Scion of Shiv MTG Card

Scion of Shiv - Jumpstart: Historic Horizons

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Dragon
Abilities	Flying
Released	2021-08-26
Set symbol
Set name	Jumpstart: Historic Horizons
Set code	J21
Power	3
Toughness	3
Number	24
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Grzegorz Rutkowski

Key Takeaways

Drawing cards with combat damage helps maintain a solid hand full of tactical options.
Ability to reduce dragon spells’ cost accelerates the strategy, leading to quicker plays.
Activated instant speed ability adds an element of surprise, enhancing battlefield control.

Text of card

Flying : Scion of Shiv perpetually gets +1/+0.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Scion of Shiv provides value by allowing you to potentially draw a card each time it deals combat damage to a player. This ability can help you stay ahead in the resource game, keeping your hand stocked with options.

Resource Acceleration: This card is a formidable addition to decks that capitalize on dragon synergies, as it can speed up your tactics by lowering the casting cost of other dragon spells you play, giving you the power to flood the battlefield with imposing creatures quickly.

Instant Speed: Scion of Shiv can grant a dragon instant speed with its activated ability, giving you the upper hand in battle by surprising opponents with unexpected blockers or end-of-turn threats that can change the tide of the game in your favor.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Scion of Shiv necessitates discarding another card to unlock its full potential. This can deplete your hand, leaving you at a disadvantage in maintaining card advantage against opponents.

Specific Mana Cost: This card requires a split mana cost, including both red and colorless mana. This specificity can complicate its integration into multicolored decks that may not always have the necessary mana readily available.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The casting cost for Scion of Shiv is relatively significant. Other creatures within the same mana range may provide greater immediate impact or versatility on the battlefield, overshadowing the benefits that Scion of Shiv brings to your deck strategy.

Reasons to Include Scion of Shiv in Your Collection

Versatility: Scion of Shiv can seamlessly adapt to various strategies with its ability to become a 3/3 flyer. This creature offers flexibility in deckbuilding, fitting well in Dragon tribal themes or as a reliable airborne threat in red-based decks.

Combo Potential: As a Dragon, it works excellently with any card that rewards you for playing with these majestic creatures. It pairs well with cards that benefit from having flying creatures or Red permanents, unlocking numerous combinatorial possibilities.

Meta-Relevance: Given its status as a Dragon, the Scion of Shiv can hold its ground in a meta that values quick and evasive threats. Its moderate casting cost and the dragon synergies can be particularly effective in games that are not dominated by fast aggro strategies.

How to beat

Scion of Shiv is a formidable creature in Magic: The Gathering, laden with the potential to shrug off damage through its firebreathing ability. Facing this card on the battlefield may seem daunting, but there are strategies you can deploy to topple this fiery adversary. Key to your success is disrupting its ability to pile on damage by leveraging removal spells that outpace its mana-generating capabilities.

Effective removal spells like Path to Exile or Murderous Rider can swiftly deal with Scion of Shiv before your opponent has the chance to enhance its power. Enchantment-based removals, such as Pacifism or Darksteel Mutation, can also neutralize it without sending it to the graveyard, bypassing potential graveyard-based strategies your opponent might be banking on.

Utilizing these spells, along with maintaining board control and keeping a close eye on the mana your opponent has available, will keep Scion of Shiv in check. Stay one step ahead, and this creature’s roar will be silenced, allowing you to secure victory over your opponent’s fiery tactics.

Cards like Scion of Shiv

In the realm of Magic: The Gathering, Scion of Shiv stands tall amongst creatures that embody the fiery essence of dragons. This particular card is akin to Dragon Hatchling, another creature that allows players to boost its flying power temporarily. However, Scion of Shiv edges out with its baseline power and toughness, offering a sturdier option on the battlefield right from the get-go.

Analogous to Scion of Shiv in the domain of mana flexibility is Furnace Whelp. While both can increase their power for each mana, Furnace Whelp demands a more stringent color commitment with only red mana as its pumping fuel. Scion of Shiv distinguishes itself with the adaptability of accepting any color mana for its power boost, thereby granting versatility in multicolored decks.

Continuing the comparison, Scourge of Valkas is another dragon with a more complex array of abilities, including dealing damage when dragons fly in. Scion of Shiv doesn’t match this level of synergy in dragon-themed decks, but it compensates with ease of casting and simplicity in function, which can be crucial in certain strategies. All considered, Scion of Shiv finds its niche as a flexible and capable addition for players wanting a robust and straightforward dragon to stoke the flames of their MTG battles.

Cards similar to Scion of Shiv by color, type and mana cost

Krark-Clan Engineers - MTG Card versions

Shimatsu the Bloodcloaked - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Scion of Shiv MTG card by a specific set like Jumpstart: Historic Horizons, 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 Scion of Shiv and other MTG cards: