Scampering Scorcher MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Elemental
Released	2019-07-12
Set symbol
Set name	Core Set 2020
Set code	M20
Power	1
Toughness	1
Number	158
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Zoltan Boros

Key Takeaways

Scampering Scorcher excels at expanding board presence and enabling quick, aggressive playstyles.
Its mana-specific cost and discard strategies can present deckbuilding and gameplay challenges.
Despite being a 1/1, its utility in elemental and aggro decks justifies its inclusion for many.

Text of card

When Scampering Scorcher enters the battlefield, create two 1/1 red Elemental creature tokens. Elementals you control gain haste until end of turn. (They can attack and this turn.)

"Keep your flammables out of reach." —Kerin, watch sergeant

Card Pros

Card Advantage: When Scampering Scorcher enters the battlefield, it creates multiple creature tokens. The ability to expand your board presence with a single card play can shift the balance in your favor and outpace your opponent in creature count.

Resource Acceleration: The elemental creatures brought into play provide a significant benefit when paired with cards that capitalize on the number of creatures you control or create synergies with elemental types, making it easier to trigger potent abilities or enhance battlefield dominance.

Instant Speed: Although Scampering Scorcher itself is not an instant, its potential interaction with cards featuring instant speed can provide unexpected combat tricks or interactions in a pinch. The tokens can be boosted, sacrificed, or otherwise exploited when you also have instant-speed options in your arsenal.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Scampering Scorcher itself does not necessitate discarding, but it is part of a strategy where discarding could be a result of leveraging the Elemental’s abilities. This can lead to downside when you’re already managing limited resources in hand.

Specific Mana Cost: Scampering Scorcher demands a payment of three red mana, which might constrict its inclusion strictly to red or red-heavy decks. Mana flexibility is lost, and this can lead to complications when trying to cast other spells in a multicolored deck.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a requirement of three red mana and another generic mana, Scampering Scorcher’s four total mana cost is significant, especially for a 1/1 creature. When considering its board impact, other cards at a similar mana value might provide more robust effects or creatures with greater power and toughness.

Reasons to Include Scampering Scorcher in Your Collection

Versatility: Scampering Scorcher is a flexible card that can be a great addition to any deck with a focus on elementals or speed aggro strategies. It’s beneficial in decks that capitalize on enter-the-battlefield (ETB) effects or require a surge in battlefield presence.

Combo Potential: With its ability to give other elementals haste, Scampering Scorcher becomes incredibly synergistic in combinations that aim to deal damage quickly or utilize tap and untap mechanics. It’s also a perfect combo enabler with cards that trigger on ETB or when creatures die.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where swift board development is key, Scampering Scorcher shines. It can create immediate pressure and fits well in Red Deck Wins (RDW) or other aggressive archetypes that seek to diminish opponent’s life totals rapidly.

How to beat

Scampering Scorcher is a dynamic card that can accelerate the pace of Elemental decks within the MTG universe. With its ability to provide multiple creatures in a single cast, it encourages fast, offensive strategies. Unlike cards that introduce single creatures, Scampering Scorcher’s design allows for an immediate presence on the board, ready to overwhelm opponents.

To counteract Scampering Scorcher, timing and removal are key. Efficient removal spells that target multiple creatures at once, such as board wipes or mass removal spells, can mitigate the sudden surge of Elementals. Cards like Wrath of God or Damnation will clear the field, effectively nullifying the impact of the Scorcher. Furthermore, instant speed removal spells can disrupt the scorcher before its abilities trigger, providing a preemptive measure to maintain board control.

In essence, patience and the strategic deployment of removal cards play a pivotal role in overcoming the potential flood of Elementals that Scampering Scorcher promises. By keeping these spells in hand for the opportune moment, one can neutralize the threat imposed by this card and maintain the upper hand in the game.

Cards like Scampering Scorcher

Scampering Scorcher is an intriguing creature in Magic: The Gathering, primarily known for its elemental synergy and ability to echo out multiple creatures in a single play. It shares a thematic kinship with cards like Ember Hauler, which also offers a small body but brings a different utility to the battlefield with its damage-dealing ability. While Ember Hauler requires additional mana to utilize its effect, Scampering Scorcher’s impact is immediate, providing a wider board presence upon entry, ideal for overwhelming your opponents.

Another comparable card is Chandra’s Spitfire, which can quickly become a significant threat following a flurry of noncombat damage. Although Spitfire doesn’t immediately populate the board like Scampering Scorcher, it has the potential for massive damage output, particularly in decks with a focus on direct damage spells or abilities. Risen Reef is yet another elemental, which leans into card draw and mana ramp rather than direct aggression or board development. Unlike Scampering Scorcher, Risen Reef builds longer-term value, drawing cards and potentially putting additional lands onto the battlefield.

Ultimately, while each of these elemental cards interacts with the board in diverse ways, Scampering Scorcher stands out for players looking to rapidly expand their creature count and capitalize on effects that trigger upon the casting of elementals or when creatures enter the battlefield.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Scampering Scorcher MTG card by a specific set like Core Set 2020, 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 Scampering Scorcher and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Scampering Scorcher has restrictions

Format	Legality
Historicbrawl	Legal
Historic	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Restricted
Oathbreaker	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Commander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Explorer	Legal
Timeless	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2019-07-12	Scampering Scorcher’s ability affects only Elementals you control as the ability resolves (after creating the Elemental tokens). This means that those tokens and Scampering Scorcher itself will gain haste. Elementals you begin to control later in the turn won’t gain haste.