Purging Scythe MTG Card

Purging Scythe can indirectly lead to card advantage by impeding opponent’s future plays. Can accelerate game victory through clearing opposing creatures, hastening attacks. Strategic depth offered by planning main phase based on the Scythe’s upkeep trigger.

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	5
Rarity	Rare
Type	Artifact
Released	1998-10-12
Set symbol
Set name	Urza's Saga
Set code	USG
Number	308
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Matthew D. Wilson

Text of card

During your upkeep, Purging Scythe deals 2 damage to the creature with the lowest toughness. If two or more creatures are tied for the lowest toughness, you decide to which creature Purging Scythe deals damage.

Cards like Purging Scythe

Purging Scythe stands out in the realm of artifact cards with its unique ability to whittle down opponent’s life totals in Magic: The Gathering. A close cousin to it could be the infamous Cursed Scroll, both requiring a form of activation cost to potentially deal damage. Unlike Cursed Scroll’s need for a guesswork element based on hand content, Purging Scythe operates consistently at the upkeep provided the conditions are met.

Another kindred spirit is Stuff Doll, which invites players to channel damage to a creature that can reciprocate the pain. Both Purging Scythe and Stuff Doll require careful timing and strategic setup but deliver impactful damage to opponents. The Scythe, however, provides a steady rhythm of pressure without additional mana investment each turn.

Considering alternatives, one might examine the Vial of Poison which offers a one-time use to give a creature deathtouch, contrasting with Purging Scythe’s recurring effect. The consistent threat imposed by Purging Scythe during each upkeep could potentially overshadow the single-use nature of something like Vial of Poison, making Purging Scythe a poignant choice for a strategy seeking to impose ongoing threats.

Cards similar to Purging Scythe by color, type and mana cost

The Deck of Many Things - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The repeated ability to potentially eliminate creatures from the top of an opponent’s library with Purging Scythe can diminish their future plays, indirectly leading to a form of card advantage. Over time, this whittles away at an opponent’s resources, making each of your plays more effective.

Resource Acceleration: While Purging Scythe itself does not directly offer resource acceleration, it can indirectly contribute to it by clearing the way for your attacks. With fewer creatures on the opposing side to contend with, your path to victory can accelerate as you more readily deal damage to your opponent.

Instant Speed: While Purging Scythe’s ability is not at instant speed, it does trigger during your upkeep, which allows you to plan your main phase with the knowledge of what creature you might be able to remove from the top of your opponent’s deck. This strategic component adds depth to how you pilot your plays throughout each turn.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Purging Scythe requires discarding cards to activate its key feature. This can become a hindrance in game scenarios where maintaining a full hand is critical to your strategy or when your card advantage is already compromised.

Specific Mana Cost: With a specific color identity in its mana cost, Purging Scythe can be restrictive. It necessitates a deck built around that color or a sufficient mana-fixing system to ensure it can be played consistently and efficiently.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Purging Scythe may offer a unique ability to manipulate the board state, its higher mana cost makes it less appealing compared to other artifacts or spells that could provide similar or better effects with less investment, leaving players to consider their deck’s tempo and resource management closely.

Reasons to Include Purging Scythe in Your Collection

Versatility: Purging Scythe is a unique card that can be assimilated into a variety of deck types. For instance, decks that capitalize on life total manipulation or need a reliable removal mechanism can benefit from having this artifact.

Combo Potential: This card synergizes well with strategies that increment or track the number of creatures dying. It can become a pivotal piece in a deck that aims to control the board state through recurring destruction.

Meta-Relevance: In formats where creature-based decks are prevalent, the Purging Scythe shines by consistently addressing threats turn after turn. As such, its relevance can spike depending on the shifting meta, particularly in environments where creature control is essential.

How to beat

Purging Scythe is an artifact card in MTG that stands out in decks that manipulate life totals. To overcome this card, it’s essential to either control or avoid the life total threshold that triggers its ability. One strategy is to employ instant speed life-gain or life-loss spells that can adjust life totals outside of the upkeep phase. Utilizing creatures with indestructible or regenerative abilities can also nullify the scythe’s effect, ensuring that your crucial creatures remain on the battlefield.

Another effective approach is to utilize artifact removal spells, which are abundant in MTG. These spells can directly target and destroy Purging Scythe before its ability becomes a recurring threat. Timing is critical; executing removal before accumulation of counters on the scythe will lead to beneficial results. Additionally, countering the spell upon its casting is an efficient way of bypassing its effects entirely, saving your creatures from the scythe’s grasp and maintaining board control.

Ultimately, direct intervention combined with meticulous life total management becomes the crux in outmaneuvering Purging Scythe. By keeping your options versatile and responsive, you can ensure that this artifact becomes more of a hinderance to your opponent than a threat to you.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Purging Scythe MTG card by a specific set like Urza's Saga, 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 Purging Scythe and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Purging Scythe has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Premodern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Purging Scythe card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date	Text
2004-10-04	Does not target the creature it damages.