Chained Brute MTG Card


Chained Brute - Jumpstart
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Devil
Released2020-07-17
Set symbol
Set nameJumpstart
Set codeJMP
Power 4
Toughness 3
Number19
Frame2015
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byDan Scott

Key Takeaways

  1. Chained Brute’s power level can sway the game’s dynamics and force opponents into costly decisions.
  2. Must be thoughtfully included in decks due to its specific mana requirements and potential hand depletion.
  3. Despite its downsides, the card’s flexibility and synergy with other strategies can be game-changing.

Text of card

Chained Brute doesn't untap during your untap step. , Sacrifice another creature: Untap Chained Brute. Activate only during your turn.

A momentary lapse is all it needs to break free.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Chained Brute’s unique ability can lead the way to indirect card advantage by presenting a formidable creature that demands an answer. With proper deck building, it can outvalue opponents by forcing them to deplete resources while you maintain yours.

Resource Acceleration: If integrated into a Rakdos sacrifice deck, Chained Brute can accelerate your resources by synergizing with sacrifice mechanics, potentially unlocking powerful plays ahead of schedule and disrupting your opponent’s game plan.

Instant Speed: Though Chained Brute itself isn’t played at instant speed, it pairs well with cards that can be activated or cast at instant speed, allowing you to bluff mana availability for tricks or removal while still developing your board with this potent creature.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Chained Brute comes with the drawback of needing to discard a card as part of its activation cost. This can strain your hand, particularly in the later stages of the game when your options need to be carefully managed.

Specific Mana Cost: The mana cost of Chained Brute includes both generic and red mana, necessitating a commitment to red mana sources in your deck. This requirement makes it less flexible for decks that run multiple colors or that have a less stable mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Chained Brute offers some impressive stats, its mana cost is considerably high when compared to other creatures of similar abilities. This may deter players from including it in their decks when there are other creatures that provide more value for the same or lower mana investment.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Chained Brute offers strong adaptability for various deck archetypes, notably in those requiring robust creatures that can be utilized as reliable blockers or formidable attackers depending on the game situation.

Combo Potential: This card presents opportunities for synergistic gameplay, especially in decks that take advantage of sacrifice mechanics or strategies that utilize creatures with Menace to navigate past defenses.

Meta-Relevance: Chained Brute is particularly relevant in a meta that favors aggressive playstyles or where having an early large creature can significantly disrupt your opponent’s strategy.


How to Beat Chained Brute

Confronted with Chained Brute on the battlefield, players of Magic: The Gathering need to strategize effectively. As a creature that can become quite the powerhouse with its potential for immense power at a low mana cost, Chained Brute’s unique downside offers opponents an opportunity. The requisite of sacrificing another creature to untap it opens a tactical window to turn the tide in your favor.

One effective method is to control the board, ensuring the Brute’s controller has a limited or nonexistent creature base to sacrifice. Removal spells that can bypass the Brute’s indestructible status like exile effects or forcing the controller to sacrifice it can also be quite potent. Additionally, employing pacifism effects or cards that prevent the creature from attacking or blocking can diminish its threat significantly.

Taking on the Chained Brute requires patience and a deliberate approach, focusing on the control of gameplay. Smart plays and careful timing of removals can help retain the upper hand against this menacing creature.


Cards like Chained Brute

Chained Brute is an intriguing creature card in Magic: The Gathering, presenting players with a unique blend of power and peril. This card echoes the characteristics of cards like Raging Goblin, known for its haste, letting you attack immediately. However, Chained Brute differs as it is stronger in combat but comes with a downside – it can’t attack unless you pay two mana.

Examining Anger, we find a creature that grants haste to your other creatures, something that indirectly benefits Chained Brute. Anger, when in the graveyard and you control a mountain, gives all your creatures haste at no recurring cost, unlike the mana you spend to unleash Chained Brute. Then there’s the comparison with Bloodfray Giant, which similarly has an unleash ability allowing it to be more formidable but with the drawback of not being able to block.

While these comparisons each offer their own advantages, Chained Brute demands a strategic approach, requiring players to balance its potential with the on-going investment it demands. It becomes clear, within the realm of MTG cards where power and immediate aggression are valued, Chained Brute can hold its own, provided the player is prepared for its maintenance cost.

Raging Goblin - MTG Card versions
Anger - MTG Card versions
Bloodfray Giant - MTG Card versions
Raging Goblin - Portal (POR)
Anger - Judgment (JUD)
Bloodfray Giant - Return to Ravnica (RTR)

Cards similar to Chained Brute by color, type and mana cost

Rock Hydra - MTG Card versions
Dwarven Weaponsmith - MTG Card versions
Goblin Rock Sled - MTG Card versions
Dwarven Lieutenant - MTG Card versions
Goblin Recruiter - MTG Card versions
Heart Sliver - MTG Card versions
Mogg Flunkies - MTG Card versions
Goblin Elite Infantry - MTG Card versions
Fireslinger - MTG Card versions
Skittish Kavu - MTG Card versions
Rage Weaver - MTG Card versions
Minotaur Explorer - MTG Card versions
Sparksmith - MTG Card versions
Goblin Lookout - MTG Card versions
Skirk Marauder - MTG Card versions
Hellspark Elemental - MTG Card versions
Storm Entity - MTG Card versions
Dwarven Soldier - MTG Card versions
Mogg War Marshal - MTG Card versions
Stigma Lasher - MTG Card versions
Rock Hydra - Collectors' Edition (CED)
Dwarven Weaponsmith - Foreign Black Border (FBB)
Goblin Rock Sled - The Dark (DRK)
Dwarven Lieutenant - Fallen Empires (FEM)
Goblin Recruiter - Visions (VIS)
Heart Sliver - Tempest (TMP)
Mogg Flunkies - Stronghold (STH)
Goblin Elite Infantry - Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)
Fireslinger - Duel Decks Anthology: Jace vs. Chandra (JVC)
Skittish Kavu - Invasion (INV)
Rage Weaver - Invasion (INV)
Minotaur Explorer - Odyssey (ODY)
Sparksmith - Onslaught (ONS)
Goblin Lookout - Legions (LGN)
Skirk Marauder - Legions (LGN)
Hellspark Elemental - DCI Promos (PDCI)
Storm Entity - Future Sight (FUT)
Dwarven Soldier - Masters Edition (ME1)
Mogg War Marshal - Duel Decks: Elves vs. Goblins (DD1)
Stigma Lasher - Eventide (EVE)

Where to buy

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

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Chained Brute has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
GladiatorLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2020-06-23 You can activate Chained Brute’s last ability even if it’s already untapped.

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