Brain Gorgers MTG Card


Brain Gorgers - Planar Chaos
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Zombie
Abilities Madness
Released2007-02-02
Set symbol
Set namePlanar Chaos
Set codePLC
Power 4
Toughness 2
Number65
Frame2003
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byKev Walker

Key Takeaways

  1. Brain Gorgers can gain card advantage by disrupting opponents or entering as a creature.
  2. Madness allows cheaper casting, potentially speeding up your aggressive plays.
  3. Versatile and impactful in discarding mechanics, a solid choice for specific MTG decks.

Text of card

When you play Brain Gorgers, any player may sacrifice a creature. If a player does, counter Brain Gorgers. Madness (If you discard this card, you may play it for its madness cost instead of putting it into your graveyard.)

In spite of their hunger, they're slow eaters.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Brain Gorgers presents a threat that can double as a means to disrupt your opponent’s hand. Casting it forces an opponent to either let it land or sacrifice a card, potentially providing you an edge.

Resource Acceleration: With its madness ability, Brain Gorgers can be played at a reduced cost under the right conditions. This could effectively speed up your gameplay by allowing you to deploy more threats earlier.

Instant Speed: Although Brain Gorgers itself is not an instant, its madness mechanic can be activated at instant speed if the card is discarded by another instant-speed effect, offering surprise interaction possibilities during an opponent’s turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Brain Gorgers card compels you to discard another card as part of its casting cost. This can be a steep price if your hand is already depleted or if every card is vital to your game strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: With a mana cost that includes both black and generic mana, Brain Gorgers may not seamlessly fit into multicolored decks that aren’t focused on black mana, thereby limiting its versatility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The casting cost of Brain Gorgers is set at four mana, which is relatively high, especially considering that other creatures or spells might provide higher impact or more efficient solutions at the same or lower mana cost.


Reasons to Include Brain Gorgers in Your Collection

Versatility: Brain Gorgers offers a dual-threat ability as both a creature spell and a potential disruption tool. Its flexibility allows it to be slotted into decks that capitalize on aggressive starts or those that aim to throw off an opponent’s strategy with the madness cost.

Combo Potential: This card shines in strategies centered around graveyard play and discard mechanics. It can seamlessly integrate with cards that benefit from creatures entering the grave or from opponents discarding cards, creating synergistic opportunities.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where decks often rely on a steady curve and precise planning, the forced discard effect of Brain Gorgers can be particularly disruptive. Its presence can tilt the scales in matchups where timing and hand advantage are crucial.


How to beat Brain Gorgers

Brain Gorgers presents an interesting challenge in MTG by forcing a reaction from the opponent. As a creature with the opportunity to impact an opponent’s strategy through its casting, it often prompts a sacrifice or a loss of card resources. Players need to navigate carefully to mitigate its potential disruption.

How, then, does one stand strong against this threat? A common tactic involves keeping an extra disposable creature on the battlefield to use as sacrifice fodder. Efficient creature control is critical. Moreover, cards with flash can be particularly useful, as they allow players to wait until the end of an opponent’s turn before deciding on the best course of action, thus conserving resources and maintaining hand advantage even when facing the Gorgers.

Furthermore, spells that counter creature spells can nullify the Gorgers before they even become a problem. So, a well-timed counter can keep the field clear and the player’s strategy unharmed. Balance and timing, therefore, are key strategies to reign victorious when Brain Gorgers comes gnawing at your game plan.


Cards like Brain Gorgers

Brain Gorgers can be seen as a distinctive card in Magic the Gathering, somewhat akin to other zombie spells. For example, take a look at Gempalm Polluter, which also falls within the zombie creature type and offers card advantage through cycling, albeit without the ability to follow up with a play from your hand.

Duress, while not a creature card, similarly affects opponents’ hands by targeting noncreature, nonland cards. Brain Gorgers offers a more proactive option by inviting a forced discard or allowing you to deploy a creature. Cabal Therapist is another notable mention, with its repeatable Mind Twist effect at the beginning of your precombat main phase, though it doesn’t provide the immediate one-shot potential discard Brain Gorgers does.

Comparing these cards, Brain Gorgers climbs the ranks with its flexible Madness cost, becoming both a threat on the board and a pressure tool for the opponent’s hand. This makes it an intriguing choice for players looking to blend creature-based strategies with hand disruption.

Gempalm Polluter - MTG Card versions
Duress - MTG Card versions
Cabal Therapist - MTG Card versions
Gempalm Polluter - Legions (LGN)
Duress - Urza's Saga (USG)
Cabal Therapist - Modern Horizons (MH1)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Brain Gorgers MTG card by a specific set like Planar Chaos, 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 Brain Gorgers and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Brain Gorgers has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2007-02-01 As the triggered ability resolves, the active player gets the option to perform the action. If that player declines, the next player in turn order gets the option. As soon as any player performs the action, the spell is countered, but the remaining players still get the option. If all players decline, the spell remains on the stack.
2007-02-01 When this spell is cast, its “when you cast” ability triggers and goes on the stack on top of it.
2013-07-01 A player can’t choose to sacrifice a creature unless they actually control a creature that can be sacrificed. For example, if the action were “discard three cards,” a player with two or fewer cards in hand couldn’t take the option to counter the spell.

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