Card versions
Hazoret the Fervent - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Tavern Brawler by color, type and mana cost

Mana Flare - MTG Card versions
Gravity Sphere - MTG Card versions
Goblin War Drums - MTG Card versions
Aggression - MTG Card versions
Heat Wave - MTG Card versions
Goblin Warrens - MTG Card versions
Heat Stroke - MTG Card versions
Seismic Assault - MTG Card versions
Torch Song - MTG Card versions
Ghitu War Cry - MTG Card versions
Fervor - MTG Card versions
Spellshock - MTG Card versions
Mana Cache - MTG Card versions
Citadel of Pain - MTG Card versions
Insolence - MTG Card versions
Granite Grip - MTG Card versions
Steam Vines - MTG Card versions
Magma Vein - MTG Card versions
Pyromania - MTG Card versions
Curse of Hospitality - MTG Card versions
Mana Flare - MTG Card versions
Gravity Sphere - MTG Card versions
Goblin War Drums - MTG Card versions
Aggression - MTG Card versions
Heat Wave - MTG Card versions
Goblin Warrens - MTG Card versions
Heat Stroke - MTG Card versions
Seismic Assault - MTG Card versions
Torch Song - MTG Card versions
Ghitu War Cry - MTG Card versions
Fervor - MTG Card versions
Spellshock - MTG Card versions
Mana Cache - MTG Card versions
Citadel of Pain - MTG Card versions
Insolence - MTG Card versions
Granite Grip - MTG Card versions
Steam Vines - MTG Card versions
Magma Vein - MTG Card versions
Pyromania - MTG Card versions
Curse of Hospitality - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Tavern Brawler brings solid card advantage to a match. When it effectively removes an opponent’s creature while also providing a creature of your own, it shifts the game’s balance in your favor.

Resource Acceleration: If the creature you control is a Rogue, Warrior, Cleric, or Wizard, Tavern Brawler also lets you put a land card from your hand onto the battlefield tapped. This effectively accelerates your resources, allowing you to cast more expensive spells earlier in the game.

Instant Speed: Operating at instant speed, Tavern Brawler presents the strategic benefit of flexibility. You can wait to use it until the most opportune moment, such as during combat or in response to an opponent’s action. This unpredictability could be key in securing your victory.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Tavern Brawler insists on parting with another card from your hand, which can strain your resources, especially when your hand is nearly empty.

Specific Mana Cost: Tavern Brawler demands a rigid combination of mana, which can be a hurdle for multicolored or mana-flexible decks to accommodate.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Its mana requirement is steep when measured against other creatures with similar battle prowess, potentially slowing down your game tempo.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Tavern Brawler offers a robust selection of benefits that can adapt to various play styles. In a creature-heavy deck, it provides both a substantial body and an opportunity to draw cards when it becomes blocked, ensuring you never run out of steam.

Combo Potential: This card shines when paired with effects that encourage or benefit from combat. Its built-in mechanic to potentially draw cards can be the linchpin in turning the tide of a drawn-out match or solidifying your board presence.

Meta-Relevance: With strategies that revolve around constant pressure and maintaining card advantage, Tavern Brawler can secure a spot in the meta. Its capacity to keep your hand filled while presenting a threat makes it a respectable addition in a meta that prizes resilience and resourcefulness.


How to beat

Tavern Brawler can be a formidable card on the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering, offering solid stats and the potential to grow stronger during combat. To effectively counter this card, players should consider timing their removal spells wisely or leveraging creatures with deathtouch to neutralize the threat. A well-placed “Murder” can eliminate the Tavern Brawler before it gets out of hand, ensuring it doesn’t gain the upper hand.

Another efficient strategy is to control the field with board wipes such as “Wrath of God” to clear out all creatures, including any bolstered Tavern Brawlers. In essence, having a robust removal suite or damage prevention methods at the ready can make Tavern Brawler much less of a concern. Moreover, avoiding combat with Tavern Brawler and focusing on indirect strategies like mill or alternative win conditions can bypass the confrontation entirely.

Taking these approaches into account, one can maintain the upper hand against Tavern Brawler, ensuring that this aggressive creature doesn’t tip the scales in your opponent’s favor. Keep your answers ready, and let your strategy dictate the pace of the game, not just a single threatening card.


BurnMana Recommendations

Integrating Tavern Brawler into your MTG deck offers a dynamic advantage on the field. By balancing resource acceleration and instant speed plays, this card can shift the tide of battle in your favor when played judaciously. Remember, though, to consider its specific mana cost and the card’s discard requirement. Embrace its combat potential by pairing it with synergistic cards for a compelling offensive strategy. Curious about optimizing your gameplay with Tavern Brawler? Visit BurnMana for strategies, card evaluations, and tips to exploit its full potential and reinforce your deck’s prowess on the battlefield.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Tavern Brawler MTG card by a specific set like Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate and Commander Legends: Battle for 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 Tavern Brawler and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Tavern Brawler Magic the Gathering card was released in 1 different sets between 2022-06-10 and 2022-06-10. Illustrated by Zoltan Boros.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12022-06-10Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's GateCLB 5112015NormalBlackZoltan Boros
22022-06-10Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's GateCLB 2002015NormalBlackZoltan Boros

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Tavern Brawler has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2022-06-10 An effect that checks whether you control your commander is satisfied if you control one or both of your two commanders.
2022-06-10 Both commanders start in the command zone, and the remaining 98 cards (or 58 cards in a Commander Draft game) of your deck are shuffled to become your library.
2022-06-10 Choose a Background is a variant of the partner ability. You may have two commanders if one of them is a legendary creature with the choose a background ability and the other is a legendary Background enchantment. Backgrounds and cards with choose a Background do not interact with cards which have any other partner ability.
2022-06-10 If a card refers to a commander creature you own, a Background won't usually be counted or included for that effect. If another spell or ability causes your Background to become a creature, however, it will be included. Any effect that refers to your commander or a commander you own or control without specifying creature will apply to a Background that is your commander, as appropriate.
2022-06-10 If something refers to your commander while you have two commanders, it refers to one of them of your choice. If you are instructed to perform an action on your commander (e.g. put it from the command zone into your hand due to Command Beacon), you choose one of your commanders at the time the effect happens.
2022-06-10 If you control a Background that grants an ability to commander creatures you own, and you own more than one commander creature, each of them will have that ability.
2022-06-10 If your Commander deck has two commanders, you can include only cards whose own color identities are also found in your commanders’ combined color identities.
2022-06-10 If your commander loses the choose a Background ability or stops being a Background during the game, as appropriate, it is still your commander.
2022-06-10 Once the game begins, your two commanders are tracked separately. If you cast one, you won’t have to pay an additional the first time you cast the other. A player loses the game after having been dealt 21 combat damage from any one of them, not from both of them combined (although your Background won’t usually be a creature anyway).
2022-06-10 You can choose two commanders that are the same color or colors.