Slitherhead MTG Card

Return to Ravnica (RTR)
2012-10-05 - Number 222

Ravnica Remastered (RVR)
2024-01-12 - Number 226

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	1
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Plant Zombie
Abilities	Scavenge
Power	1
Toughness	1

Key Takeaways

Slitherhead offers dual utility in life and death, augmenting graveyard synergy while maintaining card advantage.
Its ability to operate at instant speed enhances flexibility, allowing for unexpected plays and creature boosts.
Slitherhead stands out for its low cost and potential in +1/+1 counter-focused decks, despite mana specificity.

Text of card

Scavenge (, Exile this card from your graveyard: Put a number of +1/+1 counters equal to this card's power on target creature. Scavenge only as a sorcery.)

"It makes better use of Uncle Dragi's head than he ever did." —Pesha, retired blacksmith

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Slitherhead may seem modest at first glance, but when paired with mechanics like scavenge, it shines by offering an additional use after it’s no longer on the battlefield. This dual functionality creates a subtle card advantage, fueling graveyard synergy without losing hand resources.

Resource Acceleration: As a one-mana creature, Slitherhead is an efficient way to populate the board early on. Its scavenge ability, although costing zero, perfectly complements strategies emphasizing resource acceleration, particularly in decks designed around +1/+1 counters.

Instant Speed: While Slitherhead itself isn’t cast at instant speed, its scavenge ability can be activated whenever you could cast an instant. This flexibility allows savvy players to enhance creatures during either player’s turn, creating surprise blockers or beefing up attackers in response to an opponent’s actions.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Deploying Slitherhead from your hand needs you to have a creature card in the graveyard. This prerequisite forces you to potentially lose a valuable asset early in the game or wait until you can fulfill this condition, which could slow down your gameplay strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: This creature card requires either a black or green mana for casting, making it less versatile for decks that do not run these colors. Players focusing on multicolor decks might find the mana requirement for Slitherhead limiting.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although Slitherhead has a low casting cost, its scavenge ability costs two mana. In comparison to other creature cards that offer graveyard utility or onboard buffs, Slitherhead’s scavenge ability may seem pricey, particularly given its sole +1/+1 counter contribution.

Reasons to Include Slitherhead in Your Collection

Versatility: Slitherhead is a unique card due to its ability to serve multiple roles. As a one-mana creature, it fits snugly into aggressive decks looking for a fast start. Its Scavenge ability also provides late-game value, allowing you to utilize it from the graveyard.

Combo Potential: The true charm of Slitherhead lies in its synergy with decks that capitalize on +1/+1 counters. Whether it’s fueling the growth of creatures with evolve or empowering those with modular, Slitherhead seamlessly integrates into various combos.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where graveyard play is prominent, Slitherhead’s scavenge can prove to be a game-changer. Easily discarded for value and resurrected for benefit, its presence can impact the board even after death, making it a sturdy choice for metas heavy with interaction and value-driven gameplay.

How to Beat Slitherhead

Slitherhead is a unique creature card with a twist that could give players an edge. Renowned for its ability to self-sacrifice and bolster another creature from the graveyard, it’s a potent tool in the hands of a savvy MTG enthusiast. Slitherhead stands out in its category through this self-scavenge ability, compared to similar low-cost creatures.

Strategic removal is key in dealing with Slitherhead. Considering its graveyard ability, instant speed removal like Path to Exile can be crucial before it gets to the graveyard to execute its ability. Graveyard hate cards such as Rest in Peace act as a strong deterrent, preventing Slitherhead’s ability from being activated altogether. Comparatively, using targeted discard spells to remove Slitherhead from a player’s hand can also disrupt this strategy before it starts.

Understanding when to neutralize Slitherhead is as important as the method. Disabling it before it can amplify another creature is the cornerstone of outmaneuvering an opponent who uses it. A timely intervention can prevent the compounding of its ability, ensuring that Slitherhead doesn’t provide its intended value to the opposition.

Cards like Slitherhead

In the diverse world of Magic: The Gathering, Slitherhead carves out its niche among the vast array of one-drop creatures. Much like Dryad Arbor, Slitherhead offers a unique twist on utility, but instead of providing mana, it lends its strength from the graveyard. Dryad Arbor can be tapped for green mana and doubles as a creature, but Slitherhead’s versatility comes post-death, offering a single +1/+1 counter to bolster another creature.

Another parallel can be drawn to Stitcher’s Supplier which, like Slitherhead, holds value upon hitting the graveyard by milling cards to potentially reap benefits from the deceased. Slitherhead’s ability to scavenge from the graveyard gives it an edge in strategies focused on creature enhancement. It harkens to the prowess of cards like Carrion Feeder that grow stronger by utilizing other creatures’ demises but Slitherhead operates from the other side of the battlefield, in death rather than demanding sacrifice.

Collectively, when analyzing Slitherhead against its counterparts, it stands out in strategies that capitalize on graveyard synergy within the Magic: The Gathering universe. Its efficient cost and multifaceted utility make it a strong consideration for any deck that prizes resiliency and incremental advantage.

Cards similar to Slitherhead by color, type and mana cost

Elves of Deep Shadow - MTG Card versions

Valentin, Dean of the Vein // Lisette, Dean of the Root - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Slitherhead MTG card by a specific set like Return to Ravnica and Ravnica Remastered, 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 Slitherhead and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Slitherhead Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2012-10-05 and 2024-01-12. Illustrated by Greg Staples.

#	Released	Name	Code	Symbol	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2012-10-05	Return to Ravnica	RTR		222	2003	Normal	Black	Greg Staples
2	2024-01-12	Ravnica Remastered	RVR		226	2015	Normal	Black	Greg Staples

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Slitherhead has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2013-04-15	Exiling the creature card with scavenge is part of the cost of activating the scavenge ability. Once the ability is activated and the cost is paid, it’s too late to stop the ability from being activated by trying to remove the creature card from the graveyard.