Wingrattle Scarecrow MTG Card

Persist ability enables board presence and strategic planning without using additional cards. Works well in instant-speed decks, providing resilience and recurring threats. A flexible card, fitting into various deck themes and enhancing combos.

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Common
Type	Artifact Creature — Scarecrow
Released	2008-05-02
Set symbol
Set name	Shadowmoor
Set code	SHM
Power	2
Toughness	2
Number	270
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Trevor Hairsine

Text of card

Wingrattle Scarecrow has flying as long as you control a blue creature. Wingrattle Scarecrow has persist as long as you control a black creature. (When this creature is put into a graveyard from play, if it had no -1/-1 counters on it, return it to play under its owner's control with a -1/-1 counter on it.)

Cards like Wingrattle Scarecrow

Wingrattle Scarecrow stands out among the unique denizens of Shadowmoor, a set famed for its enchanting scarecrow lineup. With its moderate mana cost and the peculiar trait of possessing flying unless you control a green creature, it beckons comparison to others in its kin. A close relative, Scuttlemutt, also from Shadowmoor, shares the same cost but offers versatility in mana generation and creature type switching, lacking however the conditional flight.

Turning our gaze to the Reaper King, the scarecrow sovereign, we observe a steeper cost but far greater power. As a legendary creature, it commands Vindicate-like destruction with each of its scarecrow followers’ arrivals, including those of the Wingrattle variety. Still, the Reaper King operates in a different realm of deck strategies based on high impact, synergistic plays rather then the more humble placement of Wingrattle Scarecrow.

Wrapped up in the analysis, Wingrattle Scarecrow shows its value in decks that need an aerial blocker or wish to maintain a flying threat without the green creature stipulation. Its narrow but interesting niche ensures it a spot in certain MTG builds, most notably those that revel in the shadowy dance of creature types and conditions.

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Card Pros

Card Advantage: While the Wingrattle Scarecrow doesn’t directly allow you to draw cards, its persist ability means that it can come back from the graveyard once, effectively giving you another creature without spending another card from your hand. This can help you maintain presence on the board and apply pressure.

Resource Acceleration: The Wingrattle Scarecrow isn’t typically used for resource acceleration in the conventional sense. However, it’s a versatile piece in engine decks where creatures entering and leaving the battlefield trigger various effects, potentially converting into indirect resource gains in the form of card draw or mana production from other cards’ synergies.

Instant Speed: Although the Wingrattle Scarecrow itself doesn’t operate at instant speed, its low mana cost and persist ability work well within decks that operate predominantly at instant speed. It provides a resilient threat that can repeatedly come back while you keep mana open to respond to opponents’ moves with instant speed interactions. Moreover, its synergies with instant speed enablers and sacrifice outlets can turn it into a recurring puzzle for your opponent to deal with on their turn.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: For Wingrattle Scarecrow to unlock its full potential, it requires a specific condition related to creature types in play, which may cause inconsistency in performance when those types aren’t available.

Specific Mana Cost: While colorless, the card may not always be the best fit for mana-optimized decks, potentially disrupting the mana curve and affecting the overall flow of the game.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its mana cost, Wingrattle Scarecrow stands at a point where players could potentially cast creatures or spells with more immediate impact, possibly making it a less attractive option during crucial turns.

Reasons to Include Wingrattle Scarecrow in Your Collection

Versatility: Wingrattle Scarecrow has the adaptability to slide into various deck themes due to its scarecrow identity and creature type. It can be comfortably played in artifact-centric decks or combined with creature-focused strategies, making it a valuable addition regardless of the playing style.

Combo Potential: This scarecrow shines in combo scenarios, particularly in decks that exploit the “untap” mechanic or use creature sacrifices for benefits. Its low-cost presence on the battlefield can be instrumental in triggering combos or synergizing with other scarecrow or artifact creatures for amplified effects.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where artifacts and creatures have a strong presence, Wingrattle Scarecrow holds its own. It can be an unassuming yet strategic piece that operates under the radar, fitting into the puzzle perfectly where artifacts and creature synergies are prized.

How to beat

Wingrattle Scarecrow is a unique and quirky creature in the realm of Magic: The Gathering. What makes it challenging to face is the combination of its persist ability and evasion from creatures with flying. Players may initially struggle to find an effective method to permanently remove it from the battlefield.

To gain an upper hand against Wingrattle Scarecrow, consider using removal spells that don’t destroy but exile it instead. Cards like Path to Exile or Swords to Plowshares can effectively deal with it without triggering its persist ability. Additionally, reducing the Scarecrow’s toughness can prevent it from returning, making cards that place -1/-1 counters on creatures particularly useful.

Moreover, taking control of the board is another strategy. By using cards that limit the types of creatures that can attack or block, or changing the rules of the game with enchantments like Silent Arbiter, you can mitigate the Scarecrow’s impact. In essence, focused deck building and strategic plays can provide you with the tools needed to counteract the Wingrattle Scarecrow’s deceptive resilience in a game.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Wingrattle Scarecrow MTG card by a specific set like Shadowmoor, 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 Wingrattle Scarecrow and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Wingrattle Scarecrow has restrictions

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

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Wingrattle Scarecrow card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date	Text
2013-06-07	If a creature with persist stops being a creature, persist will still work.
2013-06-07	If a creature with persist that has +1/+1 counters on it receives enough -1/-1 counters to cause it to be destroyed by lethal damage or put into its owner’s graveyard for having 0 or less toughness, persist won’t trigger and the card won’t return to the battlefield. That’s because persist checks the creature’s existence just before it leaves the battlefield, and it still has all those counters on it at that point.
2013-06-07	If a permanent has multiple instances of persist, they’ll each trigger separately, but the redundant instances will have no effect. If one instance returns the card to the battlefield, the next to resolve will do nothing.
2013-06-07	If a token with no -1/-1 counters on it has persist, the ability will trigger when the token is put into the graveyard. However, the token will cease to exist and can’t return to the battlefield.
2013-06-07	If multiple creatures with persist are put into the graveyard at the same time (due to combat damage or a spell that destroys all creatures, for example), the active player (the player whose turn it is) puts all of their persist triggers on the stack in any order, then each other player in turn order does the same. The last trigger put on the stack is the first one that resolves. That means that in a two-player game, the nonactive player’s persist creatures will return to the battlefield first, then the active player’s persist creatures do the same. The creatures return to the battlefield one at a time.
2013-06-07	The persist ability triggers when the permanent is put into a graveyard. Its last known information (that is, how the creature last existed on the battlefield) is used to determine whether it had a -1/-1 counter on it.
2013-06-07	When a permanent with persist returns to the battlefield, it’s a new object with no memory of or connection to its previous existence.