Brightwood Tracker MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Elf Scout
Released	2019-07-12
Set symbol
Set name	Core Set 2020
Set code	M20
Power	2
Toughness	4
Number	166
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Johannes Voss

Key Takeaways

The Tracker provides deck searching capabilities, crucial for finding key creatures during a match.
It improves draw quality by thinning the deck, subtly enhancing your chances of drawing needed spells or lands.
Its mana-intensive nature and discard requirement might limit its versatility in various deck builds.

Text of card

, : Look at the top four cards of your library. You may reveal a creature card from among them and put it into your hand. Put the rest on the bottom of your library in a random order.

"Many have walked here, but there is only one trail I seek."

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Brightwood Tracker shines at digging through your deck to find the creatures you need. This ability to selectively look for crucial creatures can tip the scales in a prolonged match, ensuring consistent access to your deck’s key players.

Resource Acceleration: While Brightwood Tracker doesn’t directly accelerate resources, it effectively thins out your deck, increasing the likelihood of drawing into non-creature spells or lands. This indirect form of deck streamlining can subtly speed up your game plan.

Instant Speed: Although Brightwood Tracker’s ability isn’t at instant speed, the very nature of its activated ability allows for strategic depth. You have the flexibility to use it at the end of your opponent’s turn or during your turn before committing to your main phase actions, helping maintain the element of surprise and resource allocation.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: When engaging with the Brightwood Tracker, players need to be ready to deal with its search ability tied to a discard prerequisite. This can potentially be a setback during gameplay, especially when your hand is already strapped for cards and you’re trying to maintain card advantage over your opponent.

Specific Mana Cost: Brightwood Tracker demands a strict mana alignment—specifically green—which can be a hurdle in multicolored decks that may struggle with color consistency. This requirement often relegates the card’s inclusion to mono-green decks or those with a heavy green focus, thus limiting its flexibility across various deck types.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of four mana, the Tracker sits at a higher point on the curve, especially for a creature whose primary role is to dig for other creatures. In scenarios where tempo and board presence are paramount, dedicating four mana to a creature that may not impact the board immediately can be a hindrance. More so when considering that there are numerous creatures and spells that can fetch cards at a lower cost or provide more immediate value.

Reasons to Include Brightwood Tracker in Your Collection

Versatility: Brightwood Tracker stands out with its ability to integrate into various deck archetypes. Its creature type and ability to search for other creatures make it a valuable addition to decks that focus on creature-based strategies and synergy.

Combo Potential: The Tracker’s ability to look for and potentially bring a creature card to hand opens up combos. It can help assemble key pieces of a strategy or provide the right answer at the right time, making it a subtle yet strong enabler for various combos.

Meta-Relevance: In a game where board presence and card advantage can determine the outcome, Brightwood Tracker offers a means to maintain momentum. As a late-game play, it helps in grinding matches where attrition becomes key, making it a card to consider in various meta environments that favor prolonged play.

How to beat

Brightwood Tracker brings a unique blend of creature utility and deck manipulation to the table in Magic: The Gathering. Its ability to look at the top four cards of a player’s library and put a creature card from among them into your hand is an undeniable asset in the late game, granting players a form of card advantage and selection as the match progresses. However, strategies to outmaneuver the Tracker involve applying early game pressure, as its ability only activates at a significant mana investment.

Aggressive decks can overwhelm the Tracker before its impact is felt, racing against the slower, more methodical strategy it encourages. Control decks, on the other hand, can utilize removal spells to keep the battlefield clear, negating the Tracker’s utility before it becomes a threat. Additionally, cards that limit searching libraries or drawing extra cards can hinder the Tracker’s effectiveness, making it crucial for players to consider their deck’s pace and control when facing this versatile creature.

All in all, Brightwood Tracker can be a pivotal card in the right deck, but understanding your own strategy and maintaining board presence are key to triumph against this forest native’s card advantage prowess.

Cards like Brightwood Tracker

Brightwood Tracker makes a neat piece for decks that aim to dig specific creatures out of the library. It stands shoulder to shoulder with cards like Elvish Harbinger, as both have the ability to sift through the deck for creatures. However, Brightwood Tracker demands a higher mana investment for the activation of its ability, pushing players to plan their moves carefully.

Another card that echoes a similar sentiment is Board the Weatherlight. This card allows for a look into the top five cards of your library for a historic card, yet it doesn’t guarantee a creature like Brightwood Tracker does. It’s cheaper but less targeted in its selection, swaying its utility based on the deck’s composition.

Comparing these options frames Brightwood Tracker as a reliable option for players who favor creature-heavy strategies. While it’s not the quickest nor the cheapest, its precision in fetching the right creature could be pivotal in turning the tides of a game, making it a card worth considering in certain MTG builds.

Board the Weatherlight - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Brightwood Tracker MTG card by a specific set like Core Set 2020, 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 Brightwood Tracker and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Brightwood Tracker has restrictions

Format	Legality
Historicbrawl	Legal
Historic	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Commander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Explorer	Legal
Penny	Legal
Timeless	Legal