Grasping Scoundrel MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Human Pirate
Power 1
Toughness 1

Key Takeaways

  1. Provides early pressure forcing opponents to alter their strategy, potentially gaining indirect card advantage.
  2. While not a traditional mana accelerator, it disrupts opponents’ resource allocation with early attacks.
  3. Its presence affects instant speed plays, offering a subtle tempo advantage from the outset.

Text of card

Grasping Scoundrel gets +1/+0 as long as it's attacking.

"I can hear the plunder calling. It asks for me by name."


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Grasping Scoundrel may not directly increase your hand size, but its role as an efficient one-drop can pressure your opponent early in the game. It forces them to respond earlier than they might want to, potentially disrupting their strategy and sequence of plays which can indirectly lead to a card advantage.

Resource Acceleration: While this creature itself does not accelerate your resources in the traditional sense, getting a potential 2/1 attacker on turn one can accelerate the pace of the game in your favor. Moreover, the early damage it deals can reduce the resources your opponent can safely invest in their long-term plans, effectively skewing the resource balance.

Instant Speed: Even though Grasping Scoundrel isn’t a card that you play at instant speed, its presence can influence decisions made at instant speed. For instance, opponents might be more hesitant to cast end-of-turn spells when they need to consider preserving removal for this aggressive creature, thereby giving you a subtle tempo advantage in the early game.

Keep in mind that while Grasping Scoundrel brings specific tactical benefits to a game, it doesn’t exactly fit the bill for traditional advantages such as card draw or mana ramp. Instead, its strength lies in its ability to apply early pressure and demand answers, which can be just as pivotal to the direction of a match.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Grasping Scoundrel doesn’t directly come with discard requirements, but engaging it effectively in a piratical deck often implies using cards that force you to ditch valuable hand items, which might compromise your game if not managed wisely.

Specific Mana Cost: This one-drop creature necessitates a single black mana to play. While not excessively restrictive, it can still be slightly limiting in multicolored decks where black mana might not be readily available from the get-go.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Though Grasping Scoundrel itself doesn’t boast a high mana cost being just one black mana, in a game where efficiency is key, there are more competitive one-mana creatures that could provide better value or synergies for the same investment.


Reasons to Include Grasping Scoundrel in Your Collection

Versatility: Grasping Scoundrel is a one-mana creature, making it an excellent choice for aggressive decks that aim to get on the board fast. Its ability to become a 2/1 when attacking adds immediate pressure to opponents, making it adaptable for early game strategies.

Combo Potential: In decks that focus on increasing the number of attacking creatures or those that can manipulate combat phases, Grasping Scoundrel shines. Its power boost when attacking can be leveraged alongside other effects that benefit from having numerous attackers or from creatures with higher power.

Meta-Relevance: With the shift towards quicker, more aggressive strategies in the meta, Grasping Scoundrel can be a key player. Its low cost and the potential to deal significant damage early on rubs shoulders with the pace of current gameplay, granting it a relevant position in decks that aim to dominate from the onset.


How to Beat Grasping Scoundrel

Grasping Scoundrel is a potent one-drop creature that can slot into aggressive strategies in MTG. This pirate has the ability to become a 2/1 as long as it’s attacking, making it a formidable turn-one threat. Beating this card can be straightforward. Since it’s most dangerous during the attack phase, blocking is an effective method to neutralize it without losing card advantage. Utilizing cheap removal spells will also dispatch this scoundrel quickly.

Moreover, keeping a strong line of defense can dissuade an opponent from rushing in with it. In numerous cases, simply presenting creatures with higher toughness can render the Scoundrel less effective. Cards with reach or those that can flash onto the battlefield unexpectedly enhance your defensive capabilities against such early attackers. Preventing the scoundrel from hitting the battlefield in the first place using counterspells also turns the tide to your favor.

As part of an overarching strategy, focusing on stabilizing your early game defense and being ready with instant-speed interaction can nullify the impact of Grasping Scoundrel in MTG decks seeking quick victory. Keep your cool, play wisely, and the scoundrel will be grasping at straws.


Cards like Grasping Scoundrel

Grasping Scoundrel is an intriguing creature card in Magic: The Gathering, serving as an efficient choice in aggressive black decks. It bears a resemblance to cards like Goblin Guide in its capability to deal early game damage. Though Goblin Guide is faster, Grasping Scoundrel is unique with its conditional power boost during your turn. This subtle distinction can influence a player’s strategy.

Another card that echoes the principles of Grasping Scoundrel is Skymarcher Aspirant. Skymarcher Aspirant, like Grasping Scoundrel, gains an advantage—this time flying—if you meet its ascension requirement, which may offer a tactical edge in certain situations. Both cards share a potential to sway the field in the early game stages.

In assessing creature cards that excel in early combat, Grasping Scoundrel is notable for its straightforward strength increase during your turn. Its no-frills approach to aggressive play styles makes it a notable piece in decks aiming to dominate the board swiftly. Although it competes with other low-cost creatures for a deck slot, its unique qualities hold their ground in tactical scenarios.

Goblin Guide - MTG Card versions
Skymarcher Aspirant - MTG Card versions
Goblin Guide - Grand Prix Promos (PGPX)
Skymarcher Aspirant - Rivals of Ixalan (RIX)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Grasping Scoundrel MTG card by a specific set like Rivals of Ixalan and Core Set 2019, 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 Grasping Scoundrel and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Grasping Scoundrel Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2018-01-19 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by Steve Prescott.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12018-01-19Rivals of IxalanRIX 742015normalblackSteve Prescott
22018-07-13Core Set 2019M19 3122015normalblackSteve Prescott
32019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 6722015normalblackSteve Prescott
42020-09-26The ListPLST RIX-742015normalblackSteve Prescott

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Grasping Scoundrel has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

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