Scrapdiver Serpent MTG Card
2010-10-01 - Number 41
2020-11-20 - Number 94
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 7 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Serpent |
| Power | 5 |
| Toughness | 5 |
Text of card
Scrapdiver Serpent is unblockable as long as defending player controls an artifact.
Smart artificers clean up after themselves.
Cards like Scrapdiver Serpent
Scrapdiver Serpent emerges as a unique entrant among aquatic creatures in the vast sea of Magic: The Gathering cards. This serpent distinguishes itself with its potentially unblockable ability, setting it apart from denizens such as Aethersquall Ancient. While both can be formidable late-game, the Ancient requires a substantial energy reserve to wipe the board clean, where Scrapdiver Serpent simply demands that you control six or more artifacts to become unblockable.
Considering Serpent of the Endless Sea, which also benefits from a control-related ability, the Scrapdiver Serpent offers the added advantage of being unblockable instead of merely being unable to be countered based on island control. Still, it’s Gearseeker Serpent that perhaps shares the most in common, with a cost reduction mechanism tied to the number of artifacts you control, in contrast to Scrapdiver’s unblockability condition.
The interplay of these various serpent cards underscores the intrigue of deck building in Magic: The Gathering. Each offers unique perks, either in cost efficiency or battlefield impact, with the Scrapdiver Serpent staking its claim for those seeking a formidable offensive presence bolstered by artifact synergy.
Cards similar to Scrapdiver Serpent by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Scrapdiver Serpent opens opportunities for card advantage in specific deck builds, particularly those focusing on graveyard filling and recursion strategies. It provides a mechanism to return itself from the graveyard to your hand when an artifact is put into a graveyard from the battlefield, ensuring a recurring threat that must be dealt with.
Resource Acceleration: This card can contribute to resource acceleration in artifact-centric decks. By interacting with artifacts on the battlefield, it can potentially pave the way for plays that accelerate your mana or enable casting more impactful spells sooner.
Instant Speed: While Scrapdiver Serpent doesn’t operate at instant speed itself, it synergizes well with instant-speed cards that involve sacrificing or destroying artifacts. This potential for surprise interactions during an opponent’s turn can significantly shift the tide of a match in your favor.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Scrapdiver Serpent enters the battlefield with an ability contingent upon discarding another artifact card. This can lead to a setback if your hand lacks disposable artifacts or if the discard significantly depletes your hand.
Specific Mana Cost: The Serpent’s mana cost is fairly rigid, necessitating a significant amount of blue mana. This can make it challenging to cast in multicolored decks that aren’t heavily skewed towards blue, impacting its versatility across diverse deck types.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost demanding six mana, Scrapdiver Serpent’s impact may not align with its hefty casting requirements, particularly when compared to other creatures in the same mana range that might offer immediate board presence or have lower summoning conditions.
Reasons to Include Scrapdiver Serpent in Your Collection
Versatility: Scrapdiver Serpent provides an element of surprise and adaptability. Its ability to become unblockable when there are fewer than three artifacts means it can slide into decks that lightly or heavily utilize artifacts, adjusting its role based on the board state.
Combo Potential: With a natural synergy for artifact-heavy decks, this serpent can be a key player in strategies that dismantle opponent’s artifacts to clear the path for an unobstructed attack, or can be combined with cards that manipulate the number of artifacts in play to ensure it stays unblockable.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where artifacts are prevalent, not only does Scrapdiver Serpent fit in as a reliable creature, but it can also serve as a formidable surprise finisher in games that drag into the late phase, making it a strategic addition for any collector keeping an eye on the shifting tides of competitive play.
How to beat
Scrapdiver Serpent, while a creature that boasts a formidable presence in the right deck, isn’t without its countermeasures. This serpent from the deep seas of the Magic universe can often slip by unnoticed thanks to its affinity for artifacts. When six or more artifacts are in play, this sizable creature can attack as though it weren’t blocked, bearing down on opponents with unrelenting force.
Overcoming this aquatic threat requires a strategic approach that involves reducing the number of artifacts on the battlefield to less than six. Artifact removal spells are essential tools in this endeavor. Cards like Shatter or Naturalize are effective means to dismantle the artifact base that Scrapdiver Serpent relies on. Addressing the serpent itself can be achieved through spells that bypass its unblockable nature, like Path to Exile, or those that don’t target, such as Day of Judgment, ensuring that this sea giant’s dive is cut short.
Tackling the challenge of Scrapdiver Serpent calls for a balance of control and offense, where the focus should be on artifact management, field wipes, and unconditional removal. By adeptly piloting a deck with these elements, you can ensure that Scrapdiver Serpent’s reign is but a fleeting ripple across the vast waters of the game.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Scrapdiver Serpent MTG card by a specific set like Scars of Mirrodin and Commander Legends, 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 Scrapdiver Serpent 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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Printings
The Scrapdiver Serpent Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2010-10-01 and 2020-11-20. Illustrated by Adrian Smith.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2010-10-01 | Scars of Mirrodin | SOM | 41 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Adrian Smith | |
| 2 | 2020-11-20 | Commander Legends | CMR | 94 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Adrian Smith |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Scrapdiver Serpent has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Scrapdiver Serpent card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2011-01-01 | Whether Scrapdiver Serpent can be blocked is relevant only as the declare blockers step begins. If the defending player gains control of an artifact after Scrapdiver Serpent has become blocked, the Serpent will remain blocked. |