Urborg Scavengers MTG Card
2023-05-12 - Number 199
2023-05-12 - Number 158
2023-05-12 - Number 65
2023-05-12 - Number 115
2023-05-12 - Number 15
| Card sets | Released in 5 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Spirit |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Text of card
Whenever Urborg Scavengers enters the battlefield or attacks, exile target card from a graveyard. Put a +1/+1 counter on Urborg Scavengers. Urborg Scavengers has flying as long as a card exiled with it has flying. The same is true for first strike, double strike, deathtouch, haste, hexproof, indestructible, lifelink, menace, reach, trample, and vigilance.
Cards like Urborg Scavengers
Urborg Scavengers stand out in the realm of graveyard interaction cards within Magic: The Gathering. They can be likened to other cards like Scavenging Ooze, which similarly feeds off the graveyard to grow in power. Nevertheless, Urborg Scavengers skips the incremental aspect of Ooze’s ability and instead offers a one-time effect with potentially higher immediate return, assuming a graveyard ripe with targets.
Another comparable card is Nighthowler, which uses the collective power of all creature cards in all graveyards to boost its might. While Nighthowler benefits from a broader range of influence, Urborg Scavengers’ benefit is restricted to sacrificing a creature, yet this restriction can be orchestrated to one’s advantage with cards meant to die. Moving on, Wight of Precinct Six is another peer in this space but grows only from the opponents’ graveyards, offering a different strategic angle than the self-directed Urborg Scavengers.
Each card has its distinctive role in a deck, but Urborg Scavengers shine by providing a straightforward and impactful way to utilize the graveyard as a resource, broadening the strategic horizon for players who enjoy manipulating the final resting place of creatures.
Cards similar to Urborg Scavengers by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Urborg Scavengers. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Soulflayer | Pioneer | Soulflayer | Pioneer League 2023-12-26 |
 | Mono-Black Aggro | Gladiator | Gladiator Team Unified League | |
 | Golgari Midrange | Gladiator | Sword and Sandals Showdown: AM Week 12 2024 | |
| Dimir Tempo | Standard | Dimir Midrange | Standard Store hampionship |
 | Atraxa Neoform | Pioneer | Atraxa Neoform | Pioneer League 2024-04-07 |
| WBR | Pioneer | Pioneer Challenge 64 2024-03-24 | |
 | Grixis Soulflayer | Pioneer | Soulflayer | UOL MKM Pioneer League |
 | Dimir Midrange | Standard | Dimir Midrange | WPN QUALIFIERS SEASON 6 |
 | Jund Midrange | Standard | 4c Midrange | 16 Day3 |
 | Mono-Black Midrange | Gladiator | Gladiator Games: We're Back |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Urborg Scavengers excel at giving players an upper hand by enabling you to bring back another creature card from your graveyard to your hand when it dies. This not only refreshes your resources but also thwarts your opponent’s attempt to whittle down your army, maintaining your board presence.
Resource Acceleration: While Urborg Scavengers may not directly produce additional mana, their innate ability to recur other creatures can indirectly lead to resource acceleration. By reclaiming key creatures that generate or utilise mana effectively, you’re ensuring a sustained momentum and potential for explosive turns.
Instant Speed: Though the Scavengers themselves are not an instant, they augment strategies that include instant-speed cards. By encouraging a graveyard-focused tactic where resurrected creatures could be having flash or affecting the field at instant speed, Urborg Scavengers add layers of sophistication to your game, keeping adversaries on their toes.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Urborg Scavengers necessitates that players discard another card to utilize its full potential. This can backfire when you’re clutching crucial cards you’d prefer not to lose, making the activation of its ability a potential liability in tight game scenarios.
Specific Mana Cost: The casting of Urborg Scavengers requires a particular blend of mana, including black mana. This could be restrictive for players running multicolored decks that may struggle to consistently produce the necessary black mana when needed.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Urborg Scavengers enters the battlefield with a mana value that is steep in comparison to other creatures with similar abilities. This can slow down your game, particularly when faster, more cost-efficient alternatives are available and might have been played instead.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Urborg Scavengers is a card that can be a great addition to decks seeking resilience. Its ability to return to your hand makes it a recurring threat, and its adaptability in various game stages from early to late is a definite plus.
Combo Potential: This card works well with strategies that capitalize on creature sacrifice and graveyard mechanics. Its synergy with cards that track creatures leaving the battlefield or that benefit from consistent casting can be a game-changer.
Meta-Relevance: In environments where longer games are prevalent, Urborg Scavengers shines as a repeatable form of board presence. It also slots into decks that aim to outlast opponents through incremental advantage, making it relevant in certain metagames.
How to beat
Urborg Scavengers may not be the flashiest creature in a player’s arsenal, but it has a place in decks that capitalize on attrition and board control. Landing on the battlefield, its ability to grow through the demise of other creatures can present a looming threat to opponents. However, players can adopt several strategies to mitigate the impact of this burgeoning creature.
The most straightforward method to contain the threat of Urborg Scavengers is removal spells. Effective spells like Murder or Path to Exile can dispatch the creature before it accumulates any significant power. Board wipe spells are also potent, able to clear not just the Scavengers but also the very creatures that would have fed its strength. Additionally, countermagic such as Counterspell or Negate ensures it never sees play, preventing any potential for growth.
Ensnaring the Urborg Scavengers with enchantments that neutralize it without destroying it, like Pacifism, also proves to be effective since it doesn’t trigger death-related abilities. In all these approaches, the key is preemptive action. By managing the Scavengers early on, whether through direct removal, board control, or preventative measures, you can keep its impact on the game minimal.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Urborg Scavengers MTG card by a specific set like March of the Machine: The Aftermath and March of the Machine: The Aftermath, 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 Urborg Scavengers and other MTG cards:
BUY NOW BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
- 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 Urborg Scavengers Magic the Gathering card was released in 1 different sets between 2023-05-12 and 2023-05-12. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2023-05-12 | March of the Machine: The Aftermath | MAT | 199 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Nino Vecia | |
| 2 | 2023-05-12 | March of the Machine: The Aftermath | MAT | 158 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Svetlin Velinov | |
| 3 | 2023-05-12 | March of the Machine: The Aftermath | MAT | 65 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Nino Vecia | |
| 4 | 2023-05-12 | March of the Machine: The Aftermath | MAT | 115 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Svetlin Velinov | |
| 5 | 2023-05-12 | March of the Machine: The Aftermath | MAT | 15 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Svetlin Velinov |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Urborg Scavengers has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Alchemy | 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 Urborg Scavengers card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2023-05-12 | If the target of the first ability is an illegal target at the time the ability tries to resolve (likely because it left the graveyard in response), the ability won't resolve and none of its effects will happen. You won't put a +1/+1 counter on Urborg Scavengers. |
Guide to Vigilance card ability
In the strategic universe of Magic: The Gathering (MTG), the vigilance ability stands out as a powerful tool for players. This potent keyword allows creatures to attack without tapping, keeping them ready and alert to defend against incoming threats. It represents a perfect balance between aggression and defense, offering a dynamic approach to gameplay. Lets dive deeper into how vigilance shapes the battlefield.