Branded Brawlers MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Human Soldier |
| Released | 2000-06-05 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Prophecy |
| Set code | PCY |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 2 |
| Number | 84 |
| Frame | 1997 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Scott M. Fischer |
Key Takeaways
- Branded Brawlers ensure card advantage and flexible strategies with instant speed abilities.
- They demand specific conditions, like card discard and color mana, challenging deck consistency.
- Despite high mana costs, their inclusion can be justified by adaptability and combo potential.
Text of card
Branded Brawlers can't attack if defending player controls an untapped land. Branded Brawlers can't block if you control an untapped land.
"The sword or the lash. Choose." —Akul, Keldon whip sergeant
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Branded Brawlers helps to accumulate card advantage by letting you potentially draw a card each time it attacks. This ability helps players keep their hands full and options open, crucial for outmaneuvering opponents.
Resource Acceleration: This card can provide a significant boost in resource acceleration. By enabling you to play an additional land on turns when they attack, Branded Brawlers can ramp up your mana resources, allowing you to cast more spells or utilize bigger threats earlier in the game than your opponent.
Instant Speed: The ability to trigger its effects at instant speed enhances in-game flexibility. This feature allows you to surprise your opponent with sudden shifts in board state, play politics in multiplayer formats, or simply adapt more fluidly to the evolving gameplay.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: As a hurdle to casting Branded Brawlers, the player is compelled to discard a card. This might strip your hand of vital resources at a critical moment, potentially hindering your strategy, especially if your hand size is already depleted.
Specific Mana Cost: Branded Brawlers demand a precise combination of mana colors to be cast. This strict requirement can make it challenging to fit them into a multicolored deck, potentially restricting your deck-building options and decreasing the versatility of this card within the broader game.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Bearing a demanding mana cost, Branded Brawlers may not always align with your mana curve. In the fast-paced dynamics of the game, there could be more cost-efficient creatures or spells that accelerate your board presence or yield a higher impact on the battlefield for the same, or even less, mana investment.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Branded Brawlers offer adaptability across various deck architectures, contributing both offensive and defensive utility that can shift the tide of matches.
Combo Potential: These warriors excel in decks designed to capitalize on creature synergies, power boosts, and tap/untap mechanics, unlocking dynamic play sequences.
Meta-Relevance: As metagame conditions fluctuate, cards like Branded Brawlers remain significant, often aligning seamlessly with popular strategies that emphasize board presence and interactivity.
How to beat
Branded Brawlers is a potent force in the right deck, demanding an astute strategy to counter. This creature’s unique blend of abilities can quickly turn the tide of a game if left unchecked. It thrives in environments where it can consistently trigger its combat strengths, gaining advantages through aggressive play. Recognizing this, the key to outmaneuvering Branded Brawlers lies in disrupting combat synergies, denying the opportunities for it to showcase its power.
To effectively neutralize Branded Brawlers, consider employing creature removal spells that can bypass any potential protective measures. Spells or effects that hinder a creature’s ability to attack or block, such as ‘Pacifism’ or ‘Claustrophobia’, can be particularly effective. You may also explore strategies that restrict your opponent’s capacity to enable the Brawlers’ abilities or that remove the Brawlers from combat through bounce effects or other control techniques. Interruption of the combat phase and the ability to react swiftly to changes in the battlefield will be crucial in keeping Branded Brawlers at bay.
Ultimately, staying one step ahead of this fierce competitor, with a clear plan to destabilize the synergy it depends on, is the cornerstone of any strategy aspiring to reign victorious over decks that boast the Branded Brawlers’ formidable force.
Cards like Branded Brawlers
Branded Brawlers pave their way into the Magic: The Gathering arena as a dynamic contributor to creature-focused decks. They share traits with cards such as Fencing Ace, which also boasts double strike. The real distinction with Branded Brawlers lies in its ability to power up when equipped or enchanted, thereby transforming into a formidable threat on the board. Fencing Ace, while similar, lacks the ability to automatically grow stronger with equipment or auras.
Another comparable card is the Swiftblade Vindicator, a creature that comes not just with double strike but also vigilance and trample. The Vindicator starts off more potent, but Branded Brawlers have a higher ceiling for power boost with the right support cards. The Ridgetop Raptor is a less-known but relevant comparison as it offers the double strike ability at a higher mana cost but without the potential for power enhancement like the Branded Brawlers.
In examining these cards side by side, Magic: The Gathering players can appreciate the unique position Branded Brawlers hold. Their innate synergy with equip and enchant strategies make them a powerful choice for players looking to maximize interaction between their creatures and other deck components.
Cards similar to Branded Brawlers by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Branded Brawlers MTG card by a specific set like Prophecy, 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 Branded Brawlers and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Branded Brawlers has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
