Oaken Brawler MTG Card

Lorwyn (LRW)
2007-10-12 - Number 33

The List (PLST)
2020-09-26 - Number LRW-33

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Treefolk Warrior
Abilities	Clash
Power	2
Toughness	4

Key Takeaways

Oaken Brawler excels in green decks by consistently providing card and resource advantages.
Its ability to act at instant speed adds a layer of strategic depth to green decks.
However, its specific mana and high cost could limit versatility in varied color decks.

Text of card

When Oaken Brawler comes into play, clash with an opponent. If you win, put a +1/+1 counter on Oaken Brawler. (Each clashing player reveals the top card of his or her library, then puts that card on the top or bottom. A player wins if his or her card had a higher converted mana cost.)

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Oaken Brawler excels in generating card advantage for green decks, boasting capabilities that can repeatedly fetch creatures or lands from your deck to your hand. This ensures you’ll seldom be left without options.

Resource Acceleration: By streamlining access to your resources, the Oaken Brawler aids in ramping up your mana pool swiftly, permitting more significant and impactful plays earlier in the game.

Instant Speed: Its flexibility is further enhanced as it can be cast at instant speed, allowing for surprise blocks or end-of-turn plays, thus maximizing the potential of your turns and keeping opponents on their toes.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Holding an Oaken Brawler in your hand could become a liability if you’re pressed to maintain card advantage. Deploying this creature often means you’ll have to forfeit another potential play by discarding a card, which in a resource-tight situation, can hamper your game plan.

Specific Mana Cost: Oaken Brawler’s casting cost demands a firm commitment to green mana sources. This specificity could narrow the card’s integration, primarily as deck builders construct more color-flexible strategies that may not be able to consistently provide the necessary green mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For its mana investment, Oaken Brawler’s impact on the board might not measure up to similar creatures in its mana range. Its cost-to-effect ratio means savvy players might opt for alternatives that offer a more substantial presence or additional abilities for the same, or lower, mana expenditure.

Reasons to Include Oaken Brawler in Your Collection

Versatility: Oaken Brawler brings a level of adaptability that enhances any green-centered deck. Its inherent ability to impact the board just by being a solid creature allows it to seamlessly fit into various deck strategies focused on creature presence and combat.

Combo Potential: With proper synergies, this card has the potential to be part of powerful combinations. Its interactions with cards that benefit from creatures entering the battlefield or those that utilize +1/+1 counters can unlock new levels of gameplay, making it a clever addition for players aiming to explore creative deck-building.

Meta-Relevance: Given the constant evolution of the meta, a card like Oaken Brawler can prove to be a smart choice in environments where sturdy creatures are valued. Should the meta favor decks that thrive on creature combat, the Oaken Brawler’s sturdy nature and cost-efficiency make it a noteworthy contender on any battlefield.

How to beat

Oaken Brawler is a card that can present a significant challenge on the battlefield in MTG. Its robust combination of stats and abilities make it a formidable creature, especially in the early to mid-game. To effectively counter Oaken Brawler, consider using removal spells that can bypass its potential buffs and defensive capabilities. Spells that allow you to exile it or remove it from the game without having to deal damage are particularly effective.

Deploying creatures with deathtouch can also serve as a deterrent or neutralize the Oaken Brawler, as they can destroy any creature they deal damage to, regardless of toughness. Another strategy is to manage the creature’s ability triggers by limiting the number of spells you cast during your opponent’s turn or by controlling the flow of the game with counterspells. Overall, the key to overcoming Oaken Brawler lies in preparedness and maintaining control of the board state to prevent it from gaining momentum.

In summation, while Oaken Brawler can be a potent force in MTG, there are various methods to mitigate its impact. With the right strategy and tools at your disposal, you can handle this potent adversary and maintain a strong position in your matches.

Cards like Oaken Brawler

Oaken Brawler presents itself as an intriguing option in the pool of creature cards available in Magic: The Gathering. It shares characteristics with other creatures, such as Borderland Ranger, which also serves the role of pulling a land card from your deck to your hand. Oaken Brawler sets itself apart with its resilience and potential for board presence. In contrast, Borderland Ranger lacks the additional combat prowess that comes with the Brawler.

Leafcrown Dryad is another card that mirrors the utility of Oaken Brawler, with its ability to enhance creatures by being used as an aura, while also serving as a creature itself. Its cost-effectiveness and versatility are comparable, but it falls short in terms of raw strength and size that Oaken Brawler could provide. Then there’s Civic Wayfinder, another similar card in this class. Like the Oaken Brawler, it assists with mana fixing by fetching a land. However, it does not offer the same level of durability as the Brawler in prolonged engagements.

Assessing the functionalities and combat efficiencies of these creature cards, Oaken Brawler holds its ground with a good balance of utility and combat capability within the realm of Magic: The Gathering’s creatures.

Cards similar to Oaken Brawler by color, type and mana cost

Coalition Honor Guard - MTG Card versions

Mangara, the Diplomat - MTG Card versions

Veteran of the Depths - MTG Card versions

Lightkeeper of Emeria - MTG Card versions

Cho-Manno, Revolutionary - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Oaken Brawler MTG card by a specific set like Lorwyn and The List, 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 Oaken Brawler and other MTG cards: