Battle Brawler is one of those cards players keep asking about. Here is, in plain words, what its official text says, the rulings published by Wizards of the Coast, and the combos players actually run.
Official card text
As long as you control a red or white permanent, this creature gets +1/+0 and has first strike.
Complete guide
Battle Brawler is an aggressive Orc Warrior that thrives when paired with the right allies. By simply controlling a red or white permanent, this two-drop evolves from a basic creature into a combat powerhouse.
Harnessing Elemental Power
Battle Brawler has a static ability that checks the board state constantly. As long as you control at least one permanent that is red, white, or both, Battle Brawler receives a +1/+0 power boost and the first strike keyword. This includes lands that have been turned into creatures or enchantments, provided they possess the required colors.
Step-by-Step Resolution
First, the game checks for the presence of a red or white permanent under your control. If one is present, the bonus applies immediately without using the stack. During the combat phase, if the bonus is active, Battle Brawler will deal damage in the first strike damage step. If your red or white permanent leaves the battlefield after first strike damage is dealt but before the regular damage step, Battle Brawler loses the bonus but does not get to strike a second time.
Common Mistakes
Players often forget that the bonus is binary; you do not get +2/+0 for controlling both a red and a white permanent. Additionally, remember that Battle Brawler itself is black. It does not count toward its own requirement unless another effect changes its color to red or white. Finally, if Battle Brawler loses first strike after dealing damage in the first strike step, it will not deal damage again in the normal combat damage step.
When to Play It
This card is best utilized in aggressive Mardu or Rakdos decks where you can reliably drop a red or white permanent on turn one or three. Because it gains first strike, it becomes a difficult blocker for your opponent to deal with in the early game, especially when equipped or buffed by other spells.
Interaction examples
If you cast Battle Brawler and it is your only permanent, it is a 2/2 creature without first strike because you do not control a red or white permanent.
Blood ArtistEven with Blood Artist on the field, Battle Brawler remains a 2/2. Because Blood Artist is black and not red or white, the static ability requirement is not met.
Ornithopter of ParadiseOrnithopter of Paradise is a colorless artifact creature. Even though it can produce red or white mana, the creature itself has no color, so Battle Brawler does not receive its +1/+0 and first strike bonus.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Battle Brawler
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
If Battle Brawler assigns combat damage during the first combat damage step, and then it loses first strike before the second combat damage step (perhaps because you no longer control a red or white permanent), it won't assign combat damage again in the second combat damage step.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Battle Brawler
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.