Scattershot MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Instant |
| Abilities | Storm |
| Released | 2003-05-26 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Scourge |
| Set code | SCG |
| Number | 102 |
| Frame | 1997 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Glen Angus |
Text of card
Scattershot deals 1 damage to target creature. Storm (When you play this spell, copy it for each spell played before it this turn. You may choose new targets for the copies.)
Cards like Scattershot
Scattershot is a notably strategic card for players aiming to weave intricate plays into their Magic: The Gathering decks. When we consider it alongside similar cards, Scattershot’s ability to ping multiple targets without tapping is immediately distinctive. Arc Trail, for instance, is a spell that can also damage multiple creatures or players, but it’s a one-time use and the damage is fixed to the targets chosen upon casting.
Another card often compared to Scattershot is Electrolyze. This card allows you to divide damage as you choose and offers card draw, but it comes at a higher mana cost. Scattershot’s advantage lies in its reusable nature, connected directly to the number of red mana you’re willing to invest. Then there’s Forked Bolt, a low-cost alternative, offering a similar damage-splitting ability but, like Arc Trail, lacks the repeatable nature of Scattershot.
Assessing the strategic value of these cards in a player’s deck, Scattershot holds its place as a flexible choice, especially suited for decks that benefit from consistent pinging and have the resources to support this tactic throughout the game.
Cards similar to Scattershot by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Scattershot. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Four-color Tron | Pauper | Tron | Ogonyok |
 | Tron | Pauper | Tron | Pauper League 2023-12-18 |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Scattershot excels in providing card advantage by enabling multiple creature removals with a single spell. This translates to efficiently dealing with a swarm of enemy tokens or small creatures, tipping the card balance in your favor.
Resource Acceleration: While Scattershot itself may not directly provide resource acceleration, it effectively saves resources. By eliminating several threats at once, it conserves the cards and mana you’d spend on individual removals, indirectly accelerating your resource utilization.
Instant Speed: The utility of Scattershot is greatly enhanced by its instant-speed capability. This allows strategic players to wait until the opportune moment during an opponent’s turn to disrupt their plans, making it a versatile tool in any player’s arsenal.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: A drawback of the Scattershot card is the necessity to discard another card to activate its ability. This can be especially problematic when your hand is running low, potentially forcing you to relinquish valuable assets.
Specific Mana Cost: Scattershot demands a precise combination of mana to cast, which could impose limitations on deck construction and playstyle. This requirement could impede its incorporation in multicolored or mana-intensive decks.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The effectiveness of Scattershot can be questioned when compared to other cards with similar mana costs. In environments where mana efficiency is crucial, Scattershot may not be the optimal choice for players seeking to maximize their turns.
Reasons to Include Scattershot in Your Collection
Versatility: Scattershot is a flexible card that can be slotted into a variety of decks. Its ability to deal damage across multiple targets makes it a solid choice for controlling the board and keeping smaller creatures at bay.
Combo Potential: With a synergistic setup, Scattershot’s damage-dealing ability can be amplified, interacting well with cards that trigger off dealing damage or casting spells. Additionally, its inclusion can pave the way for potential infinite damage combos in the right deck.
Meta-Relevance: As metas evolve and creature-based strategies ebb and flow in popularity, having Scattershot can be crucial for its reactive capabilities. It especially shines in metas saturated with token strategies or when facing decks that deploy a number of utility creatures.
How to beat
Scattershot is a unique MTG card that presents a challenge to overcome. It is designed to disrupt creature-focused strategies by potentially dealing damage to multiple creatures with its ability to target more than one creature at a time. To effectively counter this card, it’s vital to diversify your threats, opting for a mix of creature spells and non-creature spells. This reduces the impact that Scattershot can have on your board presence.
Moreover, consider using spells that can protect or regenerate your creatures to minimize the damage caused by Scattershot. Another effective strategy is to use instant-speed removal spells to eliminate Scattershot before it can be activated, safeguarding your creatures from its reach. Inclusion of counter magic in your deck could also serve as a preemptive measure against this card, controlling the flow of the game and keeping Scattershot from seeing play.
By adapting your playstyle and deck composition, you can navigate around the challenges posed by Scattershot, thereby maintaining the potency of your strategy and securing your path to victory in the game of MTG.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Scattershot MTG card by a specific set like Scourge, 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 Scattershot 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
See MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Scattershot has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Scattershot card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2013-06-07 | A copy of a spell can be countered like any other spell, but it must be countered individually. Countering a spell with storm won’t affect the copies. |
| 2013-06-07 | Spells cast from zones other than a player’s hand and spells that were countered are counted by the storm ability. |
| 2013-06-07 | The copies are put directly onto the stack. They aren’t cast and won’t be counted by other spells with storm cast later in the turn. |
| 2013-06-07 | The triggered ability that creates the copies can itself be countered by anything that can counter a triggered ability. If it is countered, no copies will be put onto the stack. |
| 2013-06-07 | You may choose new targets for any of the copies. You can choose differently for each copy. |