Malefic Scythe MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Artifact — Equipment |
| Abilities | Equip |
| Released | 2020-07-03 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Core Set 2021 |
| Set code | M21 |
| Number | 112 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Joe Slucher |
Key Takeaways
- Malefic Scythe increases creature power after your creatures die, intensifying the battlefield challenge.
- The scythe turns each creature loss into potent offense without extra mana costs.
- Instant-speed equipping provides surprise advantage, changing combat dynamics unexpectedly.
Text of card
Malefic Scythe enters the battlefield with a soul counter on it. Equipped creature gets +1/+1 for each soul counter on Malefic Scythe. Whenever equipped creature dies, put a soul counter on Malefic Scythe. Equip (: Attach to target creature you control. Equip only as a sorcery.)
Card Pros
Card Advantage: With the Malefic Scythe, each time a creature you control dies, the Scythe gains a soul counter. As the counters accumulate, the equipped creature becomes a more potent force, effectively giving you an advantage as your creatures turn into larger threats.
Resource Acceleration: While Malefic Scythe doesn’t directly produce additional mana or treasure tokens, it accelerates your board presence by consistently enhancing your creatures. This card allows you to strengthen your creatures without expending additional cards or mana from your hand, which indirectly conserves resources for other strategic plays.
Instant Speed: Although Malefic Scythe is not an instant itself, it can be equipped at instant speed thanks to its equip ability. This means you can equip it to a creature during your opponent’s turn just before blockers are declared, catching an opponent by surprise and potentially turning the tide of combat in your favor.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Malefic Scythe can be a powerful tool to strengthen your creatures, its discard requirement to spark its ability can be a detriment. This especially hampers gameplay when your hand is running low, forcing you to make tough decisions about which valuable cards to let go.
Specific Mana Cost: Despite its potential, the scythe comes with a restrictive mana cost. It requires two mana of any type plus one black mana to cast. This can be a hindrance in multi-colored decks or those that struggle with mana fixing, as you may not have the necessary black mana when you need it.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The initial investment to get Malefic Scythe on the battlefield is notably high. There are alternative equipment cards in MTG that can be cast for less mana and offer comparable, if not more immediate, board impact. The cost might be justifiable in decks centered around creature sacrifice, but for many strategies, the mana could be spent on more pressing threats or defenses.
Reasons to Include Malefic Scythe in Your Collection
Versatility: Malefic Scythe is an equipment card that enhances any creature it equips, making it a valuable asset in decks built around creature-based strategies. Its ability to grow stronger as creatures you control die allows it to adapt to various game scenarios.
Combo Potential: This card works exceptionally well with sacrificial strategies. When paired with creatures that benefit from or initiate death triggers, it helps create a formidable board presence that can turn the tide of battle in your favor.
Meta-Relevance: In an environment where creature-focused decks are prevalent, Malefic Scythe stands out as a tool capable of giving you an edge. It can turn even the smallest creature into a significant threat, making it relevant in numerous match-ups and metamorphic gameplay challenges you may face.
How to beat
Malefic Scythe swiftly becomes a game-changer on the battlefield, with its ability to accumulate power as your opponent’s creatures die. However, this equipment card from Magic: The Gathering has its vulnerabilities. To neutralize the growing threat, one strategy is to control when and how creatures perish. Cards that prevent creature deaths, such as those with indestructible abilities or combat tricks which save creatures at critical moments, can halt the Scythe’s power accumulation.
Another tactic involves targeting the artifact directly. Green provides natural artifact destruction cards like Naturalize or Return to Nature, which can remove the Scythe before it becomes too powerful. Alternatively, playing a less creature-heavy strategy also indirectly stagnates the Scythe’s potential, making each creature death less impactful.
Ultimately, whether you choose preemptive destruction or modifying your own gameplay style, carefully timing your responses to Malefic Scythe can ensure it remains a manageable threat rather than a dominant presence on the board.
Cards like Malefic Scythe
Malefic Scythe stands out in Magic: The Gathering as a unique equipment artifact that can progressively increase a creature’s power. When placed alongside similar cards like Shadowspear or Loxodon Warhammer, the distinction becomes clear. Shadowspear bestows a modest power and toughness boost, yet it extends trample and lifelink, an ability set that the Scythe lacks. Loxodon Warhammer also grants a notable power increase, along with trample and lifelink, differentiating it from Malefic Scythe, which emphasizes the amplification of power through accumulating counters.
Another comparable artifact, Grafted Wargear, offers a considerable power and toughness boost without an incremental mechanic, but it requires the sacrifice of the equipped creature should it leave play. Malefic Scythe, on the other hand, becomes more menacing with each creature’s death, creating long-term impact on the board. Herein lies its unique advantage—it rewards longevity with exponential strength, unlike its static counterparts.
Thus, within the pantheon of power-enhancing equipment in Magic: The Gathering, Malefic Scythe carves out a niche. It caters to strategies that benefit from creature death, distinguishing itself as a card capable of changing the potency of your creatures with each skirmish they endure.
Cards similar to Malefic Scythe by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Malefic Scythe MTG card by a specific set like Core Set 2021, 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 Malefic Scythe 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
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Malefic Scythe has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
