Scythe Tiger MTG Card

Scythe Tiger can indirectly offer card advantage by draining opponent resources and maintaining parity. Its built-in Shroud ability lends resilience, though it comes with a land sacrifice requirement. Suitable for aggressive decks;strength in shroud against removal-heavy metas enhances its value.

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	1
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Cat
Abilities	Shroud
Released	2009-10-02
Set symbol
Set name	Zendikar
Set code	ZEN
Power	3
Toughness	2
Number	183
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Michael Komarck

Text of card

Shroud (This creature can't be the target of spells or abilities.) When Scythe Tiger enters the battlefield, sacrifice it unless you sacrifice a land.

Instead of adapting to its environment, it adapts its environment to itself.

Cards like Scythe Tiger

Scythe Tiger is a unique creature in Magic: The Gathering, offering a distinct presence on the battlefield. Its shroud ability keeps it safe from targeted spells and abilities, a feature reminiscent of Thrun, the Last Troll. However, Scythe Tiger has the drawback of requiring the sacrifice of a land upon entry, a significant cost not present with Thrun. In exchange for this cost, Scythe Tiger comes out much sooner, being a one-drop as opposed to Thrun’s four mana cost.

Another comparable card is Skyshroud Elite, which shares the same mana cost as Scythe Tiger. While Skyshroud Elite doesn’t have shroud, its power can potentially increase against nonbasic land-heavy decks, presenting a different kind of threat. It’s a matter of the player’s preferred strategy and the construction of their deck. Finally, we look at Rogue Elephant, another one mana cost creature that also requires a land sacrifice. Yet, unlike Scythe Tiger, it doesn’t offer the built-in protection of shroud, making its battlefield tenure potentially more fleeting.

Choosing between these cards revolves around desired tempo, trade-offs, and deck theme synergy. Scythe Tiger can be a powerful early-game play, given the right circumstances, particularly in decks that can recover from or leverage land sacrifice.

Thrun, the Last Troll - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Scythe Tiger by color, type and mana cost

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While the Scythe Tiger itself does not directly allow you to draw additional cards, its potential to cause the opponent to use more resources to remove it can indirectly contribute to card advantage. Being a threat that requires an answer, it often pulls removal spells from an opponent’s hand, helping you maintain parity or even gain card advantage in the match.

Resource Acceleration: Scythe Tiger doesn’t provide traditional resource acceleration in terms of mana. However, its low casting cost can speed up your aggressive strategies. This cost-effective creature enables you to deploy other threats or hold up mana for interaction more rapidly, keeping the tempo in your favor on the board.

Instant Speed: The Scythe Tiger itself is not played at instant speed, but its inherent Shroud ability ensures it avoids targeted spells or abilities at any time. This can often leave your opponents with unusable removal spells in hand, effectively slowing down their game plan and giving you more time to execute yours.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Scythe Tiger necessitates the sacrifice of a land upon entrance to the battlefield. This steep price can set you back, especially during the early game where land development is crucial for ramping up to more powerful plays.

Specific Mana Cost: This card requires green mana for casting, which fits exclusively in monogreen or multicolored decks with a green mana base. Its restrictive cost can limit its inclusion in a wide variety of decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Playing Scythe Tiger comes at the cost of one green mana and the additional land sacrifice. For a 3/2 creature, the overall cost may outweigh the benefits when you could deploy other creatures or spells with less severe repercussions and greater strategic value.

Reasons to Include Scythe Tiger in Your Collection

Versatility: Scythe Tiger offers a unique blend of power and resilience for a one-drop creature. It can be a formidable card in green aggressive or stompy decks, demanding an answer immediately upon hitting the board.

Combo Potential: With its shroud ability, Scythe Tiger can be an asset in decks looking to maintain a creature presence against heavy removal. It synergizes well with cards that benefit from creature sacrifice or land recursion strategies, leveraging its entry cost for greater utility.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta filled with targeted removal, Scythe Tiger stands out by being difficult to remove directly, bypassing popular spot removal spells. This makes it a relevant choice when building a deck that aims to preserve its threats on the battlefield.

How to beat

Scythe Tiger is a unique one-drop creature in Magic: The Gathering that presents a tough challenge on the battlefield. It boasts an impressive 3/2 stat line for a single green mana, complemented by shroud which prevents it from being targeted by spells or abilities. This trait makes traditional removal methods ineffective.

To successfully navigate against a Scythe Tiger, focus on forcing its controller to sacrifice it. Since Scythe Tiger requires its owner to sacrifice a land when it enters the battlefield, further exploiting land destruction or sacrifice mechanics can strain your opponent’s resources. Board wipes that don’t target, like “Wrath of God” or “Damnation,” can clear the way by bypassing Scythe Tiger’s shroud. Additionally, forcing your opponent to sacrifice creatures through cards like “Liliana of the Veil” or “Diabolic Edict” can neutralize the tiger’s advantage.

Moreover, edging out a Scythe Tiger can also be achieved through combat tricks. Since its shroud applies to both opponents and its owner, Scythe Tiger can’t be buffed or protected by its controller’s spells. By strategically planning your blocks or applying pressure with larger creatures, you can corner the Tiger, turning its strength into a liability.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Scythe Tiger MTG card by a specific set like Zendikar, 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 Scythe Tiger and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Scythe Tiger has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal