Screaming Swarm MTG Card
2021-11-19 - Number 75
2022-01-28 - Number 342
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 6 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Bird Horror |
| Abilities | Flying,Mill |
| Power | 4 |
| Toughness | 4 |
Text of card
Flying Whenever you attack with one or more creatures, target player mills that many cards. (To mill a card, a player puts the top card of their library into their graveyard.) : Put Screaming Swarm from your graveyard into your library second from the top.
Cards like Screaming Swarm
Screaming Swarm takes its place in the pantheon of creatures that impact the battlefield with a versatile mix of abilities. Its comparison to fellow blue card Air Elemental is immediate; both possess flying and share a 4/4 stat line, ideal for maintaining aerial control. However, Screaming Swarm introduces a unique milling function, allowing players to strategically diminish their opponent’s deck upon dealing combat damage, a trait Air Elemental lacks.
Another creature to consider is Persistent Specimen, which also focuses on milling the opponent. Although it’s less potent in stats and lacks flying, the Specimen offers a notable recursive quality, able to return from the graveyard to the battlefield. This gives it a different kind of staying power compared to Screaming Swarm’s consistent mill each turn.
Finally, the Serendib Efreet stands out with its aggressive stance; a 3/4 flyer for three mana. It edges out in cost-efficiency but comes with a drawback of dealing damage to its controller each turn, unlike the Swarm that only carves away the opponent’s deck. Comparing these cards showcases Screaming Swarm’s place as a formidable choice within the array of blue creatures that have both offensive capabilities and strategic depth.
Cards similar to Screaming Swarm by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Maneuvering Screaming Swarm into your gameplay strategically can provide a persistent advantage. Each time it deals combat damage to a player, you sift through your library by milling cards, which not only disrupts your opponent’s strategy but can also set up your own graveyard for potential synergies and recursion tactics.
Resource Acceleration: Although Screaming Swarm itself does not directly accelerate your resource pool, the card enables strategic plays that can pave the way for stronger turns. By selectively milling your own library, you might enable delve mechanics or other graveyard interactions, effectively reducing the cost of powerful spells in your arsenal.
Instant Speed: Flying under the radar at instant speed, Screaming Swarm’s activated ability can be utilized at the perfect moment. This element of surprise grants you the flexibility to adapt to the evolving gameboard, responding to threats or optimizing your own board position when it benefits you most. The versatility of instant speed interactions can often be the hinge upon which the game swings in your favor.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Players using Screaming Swarm must be prepared to part with a precious card from their hand in order to activate its repeatable milling ability. This can be particularly taxing when hand size is crucial to maintaining one’s strategic position.
Specific Mana Cost: The casting cost for Screaming Swarm mandates two blue mana, which anchors it firmly in blue-centric or compatible two-color decks, potentially limiting its versatility across various deck architectures.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a total casting cost that includes five mana, Screaming Swarm demands a notable investment of resources. This can deplete mana reserves, slowing down the player’s momentum and ability to play other impactful spells during late game turns when resources are spread thin.
Reasons to Include Screaming Swarm in Your Collection
Versatility: Screaming Swarm offers flexibility in deck building, finding its place in a variety of blue-focused strategies. Its ability to return to a player’s hand provides recurring value, which can be particularly beneficial in control or mill decks.
Combo Potential: This card synergizes well with mill strategies where each attack can be a step towards depleting an opponent’s library. It can also combine with cards that reward players for having creatures entering the battlefield or benefit from casting creature spells multiple times.
Meta-Relevance: In the ever-evolving MTG landscape, decks that disrupt an opponent’s game plan through milling can gain the upper hand. Screaming Swarm poses a consistent threat, especially in a meta where graveyard-based strategies are prevalent and opponents are ill-prepared for repeated milling effects.
How to beat
Screaming Swarm offers a unique challenge in the realm of blue cards in MTG. As a creature with flying, it can be a persistent threat that’s difficult to block, bolstered by its ability to return to its owner’s hand. To effectively counter this evasive creature, consider using spells that can either remove it without targeting it directly or deplete the opponent’s hand, thus preventing the return of Screaming Swarm to the battlefield.
Employing board wipes like Doomskar or Cyclonic Rift can clear the way by removing all creatures, including ones with flying. Hand disruption strategies also prove effective; cards such as Thoughtseize or Duress can strategically extract Screaming Swarm or other key cards from your opponent’s grip before they have the chance to deploy them. Additionally, countering the Swarm’s ability to bounce back to the hand with spells like Grafdigger’s Cage can limit its efficacy.
Since Screaming Swarm’s strength lies in its consistent board presence and potential late-game damage, dealing with it decisively can significantly alter the course of the match. By integrating disruption and removal tools, you can overcome the card’s advantages and maintain control of the game.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Screaming Swarm MTG card by a specific set like Innistrad: Crimson Vow and Innistrad: Double Feature, 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 Screaming Swarm 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 Screaming Swarm Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2021-11-19 and 2022-01-28. Illustrated by Irina Nordsol.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2021-11-19 | Innistrad: Crimson Vow | VOW | 75 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Irina Nordsol | |
| 2 | 2022-01-28 | Innistrad: Double Feature | DBL | 342 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Irina Nordsol |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Screaming Swarm has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Screaming Swarm card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2021-11-19 | You may target yourself with Screaming Swarm's triggered ability. |