Ravenous Brute Head MTG Card


Ravenous Brute Head - Face the Hydra
TypeToken Elite Creature — Head
Abilities Hero's Reward
Released2013-10-19
Set symbol
Set nameFace the Hydra
Set codeTFTH
Power 0
Toughness 6
Number2
Frame2003
Layouttoken
Borderblack
Illustred byRichard Wright
TokenTokens act as indicators during gameplay and are not included into building a deck.

Key Takeaways

  1. Grants card advantage through selective discarding, allowing for hand sculpting to meet in-game situations.
  2. Enables resource acceleration and instant speed interaction, delivering strategic flexibility in matches.
  3. Requires careful consideration of its discard condition and specific mana cost to maximize effectiveness.

Text of card

Hero's Reward — When Ravenous Brute Head leaves the battlefield, each player gains 2 life and draws a card.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Ravenous Brute Head card offers a dynamic approach to obtaining card advantage by enabling you to potentially discard less advantageous cards in exchange for drawing into more impactful options. This mechanic not only refills your hand but can also strategically sculpt it to better respond to the current state of play.

Resource Acceleration: Deploying Ravenous Brute Head could lead to significant resource acceleration. The creature’s looming presence on the battlefield underscores its capacity to unlock additional mana sources or other key resources, fostering a more robust and adaptable strategy as the match progresses.

Instant Speed: Featuring instant speed capabilities, Ravenous Brute Head promises a versatile addition to your deck, offering the strategic advantage of interacting with the game at critical moments. This attribute enables the player to operate reactively, maintaining the element of surprise against opponents and capitalizing on the most opportune times for disruption or advancement.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One significant drawback of Ravenous Brute Head relates to the necessity for players to discard a card to leverage its abilities. This can be particularly taxing when a player’s hand is running low, forcing tough decisions about resource management that could negatively impact their gameplay strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: Another aspect to consider is the card’s distinct mana cost requirements. With a need for both specific colored mana and generic mana, it may not effortlessly fit into all deck archetypes, potentially restricting its versatility and hindering its inclusion in a more extensive array of deck builds.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: When evaluating the efficacy of any MTG card, mana efficiency is paramount. The Ravenous Brute Head comes with a relatively steep mana cost. This investment can be substantial, especially when alternatives may provide similar or better value at a lower mana expenditure, thereby questioning its overall economic efficiency within a match.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Ravenous Brute Head has the unique ability to offer a mix of aggressive stats and an activated ability that removes opponents’ blockers. This card is an ideal choice for various strategies, fitting seamlessly into aggro and ramp decks alike.

Combo Potential: The card’s activated ability showcases potential to slot into sacrifice-based decks, fueling synergies with cards that benefit from creatures entering the graveyard or sacrificing as a cost.

Meta-Relevance: Given the shifting landscape of the game, having a card that can act both offensively and as a strategic sacrificial piece ensures that Ravenous Brute Head remains a relevant tool for adapting to numerous meta environments.


How to beat

The Ravenous Brute Head stands as a strong creature in the MTG arena, challenging players to develop strategies to overcome it. This powerful card, reminiscent of the toughness of Gruul creatures, demands immediate attention on the battlefield. Addressing Ravenous Brute Head effectively can often be the difference between victory or defeat in your MTG duel.

To outsmart an opponent wielding this card, consider employing removal spells that bypass its formidable stats. Spot removals like Path to Exile or Direct Current serve as precision instruments to deal with such threats efficiently. Moreover, if facing a deck that leverages the brute’s strength, adjusting your strategy to include board wipes like Wrath of God can shift the momentum in your favor. Alternatively, deploying creatures with deathtouch, such as Typhoid Rats, can provide a cost-effective solution to neutralize the brute’s advantage.

Adapting your game plan by incorporating these tactics ensures that Ravenous Brute Head becomes less of a game-ending obstacle and more of a puzzle to solve on your path to victory. Mastering such skillful maneuvers showcases the dynamic and strategic essence of MTG, keeping your play both challenging and exciting.


Cards like Ravenous Brute Head

Ravenous Brute Head presents a unique dynamic in Magic: The Gathering as a creature-oriented card with an effect that showcases versatility and power. Exploring similar cards, we find the likes of Mogg War Marshal, a card valued for its ability to multiply creatures. While Mogg War Marshal offers immediate creature tokens upon entering and leaving the battlefield, Ravenous Brute Head specializes in enabling the build-up of larger threats over time.

Another card worth comparing is Ember Hauler. This creature card allows for direct damage upon sacrifice, setting a different tone for gameplay. Although Ember Hauler can be used for an immediate impact in the form of dealing damage, Ravenous Brute Head’s increase in creature size can lead to sustained board presence.

In analyzing creature-based strategies, Ravenous Brute Head fits nicely into decks looking to grow and empower their creatures on the battlefield, offering an edge that can steadily tilt the game in your favor. Within the realm of creature-based MTG cards, it indeed has its unique place, appealing to players who enjoy evolving their board state over the course of a game.

Mogg War Marshal - MTG Card versions
Ember Hauler - MTG Card versions
Mogg War Marshal - Time Spiral (TSP)
Ember Hauler - Magic 2011 (M11)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Ravenous Brute Head MTG card by a specific set like Face the Hydra, 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 Ravenous Brute Head and other MTG cards:

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