Earthbrawn MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Common
Type	Instant
Abilities	Reinforce
Released	2008-02-01
Set symbol
Set name	Morningtide
Set code	MOR
Number	119
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Kev Walker

Key Takeaways

Earthbrawn can offer card advantage through combat by boosting creature stats without losing cards.
The reinforce mechanic allows for lasting board presence, converting Earthbrawn into +1/+1 counters.
Instant speed versatility means unpredictability and strategic advantage during pivotal game moments.

Text of card

Target creature gets +3/+3 until end of turn. Reinforce 1— (, Discard this card: Put a +1/+1 counter on target creature.)

Gremil finally felt in touch with nature—and felt a need to share the experience with others.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Earthbrawn can potentially tip the scale of a matchup by bolstering your creature’s power and toughness, providing a tangible advantage without losing card economy. This effect enables your creature to surpass an opponent’s in combat, which could lead to card advantage through beneficial trades.

Resource Acceleration: As a beneficial twist, Earthbrawn’s reinforce mechanic serves as a resource acceleration tool. It lets you discard the card to place +1/+1 counters directly onto a creature you control, thereby converting your card into an enduring board presence that can provide immediate and leftover value.

Instant Speed: The instant speed nature of Earthbrawn affords you the strategic upper hand, allowing reactive play during combat or at the end of an opponent’s turn. This enhances its utility as it can be used both as a surprise element during the fight phase or as a last-minute save, thus optimizing its impact on the game state.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Earthbrawn card demands players to discard another card to leverage its effects. This condition can hamper your hand, especially during late-game scenarios where each card in hand is vital for your strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: Earthbrawn requires a precise combination of mana, which includes green and another. This specific mana requirement can be restrictive and make it less versatile in a deck that doesn’t consistently produce the necessary colors.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The card comes with a relatively steep mana cost when evaluated against other buffing spells, potentially making it a less appealing option in decks that are designed for speed or those that operate under tight mana curves.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Earthbrawn adds to a variety of decks with its unique ability to boost creatures significantly. It’s a perfect fit for those looking to empower their board with an instant speed bump in power and toughness.

Combo Potential: The synergy Earthbrawn creates with decks focusing on +1/+1 counters or creature-based strategies is noteworthy. It can turn an ordinary creature into a formidable threat or even serve as a surprise combat trick to turn the tides.

Meta-Relevance: Quick and impactful, Earthbrawn is a great tool against decks that rely on speed. With the continually shifting MTG landscape, having a card that can adapt to various opponents while enhancing your gameplay is an asset.

How to beat

Overcoming Earthbrawn can be a pivotal moment in a match. This instant card becomes a force multiplier by bolstering a creature with a +3/+3 boost until the end of the turn. Additionally, if you’re engaging in combat with fewer resources than your opponent, Earthbrawn invokes the reinforce mechanic, allowing you to permanently increase your creature’s strength by discarding the card and bolstering it with +3/+3 counters.

One effective strategy to counter Earthbrawn is by using instant-speed removal spells to dispatch the target creature in response to Earthbrawn being cast. This not only prevents your opponent’s creature from getting stronger but also causes your opponent to lose two cards in the process. Similarly, well-timed counterspells can nip the threat in the bud before it even materializes. Being aware of the mana your opponent has available can also be key; smart plays around their open lands can leave them unable to utilize Earthbrawn’s full potential.

Tactics such as these are vital when adapting to and controlling the battlefield. Anticipating Earthbrawn’s play and efficiently countering it allows for strategic advantage, keeping you a step ahead in the game.

Cards like Earthbrawn

In the realm of creature buffs within Magic: The Gathering, Earthbrawn stands out as a versatile card. Earthbrawn shares similarities with cards like Giant Growth, a classic that also offers a power boost to creatures. Earthbrawn, however, offers an additional upside of untapping the creature, allowing for unexpected blocks or additional attacks. Unlike Giant Growth, which solely focuses on instant combat advantages, Earthbrawn’s reinforce mechanic provides a more enduring benefit, as it can also permanently bolster a creature’s stats if used in that mode.

Comparatively, cards like Invigorate impart an even larger increase in power without a mana cost, provided the player is willing to grant their opponent life in exchange. While the cost-to-benefit ratio of Invigorate is tempting, Earthbrawn’s untap feature and dual functionality afford it opportunities for strategic depth. Then consider Vines of Vastwood, which not only beefs up a creature but also offers protection from opponents’ spells for the turn, a crucial tactic that can safeguard a key creature during pivotal moments.

Although each spell in the pump spell category has its merits, Earthbrawn’s hybrid nature as both a trick and a strengthening tool ensures that it deservedly has a place in decks that seek to maximize potential plays and creature longevity.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Earthbrawn MTG card by a specific set like Morningtide, 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 Earthbrawn and other MTG cards: