Undergrowth Scavenger MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Fungus Horror
Released	2014-07-18
Set symbol
Set name	Magic 2015
Set code	M15
Power	0
Toughness	0
Number	204
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Nils Hamm

Key Takeaways

Grows in strength with graveyard creature count, becoming a large threat without depleting hand resources.
Interacts with instant speed graveyard plays, adding surprise elements to gameplay strategies.
Challenges include its high mana cost and deck construction limitations, requiring strategic planning.

Text of card

Undergrowth Scavenger enters the battlefield with a number of +1/+1 counters on it equal to the number of creature cards in all graveyards.

It sees a rotting carcass as a good wine which has been aged properly.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Undergrowth Scavenger creates potential card advantage by becoming a large creature without the need to exhaust multiple cards from your hand. As creatures move to the graveyard, this creature’s size can grow exponentially, giving you a formidable presence on the battlefield which translates into a bolstered card quality.

Resource Acceleration: While it doesn’t give immediate mana boosts, the low initial casting cost of Undergrowth Scavenger can represent a form of resource acceleration. By potentially yielding a high power and toughness creature for a very low investment, it frees your resources to be used elsewhere, easing the demands on your mana pool as the game progresses.

Instant Speed: Although Undergrowth Scavenger itself is not an instant, it interacts well with instant speed actions. By playing instant speed removal or creatures with flash that dump into your graveyard, Undergrowth Scavenger’s power and toughness can be increased at a moment’s notice, adding a layer of complexity and surprise for your opponents when calculating attacks or blocks.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Undergrowth Scavenger necessitates a well-stocked graveyard to be effective, which might demand intentional discarding or self-mill strategies that deplete your hand or library.

Specific Mana Cost: This creature card requires a blend of generic and green mana, potentially constraining it to green-centric or graveyard-focused decks, and limiting its flexibility in multi-color builds.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its mana value pegged at four, Undergrowth Scavenger competes with other impactful fours that could be more immediately beneficial on the battlefield, making its cost a potential drawback in fast-paced games.

Reasons to Include Undergrowth Scavenger in Your Collection

Versatility: Undergrowth Scavenger is a flexible card that can seamlessly integrate into graveyard-themed decks. It thrives in environments where creatures are frequently hitting the graveyard, growing into a considerable threat.

Combo Potential: This card has synergy with self-mill and sacrifice strategies, allowing it to become a formidable presence on the board quickly. Pair it with cards that fill your graveyard to maximize its potential.

Meta-Relevance: In metas heavy with creature-based strategies, Undergrowth Scavenger can be a game-changer. As more creatures end up in graveyards, it becomes stronger, giving you an advantage over decks that rely on creature combat and graveyard interactions.

How to beat

Undergrowth Scavenger is a unique creature card that thrives in a deck filled with self-milling and creature-heavy strategies. It enters the battlefield with power and toughness equal to the number of creature cards in all graveyards. While it can become a formidable opponent, it’s not unbeatable. Tactics to overcome this card include graveyard disruption using spells like Relic of Progenitus or Scavenging Ooze, which can effectively reduce the creature count in graveyards, minimizing the Scavenger’s size.

Another strategy is to control the board state by countering creature spells before they hit the graveyard or using removal cards like Path to Exile to handle the Scavenger after it has landed. Also, exile effects are particularly efficient against Undergrowth Scavenger as they prevent it from being a recurring threat in the late game. It’s crucial to be preemptive in your approach when facing decks that run Undergrowth Scavenger; keeping graveyards sparse and applying constant pressure are key strategies towards claiming victory.

Overall, while the Undergrowth Scavenger can be a game-changer under the right circumstances, a well-prepared player can incorporate these techniques to maintain the upper hand and keep this graveyard-dependent creature in check.

Cards like Undergrowth Scavenger

Undergrowth Scavenger, a creature card in Magic: The Gathering, is a unique element in any deck focused on filling the graveyard. It bears resemblance to cards like Splinterfright, which also increases its power and toughness based on the number of creature cards in your graveyard. However, Undergrowth Scavenger differs in that it benefits one time upon entering the battlefield rather than continually adjusting its stats each upkeep.

Mortivore operates under a similar graveyard-dependent mechanic, with its strength and resilience tied to the number of creature cards in all graveyards, which gives it an upper hand in multiplayer scenarios. On the flip side, Undergrowth Scavenger’s dependence on just the owner’s graveyard offers a more self-contained approach. Nighthowler is another comparable card, bestowing its power and toughness bonuses to any creature as an aura or harnessing the boost itself when on the battlefield.

While each card offers a strategic advantage, Undergrowth Scavenger stands out for potentially being a high-powered creature for a low mana cost in a well-tailored deck, exhibiting profound value in games centered on graveyard interplay.

Cards similar to Undergrowth Scavenger by color, type and mana cost

Ulvenwald Oddity // Ulvenwald Behemoth - MTG Card versions

Viridian Lorebearers - MTG Card versions

Monkey Monkey Monkey - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Undergrowth Scavenger MTG card by a specific set like Magic 2015, 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 Undergrowth Scavenger and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Undergrowth 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 Undergrowth Scavenger card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date	Text
2014-07-18	If Undergrowth Scavenger enters the battlefield from a graveyard, it will count itself when determining how many +1/+1 counters it enters with.