Treetop Scout MTG Card
2003-05-26 - Number 130
2005-08-22 - Number B5
2005-08-22 - Number B6
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Elf Scout |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 1 |
Text of card
Treetop Scout can't be blocked except by creatures with flying.
At home among the swaying, supple branches of the treetops, some scouts live their entire lives never touching ground.
Cards like Treetop Scout
Treetop Scout is a unique creature card that sneaks into the arsenal of green decks in Magic: The Gathering. It shares its unblockable status with other stealthy creatures such as Silhana Ledgewalker, which also can’t be blocked except by creatures with flying. However, Treetop Scout’s limitation to only be unblockable when attacking a player with no creatures with flying sets it slightly apart.
Skulk is another mechanic found on cards like Squeaking Pie Sneak, providing evasiveness based on power and toughness disparities, yet Treetop Scout doesn’t need such comparisons to be unblockable. Slippery Scoundrel is a more recent addition, gaining unblockable when you have the city’s blessing, but it isn’t restricted by the types of creatures your opponent has in play.
Deciding between Treetop Scout and its similar counterparts often boils down to deck strategy and the likelihood of facing airborne defenses. In that regard, Treetop Scout is highly efficient in an environment scarce with fliers, providing consistent combat damage and a perfect fit for green’s go-big-or-go-home philosophy.
Cards similar to Treetop Scout by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Though Treetop Scout itself doesn’t directly allow you to draw additional cards, its synergy with other cards can pave the way for increased card efficiency. By being unblockable as long as it’s attacking alone, it can enable various card-drawing mechanisms that are triggered upon dealing combat damage to a player.
Resource Acceleration: As a one-mana green creature, Treetop Scout can be an early play that sets the pace for an aggressive game. Its low casting cost contributes to resource acceleration by enabling the deployment of threats and the allocation of mana to other game actions early on.
Instant Speed: While Treetop Scout isn’t an instant itself, its ability to be virtually unblockable can synergize with spells and abilities that you can activate at instant speed once it has dealt damage. This allows you to maximize the efficiency of your turns, holding back mana until the most opportune time to cast your instant-speed spells or activate abilities.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Treetop Scout doesn’t directly require a discard to play, but playing creatures often means you’re foregoing other actions or card plays, which can have an impact on your hand and resources.
Specific Mana Cost: Treetop Scout requires green mana, which may not seamlessly fit into multi-colored decks that do not heavily prioritize forests or have ample mana-fixing options.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While not the most expensive creature, there are alternatives available that could provide more flexibility or potency for the same, if not a lower, mana investment.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Treetop Scout slips into various deck archetypes that favor evasive creatures. In formats where avoiding ground blockers is key, this card becomes an agile asset, adept at chipping away at an opponent’s life total or carrying equipment and enchantments with ease.
Combo Potential: Paired with cards that amplify damage or trigger effects when creatures deal combat damage to a player, Treetop Scout’s ability to stay unblocked can be a crucial component in executing swift and decisive combo finishes.
Meta-Relevance: In a game where blockers and ground tactics are prevalent, Treetop Scout’s unblockability by creatures with defender ensures it remains a relevant card choice, deftly bypassing fortified positions to maintain pressure on your adversary.
How to beat
Treetop Scout is a nimble creature in MTG, known for its ability to evade enemy defenses by not being able to be blocked except by creatures with flying. This characteristic allows it to be a persistent threat, slipping through an opponent’s line of defense and chipping away at their life total unimpeded. However, as with any card, it has its weaknesses.
To effectively counter Treetop Scout, controlling the skies is a straightforward strategy. Deploying flying creatures will ensure you have a blocker that can intercept the Scout. Alternatively, spells that can target and remove creatures, regardless of their evasion abilities, can serve as an effective countermeasure. Cards that can deal damage or force a sacrifice without the need for blocking are also valuable in neutralizing the threat posed by this elusive creature.
Since Treetop Scout is usually included in decks that aim to quickly overwhelm an opponent with combat damage, incorporating life gain elements and board-clearing spells into your strategy can greatly reduce the effectiveness of this card and similar aggressive strategies. It’s a matter of adapting your tactics and maintaining control over the board to surpass the challenges posed by these swift aggressors.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Treetop Scout MTG card by a specific set like Scourge and Salvat 2005, 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 Treetop Scout 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 Treetop Scout Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2003-05-26 and 2005-08-22. Illustrated by Alan Pollack.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2003-05-26 | Scourge | SCG | 130 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Alan Pollack | |
| 2 | 2005-08-22 | Salvat 2005 | PSAL | B5 | 2003 | Normal | White | Alan Pollack | |
| 3 | 2005-08-22 | Salvat 2005 | PSAL | B6 | 2003 | Normal | White | Alan Pollack |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Treetop Scout has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Treetop Scout card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2007-05-01 | Creatures with the Reach ability (such as Giant Spider) don’t actually have Flying, so they can’t block this. |