Scalpelexis MTG Card
2002-05-27 - Number 50
2007-07-13 - Number 105★
2007-07-13 - Number 105
2020-09-26 - Number 10E-105
| Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Beast |
| Abilities | Flying |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 5 |
Text of card
Flying Whenever Scalpelexis deals combat damage to a player, that player removes the top four cards of his or her library from the game. If two or more of those cards have the same name, repeat this process.
Cards like Scalpelexis
Scalpelexis stands out in the Magic: The Gathering realm as a unique creature with a potentially game-altering ability. With its striking similarity to creatures such as Jace’s Mindseeker, both cards can intensely disrupt an opponent’s strategy by removing large portions of their library from the game. Where Scalpelexis requires a successful attack to trigger its effect, Jace’s Mindseeker provides a similar effect upon entering the battlefield.
Another card, Mirko Vosk, Mind Drinker, shares the mill mechanic featured with Scalpelexis. Mirko Vosk, however, assures a minimum number of cards to be exiled from the opponent’s library whenever it deals combat damage. While Scalpelexis’s impact is conditional on the four cards with the same name, Mirko Vosk yields a consistent result. Lastly, Nephalia Drownyard serves as a land with an ability to target a player’s library, though it offers a more controlled milling option without requiring combat.
Identifying the pros and cons of each card leads to a more tactful Magic: The Gathering deck building strategy. Scalpelexis shines with a high ceiling for library disruption but relies on the right board state, setting it apart as both a formidable threat and a niche choice in the right deck compositions.
Cards similar to Scalpelexis by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Scalpelexis has the distinct ability to rapidly deplete an opponent’s library. When it deals combat damage to a player, that player reveals the top four cards of their library and discards all cards with the same name as any of those cards. This could potentially lead to significant card advantage, as it might remove multiple valuable cards from the game in one strike.
Resource Acceleration: While Scalpelexis itself doesn’t directly generate mana or accelerate resources, its threat of eliminating key cards from an opponent’s deck can slow down their resource development. Opponents might be forced to alter their strategies, potentially playing less efficiently to avoid discarding crucial cards.
Instant Speed: Although Scalpelexis is a creature and doesn’t have flash or act at instant speed, its impact on the game can be reminiscent of an instant’s disruptive power. Proper timing of its attack phase can create immediate problems for an opponent, similar to the surprise element of an instant. It forces opponents to be cautious with their card usage, fearing the potential loss of significant deck resources.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: As a player, you need a strategy for making Scalpelexis effective, but one notable drawback is that it doesn’t have a built-in mechanic to force an opponent to discard cards. This means its ability hinges on the game’s flow and your capacity to manipulate the opponent’s library through other means.
Specific Mana Cost: Scalpelexis comes with a very particular mana cost requirement, demanding one blue and three others. This specificity can potentially restrict its integration into multi-color decks that can struggle to meet the requirement consistently, especially early in the game when tempo is crucial.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of four mana, this creature falls on the higher end of the curve when it comes to efficiency. Considering that it is not guaranteed to mill a significant portion of a library unless conditions are ideal, there are alternative cards with lower mana costs that can disrupt an opponent’s library more consistently.
Reasons to Include Scalpelexis in Your Collection
Versatility: Scalpelexis isn’t restricted to mill decks alone. Its ability to scoop out large chunks of a library makes it a threat in any game format where decks are vulnerable to such tactics. Casual play, especially, might find this a fun addition to different blue-centered strategies.
Combo Potential: Scalpelexis shines in combinations with cards that benefit from an opponent’s graveyard being filled, enabling various synergies in both mill and reanimator strategies. It can also work well with cards that respond to the number of cards in an opponent’s graveyard.
Meta-Relevance: In casual circles where the meta isn’t as stringent, Scalpelexis can act as a silver bullet against library-based strategies. It remains a compelling pick for players looking to disrupt opponents’ strategies by tackling their decks directly.
How to beat
Scalpelexis presents a unique challenge on the battlefield with its potential to mill a significant portion of an opponent’s deck. When confronting this creature, it’s essential to focus on removal spells that can dispatch it quickly before it gets a chance to activate its powerful ability. Spells like Fatal Push or Path to Exile are efficient solutions, taking care of Scalpelexis with minimal mana investment. It’s also beneficial to include instant-speed interaction to respond directly to its attack, disrupting the mill effect before it compounds over the game.
Having an array of blockers to prevent Scalpelexis from dealing combat damage is equally important. This card’s ability only triggers upon dealing damage to a player, so creatures with high toughness serve as a formidable defense line. Lastly, graveyard interaction can mitigate the damage done by Scalpelexis. Cards that shuffle your graveyard back into your library, such as Elixir of Immortality, can prove invaluable in recovering from its ability and thwarting the mill strategy.
Overall, integrating prompt removal, strategic defense, and graveyard management can neutralize the threat of Scalpelexis and secure your deck from being whittled down by its targeted milling ability.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Scalpelexis MTG card by a specific set like Judgment and Tenth Edition, 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 Scalpelexis and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- 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
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Printings
The Scalpelexis Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2002-05-27 and 2007-07-13. Illustrated by Mark Tedin.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2002-05-27 | Judgment | JUD | 50 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Mark Tedin | |
| 2 | 2007-07-13 | Tenth Edition | 10E | 105★ | 2003 | Normal | Black | Mark Tedin | |
| 3 | 2007-07-13 | Tenth Edition | 10E | 105 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Mark Tedin | |
| 4 | The List | PLST | 10E-105 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Mark Tedin |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Scalpelexis has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Scalpelexis 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 | The “repeat this process” means to repeat as often as it takes to not get a matching pair. |