Brimstone Trebuchet MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Artifact Creature — Wall |
| Abilities | Defender,Reach |
| Released | 2019-10-04 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Throne of Eldraine |
| Set code | ELD |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 3 |
| Number | 116 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Yeong-Hao Han |
Key Takeaways
- Brimstone Trebuchet excels in Knight themes and adds resource acceleration.
- Instant speed lets it fit seamlessly into various strategic plays.
- Can be resource-heavy and less adaptable due to specific mana costs.
Text of card
Defender, reach : Brimstone Trebuchet deals 1 damage to each opponent. Whenever a Knight enters the battlefield under your control, untap Brimstone Trebuchet.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Though Brimstone Trebuchet doesn’t offer direct card drawing capabilities, it compensates by providing a steady source of damage each turn. Over time, this can help whittle down an opponent’s life total, indirectly leading to an advantage by applying constant pressure and potentially forcing your opponent to react.
Resource Acceleration: Brimstone Trebuchet serves as an asset in strategies geared around Knights or artifacts. As it can untap whenever a Knight enters the battlefield under your control, it synergizes with decks that rapidly deploy Knights, thereby ramping up its offensive potential. This repeated activation can be a formidable force in the right deck, enabling you to maximize your resources each turn.
Instant Speed: The Trebuchet’s ability to deal damage operates at instant speed, providing flexibility to your game plan. This allows you to keep up mana for other spells and use the Trebuchet’s ability at the end of your opponent’s turn or in response to actions they take, maintaining the element of surprise and tactical advantage.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Brimstone Trebuchet requires tapping another untapped creature you control to activate its ability. This can be a notable disadvantage if you’re unable to spare creatures due to a constrained battlefield presence.
Specific Mana Cost: As a card that demands a specific mana composition (one red mana), Brimstone Trebuchet might not fit seamlessly into multi-color decks or those with a tight mana base, potentially restricting its play to mono-red or red-heavy decks.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Given its three total mana cost, including one that is color-specific, Brimstone Trebuchet may be considered a hefty investment compared to other cards that provide damage output directly or offer utility with lower activation costs.
Reasons to Include Brimstone Trebuchet in Your Collection
Versatility: Brimstone Trebuchet is a multifaceted card that caters to several deck archetypes. It shines in decks emphasizing on the ‘knights’ theme and is equally effective in any setup looking to exploit its tap and untap abilities.
Combo Potential: This card’s ability to deal damage while tapped makes it a synergistic piece in combo decks. It works exceptionally well when combined with cards that untap your creatures, allowing for multiple activations in a single turn cycle.
Meta-Relevance: In an environment where long games and standoffish battles are common, Brimstone Trebuchet can deliver consistent, incremental damage. Its presence on the board creates a clock for opponents, making it a notable pick in a strategic collection.
How to beat
Brimstone Trebuchet is a unique card in Magic: The Gathering which finds its place in decks that favor knights and tap/untap strategies. Its ability to deal a repetitive amount of damage makes it a steady threat on the board. However, like most cards, it has vulnerabilities that can be exploited.
To gain the upper hand against Brimstone Trebuchet, it’s crucial to disrupt its ability to untap. Disabling its synergy with knight-themed cards is one strategy. Utilizing removal spells that specifically target tapped creatures can be exceptionally effective since Brimstone Trebuchet must tap to activate its ability. Moreover, incorporating instant-speed removal allows you to address the card before it can deal damage on each opponent’s turn. Ensnaring the trebuchet with enchantments that prevent it from untapping can also be a sound strategy. With the right countermeasures, this once formidable card can be rendered almost harmless, safeguarding your life total and preserving your standing in the game.
Implementing these tactics can tip the scales in your favor, transforming the challenge posed by Brimstone Trebuchet into an opportunity to demonstrate strategic mastery in your MTG matchups.
Cards like Brimstone Trebuchet
Brimstone Trebuchet stands as an intriguing defensive option for decks in Magic: The Gathering. Just like Blistering Firecat, Brimstone Trebuchet can be an unexpected source of damage, especially in a Knight-themed deck. While Firecat brings a burst of power and trample at an aggressive speed, the trebuchet excels in consistent, albeit smaller, damage over time with its tap ability.
Looking at another analogous card, Lobber Crew offers a similar tap-for-damage effect. Yet, Brimstone Trebuchet’s affinity for Knights and potential untap whenever another Knight enters the battlefield gives it a tactical edge in specific deck compositions. Moreover, compared to the Crew’s multi-mana cost activation, the Trebuchet can deal its damage simply by tapping, without additional cost if a Knight joins the fray.
Goblin Cannon is another comparable artifact that can deal damage, with the flexibility of multiple activations per turn. However, unlike Brimstone Trebuchet, Goblin Cannon doesn’t double as a creature, which reduces its defensive applications and lacks the potential synergies with a tribal theme.
All in all, while each card holds unique advantages, Brimstone Trebuchet’s combination of creature utility, consistent damage, and tribal synergy makes it a noteworthy option within creature-based strategies in Magic: The Gathering.
Cards similar to Brimstone Trebuchet by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Brimstone Trebuchet MTG card by a specific set like Throne of Eldraine, 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 Brimstone Trebuchet 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 Brimstone Trebuchet has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Brimstone Trebuchet card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2019-10-04 | If more than one Knight enters the battlefield under your control at once, Brimstone Trebuchet's last ability triggers for each of them. Players may take actions, such as activating its activated ability, in between each of those triggered abilities resolving. |
| 2019-10-04 | In a Two-Headed Giant game, Brimstone Trebuchet's activated ability causes it to deal 1 damage twice. |
