Anurid Scavenger MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Frog Beast |
| Abilities | Protection |
| Released | 2002-02-04 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Torment |
| Set code | TOR |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 3 |
| Number | 119 |
| Frame | 1997 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Bob Petillo |
Text of card
Protection from black At the beginning of your upkeep, sacrifice Anurid Scavenger unless you put a card from your graveyard on the bottom of your library.
Krosa's topmost bottom feeder.
Cards like Anurid Scavenger
Anurid Scavenger enters the Magic: The Gathering field as an intriguing green creature card known for its ability to counter graveyard strategies. It bears similarities to cards like Scrabbling Claws and Sentinel Totem, each with graveyard managing capabilities. Unlike Scrabbling Claws or Sentinel Totem, which can remove single cards from graveyards or exile all cards at once, Anurid Scavenger requires a bit of setup to impact the graveyard.
Loaming Shaman is another creature that provides a measure of graveyard control, shuffling any number of target cards from a graveyard into the owner’s library when it enters the battlefield—a similar yet more selective approach to Anurid Scavenger’s blanket denial. With a slightly different twist, there’s also Agent of Erebos, which can exile all cards from an opponent’s graveyard whenever an enchantment enters under your control, highlighting a more synergistic component compared to the solitary nature of Anurid Scavenger.
In summary, while Anurid Scavenger may not be as versatile or as instant in its graveyard disruption as some of its counterparts, its resilience as a creature and the sustained cleaning effect provide a unique blend of presence and control in MTG’s green decks.
Cards similar to Anurid Scavenger by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Anurid Scavenger can prove instrumental in matchups where gaining incremental value matters. By returning a card with flashback or threshold from your graveyard to your hand, you bolster your resources effectively, ensuring that you always have an available play to pressure your opponent or respond to their threats.
Resource Acceleration: This creature comes with the upside of potentially speeding up your game plan. If you possess self-mill strategies or cards that fill your graveyard rapidly, Anurid Scavenger can help you loop valuable spells, accelerating your game by maximizing the potential of your graveyard as a resource.
Instant Speed: While not an instant itself, this card can capitalize on spells that operate at instant speed. It interacts favorably in a deck geared towards surprise tactics and flexibility, as it can set up for instant-speed interactions by returning the right card at the right time. Working well with instants in your deck, it ensures that you have the means to adapt to the ever-changing state of the game.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Anurid Scavenger forces you to return a blue or black creature you control to your hand as part of the casting cost. This self-bounce mechanic might set back your board presence, effectively losing tempo especially when you don’t have expendable creatures to return.
Specific Mana Cost: This card demands both green and two colorless mana, making it harder to fit into multi-colored decks that may not have reliable access to green sources, particularly in the early game when you want to establish your board.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a three mana cost and being a 3/3 creature, Anurid Scavenger’s stat-to-cost ratio is acceptable but not outstanding. In a metagame where efficiency is key, its requirement could be considered steep relative to other options that might bring more immediate board impact or provide additional flexibility.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Anurid Scavenger demonstrates adaptability by offering graveyard disruption and a solid body, making it a valuable addition to decks that strive for board presence while hindering opponents’ graveyard strategies.
Combo Potential: This card has inherent synergy with cards that profit from creatures entering the battlefield, or from graveyard exile, providing an avenue for multifaceted combo constructions.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where graveyard-based decks are prevalent, Anurid Scavenger serves as a countermeasure, granting it significance in current competitive play by restricting opponents’ recurring capabilities.
How to beat
The Anurid Scavenger, a unique creature in the realm of Magic: The Gathering, presents a tactical challenge on the battlefield. This amphibious beast not only returns a target card from a graveyard to its owner’s hand when it comes into play, but it also boasts protection from black, which can make it tricky for certain decks to handle. However, conquering this creature is not impossible.
To successfully combat Anurid Scavenger, consider using non-black removal spells that can bypass its protective ability. Board wipes that don’t target, such as “Wrath of God” or “Day of Judgment,” can clear the field without being hindered by protection abilities. Alternatively, counter spells are highly effective against it, stopping the creature before it even enters the battlefield and preventing its graveyard interaction. Utilizing exile effects is another powerful strategy, as these can remove the Anurid Scavenger from the game entirely, ensuring its return-to-hand ability cannot be used.
Players can outmaneuver Anurid Scavenger by being mindful of their removal choices and anticipating the amphibian’s arrival on the board. With the right tactics, this creature becomes a minor obstacle rather than an insurmountable threat in your Magic: The Gathering encounters.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Anurid Scavenger MTG card by a specific set like Torment, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.
For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.
Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.
Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Anurid Scavenger and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
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Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Anurid Scavenger has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |