Breya, Etherium Shaper: Targeting Planeswalkers with the Artifact Queen
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Yes, Breya, Etherium Shaper can target planeswalkers with her activated ability. The card specifically states “Breya deals 3 damage to target player or planeswalker.” This flexibility makes her a potent commander capable of controlling both creatures and planeswalkers.
Breya: An Artifact Commander Powerhouse
Breya, Etherium Shaper is a fan-favorite commander in Magic: The Gathering’s Commander format, primarily due to her versatility and the strategic depth she brings to deck-building. Her ability to create Thopter tokens upon entering the battlefield and then sacrifice artifacts for targeted damage or life gain/drain makes her incredibly adaptable. Her four-color identity (WUBR – White, Blue, Black, Red, also known as Esper, Grixis, and Jeskai colors) also opens up a vast array of deck-building options, allowing players to focus on themes like artifact synergies, sacrifice strategies, or even control archetypes. As noted in the text, Breya is a legendary artifact human from Alara, a card from the Commander 2016 set.
One of the key strengths of Breya as a commander is her ability to interact with a wide variety of strategies. She can remove problematic creatures or planeswalkers, gain life to stabilize against aggressive decks, or drain opponents to close out games. This level of control and adaptability makes her a strong choice in diverse playgroups. Understanding the nuances of her abilities and how to best leverage them within a well-constructed deck is crucial to maximizing her potential.
Breya, Etherium Shaper: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 15 frequently asked questions regarding Breya, Etherium Shaper, to help you better understand this powerful commander.
1. What colors are required in a Breya deck?
A Breya deck requires White, Blue, Black, and Red mana, often abbreviated as WUBR. This four-color identity means you can include cards from all four of these colors in your deck, providing a broad range of options. This multi-color identity lets you leverage the strengths of each color and combine them into a single cohesive strategy.
2. How many Thopter tokens does Breya create?
When Breya, Etherium Shaper enters the battlefield, she creates two 1/1 blue Thopter artifact creature tokens with flying. These tokens are crucial for fueling her activated ability, and can also serve as chump blockers or provide aerial pressure. They also greatly synergize with artifact-related cards and effects.
3. What kind of deck is Breya best suited for?
Breya is best suited for artifact-centric decks that can generate a steady stream of artifacts to sacrifice for value. Common archetypes include artifact combo, artifact control, and artifact sacrifice strategies. She also works well in decks that utilize token generation and graveyard recursion.
4. Does Breya count as an artifact for her own ability?
No, Breya herself cannot be sacrificed for her own ability. While she is an artifact creature, her ability requires you to sacrifice other artifacts. This prevents infinite loops with just Breya alone.
5. What are some good support cards for Breya?
Good support cards for Breya include those that generate artifacts, provide artifact synergies, or benefit from sacrificing artifacts. Examples include:
- Efficient artifact token generators: These cards provide the fodder to activate Breya’s abilities.
- Artifact tutors: Cards that can search your library for specific artifacts allow you to find combo pieces or answers as needed.
- Sacrifice outlets: Additional sacrifice outlets can provide extra value from your artifacts.
- Cards that benefit from artifacts entering/leaving the battlefield: These can create powerful synergies.
6. Can Breya’s ability target hexproof or shroud creatures/planeswalkers?
No. If a creature or planeswalker has hexproof or shroud, Breya’s ability cannot target it. Hexproof prevents your opponents from targeting the permanent, and Shroud prevents anyone from targeting the permanent, including yourself.
7. What happens if Breya is removed from the battlefield after creating tokens?
If Breya is removed from the battlefield after creating Thopter tokens, the tokens remain. The tokens are independent entities and are not dependent on Breya’s continued presence.
8. Is Breya a good commander for beginners?
Breya can be a challenging commander for beginners due to her four-color mana requirements and the strategic complexity of building an effective artifact deck. However, she can also be a rewarding commander to learn with, as she teaches valuable lessons about resource management, synergy, and deck-building.
9. What is the mana cost of Breya, Etherium Shaper?
Breya, Etherium Shaper costs {W}{U}{B}{R}, which means one White, one Blue, one Black, and one Red mana. This makes her a relatively expensive commander to cast, so you will want to have adequate mana acceleration/ramp in your deck.
10. Can I use Breya in a non-Commander format?
Yes, you can use Breya in other formats where legendary creatures are allowed, such as Brawl or Oathbreaker. However, she is most commonly played in the Commander format.
11. What are some common win conditions in a Breya deck?
Common win conditions in a Breya deck include:
- Infinite combos: Using artifact combinations to generate infinite mana, damage, or tokens.
- Overwhelming board presence: Creating a large army of artifact creatures to overwhelm opponents.
- Direct damage: Using Breya’s ability and other direct damage spells to burn opponents out.
- Stax/Lockdown: Stax pieces are cards that prevent players from playing the game such as cards like Winter Orb and Static Orb.
12. Does Breya trigger artifact-related abilities when she enters the battlefield?
Yes, Breya triggers artifact-related abilities when she enters the battlefield because she herself is an artifact creature. This can be beneficial for cards that trigger when artifacts enter the battlefield.
13. Can I use Breya’s ability to gain life?
Yes, by sacrificing two artifacts, you can gain 5 life with Breya’s ability. This can be a valuable way to stabilize against aggressive decks.
14. What are some weaknesses of a Breya deck?
Some weaknesses of a Breya deck include:
- Vulnerability to artifact removal: Decks that heavily rely on artifacts are vulnerable to mass artifact removal spells.
- Mana requirements: The four-color mana base can be challenging to manage, and color-screwing is possible.
- Dependence on the commander: While Breya decks can function without Breya on the battlefield, she is a powerful engine and her removal can slow the deck down.
15. How does Breya contribute to educational outcomes?
Breya, and Magic: The Gathering in general, can contribute to educational outcomes by promoting critical thinking, strategic planning, resource management, and social interaction skills. The Games Learning Society ( GamesLearningSociety.org) explores these aspects of games in learning in depth. The game presents challenges that require problem-solving, decision-making, and the ability to adapt to changing circumstances. Furthermore, the social aspect of the Commander format fosters communication, negotiation, and collaboration skills among players.
By understanding the strengths and weaknesses of Breya, Etherium Shaper, and carefully constructing your deck, you can create a powerful and versatile commander deck that is capable of winning games in a variety of ways. Remember to consider your play style, budget, and the meta of your playgroup when building your Breya deck. Good luck, and have fun!