Null Brooch MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Rare
Type	Artifact
Released	1998-06-15
Set symbol
Set name	Exodus
Set code	EXO
Number	136
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	DiTerlizzi

Key Takeaways

Acting at instant speed, Null Brooch lets players disrupt opponents’ plans unnoticed.
Discarding your hand for activation can be a costly but powerful defense.
Can synergize with graveyard mechanics to turn discards into an advantage.

Text of card

, oc T, Discard your hand: Counter target noncreature spell. Play this ability as an interrupt.

Give away everything so others have nothing. —Brooch inscription

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Null Brooch provides a unique form of card advantage by offering a repeatable way to counter noncreature spells. By ensuring important spells don’t resolve, it prevents opponents from gaining any advantage while maintaining board presence.

Resource Acceleration: Although Null Brooch itself doesn’t directly accelerate resources, its ability to protect key pieces on the board indirectly aids in resource advancement by securing your strategic assets. Also, functioning as an artifact, it can combine well with abilities and effects that untap artifacts, effectively gearing you up for more defensive maneuvers.

Instant Speed: The capability to activate Null Brooch at instant speed is one of its main strengths. This allows a player to hold up defenses without telegraphing their moves. Whether it’s during a crucial combat phase or in response to a game-changing spell, having the power to disrupt at any time is a formidable asset.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The discard condition of Null Brooch can be a significant drawback for players since it compels you to empty your hand to activate its ability. This can leave you vulnerable and without options if you need to address new threats on the board.

Specific Mana Cost: Null Brooch has an activation cost that includes generic mana, but the initial casting cost requires two colorless mana, making it a bit more challenging to deploy in multi-color decks that might not prioritize artifact mana sources.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of four mana and an activation cost that isn’t negligible, Null Brooch’s defensive value might not be as cost-effective compared to other protection or counterspell options that are available for less mana investment.

Reasons to Include Null Brooch in Your Collection

Versatility: Null Brooch offers an uncommon countermeasure against spells, fitting a variety of deck archetypes. Its ability to counter non-creature spells without using mana makes it a highly adaptable tool for defensive strategies.

Combo Potential: Its discard requirement can be turned into an advantage in decks designed around graveyard synergies or madness mechanics. Pairing Null Brooch with cards that benefit from having a full graveyard can unlock powerful combos within your deck.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta swamped with powerful instants and sorceries, Null Brooch’s spell countering ability becomes a solid asset. It can disrupt opponents’ strategies, making it a valuable sideboard option or even a main deck inclusion to outwit common strategic plays.

How to Beat Null Brooch

Null Brooch presents a unique challenge on the battlefield, serving as a formidable defense mechanism in MTG. As a defensive artifact, it allows a player to counter noncreature spells at the cost of discarding their hand, which can be a double-edged sword. However, overcoming this card is not impossible.

To strategize against Null Brooch, consider timing your spells effectively. Play less critical spells first to bait out its activation, making way for your more important spells to resolve without interference. Another method is employing cheap, recursive creatures or card advantage engines that outpace the Brooch’s ability to counter, effectively nullifying its protective capacity. Additionally, direct artifact destruction spells are highly valuable, allowing you to remove Null Brooch from the game without it ever becoming a roadblock. Sufficient pressure with an aggressive creature strategy also diminishes the value of a hand that a player would be willing to discard, thus reducing the Brooch’s defensive power.

Ultimately, the key lies in identifying the right moment to challenge its activation and having a plan to replenish resources, rendering Null Brooch’s effect less impactful over the course of the game.

Cards like Null Brooch

Exploring the realms of artifact-based control within Magic: The Gathering, Null Brooch stands as a unique defensive relic. It finds its parallels in artifacts like Nevinyrral’s Disk, which similarly clears the board but annihilates all nonland permanents, not just spells. Unlike Null Brooch, the Disk offers no reprieve against instant and sorcery threats at the moment they are cast.

Another comparable card is the Orbs of Warding, which gives its controller hexproof, thus offering indirect spell protection. While this shields the player from being targeted, it does not counter spells directly like Null Brooch. Also, the Witchbane Orb negates curses and provides hexproof, but again, it lacks the immediate interruptive power that the Brooch brings to the table.

In essence, Null Brooch carves a niche for itself amongst MTG artifacts with its potent ability to counter spells, at the cost of discarding your hand. This drastic effect provides a level of control that can be pivotal in safeguarding one’s battlefield position. The trade-off of hand size for board stability is a tactical decision that remains unique to Null Brooch, making it a card worthy of consideration in defensive strategies.

Cards similar to Null Brooch by color, type and mana cost

Krark-Clan Ironworks - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Null Brooch MTG card by a specific set like Exodus, 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 Null Brooch and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Null Brooch has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Premodern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2008-04-01	A “creature spell” is any spell with the type Creature, even if it has other types such as Artifact or Enchantment. Older cards of type Summon are also Creature spells.