Scion of Vitu-Ghazi MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Elemental |
| Abilities | Populate |
| Released | 2013-05-03 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Dragon's Maze |
| Set code | DGM |
| Power | 4 |
| Toughness | 4 |
| Number | 7 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Willian Murai |
Text of card
When Scion of Vitu-Ghazi enters the battlefield, if you cast it from your hand, put a 1/1 white Bird creature token with flying onto the battlefield, then populate. (Put a token onto the battlefield that's a copy of a creature token you control.)
Cards like Scion of Vitu-Ghazi
Scion of Vitu-Ghazi presents a unique twist within the creature spells realm of Magic: The Gathering. When contrasting it with fellow populate token generators like Trostani, Selesnya’s Voice or Sundering Growth, the Scion stands out due to its inherent ability to populate upon entering the battlefield without additional costs or conditions. While Trostani offers a consistent populate mechanism and life gain, it lacks the immediate impact and board presence that Scion of Vitu-Ghazi provides. On the other hand, Sundering Growth gives the dual utility of both populating and destroying problematic artifacts or enchantments, but it doesn’t contribute to your creature count.
Another card worth mentioning is Advent of the Wurm, which brings a sizable wurm token with trample into play at instant speed. Even though it provides a robust surprise blocker or end-of-turn threat, it doesn’t have the same potential for board development as the Scion, which leaves behind two creatures and potentially more if the populate targets a substantial token. Compared to these cards, Scion of Vitu-Ghazi carves out its niche. It combines an immediate board impact with the scalability of the populate mechanic, which can create exponential advantages in token-heavy strategies.
Cards similar to Scion of Vitu-Ghazi by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Scion of Vitu-Ghazi creates not one, but two creature tokens when it enters the battlefield if you control another creature. This potential for doubling your board presence can swing the game in your favor by providing a significant card advantage.
Resource Acceleration: By bringing additional creatures into play, Scion of Vitu-Ghazi can rapidly accelerate your resources on the board. Those extra tokens can be pivotal for overwhelming opponents or for convoking more substantial spells early on.
Instant Speed: While Scion itself isn’t an instant, its populate mechanic can be leveraged at instant speed with other spells in your deck. This synergizes well with flash strategies, allowing you to multiply your forces unexpectedly during your opponent’s turn and gain a strategic edge in combat or when reacting to your opponent’s plays.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Scion of Vitu-Ghazi does not have a discard requirement, it’s important to assess its role in your deck in comparison to cards that may set back your hand advantage.
Specific Mana Cost: Scion of Vitu-Ghazi requires a specific combination of white and green mana, which can be restrictive for decks not running these colors, possibly necessitating a mana base adjustment to accommodate this card.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The five mana investment to bring Scion of Vitu-Ghazi to the battlefield can be steep, especially when faster, lower-cost creatures or spells might be more impactful in the early to mid-game.
Reasons to Include Scion of Vitu-Ghazi in Your Collection
Versatility: Scion of Vitu-Ghazi is a flexible addition to decks that capitalize on creature play. As a 4/4 with the ability to populate upon entering the battlefield, it enhances strategies centered on token generation or needing substantial threats on board.
Combo Potential: This card shines in combinations with token doublers or effects that trigger on creature or token entry. Its populate mechanic can exponentially increase your field presence, making it a lynchpin in combo-driven decks where each new token can be a stepping stone to victory.
Meta-Relevance: In metas where board presence and creature-based strategies dominate, Scion of Vitu-Ghazi proves its worth. Given its power to change the battlefield’s landscape, it remains a vital tool for players facing opponents with similar creature-heavy tactics.
How to beat
The Scion of Vitu-Ghazi presents an interesting puzzle on the battlefield, due to its powerful enter the battlefield effect in Magic: The Gathering. To efficiently handle this threat, players should aim to deny its entry onto the field or mitigate its impact immediately. Counterspells like Negate can prevent it from resolving in the first place, ensuring that its ability to populate and create token creatures is a non-issue.
Another effective strategy is to remove the Scion before its ability triggers. Instant-speed removal such as Path to Exile or Deadly Rollick can be a neat solution, taking it out of the equation before it has a chance to multiply. Additionally, board wipes like Wrath of God can clear out the tokens it generates as well as the original creature, but timing is key to maximize its effectiveness.
It’s also worth noting that graveyard hate can be a viable strategy against decks that look to recur Scion of Vitu-Ghazi for value. Tools like Rest in Peace ensure that, once defeated, the Scion cannot return to haunt the battlefield again. Considering these strategies, resourceful players can navigate around the challenges posed by the resilient Scion of Vitu-Ghazi.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Scion of Vitu-Ghazi MTG card by a specific set like Dragon's Maze, 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 Scion of Vitu-Ghazi and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
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- MTG Mint Card
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Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Scion of Vitu-Ghazi has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Scion of Vitu-Ghazi 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 | Any “as -his creature] enters the battlefield” or “ -his creature] enters the battlefield with” abilities of the new token will work. |
| 2013-04-15 | If you choose to copy a creature token that’s a copy of another creature, the new creature token will copy the characteristics of whatever the original token is copying. |
| 2013-04-15 | If you control no creature tokens when you populate, nothing will happen. |
| 2013-04-15 | The new creature token copies the characteristics of the original token as stated by the effect that put the original token onto the battlefield. |
| 2013-04-15 | The new token doesn’t copy whether the original token is tapped or untapped, whether it has any counters on it or Auras and Equipment attached to it, or any noncopy effects that have changed its power, toughness, color, and so on. |
| 2013-04-15 | You can choose any creature token you control for populate. If a spell or ability puts a token onto the battlefield under your control and then instructs you to populate (as Coursers’ Accord does), you may choose to copy the token you just created, or you may choose to copy another creature token you control. |
| 2013-09-20 | If a creature (such as Clone) enters the battlefield as a copy of this creature, the copy’s “enters-the-battlefield” ability will still trigger as long as you cast that creature spell from your hand. |