Scoria Elemental MTG Card


Scoria Elemental - Scars of Mirrodin
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Elemental
Released2010-10-01
Set symbol
Set nameScars of Mirrodin
Set codeSOM
Power 6
Toughness 1
Number102
Frame2003
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byKarl Kopinski

Key Takeaways

  1. Scoria Elemental commands the battlefield, forcing opponents to use multiple resources against it.
  2. The card’s low casting cost enables quick play and mana conservation for strategic versatility.
  3. Scoria Elemental’s lack of instant speed play does not diminish its strategic impact over turns.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Scoria Elemental doesn’t explicitly afford card advantage in the traditional sense. Instead, it serves as a formidable force on the battlefield, which requires an opponent to potentially expend multiple resources to handle it, thereby offering a type of advantage by attrition.

Resource Acceleration: The Scoria Elemental itself may not directly accelerate resources. However, its low casting cost allows for quick deployment, thus saving mana for other strategic moves or spells in the same turn.

Instant Speed: While Scoria Elemental can’t be cast at instant speed, its sheer presence can impact opponent strategies, making them wary of committing spells or creatures that could fall prey to its power in the following turns.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Scoria Elemental does not have a discard requirement, but it lacks the utility or versatility that other cards might offer which could represent an opportunity cost when choosing this card for your deck.

Specific Mana Cost: Scoria Elemental’s mana cost requires both red and generic mana, which might not fit smoothly into multi-colored decks that could have a more challenging mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of five mana, including three red, Scoria Elemental can be a significant investment. Given the competitive environment of MTG, players might find that there are other creatures or spells with greater impact or lower mana costs to include in their deck strategies.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: The Scoria Elemental offers a flexible role in various deck builds, particularly those that thrive on powerful late-game creatures. Its potential to be a game-changer in the battlefield due to its substantial power makes it a handy inclusion.

Combo Potential: With the ability to gain +1/+0 until end of turn, the Elemental allows for dynamic combo opportunities, especially in decks that focus on pumping creatures and leveraging damage output.

Meta-Relevance: As metagames shift, having a creature that can scale its power to impose a substantial threat can be crucial in Red-focused or elemental-themed decks that need a strong finisher.


How to beat Scoria Elemental

Scoria Elemental can be a fiery threat on the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering. Its ability to pump its power makes it a force to reckon with during the late game. When facing this formidable creature, the key is to manage it early. Spells that can exile, bounce, or destroy creatures before the Elemental’s power becomes overwhelming are ideal. Removal spells like Path to Exile or Unsummon can be highly effective, as they deal with the Elemental before it has a chance to grow.

Additionally, keeping a strong board presence to block and remove it through combat is an effective strategy. Remember that Scoria Elemental’s power lies in its late-game potential. Therefore, playing aggressively and keeping the pressure on your opponent is often a reliable way to ensure the Elemental never becomes the colossal threat it has the potential to be. If you maintain control and handle threats preemptively, Scoria Elemental is just another obstacle on your path to victory.


Cards like Scoria Elemental

Scoria Elemental, standing out in Magic: The Gathering’s expansive library, encapsulates the essence of fiery might for red decks. It’s a creature that can be likened to other red elementals like Ball Lightning. Both share a penchant for dealing quick damage, but Scoria Elemental allows for sustained board presence over multiple turns, lacking Ball Lightning’s ephemeral blast. Yet, it misses the immediate impact of trample and haste that Ball Lightning is famous for.

Another counterpart is the Spark Elemental. At a lower cost and with both trample and haste, Spark Elemental can strike swiftly, a lethal force out of the gates. However, Scoria Elemental’s higher toughness provides a resilience that Spark Elemental lacks. The trade-off here is between the temporary blitz of Spark Elemental and the staying power of Scoria Elemental.

Subsumed within the spectrum of elemental forces, Scoria Elemental presents a tactical option for players syncing damage output with versatility over time. Its potential to ratchet up its power turns it into a significant threat, particularly in later stages of the game, where it can outlive its kin.

Ball Lightning - MTG Card versions
Spark Elemental - MTG Card versions
Ball Lightning - MTG Card versions
Spark Elemental - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Scoria Elemental by color, type and mana cost

Fire Elemental - MTG Card versions
Earth Elemental - MTG Card versions
Eron the Relentless - MTG Card versions
Balduvian War-Makers - MTG Card versions
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Volatile Arsonist // Dire-Strain Anarchist - MTG Card versions
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Bonethorn Valesk - MTG Card versions
Frost Ogre - MTG Card versions
Heartless Hidetsugu - MTG Card versions
Shard Phoenix - MTG Card versions
Soul of Magma - MTG Card versions
Hunted Dragon - MTG Card versions
Fire Elemental - MTG Card versions
Earth Elemental - MTG Card versions
Eron the Relentless - MTG Card versions
Balduvian War-Makers - MTG Card versions
Hivis of the Scale - MTG Card versions
Hulking Cyclops - MTG Card versions
Flame Spirit - MTG Card versions
Flowstone Salamander - MTG Card versions
Ma Chao, Western Warrior - MTG Card versions
Covetous Dragon - MTG Card versions
Dwarven Strike Force - MTG Card versions
Volatile Arsonist // Dire-Strain Anarchist - MTG Card versions
Tephraderm - MTG Card versions
Avarax - MTG Card versions
Bonethorn Valesk - MTG Card versions
Frost Ogre - MTG Card versions
Heartless Hidetsugu - MTG Card versions
Shard Phoenix - MTG Card versions
Soul of Magma - MTG Card versions
Hunted Dragon - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Scoria Elemental MTG card by a specific set like Scars of Mirrodin, 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 Scoria Elemental and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Scoria Elemental has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

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