Scrivener MTG Card
1998-06-15 - Number 46
2001-10-01 - Number 100
2014-06-16 - Number 91
2015-05-06 - Number 64
| Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Human Wizard |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Text of card
When Scrivener comes into play, you may return target instant or interrupt card from your graveyard to your hand.
"History is a potent weapon." —Karn, silver golem
Cards like Scrivener
The Scrivener card holds its own unique position in Magic: The Gathering’s roster of spell-returning creatures. A close relative to this functional card is Archaeomancer, which also retrieves an instant or sorcery card from the graveyard to the player’s hand. Despite their similarities, Scrivener’s restriction to instants alone sets it apart, while Archaeomancer extends the benefit to both card types. Costing one additional blue mana, Scrivener’s specialization may seem limiting next to the more flexible Archaeomancer.
Mnemonic Wall is another creature with a similar retrieval ability. However, its higher cost and more substantial defense stats make it a different kind of asset in a player’s deck, favoring those who seek a more durable blocker. It does, like Archaeomancer, return an instant or sorcery card, giving it an edge in versatility over Scrivener.
As a comparison, Izzet Chronarch enters as a dual color alternative. Although it requires both blue and red mana, it compensates by allowing the retrieval of either an instant or sorcery card. This blend of colors and card advantage mechanics offers players in the Izzet colors a versatile choice that can outshine Scrivener’s mono-blue limitations.
Considering these comparisons, Scrivener manages to carve out a niche for players looking specifically for instant-speed interactions, though it may not always be the first pick given its limitations and the presence of other versatile options within the game.
Cards similar to Scrivener by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Scrivener card is designed to provide an edge by letting you return an instant card from your graveyard to your hand, allowing you to reuse powerful spells and maintain card advantage over your opponent. This can be pivotal in long games where every card counts.
Resource Acceleration: While the Scrivener itself doesn’t directly accelerate resources, the ability to retrieve an instant card with it can lead to sequences that fuel your mana pool or resources. This depends on the specific instant you choose to bring back, giving you flexibility and potential for a surge in resources.
Instant Speed: Although Scrivener itself is a creature and not an instant, the spell you retrieve can be an instant, gearing you up to react at lightning speed. This flexibility allows you to adapt to the flow of the game, respond to threats immediately, and maximize your tactical options during each turn of the battlefield.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Scrivener’s ability hinges on a discard mechanic, asking players to relinquish another valuable card from their hand. This trade-off can put you in a tight spot, especially when your hand is running thin and every card counts towards your strategy.
Specific Mana Cost: The Scrivener card comes with a mana cost that demands both generic and blue mana, making it somewhat inflexible. This cost confines the card principally to decks that can readily provide blue mana, therefore limiting its utility across the diverse MTG metagame.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Considering the effect of returning an instant card from your graveyard to your hand, Scrivener’s mana value may be seen as excessive by some. There are alternative cards in MTG that offer similar or even more impactful effects for a lower or equivalent mana investment, potentially offering a better cost-to-benefit ratio for your deck’s performance.
Reasons to Include Scrivener in Your Collection
Versatility: Scrivener excels at giving you access to your instants again, proving to be a valuable asset in decks that rely on spells for control or combo setups.
Combo Potential: By returning key instants from your graveyard to your hand, Scrivener can be an integral part of combos, allowing you to replay powerful effects and outmaneuver opponents.
Meta-Relevance: In a game where strategies often revolve around crucial instant spells, having Scrivener can ensure that your important spells are always within reach, making it relevant in various meta scenarios.
How to beat
When facing off against Scrivener in Magic: The Gathering, it’s essential to recognize its function as a recurring spell resource. Primarily utilized in decks that capitalize on blue spells, Scrivener has the ability to retrieve instant cards from your graveyard, making it a persistent nuisance if not addressed. To effectively neutralize this threat, players can employ graveyard-hate cards that prevent or exile cards from the graveyard, or use removal spells that can circumvent its abilities.
Strategic silencing tactics like counterspells can also be quite effective. By countering the spell that the Scrivener would retrieve, you create a situation where your opponent’s intended recursion never actualizes. If the card is already on the battlefield, direct removal spells that bypass the return to hand mechanism, such as exile or sacrifice effects, help ensure that the creature does not come back to haunt you later.
Moreover, pressure tactics with aggressive creatures or damage spells can force your opponent to use their mana defensively, thereby reducing the chances they have to use their resources to bring Scrivener into play. By focusing on these strategies, you can dismantle the advantage Scrivener offers and maintain control of the game.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Scrivener MTG card by a specific set like Exodus and Odyssey, 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 Scrivener 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 Scrivener Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 1998-06-15 and 2015-05-06. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1998-06-15 | Exodus | EXO | 46 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Heather Hudson | |
| 2 | 2001-10-01 | Odyssey | ODY | 100 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Kev Walker | |
| 3 | 2014-06-16 | Vintage Masters | VMA | 91 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Kev Walker | |
| 4 | 2015-05-06 | Tempest Remastered | TPR | 64 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Heather Hudson |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Scrivener has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |