Scarab Feast MTG Card
2017-04-28 - Number 106
2019-11-07 - Number 762
2020-08-13 - Number 122
2020-09-26 - Number AKH-106
| Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Instant |
| Abilities | Cycling |
Text of card
Exile up to three target cards from a single graveyard. Cycling (, Discard this card: Draw a card.)
"The face of mediocrity is wrapped in anointed linen. Aspire to a better end." —Epnokep, vizier of Bontu
Cards like Scarab Feast
Scarab Feast holds a unique spot in MTG as a versatile card that targets not only the graveyard but does so through cycling. This ability sets it in contrast with Tormod’s Crypt, another fast graveyard removal tool. Tormod’s Crypt excels in instant-speed exile of all cards from a graveyard at no cost, which can be pivotal in disrupting opponent strategies. However, it does not provide the card draw potential that Scarab Feast does through cycling.
Another card to consider is Nihil Spellbomb, which not only exiles a target player’s graveyard but also gives you an option to draw a card if a black mana was spent. While Spellbomb can influence the field similarly, Scarab Feast is more flexible due to the cycling mechanic, allowing it to be relevant even when graveyard hate is not needed. Furthermore, Spellbomb requires mana to activate and sacrifice, whereas Scarab Feast can be cycled from the hand seamlessly.
Comparing these alternatives underscores the situational adaptability of Scarab Feast. Whether countering graveyard-dependent decks or cycling for new draw opportunities, it emerges as a card that finds utility in diverse game states, ensuring players have ready answers or a smoother card flow.
Cards similar to Scarab Feast by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Scarab Feast presents a strategic option for dealing with graveyard-based strategies, effectively disrupting opponents’ plans by exiling up to three target cards from a single graveyard. This selective removal can diminish an opponent’s resources while providing you with a forensic awareness of their graveyard contents.
Resource Acceleration: While not directly impacting your mana pool, Scarab Feast can be cycled for a single black mana, ensuring that your resources are not wasted if the card has no immediate use. Cycling allows you to draw a new card, subtly accelerating your deck’s performance by sifting through it for more immediately pertinent cards.
Instant Speed: The power of Scarab Feast is further compounded by its instant speed, providing the flexibility to answer graveyard threats during an opponent’s turn without committing mana during your own turn. This leaves you with the agility to respond to other spells and actions at a moment’s notice, maintaining a dynamic control over the game’s pace and your resources.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The absence of a discard effect with the Scarab Feast means players miss the opportunity to use the card for immediate hand refilling, limiting its impact levels especially in moments where graveyard interaction is not a priority.
Specific Mana Cost: One of the constraints of Scarab Feast is the black mana requirement. This restriction can sometimes be an obstacle in multicolored decks or in game situations where mana flexibility is key.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While only costing one black mana may seem efficient, in instances where you’re opting to use its cycling ability, the additional cost for a cantrip effect could be deemed high, considering other options within the game that require less mana for similar or even more diverse effects.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Scarab Feast offers more than just graveyard disruption; it’s an instant-speed black card that can be cycled. This means it can be used both proactively and reactively, fitting seamlessly into various deck types that might require a quick answer to graveyard strategies, or simply seeking to draw into more valuable cards.
Combo Potential: Scarab Feast shines in decks that synergize with cycling or benefit from cards moving to and from the graveyard. It can also be a strategic piece in setups aiming to disrupt opponents’ combos that rely heavily on graveyard recursion.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where graveyard-based strategies are prominent, having a card like Scarab Feast can be invaluable. It provides a low-cost option to exile key components from an adversary’s graveyard, hampering their game plan without sacrificing significant resources from your hand or mana pool.
How to beat
Scarab Feast emerges as a niche card in Magic: The Gathering, featuring the versatile ability to exile cards from an opponent’s graveyard. This can significantly hamper strategies reliant on graveyard interactions. To counter Scarab Feast effectively, consider adopting a less graveyard-dependent approach or incorporating cards that can replace or regenerate your graveyard’s resources.
Strategies such as utilizing cards with Flashback, where being exiled after use is part of their mechanic, diminish the impact of Scarab Feast on your game plan. Diversifying your tactics can also mitigate the setback, as can countering Scarab Feast with cards like Negate, which can stop it in its tracks before it affects your graveyard. Moreover, by having cards that shuffle your graveyard back into your library, such as Elixir of Immortality, you can maintain a robust supply of resources that Scarab Feast can no longer reach.
In conclusion, while Scarab Feast has potential sideboard merit in MTG, it doesn’t have to be a game ender. By broadening your strategy beyond the graveyard and employing disruption or recovery tools, you can reduce the impact of Scarab Feast and maintain a strong position in the game.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Scarab Feast MTG card by a specific set like Amonkhet and Mystery Booster, 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 Scarab Feast and other MTG cards:
BUY NOW BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
- 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
See MTG Products
Printings
The Scarab Feast Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2017-04-28 and 2020-08-13. Illustrated by Tony Foti.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2017-04-28 | Amonkhet | AKH | 106 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Tony Foti | |
| 2 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 762 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Tony Foti | |
| 3 | 2020-08-13 | Amonkhet Remastered | AKR | 122 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Tony Foti | |
| 4 | The List | PLST | AKH-106 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Tony Foti |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Scarab Feast has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |