Scourge of Skola Vale MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Hydra |
| Abilities | Trample |
| Released | 2014-02-07 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Born of the Gods |
| Set code | BNG |
| Power | 0 |
| Toughness | 0 |
| Number | 137 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Dave Kendall |
Text of card
Trample Scourge of Skola Vale enters the battlefield with two +1/+1 counters on it. , Sacrifice another creature: Put a number of +1/+1 counters on Scourge of Skola Vale equal to the sacrificed creature's toughness.
Cards like Scourge of Skola Vale
Scourge of Skola Vale presents itself as a distinct creature within Magic: The Gathering’s plethora of options. It shares traits with sacrifice-themed cards such as Greater Good, where both capitalize on transforming creature assets into other resources. Scourge allows for the sacrifice of other creatures to bolster its power and toughness, giving players potential for a massive beater on the battlefield.
When considering parallel cards, one might evaluate Varolz, the Scar-Striped. Both cards ferment their strength through creature sacrifices, but Varolz provides regeneration and uses the unique scavenge mechanic to utilize creatures from the graveyard. Alternatively, Feed the Pack strikes a resemblance in theme by sacrificing a creature, but instead of accruing power, it creates a number of Wolf tokens equivalent to the sacrificed creature’s toughness.
While assessing the utility of Scourge of Skola Vale and its counterparts, it stands out for its ability to potentially grow indefinitely while also being a Trample creature. This provides a path to victory by dealing damage through defenders. Its synergy with other cards that benefit from creatures entering the graveyard or death triggers, makes it a potentially formidable asset in the right deck.
Cards similar to Scourge of Skola Vale by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Scourge of Skola Vale has the distinct ability to grow continuously by sacrificing other creatures, essentially turning any excess creatures on the battlefield into power and toughness. This can be a significant upside in strategies that produce a lot of token creatures or when you have creatures that have fulfilled their purpose and are otherwise sitting idle on the board.
Resource Acceleration: By allowing you to sacrifice a creature as part of its ability, Scourge of Skola Vale can leverage those creatures into a larger threat. This can rapidly accelerate your board state, presenting a formidable presence that can potentially end games if unhindered.
Instant Speed: The ability to sacrifice a creature to Scourge of Skola Vale at instant speed gives you the flexibility to respond to removal spells or unfavorable blocks. In combat, this puts your opponent in a tough spot as they must consider the potential growth of Scourge when declaring blockers or attacking into it.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: For Scourge of Skola Vale, its growth is dependent on sacrificing another creature, which means you lose board presence. It’s risky if you’re unable to maintain a pool of creatures to feed it.
Specific Mana Cost: It demands a mix of green mana and generic mana to cast. Players without a dedicated green mana base might find it challenging to summon this creature consistently.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Sitting at three mana, one of which is green, this card competes with other creatures and spells at similar costs that don’t require additional sacrifices and provide immediate board impact or utility.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Scourge of Skola Vale thrives in various deck builds, catering to those who appreciate flexibility in their creature choices. Its ability to grow by sacrificing other creatures makes it a dynamic threat at any stage of the game.
Combo Potential: This card synergizes well with strategies built on token generation or creatures that have death-triggered abilities, allowing you to capitalize on sacrificing creatures for a significant power boost.
Meta-Relevance: Given the right environment, this card can become a major player, especially in metas where controlling the board state with formidable creatures can dictate the pace of a match.
How to beat
Scourge of Skola Vale presents a unique challenge on the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering. As a creature with the ability to gain power and toughness by sacrificing other creatures, it can become a formidable force that dominates the game. Yet, with strategic play, it can be managed effectively. Ensuring you have removal spells at your disposal that can target Scourge before it grows too large is essential. Instant-speed removal like Path to Exile or Murderous Rider allows you to respond swiftly after your opponent has sacrificed a creature but before the Scourge’s ability resolves.
Counterplay also includes preventing the accumulation of creatures for Scourge to consume. Board control spells such as Wrath of God or Damnation can clear the field and hamper the growth of Scourge of Skola Vale. Efficient creature management can significantly diminish the threat it poses to your game plan. Lastly, minimizing its impact through redirecting or preventing damage with cards like Deflecting Swat or Teyo, the Shieldmage, can nullify the efforts invested in powering up this creature, thereby preserving your position in the game.
Combating Scourge of Skola Vale is about timing and the resources you manage. Keeping up with removal resources and being proactive on board control are key to ensuring that the Scourge doesn’t escalate beyond recovery.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Scourge of Skola Vale MTG card by a specific set like Born of the Gods, 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 Scourge of Skola Vale 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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Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Scourge of Skola Vale 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 Scourge of Skola Vale card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2014-02-01 | Use the toughness of the sacrificed creature as it last existed on the battlefield to determine how many +1/+1 counters to put on Scourge of Skola Vale. |