Scythe Specter MTG Card
2011-06-17 - Number 97
2018-06-08 - Number 74
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 6 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Specter |
| Abilities | Flying |
| Power | 4 |
| Toughness | 4 |
Key Takeaways
- Scythe Specter’s discard effect can create a substantial card advantage and strategic upper hand.
- The six mana cost may limit its inclusion but validates its potent discard-triggered damage output.
- Its unique abilities make Scythe Specter a worthy contender in meta play and discard-focused decks.
Text of card
Flying Whenever Scythe Specter deals combat damage to a player, each opponent discards a card. Each player who discarded a card with the highest converted mana cost among cards discarded this way loses life equal to that converted mana cost.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Scythe Specter provides a unique edge by forcing each opponent to discard whenever it deals combat damage, thus potentially stripping away their key resources while you remain unaffected. This disruption not only weakens their position but can also lead to significant card advantage if your opponents are forced to discard important pieces of their strategy.
Resource Acceleration: Though not directly contributing to mana acceleration, the ability to disrupt opponents’ hands can slow them down, indirectly accelerating your own board state by comparison. This can be especially impactful if you manage to diminish an opponent’s ability to deal with your threats, allowing your game plan to progress unimpeded.
Instant Speed: While Scythe Specter operates at sorcery speed as a creature, the fact that it creates an immediate effect when it deals damage allows it to have an impact similar to an instant. This can catch opponents unprepared, forcing them to discard their freshly drawn card before they get a chance to use it, and upsetting plans they may have been counting on executing during their next turn.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One of the significant drawbacks of Scythe Specter is that its triggered ability requires each opponent to discard a card. While this can be disruptive to opponents, there’s no guarantee that the discarded card will be valuable, and if your opponent runs out of hand, the Specter’s impact fades.
Specific Mana Cost: The casting cost for Scythe Specter includes both black and generic mana, which means it fits mostly in mono-black or black-inclusive decks. This specific mana requirement can hamper its flexibility and make it less attractive for multi-colored decks not focused on black mana.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a converted mana cost of six, Scythe Specter is on the higher end of the mana curve. Given its costly investment, there are times when playing this card may not be as efficient compared to other cards with lower mana costs that provide immediate value or faster gameplay advantages.
Reasons to Include Scythe Specter in Your Collection
Versatility: Scythe Specter provides a unique blend of offensive and defensive capabilities. Its ability to force discards while also dealing damage makes it a flexible choice for decks that aim to disrupt the opponent’s hand while applying pressure on the board.
Combo Potential: In combination with cards that penalize opponents for discarding or having fewer cards in hand, Scythe Specter can become part of a potent control strategy. It harmonizes with the mechanics of discard-themed decks, leveraging each card lost by the opponent to tilt the game in your favor.
Meta-Relevance: As the MTG landscape continuously evolves, a card like Scythe Specter remains relevant in metas where hand advantage is crucial. Against control decks that rely on an array of strategies, depleting their resources can shift the balance, making Scythe Specter a strategic addition to any collection.
How to beat
Understanding how to navigate against the Scythe Specter in MTG is crucial for maintaining control of the game. When it deals combat damage to a player, that player discards a card, and then loses life equal to the discarded card’s mana value. One strategy is to neutralize it before it can connect, using removal spells or creatures with higher power and toughness. You can also employ cards that prevent combat damage or redirect it, avoiding the discard-triggered life loss.
Another approach is to use instant-speed spells that can surprise your opponent and eliminate the Specter during the combat phase. Counterspells are especially effective as they can prevent the Specter from entering the battlefield altogether. Always keep your mana untapped if you anticipate this creature, and aim to play around its menacing ability by not leaving your hand vulnerable with high mana value cards if possible. Patience and the clever timing of your spells can ensure the Scythe Specter doesn’t slice through your strategy.
When building your deck, consider incorporating cards that benefit from discarding or that have a minimal impact when lost from your hand. This way, you can mitigate the damage done by the Specter’s ability, keeping you in the game longer and increasing your chances to eventually overcome the challenge it presents.
Cards like Scythe Specter
Scythe Specter stands as an intriguing choice for players keen on the discard mechanic in Magic: The Gathering. When comparing it to other cards that provoke card discard upon dealing combat damage, Liliana’s Specter comes to mind. Both cards share a similar impact in forcing opponents to discard, but Scythe Specter brings an added layer with its ability to deal damage equal to the converted mana cost of the discarded cards.
Nightveil Specter also parallels Scythe Specter in the avenue of disruption, albeit through exiling the top card of your opponent’s library rather than discarding. While they share spectral ties, Scythe Specter’s potential for damage based on the opponent’s card values offers a different strategic approach. Hypnotic Specter, a classic disruptor, delivers a similar discard upon damage mechanic but lacks the damage scaling based on card costs.
Thus, Scythe Specter is a particularly formidable choice for players aiming to impose the discard strategy while simultaneously dishing out potentially significant damage, showcasing its unique position in MTG’s array of discard-focused specters.
Cards similar to Scythe Specter by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Scythe Specter MTG card by a specific set like Commander 2011 and Commander Anthology Volume II, 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 Scythe Specter and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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
See MTG Products
Printings
The Scythe Specter Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2011-06-17 and 2018-06-08. Illustrated by Vincent Proce.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2011-06-17 | Commander 2011 | CMD | 97 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Vincent Proce | |
| 2 | 2018-06-08 | Commander Anthology Volume II | CM2 | 74 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Vincent Proce |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Scythe Specter has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Scythe Specter card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2011-09-22 | Each opponent in turn order chooses a card to discard without revealing it, then all the chosen cards are discarded simultaneously. No one sees what the other players are discarding before deciding which card to discard. |
| 2011-09-22 | If Scythe Specter deals combat damage to multiple players simultaneously (perhaps because some of the combat damage was redirected to another player), its ability will trigger for each of those players. |
| 2011-09-22 | If there are multiple cards tied for the highest converted mana cost, each player who discarded one of those cards will lose life equal to that converted mana cost. |
| 2011-09-22 | In a Two-Headed Giant game, each member of the opposing team will be able to see the other’s hand before deciding what to discard. If each member discards a card with the same converted mana cost, each player will lose that much life, resulting in the team losing life equal to twice that converted mana cost. |
