Darksteel Brute MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Artifact
Abilities	Indestructible
Released	2004-02-06
Set symbol
Set name	Darksteel
Set code	DST
Number	108
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Nottsuo

Key Takeaways

Indestructible nature enables Darksteel Brute to be a durable battlefield asset, resisting most removal spells.
Artifact-based combos and tactical activation at instant speed give Darksteel Brute a flexible role during games.
Sacrifice and exile strategies counter Darksteel Brute’s sturdy presence, offering ways to effectively overcome it.

Text of card

Darksteel Brute is indestructible. ("Destroy" effects and lethal damage don't destroy it.) : Darksteel Brute becomes a 2/2 artifact creature until end of turn.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Darksteel Brute is an indestructible artifact creature when activated, which can become a formidable blocker or an aggressive asset without the worry of it being easily removed. This staying power on the board can lead to maintaining board presence and indirectly contribute to card advantage, as opponents may need to use multiple resources to overcome it.

Resource Acceleration: As an artifact, Darksteel Brute complements strategies that capitalize on artifact synergies. While it doesn’t directly accelerate resources, it can be a lynchpin in decks that exploit artifacts for ramp, benefitting from cost reductions or being an enabler for larger plays.

Instant Speed: Although Darksteel Brute itself is not an instant, its ability to become a creature can be activated at instant speed. This allows for tactical flexibility, enabling you to turn it into a creature only when necessary, perhaps after noxious spell resolution or during combat to surprise an attacker, making it a versatile tool during the heat of the game.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Not applicable for this artifact creature as it doesn’t impose discarding as part of its activation or casting process, ensuring no card disadvantage in this aspect.

Specific Mana Cost: Darksteel Brute has an immutability that requires a specific mana investment of three generic mana, which could be a limiting factor when optimizing mana efficiency across a diverse deck.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The initial cost to cast this card is relatively high considering its base state as a 0/1 creature. Even with its Indestructible ability, you might find more impactful creatures or artifacts for the same or lower mana investment.

Reasons to Include Darksteel Brute in Your Collection

Versatility: Darksteel Brute boasts an indestructible status when active, making it useful in a variety of decks that look for durable artifacts. Its ability to become a creature during your turn adds flexibility in how you utilize it on the battlefield.

Combo Potential: This card can synergize with strategies that capitalize on artifact count or indestructible permanents. It’s often used as a resilient cog in artifact-themed combos, fitting seamlessly into decks that aim to exploit such interactions.

Meta-Relevance: In metas heavy with removal spells, Darksteel Brute’s indestructibility becomes a key feature. Its resistance to most forms of removal ensures that it’s a persistent threat and resource, well-suited to outlast and outmaneuver control-centric opponents.

How to beat

Darksteel Brute presents a unique challenge on the battlefield, with its Indestructibility making it resistant to typical removal spells in MTG. To effectively counter this artifact creature, adapting your strategy is key. Employing cards that change the card’s characteristics or force a sacrifice can be impactful. Cards like Dispatch, which can tap and potentially exile an artifact creature if you control three or more artifacts, become valuable in this scenario.

Another effective tactic is utilizing exile effects that don’t rely on dealing damage or destroying the creature, thus bypassing Darksteel Brute’s Indestructibility. Think of cards like Path to Exile or Swords to Plowshares, staples in white control decks capable of neutralizing such sturdy threats. Additionally, utilizing cards that force your opponent to sacrifice creatures can also skirt around Indestructibility, with effects found on cards like Diabolic Edict or Liliana of the Veil.

In summary, while Darksteel Brute can seem like an immovable object on the board, there are strategic paths to tackle this formidable foe. Deploying exile or sacrifice mechanics will help you manage and ultimately beat this artifact creature in your MTG matches.

Cards like Darksteel Brute

The allure of Darksteel Brute lies in its indestructible nature, placing it in the ranks of MTG cards that can withstand most forms of destruction. Akin to Darksteel Myr, another creature with the prized indestructible trait, Darksteel Brute survives where others may not. However, unlike the Brute, the Myr is always a creature, not requiring activation and thus more readily contributing to battlefield presence.

Darksteel Gargoyle springs to mind as a contender in this sphere. The Gargoyle boasts flying in addition to indestructibility, offering offensive advantages and evasion from non-flying creatures. The higher mana cost can be worth the investment for the added utility it provides in the skies. While the Brute starts as nonthreatening artifact, its potential to become a creature gives it versatility in dodging creature removal when it’s inactive.

Evaluating against its counterparts, Darksteel Brute offers a unique blend of resilience and flexibility, securing its spot in decks that prize durability and tactical adaptability. Its concealed potential to switch from dormant artifact to a formidable indestructible creature could pivot a player’s standing in the ever-shifting dynamics of MTG.

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Where to buy

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

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Darksteel Brute has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2008-08-01	A noncreature permanent that turns into a creature can attack, and its abilities can be activated, only if its controller has continuously controlled that permanent since the beginning of their most recent turn. It doesn’t matter how long the permanent has been a creature.