Price$1.19 – $45.43
Buy on TCGplayerBrainstorm
Instant
LegalCard DrawEDHREC #71
Draw three cards, then put two cards from your hand on top of your library in any order.
Why is this card good?
Brainstorm is one of the cheapest, most flexible cantrips in blue, and its high EDHREC rank is well-earned. For one mana you dig three cards deep, hide unwanted cards on top, and most importantly reset bad draws — putting back uncastable spells or excess lands you'd otherwise be stuck with.
The catch: Brainstorm only truly shines with shuffle effects. Without a fetchland, Evolving Wilds, or a tutor to shuffle away the two cards you bury, you're "Brainstorm-locked" — drawing the same two duds for the next two turns. It's at its best in decks running plenty of shuffle outlets.
Who wants it: cEDH and high-power blue decks, control shells, combo decks digging for pieces, and anything with Mystical Tutor-style effects (put the tutored card on top, Brainstorm it straight into hand). Storm and spellslinger decks love the cheap velocity.
Skip it in casual, land-light, or shuffle-poor builds — there, plain card draw like Divination serves you better without the lock risk.
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Printings (42)
Show all 42 printingsShow fewer
Played by these commanders
Galea, Kindler of Hope100% of 1
Abaddon the Despoiler100% of 2
Aminatou, the Fateshifter100% of 1
Zaffai, Thunder Conductor100% of 1
Riku of Two Reflections100% of 1
Mirko, Obsessive Theorist100% of 1
Aminatou, Veil Piercer100% of 1
Zedruu the Greathearted100% of 1
Mizzix of the Izmagnus100% of 1
Combos (5)
- God-Eternal Kefnet + Isochron Scepter + Brainstorm + Time Warp
→ Infinite turns, Lock
- God-Eternal Kefnet + Isochron Scepter + Brainstorm + Temporal Manipulation
→ Infinite turns, Lock
- God-Eternal Kefnet + Isochron Scepter + Brainstorm + Capture of Jingzhou
→ Infinite turns, Lock
- God-Eternal Kefnet + Isochron Scepter + Brainstorm + Walk the Aeons
→ Infinite turns, Lock
- Approach of the Second Sun + Sunbird's Invocation + God-Eternal Kefnet + Brainstorm
→ Win the game
Rulings (1)
- 2018-03-16
You draw three cards and put two cards back all while Brainstorm is resolving. Nothing can happen between the two, and no player may choose to take actions.