Chainbreaker MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Common
Type	Artifact Creature — Scarecrow
Released	2008-05-02
Set symbol
Set name	Shadowmoor
Set code	SHM
Power	3
Toughness	3
Number	249
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Jeff Miracola

Key Takeaways

Chainbreaker shines with instant-speed creature untapping, providing strategic adaptability during play.
The untap ability indirectly ramps up resources, enabling quicker deployment of other cards.
Despite its higher mana cost, Chainbreaker’s versatility and combo potential make it a valuable card.

Text of card

Chainbreaker comes into play with two -1/-1 counters on it. , : Remove a -1/-1 counter from target creature.

Scarecrows deemed too malevolent to roam free are shackled to boulders or dolmen stones. Their animosity usually outlives the chains.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Chainbreaker offers a unique edge in card dynamics by letting players untap not just one but multiple creatures, turning the tide in complex board states. This effect is not only a form of pseudo card advantage as it refreshes your resources, but it also synergizes with cards that have tap abilities for ongoing benefits throughout the game.

Resource Acceleration: While Chainbreaker itself may not directly generate additional mana, its untap ability effectively accelerates your resource utilization. By untapping creatures that can produce mana or have abilities that require tapping, it indirectly contributes to ramping up your resources, giving you the capability to deploy more threats or answers faster than usual.

Instant Speed: The power of Chainbreaker shines in its ability to act at instant speed. This strategic advantage means you can adapt to board changes in real-time, react to opponents’ threats on their turn, and untap your creatures either after an all-out attack or to surprise an opponent with untapped blockers. The flexibility offered by instant-speed interaction makes Chainbreaker a tactical asset in many decks.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Playing Chainbreaker requires a card to be discarded, creating a potential setback when your hand size is already diminished or if you need to maintain card advantage against your opponent.

Specific Mana Cost: Chainbreaker demands a precise mix of mana to cast. This specificity can be restrictive, hindering deck flexibility and potentially causing inconsistencies in gameplay if the required mana is not readily available.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost that is on the higher side for its effects, Chainbreaker may fall short compared to other options. Players may find more value in cards that provide similar benefits without such a significant mana investment.

Reasons to Include Chainbreaker in Your Collection

Versatility: The Chainbreaker card proves to be a versatile asset as it can seamlessly adapt to a variety of deck themes. Its utility as a creature with low mana cost makes it an accessible play early on in the game.

Combo Potential: Chainbreaker’s inherent abilities can synergize with decks focusing on +1/+1 counters or those that capitalize on tapping and untapping creatures. This opens pathways to multiple combo possibilities, enhancing your game strategy.

Meta-Relevance: Considering the evolving gameplay, Chainbreaker maintains its relevance in the meta by providing a reliable creature base that can be tweaked to counter prevalent deck archetypes. Its simple yet effective mechanics make it a worthy consideration in deck construction.

How to beat

Confronting the Chainbreaker card in Magic: The Gathering can be a nuanced challenge. This artifact creature stands out with its unique mechanics, making it vital to understand its strengths and weaknesses. One useful tactic is deploying removal spells that can target noncreature artifacts, considering the Chainbreaker’s dual nature. Alternatively, employing creatures with protection from artifacts gives you an edge, effectively neutralizing Chainbreaker’s impact during combat.

Strategic card choices like Shatter or Naturalize can serve as direct answers, circumventing the Chainbreaker’s abilities and immediately removing them from the battlefield. Moreover, cards that can alter artifact card abilities or suppress them, such as Phyrexian Revoker, can render the Chainbreaker ineffective. Thus, careful selection of your spells and creatures with abilities tailored to tackle artifacts is crucial to triumph over the Chainbreaker in your MTG matchups.

Overall, by evaluating the Chainbreaker’s specific qualities and planning accordingly, players can efficiently counter this formidable card and maintain control over the game’s flow. Thereby, retaining versatility and tactical acumen in your deck’s construction proves quintessential when up against the distinct challenge that Chainbreaker presents.

Cards like Chainbreaker

Chainbreaker stands as an intriguing option among creature cards with power-boosting abilities in Magic: The Gathering. It shares some common ground with cards like Torch Courier, which grants another creature haste, providing a quick tempo advantage on the battlefield. Chainbreaker, however, doesn’t simply pass along haste – it ups the ante by adding a strength boost to another creature, making it a potential game changer during combat.

Comparatively, Sparring Construct is a creature that, upon its demise, bestows a permanent +1/+1 counter on another creature you control. While the construct offers a lasting effect rather than a temporary buff, Chainbreaker excels in providing an immediate, if not enduring, combat enhancement. Rustwing Falcon also emerges in this category with its ability to contribute to the battlefield right away thanks to flying, though without the direct boost to other creatures’ power that Chainbreaker offers.

To summarize, Chainbreaker competes admirably within the range of creature-based enhancement cards in Magic: The Gathering. It finds its niche by combining combat readiness with creature strength, striking a balance that can be leveraged for pivotal combat plays.

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Chainbreaker MTG card by a specific set like Shadowmoor, 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 Chainbreaker and other MTG cards: