Dancing Scimitar MTG Card
1993-12-17 - Number 61
1994-04-01 - Number 243
1994-04-01 - Number 243
1994-06-21 - Number 243
1995-04-01 - Number 313
1995-04-01 - Number 313
1997-03-24 - Number 362
1999-04-21 - Number 279
2005-07-29 - Number 292
2005-07-29 - Number 292★
| Card sets | Released in 10 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Artifact Creature — Spirit |
| Abilities | Flying |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 5 |
Text of card
Flying
Bobbing merrily from opponent to opponent, the scimitar began adding playful little flourishes to its strokes; it even turned a couple of somersaults.
Cards like Dancing Scimitar
In the realm of Magic: The Gathering, Dancing Scimitar presents an interesting case as a classic artifact creature. This flying sword finds parallels with other artifact creatures like Ornithopter, which also has flying but comes at zero cost and without the power provided by Dancing Scimitar. Though less powerful, Ornithopter’s free play can be a strategic advantage in deploy speed.
When considering toughness and resilience, Guardian Idol emerges as a contender. It functions initially as a mana generator, much like various mana rocks, but it can turn into a creature with a considerable presence on the battlefield. Both Guardian Idol and Dancing Scimitar provide defensive utility, however, the Idol offers more versatility with its dual function.
Comparing mana investment and board impact, we see Hovermyr as another artifact creature with a low-cost flying ability. While it requires one less mana to cast than the Scimitar, it brings less endurance to the battlefield. The choice between these two would largely depend on the player’s strategy and the role of artifact creatures in their deck’s composition.
Ultimately, players weighing up their options among artifact creatures with air superiority will find that Dancing Scimitar brings a balance of cost, power, and utility to the table.
Cards similar to Dancing Scimitar by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Dancing Scimitar doesn’t directly lead to card draw, but it offers a resilient form of board presence. A flying weapon with an autonomous defense mechanism, it persists on the battlefield even after its wielder is gone, essentially maintaining your card presence against creature removal.
Resource Acceleration: As an artifact, Dancing Scimitar may not directly ramp your mana resources, but it does synergize with artifact-centric strategies that could lead to acceleration. For example, it can enhance the utility of cards that untap artifacts for additional uses or benefit from the number of artifacts in play.
Instant Speed: While Dancing Scimitar itself is deployed at sorcery speed as a permanent artifact, its presence on the field offers instant speed benefits in the sense of combat. It can be a surprise blocker due to its flying ability, disrupting opponent’s aerial attacks at any moment during combat.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Not explicitly a concern for Dancing Scimitar, but any card that ties up your mana without immediately impacting the board can put you at a disadvantage when playing a high-tempo game.
Specific Mana Cost: The Dancing Scimitar requires four mana of any one color to cast. This can be difficult in multicolored decks that may not always have the necessary mana open, especially early in the game when establishing board presence is crucial.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its cost of four mana, Dancing Scimitar might seem overpriced for an artifact creature with only a 1/5 body. In a format where the pace of play is quick and mana efficiency is key, there may be far more impactful creatures or spells that could better utilize your resources.
Reasons to Include Dancing Scimitar in Your Collection
Versatility: Dancing Scimitar offers a unique blend of offense and defense. Its flying ability allows it to evade many common ground-based blockers, making it a consistent presence on the board for chip damage or blocking enemy flyers.
Combo Potential: As an artifact creature, it fits perfectly into decks that synergize with artifacts. It can be manipulated for various combo plays especially in decks that focus on artifact recursion or strategies involving equipment.
Meta-Relevance: While not a staple in current competitive formats, Dancing Scimitar can find its place in casual and certain themed decks. It might catch opponents off guard in metas that don’t expect flying artifacts or in environments where artifacts receive less hate.
How to Beat Dancing Scimitar
Dancing Scimitar is an intriguing artifact creature that hovers onto the battlefield with a specific strength, defensive flying. The utility it offers in Magic: The Gathering can’t be overlooked, especially when it comes to its potential in aerial blocking strategies. However, its low power means that, while it can be a nuisance to contend with, overcoming it requires a straightforward approach.
Key to outmaneuvering Dancing Scimitar lies in removal spells that can bypass its flying ability. Cards like Doom Blade or Go for the Throat are prime examples of straightforward removal that can swiftly deal with the Scimitar. Another tactic is to leverage spells that decrease toughness, such as Grasp of Darkness, which render its defensive qualities moot.
Perhaps one of the simplest methods is using flying creatures with greater power. Since Dancing Scimitar can’t deal much damage, a stronger flying creature can easily overcome it in combat. On the ground, consider using spells that can ground creatures with flying or that can deal damage regardless of flying, such as Earthquake. In sum, when dissecting its capabilities and matching them with efficient responses, dealing with Dancing Scimitar becomes a manageable task in Magic: The Gathering.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Dancing Scimitar MTG card by a specific set like Arabian Nights and Revised Edition, 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 Dancing Scimitar and other MTG cards:
BUY NOW BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
- 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
See MTG Products
Printings
The Dancing Scimitar Magic the Gathering card was released in 9 different sets between 1993-12-17 and 2005-07-29. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1993-12-17 | Arabian Nights | ARN | 61 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Anson Maddocks | |
| 2 | 1994-04-01 | Revised Edition | 3ED | 243 | 1993 | Normal | White | Anson Maddocks | |
| 3 | 1994-04-01 | Foreign Black Border | FBB | 243 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Anson Maddocks | |
| 4 | 1994-06-21 | Summer Magic / Edgar | SUM | 243 | 1993 | Normal | White | Anson Maddocks | |
| 5 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition | 4ED | 313 | 1993 | Normal | White | Anson Maddocks | |
| 6 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border | 4BB | 313 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Anson Maddocks | |
| 7 | 1997-03-24 | Fifth Edition | 5ED | 362 | 1997 | Normal | White | Anson Maddocks | |
| 8 | 1999-04-21 | Classic Sixth Edition | 6ED | 279 | 1997 | Normal | White | Anson Maddocks | |
| 9 | 2005-07-29 | Ninth Edition | 9ED | 292 | 2003 | Normal | White | Ron Spears | |
| 10 | 2005-07-29 | Ninth Edition | 9ED | 292★ | 2003 | Normal | Black | Ron Spears |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Dancing Scimitar has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Oldschool | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |