Dreg Mangler MTG Card
2012-09-07 - Number 56
2012-10-05 - Number 158
2012-10-05 - Number 158
2022-07-08 - Number 204
| Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Plant Zombie |
| Abilities | Haste,Scavenge |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 3 |
Text of card
Haste Scavenge (, Exile this card from your graveyard: Put a number of +1/+1 counters equal to this card's power on target creature. Scavenge only as a sorcery.)
Cards like Dreg Mangler
Dreg Mangler serves as a powerful asset for any player looking to enhance their deck with a creature that offers both swiftness and resilience. This three-mana Golgari card bears a striking resemblance to Strangleroot Geist, another creature known for its haste and the undying ability. Dreg Mangler sets itself apart by offering Scavenge, allowing you to strengthen other creatures later in the game.
Lotleth Troll is a card with a different sort of synergy with graveyard mechanics. While it doesn’t have haste, its ability to gain +1/+1 counters by discarding a creature card provides a different tactical advantage. Moreover, its regenerate ability ensures it sticks around, much like Dreg Mangler’s potential long-term value through Scavenge.
Analyzing the scope of hasty, value-oriented creatures in MTG, Dreg Mangler offers an impressive combination of immediate impact with its haste and a persistent threat via the Scavenge mechanic, positioning it as an efficient choice for players leveraging graveyard strategies within the Golgari guild’s colors.
Cards similar to Dreg Mangler by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: With the Dreg Mangler, you’re tapping into not just aggressive stats but also utilizing its Scavenge ability, which lets you extract value from the card even after it’s served its purpose on the battlefield. This late-game utility can be the equivalent of drawing another threat, bolstering your position as you fuel another creature’s power.
Resource Acceleration: The Mangler’s low mana cost of three – specifically, one black, one green, and one generic – allows for an early and sizable presence on the board. It’s a punchy play that escalates your resource deployment, ensuring you’re making impactful plays right from the early turns of the game. Strategic sequencing with this card can propel you ahead of your opponent in the race for board dominance.
Instant Speed: While Dreg Mangler itself is not an instant, its Scavenge ability, which can be activated only as a sorcery, encourages strategic management of resources. It assures that even during your main phase, you’re poised to make the best use of your available mana, while still keeping up the aggression and pressuring your opponent at every stage of the game.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: For Dreg Mangler to fully shine, it demands a strategic deck built around graveyard synergy, which sometimes could imply discarding valuable cards to set up powerful plays. If you’re not prepared to sacrifice hand advantage, this card could be less than optimal.
Specific Mana Cost: Dreg Mangler’s casting cost requires one black and one green mana, making it exclusive to Golgari decks or those that heavily invest in mana fixing. Players not running these colors will find it challenging to incorporate Dreg Mangler into their arsenal.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a combined mana value of three for a 3/3 body, Dreg Mangler’s initial impact might not seem cost-prohibitive. However, with numerous other creatures and spells competing at this slot, players must carefully weigh if its haste and scavenge abilities justify its inclusion over other options that offer immediate board impact or lower casting costs.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Dreg Mangler is a multi-faceted card that can slide into various Golgari decks, a blend that leverages both graveyard manipulation and aggressive strategies.
Combo Potential: Its scavenge ability allows you to exploit this card from the graveyard, potentially empowering other creatures and synergizing well with tactics that benefit from +1/+1 counters.
Meta-Relevance: Given that creature-based aggro decks remain a staple in many metagames, Dreg Mangler stands as a solid inclusion, contributing to both early pressure and late-game resilience.
How to beat
Dreg Mangler is a formidable card in MTG, known for its efficiency and the Scavenge ability it bestows. Scavenge allows you to exile it from the graveyard and bolster another creature, turning late-game draws into potential threats. However, overcoming Dreg Mangler hinges on disrupting this synergy. Graveyard hate cards, such as Rest in Peace or Scavenging Ooze, can remove Dreg Mangler from the equation before the Scavenge ability has a chance to activate.
Another tactic is to control the battlefield. Early removal spells like Fatal Push or Path to Exile can manage Dreg Mangler before it starts wreaking havoc. Should it hit the board, consider blockers with high toughness to absorb or deter attacks, minimizing the impact of its haste. Moreover, employing instant-speed removal when your opponent attempts to Scavenge can disrupt their strategy and waste their resources.
Ultimately, while Dreg Mangler can be a strong component in the right deck, knowing its weaknesses and having a plan to mitigate its strengths can shift the game in your favor and demonstrate the dynamic nature of MTG strategy.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Dreg Mangler MTG card by a specific set like Duel Decks: Izzet vs. Golgari and Return to Ravnica Promos, 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 Dreg Mangler 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
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Printings
The Dreg Mangler Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2012-09-07 and 2022-07-08. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2012-09-07 | Duel Decks: Izzet vs. Golgari | DDJ | 56 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Peter Mohrbacher | |
| 2 | 2012-10-05 | Return to Ravnica Promos | PRTR | 158 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Svetlin Velinov | |
| 3 | 2012-10-05 | Return to Ravnica | RTR | 158 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Peter Mohrbacher | |
| 4 | 2022-07-08 | Double Masters 2022 | 2X2 | 204 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Svetlin Velinov |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Dreg Mangler 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 Dreg Mangler card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2013-04-15 | Exiling the creature card with scavenge is part of the cost of activating the scavenge ability. Once the ability is activated and the cost is paid, it’s too late to stop the ability from being activated by trying to remove the creature card from the graveyard. |