Brink of Madness MTG Card


Strategically deplete your opponent’s hand at instant speed to gain a decisive advantage. Requires a tailored deck strategy to maximize the card’s potential and effectiveness. Brink of Madness’s situational nature offers high-reward plays in the right deck.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityRare
TypeEnchantment

Text of card

During your upkeep, if you have no cards in hand, sacrifice Brink of Madness and target opponent discards his or her hand.

"The fools thought me dead. But I built an empire inside my tomb." —Kerrick, sleeper agent


Cards like Brink of Madness

Brink of Madness is a unique card from the Urza’s Legacy set that offers a potent yet risky effect. Its closest relatives in terms of functionality would be cards like Necrogen Mists and Bottomless Pit, which also focus on depleting opponents’ hand sizes. Necrogen Mists allows players to steadily chip away at each player’s hand during their upkeep, whereas Brink of Madness requires a singular, well-timed depletion when an opponent has no cards in hand at the beginning of your turn. This similarity in strategy makes them interesting to compare.

Another parallel can be drawn with a card like Liliana’s Caress, which doesn’t discard cards itself but punishes players every time they discard a card. While Brink of Madness uses a once-off trigger effect that can alter the course of the game when timed correctly, the continuous effect of Liliana’s Caress can systematically damage opponents over the course of the game. Finally, considering the power level and the situational nature of Brink of Madness, it creates dramatic swings in the game state, akin to a high-risk-high-reward version of its comparative cards.

Through examining these similar spells, we grasp the volatile but game-shifting potential of Brink of Madness within Magic: The Gathering. Players who enjoy controlling the pace and flow of the game with disruptive strategies will find it a fascinating card to potentially build around.

Necrogen Mists - MTG Card versions
Bottomless Pit - MTG Card versions
Liliana's Caress - MTG Card versions
Necrogen Mists - MTG Card versions
Bottomless Pit - MTG Card versions
Liliana's Caress - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Brink of Madness by color, type and mana cost

Pestilence - MTG Card versions
Lich - MTG Card versions
Cursed Land - MTG Card versions
Nether Void - MTG Card versions
Breeding Pit - MTG Card versions
Greed - MTG Card versions
Feast of the Unicorn - MTG Card versions
Koskun Falls - MTG Card versions
Diabolic Servitude - MTG Card versions
Vampiric Embrace - MTG Card versions
Vile Requiem - MTG Card versions
Parasitic Bond - MTG Card versions
Death Pit Offering - MTG Card versions
Tainted Aether - MTG Card versions
Strands of Night - MTG Card versions
Patriarch's Desire - MTG Card versions
Nefarious Lich - MTG Card versions
Last Laugh - MTG Card versions
Court of Ambition - MTG Card versions
Nightmare Shepherd - MTG Card versions
Pestilence - MTG Card versions
Lich - MTG Card versions
Cursed Land - MTG Card versions
Nether Void - MTG Card versions
Breeding Pit - MTG Card versions
Greed - MTG Card versions
Feast of the Unicorn - MTG Card versions
Koskun Falls - MTG Card versions
Diabolic Servitude - MTG Card versions
Vampiric Embrace - MTG Card versions
Vile Requiem - MTG Card versions
Parasitic Bond - MTG Card versions
Death Pit Offering - MTG Card versions
Tainted Aether - MTG Card versions
Strands of Night - MTG Card versions
Patriarch's Desire - MTG Card versions
Nefarious Lich - MTG Card versions
Last Laugh - MTG Card versions
Court of Ambition - MTG Card versions
Nightmare Shepherd - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Brink of Madness, though situational, has the potential to deplete an opponent’s hand size, which can tilt the balance of card advantage in your favor. If timed well, this can leave an opponent with few to no options, allowing you to control the flow of the game more effectively.

Resource Acceleration: While this card itself does not directly accelerate resources, it can indirectly contribute to resource acceleration by leaving your opponents with fewer options to counter or compete with your plays. This reduction in opposition can enable you to deploy your strategies with greater ease and less resistance.

Instant Speed: Brink of Madness operates effectively at the end of your opponent’s turn, after they’ve presumably drawn and spent their resources. This timing allows you to respond at instant speed to an opponent’s reduced hand at the most opportune moment—right before your turn begins and the trigger condition is met.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Brink of Madness’s utility hinges upon your opponent having no cards in hand during your upkeep, forcing you to potentially tailor your playstyle or deck to maximize its effect. Players might find themselves holding back on playing cards or using strategies to induce discards, which may not always align with the deck’s overall strategy or pace.

Specific Mana Cost: At three colorless and one black mana, Brink of Madness necessitates a commitment to black mana in your deck. This requirement can deter decks that run multiple colors or limit its integration into decks that are not heavily focused on black mana resources.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a total mana cost of four, Brink of Madness may be considered a hefty investment, especially considering it is a situational effect that relies on your opponent’s hand. There are more immediate and universally applicable control or discard spells available at a lower cost, potentially making Brink of Madness a less appealing option for tight mana curves.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Brink of Madness offers a unique spin for decks that thrive on controlling opponents’ hand sizes. As a card that can disrupt the late game, it can be adapted to various playstyles, especially in formats where hand manipulation is key.

Combo Potential: This card works wonders with strategies aimed at forcing opponents to draw and discard cards. It can be combined with other cards to ensure that by the upkeep trigger, opponents are left with a barren hand, aligning with discard-centered synergies.

Meta-Relevance: Against decks that aim to build a substantial hand size, Brink of Madness becomes a tactical asset. In a meta where players hoard cards for the perfect play, it can serve as a powerful counter, disrupting their strategy right at the brink of execution.


How to Beat

Brink of Madness is one of those MTG cards that can really shake up the playing field. This unique enchantment forces a player to discard their hand if they have no cards in hand at the beginning of the upkeep, making it perfect for a discard strategy. However, there are effective ways to counter this potent threat.

Firstly, consider cards that allow you to draw multiple cards per turn. This replenishes your hand and mitigates the impact of a potential Brink of Madness trigger. Also, instant-speed spells and abilities can be invaluable—they let you play cards on your opponent’s turn, decreasing the chance of starting your upkeep with an empty hand.

Another strategy is to employ cards with graveyard retrieval abilities. This allows you to reclaim key cards discarded due to Brink of Madness. Also, leverage cards with a “flash” property, enabling you to play creatures and other spells at any time. Remember, timing and maintaining a steady hand size are crucial when facing someone wielding Brink of Madness.

By adopting these tactics, you can effectively neutralize Brink of Madness’s disruptive power and maintain control of your hand and the game.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Brink of Madness MTG card by a specific set like Urza's Legacy 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 Brink of Madness and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Brink of Madness Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1999-02-15 and 1999-02-15. Illustrated by Donato Giancola.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11999-02-15Urza's LegacyULG 501997NormalBlackDonato Giancola
22020-09-26The ListPLST ULG-501997NormalBlackDonato Giancola

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Brink of Madness has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Brink of Madness card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2010-06-15 The ability only triggers if you have no cards in your hand as your upkeep step begins.
2010-06-15 You must sacrifice Brink of Madness if possible, but the opponent discards their hand even if you can’t sacrifice it for some reason (for example, if it were returned to its owner’s hand before the ability resolved).