Dreg Recycler MTG Card


Dreg Recycler excels in card advantage and mana acceleration, aiding artifact-centric strategies. Its downsides include a discard requirement and a specific mana cost, potentially limiting its use. Versatile and meta-relevant, Dreg Recycler offers strategic depth to your MTG collection.
Dreg Recycler - March of the Machine
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Phyrexian Beast
Released2023-04-21
Set symbol
Set nameMarch of the Machine
Set codeMOM
Power 2
Toughness 2
Number100
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byCampbell White

Text of card

, Sacrifice an artifact or creature: Each opponent loses 1 life and you gain 1 life.

Bodies too damaged to survive phyresis are collected and broken down into useful raw materials.


Cards like Dreg Recycler

Dreg Recycler joins the echelons of graveyard-fueling creatures in Magic: The Gathering. It stands shoulder to shoulder with creatures such as Myr Retriever in its ability to reclaim artifacts from the graveyard. What sets Dreg Recycler apart is its resilience; it can endure in the form of a 1/1 creature after its main ability is used. Whereas Myr Retriever has the potential for a more immediate effect, returning an artifact straight to hand upon its demise.

Scrap Trawler presents another interesting comparison. It shares the recursion theme but operates on a different scale, offering the opportunity to return to your hand a lower CMC artifact whenever a higher CMC artifact hits the graveyard. While Scrap Trawler can set off a chain reaction of artifact recovery, Dreg Recycler offers a consistent and predictable outcome. Workshop Assistant is another similar card, again providing a single artifact return but without the longevity of Dreg Recycler.

Factoring in the elements of card synergy, durability, and the effectiveness in specific deck types, Dreg Recycler holds a unique position. It may not have the immediate impact of some of its counterparts, but its staying power on the board makes it a noteworthy consideration for artifact-centric deck builders in Magic: The Gathering.

Myr Retriever - MTG Card versions
Scrap Trawler - MTG Card versions
Workshop Assistant - MTG Card versions
Myr Retriever - MTG Card versions
Scrap Trawler - MTG Card versions
Workshop Assistant - MTG Card versions

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Drudge Skeletons - MTG Card versions
Nether Shadow - MTG Card versions
Erg Raiders - MTG Card versions
Cyclopean Mummy - MTG Card versions
Cuombajj Witches - MTG Card versions
Order of the Ebon Hand - MTG Card versions
Bog Imp - MTG Card versions
Wall of Corpses - MTG Card versions
Blighted Shaman - MTG Card versions
Rabid Rats - MTG Card versions
Dakmor Bat - MTG Card versions
Ravenous Rats - MTG Card versions
Flesh Reaver - MTG Card versions
Bloodcurdler - MTG Card versions
Nantuko Shade - MTG Card versions
Piper of the Swarm - MTG Card versions
Undead Augur - MTG Card versions
Black Knight - MTG Card versions
Shepherd of Rot - MTG Card versions
Swarm of Rats - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Dreg Recycler. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
BRBR StandardTraditional Standard Ranked Decklists: February 26, 2024

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Dreg Recycler shines by enabling you to cycle through your deck as you continually sacrifice and recur artifacts, ensuring your hand is always filled with options.

Resource Acceleration: Its synergy with artifact-based strategies can turbo-charge your mana production, letting you deploy threats and answers ahead of schedule.

Instant Speed: Though Dreg Recycler itself isn’t an instant, it can work seamlessly with instant-speed interactions, allowing you to optimize your gameplay and react to the board state during any phase of the turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Dreg Recycler needs you to discard a card before you can leverage its effect. When you’re strapped for cards in hand, this downside can leave you at a disadvantage, potentially disrupting your gameplay and strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: Dreg Recycler comes with a mana cost that requires both colorless and black mana. This can restrict its integration into a deck and is not ideal for those decks that may not consistently produce the necessary black mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost that is seen as high for its recycle ability, Dreg Recycler may not always be the most mana-efficient option. Other cards within the same mana range could offer more immediate impact or flexibility, impacting the card choice for deck building.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Dreg Recycler offers flexibility in a variety of deck archetypes. Not only does it provide a steady means of artifact recursion, but it can also serve as a reliable blocker or sacrifice outlet when needed.

Combo Potential: With an ability that allows you to return artifacts from your graveyard to your hand, Dreg Recycler can be pivotal in setups that synergize with artifact strategies, looping key pieces for repeat value.

Meta-Relevance: Given the prevalence of artifact-centric decks and graveyard strategies in the current metagame, having access to Dreg Recycler’s utility can give players a significant edge, making it a savvy addition to collections aligned with these trends.


How to beat

Dreg Recycler can be a tricky card to face in the landscape of MTG, marking its presence by converting graveyard artifacts into an advantageous draw mechanism. To outmaneuver this card, it’s advisable to consider running graveyard disruption tools that are widely available across MTG’s vast card pool. Cards like Tormod’s Crypt can effectively exile opponents’ graveyards, leaving Dreg Recycler without ammunition. It is also beneficial to address Dreg Recycler directly with removal spells that can eliminate artifacts or creature-based threats.

Besides removal and graveyard hate, countering the spells that would stockpile the graveyard can disrupt the card’s effectiveness. This proactive approach prevents your opponent from setting up the graveyard as a resource for Dreg Recycler. Alternatively, using cards that limit the abilities of artifacts, like Stony Silence, will render the Recycler’s ability inoperable. While every strategy comes with its own situational caveats, staying one step ahead of this recursive threat by minimizing the resources available in the graveyard or negating its abilities outright can pivot the duel in your favor.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Dreg Recycler MTG card by a specific set like March of the Machine, 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 Recycler and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Dreg Recycler has restrictions

FormatLegality
StandardLegal
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
AlchemyLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
FutureLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
BrawlLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal