Embraal Bruiser MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Human Warrior
Power 3
Toughness 1

Key Takeaways

  1. Embraal Bruiser’s menace ability forces opponents into defensive positions, offering tactical combat advantages.
  2. The card’s synergies with artifacts provide a platform for creative and potentially potent combos.
  3. Despite its qualities, the Embraal Bruiser’s effectiveness depends on a well-orchestrated strategy and support cards.

Text of card

Embraal Bruiser enters the battlefield tapped. Embraal Bruiser has menace as long as you control an artifact.

In Embraal, inventor gangs defend their turf with ingenious devices and blunt objects.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Embraal Bruiser doesn’t directly allow you to draw cards, but it is a creature that can help you maintain board presence. Having creatures on the battlefield is pivotal and can be considered a form of card advantage as it forces your opponent to have an answer for it.

Resource Acceleration: While Embraal Bruiser isn’t a direct source of resource acceleration, its ability to potentially enter the battlefield with prowess under the right conditions can accelerate your damage output without the need for additional mana investment.

Instant Speed: Although Embraal Bruiser itself isn’t an instant, it has the keyword ability “Menace” which allows it to only be blocked by two or more creatures. This means it can pressure your opponent into keeping more creatures back, effectively offering you more control over how combat plays out during each turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Activating the abilities of Embraal Bruiser often necessitates discarding a card, which could diminish your hand and weaken your position, especially when your card resources are dwindling.

Specific Mana Cost: Embraal Bruiser requires both generic and black mana, making it less flexible and potentially problematic in multi-colored decks that may struggle with mana consistency.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost that includes two black symbols, Embraal Bruiser might not always be the most efficient play. Players need to carefully consider if its stats and abilities justify its place in the deck over other options that may have a broader impact for the same or lower investment.


Reasons to Include Embraal Bruiser in Your Collection

Versatility: Embraal Bruiser stands out with its adaptability in deck building. As an aggressive two-drop with menace, it becomes a persistent threat when equipped or alongside artifacts, fitting smoothly into aggressive strategies or artifact-centric decks.

Combo Potential: Its ability to gain menace when you control an artifact opens up interesting combo avenues. It can serve as a crucial piece in strategies that revolve around enhancing creatures or utilizing equipment and artifact synergies for potent attacks.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta with a significant amount of creature-based strategies, the natural evasion provided by Embraal Bruiser can be particularly advantageous, allowing it to skirt past blockers and apply steady pressure on opponents.


How to beat

The Embraal Bruiser may at first glance seem like a formidable adversary in your MTG matches, blessed with the ability to hit the ground running with menace as long as you control an artifact. Yet, the key to overcoming this card lies in disrupting this synergy. Targeted removal of artifacts can neutralize the threat, rendering the Bruiser simply as a 3/1 creature without evasion. Creature removal spells are also effective at dispatching the Bruiser, ensuring it never gets the chance to capitalize on its offensive potential.

Moreover, remember that the Bruiser’s reduced defense makes it vulnerable to quick, low-cost creatures or burn spells which can remove it from play before it can benefit from menace. Last but not least, consider including cards that offer protection from black or that limit the abilities of your opponent’s creatures, thereby nullifying the advantage that Embraal Bruiser could bring to the battlefield. Your approach to dealing with the Bruiser should be a balanced blend of proactive artifact control and reactive creature management, leveraging the full spectrum of your deck’s capabilities.


Cards like Embraal Bruiser

Embraal Bruiser is a unique creature card that offers tactical advantages in Magic: The Gathering. It draws parallels to cards like Prickleboar, which also gains benefits during specific phases of the game; Prickleboar gets a power boost during opponents’ turns. Yet, Embraal Bruiser brings stealth to the table with its menace ability, making it harder to block upon entering the battlefield tapped and enabled by an artifact’s presence.

Another card to consider is Dhund Operative, which not only gains a power increase with an artifact but also has deathtouch, providing a deterrent to would-be blockers. While Dhund Operative is consistently a threat on the board, Embraal Bruiser demands more strategic play for it to be effective.

Comparatively assessing Embraal Bruiser within its circle of peers in Magic: The Gathering, we find a card that thrives in the right environment. With a focus on artifact synergy, it can serve as both an aggressive early threat and a challenging creature for opponents to address in battle.

Prickleboar - MTG Card versions
Dhund Operative - MTG Card versions
Prickleboar - Magic Origins (ORI)
Dhund Operative - Kaladesh (KLD)

Cards similar to Embraal Bruiser by color, type and mana cost

Drudge Skeletons - MTG Card versions
Nether Shadow - MTG Card versions
Erg Raiders - MTG Card versions
Cuombajj Witches - MTG Card versions
Order of the Ebon Hand - MTG Card versions
Bog Imp - MTG Card versions
Wall of Corpses - MTG Card versions
Blighted Shaman - MTG Card versions
Rabid Rats - MTG Card versions
Dakmor Bat - MTG Card versions
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Flesh Reaver - MTG Card versions
Bloodcurdler - MTG Card versions
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Piper of the Swarm - MTG Card versions
Undead Augur - MTG Card versions
Shepherd of Rot - MTG Card versions
Swarm of Rats - MTG Card versions
Skullsnatcher - MTG Card versions
Nezumi Cutthroat - MTG Card versions
Drudge Skeletons - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Nether Shadow - Intl. Collectors' Edition (CEI)
Erg Raiders - Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border (4BB)
Cuombajj Witches - Chronicles (CHR)
Order of the Ebon Hand - Pro Tour Collector Set (PTC)
Bog Imp - Rivals Quick Start Set (RQS)
Wall of Corpses - Mirage (MIR)
Blighted Shaman - Mirage (MIR)
Rabid Rats - Stronghold (STH)
Dakmor Bat - Portal Second Age (P02)
Ravenous Rats - Invasion (INV)
Flesh Reaver - Urza's Saga (USG)
Bloodcurdler - Odyssey (ODY)
Nantuko Shade - Commander 2014 (C14)
Piper of the Swarm - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Undead Augur - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Shepherd of Rot - Onslaught (ONS)
Swarm of Rats - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Skullsnatcher - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Nezumi Cutthroat - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Embraal Bruiser MTG card by a specific set like Kaladesh and Kaladesh Remastered, 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 Embraal Bruiser and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Embraal Bruiser Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2016-09-30 and 2020-11-12. Illustrated by Sidharth Chaturvedi.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12016-09-30KaladeshKLD 792015normalblackSidharth Chaturvedi
22020-11-12Kaladesh RemasteredKLR 822015normalblackSidharth Chaturvedi

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Embraal Bruiser has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2016-09-20 Once a creature has blocked Embraal Bruiser, gaining menace won't cause Embraal Bruiser to become unblocked.

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