Brain Weevil 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
Intimidate (This creature can't be blocked except by artifact creatures and/or creatures that share a color with it.) Sacrifice this creature: Target player discards two cards. Activate only as a sorcery.
Complete guide
Brain Weevil is a versatile Insect that combines evasion with hand disruption. As a creature that can be sacrificed for a Mind Rot effect, it provides utility on the battlefield before stripping resources from your opponent. Understanding its timing and keyword is key to maximizing its potential in black-based strategies.
Evasion and Sacrifice
Brain Weevil features Intimidate, meaning only artifact creatures or creatures sharing a color with it (black) can block it. Beyond its role in combat, you can sacrifice it to force a target player to discard two cards. However, this ability has a 'sorcery speed' restriction, meaning you can only activate it during your own main phase when the stack is empty.
Activating the Ability
When you activate the ability, you pay the cost by sacrificing Brain Weevil and choosing a target player. Because the sacrifice is part of the cost, the creature is put into the graveyard immediately and cannot be responded to by removal spells like 'Murder'. If you just cast Brain Weevil and no other abilities trigger, you have priority to activate the ability before an opponent can act.
Common Timing Mistakes
The most common mistake with Brain Weevil is attempting to sacrifice it on an opponent's turn or in response to a spell. Since it specifies 'Activate only as a sorcery,' you cannot use it to respond to a board wipe or discard cards from an opponent's hand during their draw step. Additionally, if the target player has fewer than two cards, they simply discard whatever they have left.
Strategic Implementation
Use Brain Weevil to pressure opponents with low life totals who lack black or artifact blockers. Once they have stabilized their defense, or if you identify a powerful card in their hand, sacrifice it to reduce their options. It is particularly effective against control decks that rely on holding specific answers in hand.
Interaction examples
Solemn SimulacrumIf your opponent controls Solemn Simulacrum, they can block Brain Weevil because the Simulacrum is an artifact creature. Even though it does not share a color with Brain Weevil, the 'artifact creature' clause of Intimidate allows the block to occur.
Roaming ThroneIf you control Roaming Throne and have chosen 'Insect', it will not affect Brain Weevil's discard ability. Roaming Throne only doubles 'triggered' abilities (starting with When, Whenever, or At). Brain Weevil's sacrifice ability is an 'activated' ability (indicated by the colon), so it only resolves once.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Brain Weevil
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
If you cast this as normal during your main phase, it will enter the battlefield and you’ll receive priority. If no abilities trigger because of this, you can activate its ability immediately, before any other player has a chance to remove it from the battlefield.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Brain Weevil
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.