Pointed Discussion

Countless times I've been targeted by my opponent's Browbeat. Not only do casual players fail to understand how to play their own cards correctly, to play it correctly isn't even that good. If you're playing some trashy burn deck that can afford to play 3cc sorceries that let your opponent choose the best options for themselves, I'm sure this card will make a good home in your deck. If it were possible to give this card 0 stars, I would; but 1/2* is fine too.

This card is for multiplayer, especially a metagame in which players aren't very communicative or diplomatic. The trick is to kill the people who are willing to take the damage as soon as you can. Let the decision to take the browbeat damage be equivalent to a declaration of war. Of course, if the other players join in in taking damage from your Browbeats, the card is pretty much entirely worthless, as 5 damage out of 40 or more (assuming 3 or more players) isn't worth 3 mana and a card, and you'd be better off with a repeatable source of damage, or at least a cheaper one.

I cant belive you would rate this card 0 stars, it fits perfect in a mono red deck. Its like saying "Hey you can take some damage now or try your luck that I wont get anything worse"

drawing three cards for three mana is a decent enough effect- It beats out both Harmonize and Concentrate any day. On the other hand, should your opponent choose to take 5 damage, then you just did 5dmg for cmc3 and that is pretty good as well. This card gives players a huge card advantage or a huge life advantage at a low cost. It basically asks: "do you want me to hit you with a lava axe or just play a harmonize?"

My favorite red card. 5/5.

the proctologist called, tcjimbo. he found your head.

the point of a burn deck is to turn your cards into damage as rapidly and efficiently as possible. ie, doing five damage for 3cc is extremely playable, and drawing three cards for 3cc is even better. You're hitting for five unless your opponent is low enough that he doesn't have the luxury of taking the damage. You're right about one thing - you're giving your opponent the choice; too bad you're also overlooking one important thing - both choices suck for him. 4/5 at worst.

"the proctologist called, tcjimbo. he found your head."

Oh my lol. That is all.

4/5

I feel like the flavor text says how good the card is. Plus as I believe the threatening person is Kamahl, that makes it that much more awesome

http://magic.tcgplayer.com/db/article.asp?id=7146

This article sums up browbeat nicely. It's a long article, but it's informative. Basically, browbeat is a win-more card. It's not HORRIBLE, but it's not tournament-worthy at all.

Rather than just argue about the playability of the card, I'll ask a question about it.
Normally, in the case of Lightning Bolt and such, you can burn a planeswalker by redirecting damage after targeting the owner. In the case of Browbeat, of course,
"Any player may have Browbeat deal 5 damage to him or her."
So although Browbeat is the source of the damage, is Browbeat's controller allowed to redirect the damage?
Usually I can easily test these scenarios on MTGO, where all the rules work fine with no need for judges, unless there is a bug. Unfortunately, in this scenario, it would probably take way too long to find out.

As for Browbeat's playability, I think it once had luster but is past its prime. Even Jackal Pup looks mediocre today. If you read mdak's article, which is 5 years old, the player who wrote the article says he'd play Char over Browbeat. Char is also past its prime, and it shows even more evidently on that card.
I don't think its even the fact that you're giving your opponent a choice or not. Its just the fact that 5 damage for 3 mana and a card can be outsped by things like Shrapnel Blasting away your Ichor Wellspring, or attacking with some angry aggressive creature.

So what if this card is win-more? If you're playing aggressive burn, you should be winning during the first few turns anyways. If you can use this card to control the tempo and use the temporary advantage you have to kill your opponent, then I see no problem with this card. As long as you don't run out of steam, you deny your opponent the chance to stabilize and reach equilibrium (which, of course, favors the opponent in the endgame). Great inclusion in Fire and Lightning, but not as good anywhere else. I'd still give it a 3/5.

this card is amazing with new cards! roll Chandra, the firbrand down, so shall i draw 6 cards or would you like to be hit for 10?

So yes, this card never does what you want it to do.. but why would that matter if you could imprint/copy this card like crazy?

arguably, a lightning bolt copied by a card like Increasing Vengeance's flashback would be more consistent at 9 damage killing anyone at 1 digit health. but when faced with and opponent with less than 15 health, you're almost assured to do some major damage, while at the same time drawing other combo pieces to win the game.. or more lightning bolts..

@tcjimbo - You misunderstand. Either your opponent (or an opponent in multiplayer) takes the 5 to the head or you end up drawing the three cards. Neither is a nice proposition when you're staring at it.

@Kryptnyt - I assume that it'd be possible. The Planeswalker rules don't state one way or the other...but anyone that'd sacrifice any Planeswalker (perhaps Tibalt could die) isn't exactly the smartest player.

@a7wingedsheep - Either is good. Sure, you may not get what you played it for, but neither is a bad thing.

0.5 Stars for the original printing because the wording somehow made people think that if I didn't pull a Browbeat out of my hand, deck, binder, or somewhere, that I would take 5 damage and they would draw three cards. I had to HAVE Browbeat. This is why going to the card store to play with random people was terrible.

(For any other printings it deserves a 3.5, would be 4 but card drawing on red is so weird.)