Breakneck Berserker MTG Card


Breakneck Berserker - Kaldheim
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Dwarf Berserker
Abilities Haste
Released2021-02-05
Set symbol
Set nameKaldheim
Set codeKHM
Power 3
Toughness 2
Number124
Frame2015
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byScott Murphy

Key Takeaways

  1. Breakneck Berserker assures board presence, deterring attacks, and cementing your field dominance effectively.
  2. Its haste enables instant combat advantage, synergizing with instant speed spells for unexpected power boosts.
  3. Berserker’s specific red mana requirement and discard cost as activation can limit deck-building versatility.

Text of card

Haste

"Go for the knees! The last giant who tried to get past us got rolled back down the mountain in a dozen pieces."


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Breakneck Berserker is part of strategies that thrive on maintaining board presence. While it doesn’t directly allow you to draw cards, having a steadfast creature on the board can deter opponents’ attacks and sustain your dominance on the field.

Resource Acceleration: This fierce creature packs a punch with its power, potentially accelerating your damage output significantly. By delivering a swift hit, Breakneck Berserker can press the advantage and cause opponents to use up their resources more quickly in defense.

Instant Speed: While not an instant itself, Breakneck Berserker can benefit from instant speed buffs and combat tricks to unexpectedly overpower or outmaneuver blockers and attackers. Its haste attribute allows it to swing into action immediately, capitalizing on any temporary boosts given at instant speed for immediate impact.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: As a component of its activation, the Breakneck Berserker demands that players discard a card. This can be particularly challenging in situations where your hand is already depleted or each card holds significant strategic value.

Specific Mana Cost: The Berserker’s casting necessitates a fixed amount of red mana. This specific requirement could potentially restrict deck-building options, making it less versatile for those not dedicated to a red mana strategy or a deck that heavily features red.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: When assessing the mana investment versus the payoff, the Breakneck Berserker’s cost might seem steep. There are cards within the same mana range that may provide a more impactful presence on the battlefield or offer additional utility for a player’s strategy.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Breakneck Berserker slots seamlessly into red aggro decks or those requiring creatures with haste. Its efficient mana cost for a 3/2 body allows for aggressive early board presence.

Combo Potential: The Berserker’s haste enables it to synergize with cards that reward combat damage or creature attacks, making it a valuable piece in strategies aiming to capitalize on such interactions.

Meta-Relevance: Given its role in hastening the pace of the game, Breakneck Berserker holds its own in metas dominated by slower, setup-intensive decks. It pressures life totals early, often demanding immediate answers.


How to beat

Breakneck Berserker is a card known for its aggressive play in Magic: The Gathering, offering hasty attacks the moment it hits the board. However, as with any creature card, there are several strategies to overpower it. First, consider using removal spells that can eliminate Breakneck Berserker before it can declare an attack. Instant-speed removal like “Fatal Push” or “Path to Exile” are excellent choices as they can be used in response to the Berserker’s summoning.

Another approach is to control the battlefield with board wipes. Cards such as “Wrath of God” or “Damnation” clear the board of all creatures, including tenacious Berserkers. If you prefer a more direct solution, powerful defensive creatures with high toughness or those with “reach” can be effective blockers, negating the Berserker’s assault.

It’s also wise to disrupt your opponent’s game plan. By using hand disruption spells or counter strategies, you can prevent the Breakneck Berserker from being cast in the first place. Ultimately, while the Berserker is certainly formidable, a well-constructed deck with the right counters can keep it in check, ensuring it doesn’t dominate the battlefield.


Cards like Breakneck Berserker

Breakneck Berserker is a formidable force in the realm of aggressive creatures in Magic: The Gathering. It finds a kinship with cards like Frenzied Goblin, which also promotes aggressive early game strategies. However, Breakneck Berserker brings a higher power to the table, allowing for more impactful swings early on, as opposed to the Frenzied Goblin’s one-time use ability to prevent a creature from blocking.

Furor of the Bitten is another card that shares the aggressive purpose, being an Aura that grants additional power and incites creatures to attack each turn if able. While Furor of the Bitten is not a creature itself, the parallel lies in the relentless onslaught it encourages, akin to the Berserker’s hastened tempo. Lastly, we consider Ember Hauler, slightly different in functionality, as it offers a combination of aggressive presence and flexible damage output, enabling removal of creatures or direct player damage. Although it lacks haste, the presence of this utility adds a layer of versatility to the mix.

Through analyzing these counterparts, Breakneck Berserker stands out for enabling swift and considerable combat damage, a critical component in decks designed for speed and pressure. Its ability to attack as soon as it hits the battlefield makes it a consistent and reliable choice for players aiming to overwhelm opponents swiftly.

Frenzied Goblin - MTG Card versions
Furor of the Bitten - MTG Card versions
Ember Hauler - MTG Card versions
Frenzied Goblin - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Furor of the Bitten - Innistrad (ISD)
Ember Hauler - Magic 2011 (M11)

Cards similar to Breakneck Berserker by color, type and mana cost

Dwarven Warriors - MTG Card versions
Raging Bull - MTG Card versions
Wall of Lava - MTG Card versions
Brassclaw Orcs - MTG Card versions
Imperial Recruiter - MTG Card versions
Uthden Troll - MTG Card versions
Hobgoblin Bandit Lord - MTG Card versions
Goblin Rabblemaster - MTG Card versions
Nosy Goblin - MTG Card versions
Goblin Sky Raider - MTG Card versions
Cosmic Larva - MTG Card versions
Mannichi, the Fevered Dream - MTG Card versions
Ghost-Lit Raider - MTG Card versions
Goblin Chariot - MTG Card versions
Balduvian Barbarians - MTG Card versions
Basalt Gargoyle - MTG Card versions
Orcish Artillery - MTG Card versions
Stinkdrinker Daredevil - MTG Card versions
Blind-Spot Giant - MTG Card versions
Mudbutton Torchrunner - MTG Card versions
Dwarven Warriors - Foreign Black Border (FBB)
Raging Bull - Legends (LEG)
Wall of Lava - Ice Age (ICE)
Brassclaw Orcs - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Imperial Recruiter - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)
Uthden Troll - Battle Royale Box Set (BRB)
Hobgoblin Bandit Lord - Adventures in the Forgotten Realms Promos (PAFR)
Goblin Rabblemaster - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Nosy Goblin - Onslaught (ONS)
Goblin Sky Raider - Onslaught (ONS)
Cosmic Larva - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
Mannichi, the Fevered Dream - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Ghost-Lit Raider - Saviors of Kamigawa (SOK)
Goblin Chariot - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Balduvian Barbarians - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Basalt Gargoyle - Time Spiral (TSP)
Orcish Artillery - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Stinkdrinker Daredevil - Lorwyn (LRW)
Blind-Spot Giant - Lorwyn (LRW)
Mudbutton Torchrunner - Duel Decks: Elves vs. Goblins (DD1)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Breakneck Berserker MTG card by a specific set like Kaldheim, 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 Breakneck Berserker and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Breakneck Berserker has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
BrawlLegal
TimelessLegal

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