Brilliant Spectrum MTG Card
2015-10-02 - Number 70
2019-11-07 - Number 302
2020-09-26 - Number BFZ-70
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Sorcery |
| Abilities | Converge |
Key Takeaways
- Brilliant Spectrum offers card advantage by enabling multiple card draws in one go.
- The card’s specific mana colors and discard requirement can limit its utility.
- It’s a staple for Commander and can pivotally influence MTG multicolor strategies.
Text of card
Converge — Draw X cards, where X is the number of colors of mana spent to cast Brilliant Spectrum. Then discard two cards.
There are more sights on Zendikar than the eyes can see.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Brilliant Spectrum shines in the card advantage department by offering players the chance to draw multiple cards. This influx of new options can be critical in outmaneuvering opponents and maintaining a strong hand.
Resource Acceleration: While not directly a resource acceleration tool, the ability to refill your hand can help you find the necessary land or mana-producing spells to stay ahead or catch up on the board.
Instant Speed: As a sorcery, Brilliant Spectrum can’t be cast at instant speed, but it can certainly set you up to successfully leverage your instant-speed spells on subsequent turns with its significant card draw.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The Brilliant Spectrum card necessitates players to discard a number of cards upon use, which could inadvertently deplete your hand and land you in a difficult position, especially if your deck relies on card advantage.
Specific Mana Cost: This card demands a specific array of mana colors to cast, which can be a considerable limitation if your deck isn’t built around a multicolored mana base, potentially hampering your plays.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While the card can potentially draw you multiple cards, its high casting cost can be cumbersome – with four mana to pay, including two of which must be in specific colors, it may not be as efficient compared to other alternatives available for card draw in MTG.
Reasons to Include Brilliant Spectrum in Your Collection
Versatility: Brilliant Spectrum stands out as a potential staple in Commander and casual play decks that are geared toward maximizing card draw. Its scaling effect based on the diversity of mana used allows it to adapt to various deck-building strategies and mana bases, providing a surge of fresh options in your hand.
Combo Potential: For those who enjoy constructing intricate combos, Brilliant Spectrum can act as a key piece by cycling through your deck, potentially unveiling the puzzle pieces needed to execute a game-winning combo. It serves well in decks focusing on casting numerous spells in a single turn or those that manipulate the graveyard.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta that favors lengthy games and control battles, the card filtering ability of Brilliant Spectrum ensures that you maintain a grip full of action. It’s particularly useful for staying on par with decks that generate a lot of value over time, allowing you to dig for answers or threats when most needed.
How to beat
Brilliant Spectrum is a card that can swing games in Magic: The Gathering by refilling a player’s hand, especially in decks focusing on multicolor strategies. Confronting a card that has the potential to provide such card advantage can be daunting, but there are strategies to mitigate its impact.
To effectively combat Brilliant Spectrum, consider applying pressure early in the game. Since the card requires a player to have a diverse set of colors to maximize its draw potential, setting up a faster, more consistent mono or dual-color deck could outpace the setup required for Brilliant Spectrum. Moreover, hand disruption tactics can be pivotal. Employing cards that force your opponent to discard can interrupt their plan before they get the chance to cast it, reducing the chances of a successful and impactful draw.
Additionally, countering spells can be a clean solution. Having counter spells ready ensures that you can stop Brilliant Spectrum the moment it’s cast. Stack interaction is critical here, where timing and the choice of counter spell can make all the difference. Finally, keep in mind that post-resolution, if Brilliant Spectrum leaves your opponent with a surplus of cards in hand, discard effects or cards punishing large hand sizes can turn their advantage into a liability.
Cards like Brilliant Spectrum
Brilliant Spectrum stakes its claim within the domain of cascade card drawers in Magic: The Gathering, evoking parallel strategies to that of other multicolored card draw spells. It stands in line with cards such as Urban Evolution, which not only permits the drawing of three cards but also allows an additional land play, emphasizing landfall synergy. However, Brilliant Spectrum flaunts an adjustable drawing mechanism based on the diversity of mana colors used, while Urban Evolution is unaffected by such conditions.
Another kin in functionality is Mana Severance, though it does not draw cards directly, it accelerates the process of sieving through your deck by removing lands, thereby increasing the likelihood of drawing non-land cards in subsequent turns. Conversely, Brilliant Spectrum offers immediate gratification by drawing multiple cards outright. Then comes Concentrate, yet another sorcery prompting the drawing of three cards at a stable four mana cost, without the nuance of color reliance, as seen with Brilliant Spectrum.
Drawing conclusions from the similarities and distinctions between these cards, Brilliant Spectrum invariably carves out a niche for itself within Magic: The Gathering. It embraces a gambit playstyle, encouraging a grand spectrum of mana color inclusion for optimal benefit.
Cards similar to Brilliant Spectrum by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Brilliant Spectrum MTG card by a specific set like Battle for Zendikar and Mystery Booster, 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 Brilliant Spectrum and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See Magic products
Printings
The Brilliant Spectrum Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2015-10-02 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by Winona Nelson.
| # | Release | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2015-10-02 | Battle for Zendikar | BFZ | 70 | 2015 | normal | black | Winona Nelson | |
| 2 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 302 | 2015 | normal | black | Winona Nelson | |
| 3 | The List | PLST | BFZ-70 | 2015 | normal | black | Winona Nelson |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Brilliant Spectrum has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Brilliant Spectrum card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2015-08-25 | If a spell with a converge ability is copied, no mana was spent to cast the copy, so the number of colors of mana spent to cast the spell will be zero. The number of colors spent to cast the original spell is not copied. |
| 2015-08-25 | If there are any alternative or additional costs to cast a spell with a converge ability, the mana spent to pay those costs will count. For example, if an effect makes sorcery spells cost more to cast, you could pay to cast Radiant Flames and deal 4 damage to each creature. |
| 2015-08-25 | If you cast a spell with converge without spending any mana to cast it (perhaps because an effect allowed you to cast it without paying its mana cost), then the number of colors spent to cast it will be zero. |
| 2015-08-25 | The maximum number of colors of mana you can spend to cast a spell is five. Colorless is not a color. Note that the cost of a spell with converge may limit how many colors of mana you can spend. |
| 2015-08-25 | Unless a spell or ability allows you to, you can’t choose to pay more mana for a spell with a converge ability just to spend more colors of mana. Likewise, if a spell or ability reduces the amount of mana it costs you to cast a spell with converge, you can’t ignore that cost reduction in order to spend more colors of mana. |
