Sandsteppe Scavenger MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Dog Scout |
| Abilities | Bolster |
| Released | 2015-03-27 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Dragons of Tarkir |
| Set code | DTK |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 2 |
| Number | 200 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | normal |
| Border | black |
| Illustred by | Kieran Yanner |
Key Takeaways
- Bolster ability upgrades a creature without using extra cards, effectively improving board presence.
- Can accelerate resources, enhancing chain plays and powerful turns in your favor.
- Instant speed synergies provide tactical advantages during combat and opponent’s moves.
Text of card
When Sandsteppe Scavenger enters the battlefield, bolster 2. (Choose a creature with the least toughness among creatures you control and put two +1/+1 counters on it.)
"Sad what passes for a dragon among the Silumgar."
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Sandsteppe Scavenger allows you to bolster another creature on the battlefield, which equates to upgrading a creature’s power and toughness with no additional card cost. This effectively means you are enhancing your board presence without diminishing your hand resources.
Resource Acceleration: By potentially targeting a creature with an enters the battlefield ability that generates mana or other resources, Sandsteppe Scavenger can be the catalyst for a chain of plays, accelerating your resource accumulation and setting you up for powerful turns.
Instant Speed: While Sandsteppe Scavenger itself doesn’t operate at instant speed, it synergizes well with cards that do. Being a creature card, it opens doors for interactions with instant speed tricks or flash creatures that can give you the upper hand during combat or in response to your opponent’s moves.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The Sandsteppe Scavenger doesn’t impose a direct discard requirement, yet its presence in your hand could pressure you into opting for its seemingly advantageous bolster effect at the potential cost of discarding other valuable cards to make room for mana resources.
Specific Mana Cost: Its mana cost includes both generic and white mana, which might limit deck-building options and complicate its summoning in multicolor decks not heavily invested in white mana sources.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a total cost of five mana, which includes four generic and one white, the Sandsteppe Scavenger’s bolster ability may be less efficient compared to other creatures or spells with similar or lower mana investments that offer immediate board impact or additional effects.
Reasons to Include Sandsteppe Scavenger in Your Collection
Versatility: Sandsteppe Scavenger can blend seamlessly into a variety of creature-based decks, offering a solid body and the bonus of bolstering another creature upon entering the battlefield. It’s a flexible addition that can support both aggressive and defensive strategies.
Combo Potential: Its bolster ability has a natural synergy with +1/+1 counter strategies, potentially turning any creature into a bigger threat. This opens up interactions with cards that benefit from counters or rely on them to activate abilities.
Meta-Relevance: In environments where creature-based strategies are prevalent, Sandsteppe Scavenger’s ability to enhance your creatures can be a game-changer, making it a pertinent choice for decks that aim to maintain a solid board presence.
How to Beat Sandsteppe Scavenger
Understanding the ins and outs of every MTG card can give you the upper hand in the game, especially when facing creatures such as Sandsteppe Scavenger. This creature card brings a bolster ability to the table, allowing it to strengthen other creatures on the battlefield when it enters play. The key to beating Sandsteppe Scavenger lies in neutralizing it before its bolster effect becomes a problem.
Timing is crucial. The smart play involves keeping instant-speed removal spells at the ready to deal with the Scavenger before the bolster ability triggers. Cards with flash or spells that can be cast at instant speed ensure that you can react to the Scavenger’s play immediately. Moreover, if you prioritize removing creatures with a low power which are likely targets of the bolster, you nip potential threats in the bud.
Combat tricks can also turn the tide. If the Sandsteppe Scavenger does get to bolster a creature, having a trick up your sleeve to deal with the increased threat can save the day. Cards that weaken or neutralize bolstered creatures can help maintain board control. In this way, you reduce the impact of Sandsteppe Scavenger’s entrance and keep the battlefield balanced in your favor.
Cards like Sandsteppe Scavenger
Sandsteppe Scavenger joins the ranks of Magic: The Gathering creatures that leverage entering the battlefield for bolstering one’s board presence. Case in point, Sultai Flayer, also a 4/5 creature, offers a similar yet distinct advantage; it gives you life gain when another creature you control with toughness 4 or greater dies. While Sandsteppe Scavenger allows for a one-time bolster effect upon entry, Sultai Flayer can provide a recurring benefit in the right deck build.
Likewise, Elite Scaleguard stands as another card to consider when comparing enter-the-battlefield effects. It’s closely related to Sandsteppe Scavenger, granting a more significant impact on the game by providing a mechanism to tap opposing creatures and potentially creating a clear path to the opponent’s life points. Although requiring one more mana than Sandsteppe Scavenger, the potential board control Elite Scaleguard grants could be worth the higher price point.
When evaluating the utility of Sandsteppe Scavenger in gameplay, its immediate effect can be advantageous, especially in limited formats like draft or sealed. In a collection of creatures that offer similar bolster bonuses, the Scavenger is more than a mere filler card and can serve as a sturdy presence in the right deck.
Cards similar to Sandsteppe Scavenger by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Sandsteppe Scavenger MTG card by a specific set like Dragons of Tarkir, 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 Sandsteppe Scavenger 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 Magic products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Sandsteppe Scavenger has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Sandsteppe Scavenger card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2015-02-25 | Bolster itself doesn’t target any creature, though some spells and abilities that bolster may have other effects that target creatures. For example, you could put counters on a creature with protection from white with Aven Tactician’s bolster ability. |
| 2015-02-25 | You determine which creature to put counters on as the spell or ability that instructs you to bolster resolves. That could be the creature with the bolster ability, if it’s still under your control and has the least toughness. |
