Wanted Scoundrels MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Human Pirate |
| Abilities | Treasure |
| Released | 2017-09-29 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Ixalan |
| Set code | XLN |
| Power | 4 |
| Toughness | 3 |
| Number | 131 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Volkan Baǵa |
Key Takeaways
- Early aggression tool, Wanted Scoundrels pressures opponents and asserts early game dominance.
- Their defeat provides a resource advantage via two Treasure tokens, enabling faster, larger plays.
- Instant use of Treasure tokens grants flexibility, allowing for strategic, on-the-spot decisions.
Text of card
When Wanted Scoundrels dies, target opponent creates two colorless Treasure artifact tokens with ", Sacrifice this artifact: Add one mana of any color to your mana pool."
"Trust me. The reward's not worth it."
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Gives an early board presence, providing pressure on the opponent and strategic dominance in the early phases of the game.
Resource Acceleration: With their demise, Wanted Scoundrels hand over two Treasure tokens, vaulting you ahead in the resource race and possibly enabling bigger plays much sooner than expected.
Instant Speed: While the card itself isn’t played at instant speed, the Treasure tokens generated can be utilised instantly, offering flexibility for on-the-fly responses to an opponent’s actions.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Holding Wanted Scoundrels in your hand can be risky, as its presence increases the stakes if an opponent forces a discard. Should it be discarded, it eliminates the chance to leverage its potential on the battlefield.
Specific Mana Cost: Wanted Scoundrels demands two black mana, which confines it primarily to mono-black or dual-colored decks. This requirement can restrict deck building options, especially in a format with a diverse mana base.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Despite offering a powerful 4/3 creature for two mana, the drawback of giving an opponent treasure tokens upon its death makes it costly in the long run. Other creatures in its mana range may provide more stable benefits without the significant downside.
Reasons to Include Wanted Scoundrels in Your Collection
Versatility: Wanted Scoundrels offers players a potent threat for an early board presence. This card can be effectively used in decks that aim to be aggressive right out of the gate.
Combo Potential: Although a double-edged sword, the downside of giving your opponent treasures upon its defeat has combo potential. It can fit into strategies that benefit from your opponent having artifacts or can be a preparatory move for a larger payoff later in the game.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where the pace is fast and aggressive strategies are at large, Wanted Scoundrels can shine by offering a significant power level for a low mana cost, challenging your opponent to answer it promptly or face considerable damage.
How to Beat Wanted Scoundrels
Wanted Scoundrels presents an interesting challenge on the battlefield. As a black creature with impressive power for its cost, it immediately impacts the board state and pressures opponents. The key to overcoming Wanted Scoundrels lies in its death-trigger downside, which awards two Treasure tokens to an opponent upon its demise. Like any high-risk, high-reward card in MTG, this downside can be exploited.
To turn the tables on Wanted Scoundrels, efficient removal spells are your best ally. Since the creature has no inherent protection, it’s vulnerable to common removal spells such as Fatal Push or Declaration in Stone. It’s essential to time these spells strategically; for instance, when you are ready to capitalize on the tempo swing or when your opponent is least prepared for a setback. Another effective strategy involves forcing the Scoundrels’ controller to sacrifice it, avoiding giving them additional mana resources. Edict effects such as Diabolic Edict or Liliana of the Veil’s sacrifice ability can accomplish this without the Treasure token payout.
Tactically speaking, countering the Scoundrels before they hit the board with spells such as Counterspell or Mana Leak also prevents the potential Treasure token liability altogether. It’s about mitigation and foresight. Smart plays and well-timed removal or counters can ensure Wanted Scoundrels becomes a liability for your opponent rather than a threat to you.
Cards like Wanted Scoundrels
Wanted Scoundrels stands out as a force to be reckoned with in MTG for players looking to quickly escalate the pressure on opponents. Resembling creatures like Keldon Marauders or Dauthi Slayer in their aggressive nature, Wanted Scoundrels packs a heavy punch for a low mana cost, presenting a four-power creature for just two mana. However, unlike Keldon Marauders that dwindles away after dealing its damage, Wanted Scoundrels has the potential to stay and keep pressuring the battlefield.
The drawback of Wanted Scoundrels, rewarding opponents with treasure tokens upon its demise, brings to mind comparisons with cards like Risky Move or Jackal Pup, where high-risk comes with high reward. Unlike Jackal Pup, which penalizes the controller for damage it receives, Wanted Scoundrels places the burden on itself being targeted, shifting the dynamic of opponent interactions. Similarly, Risky Move’s give-and-take gameplay creates an engaging tension that’s reflected in Wanted Scoundrels, though the latter stays firmly in the player’s control until taken down.
All told, within the array of MTG creatures that offer aggressive strategies, Wanted Scoundrels makes a bold statement with its impactful presence and a balancing act of risk that can entice players to build around its strengths while mitigating its unique downside.
Cards similar to Wanted Scoundrels by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Wanted Scoundrels MTG card by a specific set like Ixalan, 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 Wanted Scoundrels 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 Wanted Scoundrels has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
