Simian BrawlerHow it works & interactions with other cards

Unpacking the Ability

Simian Brawler features an activated ability that costs no mana. The cost to activate it is simply discarding a land card from your hand. Because this ability does not have a 'once per turn' restriction, you can activate it as many times as you have land cards available to discard.

Resolution Step-by-Step

First, announce you are activating the ability and discard a land card to the graveyard as the cost. This puts the ability on the stack. Next, players have a chance to respond with spells or abilities. Finally, if no one counters the ability, it resolves and Simian Brawler receives a +1/+1 buff until the end of the current turn.

Common Mistakes

A frequent error is trying to discard non-land cards to trigger the buff; the ability strictly requires a land card. Additionally, remember that the +1/+1 bonus is temporary and will wear off during the cleanup step at the end of the turn.

Strategic Timing

Since this is an activated ability, you can use it at instant speed. This makes Simian Brawler an excellent blocker, as you can wait to see how your opponent attacks before deciding how many lands to discard to ensure the Brawler survives combat or destroys an attacking creature.

Interaction examples

Fueling the Fire

Solemn Simulacrum

When you play Solemn Simulacrum, you search your library for a basic land and put it onto the battlefield. When it eventually dies, you draw a card. If that card is a land, you can immediately discard it to Simian Brawler's ability, ensuring that even your late-game draws contribute to your board presence.

The Graveyard Loop

Eternal Witness

If you discard a high-value land to buff Simian Brawler, you can follow up by casting Eternal Witness. When Eternal Witness enters, you can target the land card in your graveyard and return it to your hand, allowing you to discard it again for a second +1/+1 buff or play it if you need the mana.