This card deserves a much higher rating, if not simply for being a transmute card, then for being the only one with 5 CMC.
lordof1000mimes
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(3 votes)
Transmute is pretty much the only reason to play this card and its not a bad reason. If you already have what you would transmute, then I guess the destroy ability is an alright plan B, but its entirely secondary to the transmute.
HairlessThoctar
★★★★☆ (4.1/5.0)(4 votes)
It should be mentioned that this is a rare black spell that can kill black creatures.
It's the only transmute for 5, that defaults it to awesome
Remember, transmute cards are overpriced because playing them at all is a plan B, and if a card's ability is ment to be a last resort, removal is the way to go, because even overpriced, it can save you if it needs to
So, it's a sanguine bond or an Ob Nixilis, or whatever else you want for five, that can kill something in a pinch.
bfugitive
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(2 votes)
Ironic that Random Card took me here right after Roo***er Matriarch.
nimzo
★☆☆☆☆ (1.5/5.0)(2 votes)
@ Kelrath, @Kindulas The problem is about the fact that you'll probably not running with many 5CMC in your deck. So by the time you will transmute it, you'll find between 1-2 and 4-5 card in your deck as a target, and maybe you'll not ready to play the tutored card next turn. I understand the Stuffy Doll - Guilty Conscience combo where Brainspoil can be useful, but how many card can kill this combo? Boomrang, Counterspell, Disenchant are three common and classic example, both between 4 and 5 stars, card with so many possibilities. Stuffy Doll and Guilty Conscience are both interesting and strong card, but if you need two other cards and (with Dizzy Spell) at your turn to then reach your combo, maybe the way is a little bit hazardous...
Furthermore, how many time the first card at the top of your library is the desirable card? This make Fleeting Distraction a 3,5 or 4 stars card?
So because the "main" effect (at sorcery speed) of Brainspoil doesn't deserve more than 2CMC (kill black, but non-enchanted creature), and because the restrictive of both his casting cost and his trasmute ability, this card is definitively a 2,5/5 stars card and the lower of the "transmute card" of the multicolored world of Ravnica (compare it with Dimir Infiltrator, where the "main" card exactly deserves his 2CMC as a strong card, so the trasmute ability is in this case a veritable bonus).
I agree on one point: Transmute is very interesting for imaginative player and for non-standard way of making things. And don't forget: 2,5/5 or 3/5 are "decent" or "good" card, it's not so pejorative!
leomistico
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
In limited it's quite playable even if there isn't anything worth the transumation in you deck. In constructed it's a versatile tutor that can kill something when you're in need! It's nothing to laugh of because that means that your removal isn't a dead card even if there's nothing to kill. Of course you have to build your deck a little according to it, but it's no so difficult. Compare it to Expunge that's already a very good card!
@nimzo: The difference between draw a card and tutor for a desired card is so huge that if you don't understand it you may have some problem playing Magic... So comparing this with tutor effect with the "Draw a card" one of Fleeting Distraction doesn't make any sense.
Even if there's only one 5CMC remaining in your deck, if you need it, you'll be happy to draw Brainspoil. Even if you don't exactly NEED it, it's worth the transmutation if Brainspoil is a dead card at that moment. I agree that it's cost doesn't match the effect like, as you said, Dimir Infiltrator, but it's not bad compared to Ethereal Usher. And sometime all you need is a 5CMC flexible tutor...!
I'm sure there are more. But that seems like a good start. Yay Dimir!
ElliotSternberg
★★☆☆☆ (2.5/5.0)(1 vote)
There should be a separate rating system for EDH, because this card is amazing in it. I've used this to kill mean things with regenerate, other creatures that would have murdered my face off, pull exquisite blood to match my sanguine bond and grab other combos very often.
Not to mention that with the new set Diabolic Revelation can be grabbed and then fetch you a whole combo if you've done good mana ramp. (At times I can play this, then revalations and then drop Mikaeus and Triskelion in a single turn.)
I would guess it's too high cost for modern and vintage, but EDH has a great time with this.
mlanier131
★★☆☆☆ (2.0/5.0)(2 votes)
burning wish for brainspoil, transmute for ad nauseam
Comments (20)
It was a tiny bit relevant in the block it was printed in, there was boatloads of enchantments floating around.
Example: Brainspoil and Dizzy Spell are in your hand. Stuffy Doll and Guilty Conscience are in your deck.
This card deserves a much higher rating, if not simply for being a transmute card, then for being the only one with 5 CMC.
Remember, transmute cards are overpriced because playing them at all is a plan B, and if a card's ability is ment to be a last resort, removal is the way to go, because even overpriced, it can save you if it needs to
So, it's a sanguine bond or an Ob Nixilis, or whatever else you want for five, that can kill something in a pinch.
The problem is about the fact that you'll probably not running with many 5CMC in your deck. So by the time you will transmute it, you'll find between 1-2 and 4-5 card in your deck as a target, and maybe you'll not ready to play the tutored card next turn. I understand the Stuffy Doll - Guilty Conscience combo where Brainspoil can be useful, but how many card can kill this combo? Boomrang, Counterspell, Disenchant are three common and classic example, both between 4 and 5 stars, card with so many possibilities. Stuffy Doll and Guilty Conscience are both interesting and strong card, but if you need two other cards and
Furthermore, how many time the first card at the top of your library is the desirable card? This make Fleeting Distraction a 3,5 or 4 stars card?
So because the "main" effect (at sorcery speed) of Brainspoil doesn't deserve more than 2CMC (kill black, but non-enchanted creature), and because the restrictive
I agree on one point: Transmute is very interesting for imaginative player and for non-standard way of making things. And don't forget: 2,5/5 or 3/5 are "decent" or "good" card, it's not so pejorative!
@nimzo: The difference between draw a card and tutor for a desired card is so huge that if you don't understand it you may have some problem playing Magic... So comparing this with tutor effect with the "Draw a card" one of Fleeting Distraction doesn't make any sense.
Even if there's only one 5CMC remaining in your deck, if you need it, you'll be happy to draw Brainspoil. Even if you don't exactly NEED it, it's worth the transmutation if Brainspoil is a dead card at that moment.
I agree that it's cost doesn't match the effect like, as you said, Dimir Infiltrator, but it's not bad compared to Ethereal Usher. And sometime all you need is a 5CMC flexible tutor...!
4/5
"They've got no card advantage" You say.
"Blarugahraggha" You say.
Traumatize
Jace, memory adept
Liliana vess
Nemesis of reason
Archive trap
I'm sure there are more. But that seems like a good start. Yay Dimir!
Not to mention that with the new set Diabolic Revelation can be grabbed and then fetch you a whole combo if you've done good mana ramp. (At times I can play this, then revalations and then drop Mikaeus and Triskelion in a single turn.)
I would guess it's too high cost for modern and vintage, but EDH has a great time with this.
"So-so, I prefer Grim Tutor for the effect."
"But... but Grim Tutor doesn't kill a cre--"
"BRAINSPOIL KILLS A CREATURE?!?!?!!??!?!?! oh man I thought it was a discard effect or something."
"You played like four decks with the card in it and you never actually read what the card actually did?"
"Can you tell me what ability Golgari Thug has?"
"...Touche"
--
More people have hardcast freaking Force of Will than have hardcast Brainspoil. It might as well say "pat target creature on the head."