Scrap MTG Card
1998-10-12 - Number 213
2022-11-18 - Number 12
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Instant |
| Abilities | Cycling |
Text of card
Destroy target artifact. Cycling (You may pay and discard this card from your hand to draw a card. Play this ability as an instant.)
Cards like Scrap
Scrap is an intriguing utility spell for MTG players, offering a nuanced approach to resource management. Its closest relative in function is perhaps the card Shredded Sails. Both cards provide an answer to artifacts, which can be a persistent threat on the battlefield. However, Scrap offers more versatility, granting the option to gain life equal to the artifact’s power, making it a valuable card in a pinch against artifact-heavy decks.
Then there’s Naturalize, a staple in green decks for its straightforward artifact and enchantment removal. While it lacks the life gain feature that Scrap boasts, its simplicity and broader target range can make it a go-to in many sideboards. Comparatively, Forsake the Worldly not only allows you to exile an artifact or enchantment, but also includes cycling, giving you the flexibility to draw a card if the removal effect isn’t needed.
Evaluating the alternatives, Scrap’s ability to disrupt opponents while simultaneously providing life points positions it uniquely among MTG artifact interaction spells. It strikes a fine balance between defensive and offensive utility, offering strategic depth to those who wield it in their decks.
Cards similar to Scrap by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Scrap card is a powerhouse when it comes to digging deeper into your deck, offering you the chance to replace itself in your hand and furthering your strategic depth as you play. The ability to pull more cards into your hand can often be the difference between winning or finding yourself at a stalemate.
Resource Acceleration: By converting unwanted elements into potential resources, Scrap facilitates an acceleration in game pace. This is especially pivotal if you’re pushing for an early advantage or trying to execute your win condition more swiftly than your adversary can respond.
Instant Speed: The flexibility of instant speed cards cannot be overstated. With Scrap, the ability to interact during your opponent’s turn or at the end of their end phase allows for adaptability and can catch opponents off-guard, fortifying your position without compromising your offensive or defensive strategies during your own turn.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One of the drawbacks of using a Scrap card is the potential necessity to discard other cards from your hand. This can place you in a precarious position, especially if your hand size is depleted and you’re forced to forfeit valuable resources.
Specific Mana Cost: Scrap cards often come with a stringent mana requirement, sometimes demanding a particular color or combination thereof. This can make it challenging to incorporate them into a multi-color deck, potentially restricting their playability to specific archetypes.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Most notably, a selection of Scrap cards commands a high mana cost relative to their effects on the game. While the outcomes they provide can be impactful, there may be alternative cards that achieve similar results for less mana, thereby offering a more economical use of your resources within a match.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: A Scrap card in Magic the Gathering serves multiple purposes across various deck builds, leveraging flexibility in strategies that require artifact manipulation or graveyard synergy.
Combo Potential: Integrating a Scrap card can open doors to numerous combos, particularly in decks focusing on artifact recursion or self-mill tactics to capitalize on its innate traits.
Meta-Relevance: Given a meta that rewards inventive deck construction, including Scrap cards may provide a competitive edge, especially if the current trends lean towards innovative artifact playstyles.
How to beat
Scrap is a unique card that can be a bit of a conundrum for MTG players. In essence, it serves as a way to counter threats by removing an artifact from the game in exchange for a creature card later on, but knowing how to effectively handle Scrap when it’s played can make all the difference. Timing is key. If you suspect your opponent has Scrap in their hand, it’s often wise to bait it out with a less valuable artifact first.
Another method for tackling Scrap is by using graveyard manipulation spells, which can render Scrap’s delayed creature benefit moot. Cards that can exile artifacts directly from the graveyard ensure that even if the artifact is scrapped, it won’t come back to haunt you later. Lastly, don’t overlook the power of instant speed removal to take care of the creature that eventually emerges from the Scrap play. Staying one step ahead of the game with these strategies can greatly reduce Scrap’s impact on the battlefield.
Remember that patience and anticipation are your best tools against a Scrap strategy. By carefully managing the flow of your artifacts and keeping removal at the ready, you can mitigate the potential advantage that Scrap provides to your opponent. With thoughtfulness and strategy, Scrap can go from being a threat to a minor nuisance in your MTG matchups.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Scrap MTG card by a specific set like Urza's Saga and The Brothers' War Commander, 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 Scrap 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
Printings
The Scrap Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1998-10-12 and 2022-11-18. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1998-10-12 | Urza's Saga | USG | 213 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Donato Giancola | |
| 2 | 2022-11-18 | The Brothers' War Commander | BRC | 12 | 2015 | Token | Black | Drew Tucker |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Scrap has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Scrap card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2008-10-01 | Cycling is an activated ability. Effects that interact with activated abilities (such as Stifle or Rings of Brighthearth) will interact with cycling. Effects that interact with spells (such as Remove Soul or Faerie Tauntings) will not. |