Scytheclaw MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 6 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityRare
TypeArtifact — Equipment
Abilities Equip,Living weapon

Key Takeaways

  1. Scytheclaw multiplies damage, offering card advantage and turning creatures into significant threats.
  2. Equipped creatures become a higher priority target, potentially leading to resource disadvantage.
  3. Its unique effect and flexibility make Scytheclaw a potent addition to diverse strategies.

Text of card

Living weapon (When this Equipment enters the battlefield, put a 0/0 black Germ creature token onto the battlefield, then attach this to it.) Equipped creature gets +1/+1. Whenever equipped creature deals combat damage to a player, that player loses half his or her life, rounded up. Equip


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Scytheclaw can be a significant boon when it comes to card value. Upon equipping and taking down a creature, the double damage can facilitate trades that are unfavorable for your opponents, effectively giving you a lead in resources.

Resource Acceleration: While Scytheclaw doesn’t directly produce mana, it accelerates your game plan by making every creature a formidable threat. This equipment forces opponents to spend resources to deal with your creatures, potentially putting you ahead in the resource race.

Instant Speed: Scytheclaw may not boast instant speed itself, but it excels by enabling instant-speed plays. By equipping it before the end of your opponent’s turn, you can keep mana open for instant-speed interactions and catch your opponent off-guard with lethal damage.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Scytheclaw can leave players at a disadvantage with its specific requirement to attach to a creature, potentially costing you valuable cards if the creature is removed from the battlefield before you can take advantage of the artifact’s lethal ability.

Specific Mana Cost: Scytheclaw demands a precise mana cost to cast, including generic and black mana, which could be restrictive for decks not focused on black mana generation or those that aim for a broader color spectrum. This limits its versatility across various types of decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost to cast and then an additional cost to equip, Scytheclaw’s overall mana investment is significant. In a game where efficiency is key, this can slow down your tempo, especially when faster and more impactful alternatives exist in the equipment card pool.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Scytheclaw offers flexibility in deck construction by serving as a lethal equipment in creature-based strategies. Its universal equip cost allows it to be included in a variety of decks, enhancing any creature’s combative prowess significantly.

Combo Potential: When paired with creatures that have deathtouch or those that can become unblockable, Scytheclaw can be a game-ender. The lethal damage it can deal puts opponents on a swift clock, synergizing well with cards that amplify creature damage or utilize life total changes.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where games are often decided by creature combat, Scytheclaw stands out. Its ability to double a player’s life total upon dealing combat damage maintains relevance, particularly in commander and casual formats where life totals can fluctuate widely.


How to beat

Scytheclaw is a unique artifact equipment card that can be a game changer in MTG. It lends a lethal edge to your creatures, effectively doubling damage while also giving a +1/+1 boost. This can turn any creature into a significant threat, especially in commander or casual games where life totals can be high.

To overcome the challenge posed by Scytheclaw, it’s vital to focus on removal tactics. Instant speed removal spells, artifact destruction, or enchantments like Naturalize are effective ways to deal with Scytheclaw before it becomes a problem. Cards like Krosan Grip or Disenchant can disrupt your opponent’s strategy at a critical moment, leaving them vulnerable. It’s also smart to consider strategies that limit the number of creatures your opponent can equip, using creature removal such as Doom Blade or board wipes like Wrath of God to negate the equipment’s advantage.

Preparation and timing are key when it comes to handling this MTG card. Keeping control of the board and being ready to act when Scytheclaw is cast can ensure this powerful equipment doesn’t leave you at the sharp end of a defeat.


BurnMana Recommendations

The depth of MTG is vast, filled with cards like Scytheclaw that can decisively shift the balance of a game. Understanding the nuances of each card can be the difference between a crushing defeat and a glorious victory. If you’re intrigued by Scytheclaw’s ability to halve life totals and boost creatures to lethal levels, delve deeper into our detailed analysis and recommendations. There are strategies to wield it effectively and methods to counteract it swiftly. Ready to refine your deck and outmaneuver your opponents? Dive further into our resources to gain the upper hand and secure your MTG wins with cunning precision.


Cards like Scytheclaw

Scytheclaw stands out in MTG as a unique piece of equipment that can drastically change the course of the game. An equipment that directly mirrors Scytheclaw’s ability to deal hefty damage is Quietus Spike, which also halves a player’s life total upon dealing combat damage. What sets Scytheclaw apart is its ability to be sacrificed for an additional +1/+1 counter benefit, turning any creature into a lethal threat.

Then we have Grafted Exoskeleton, another equipment in MTG that can turn the tides by giving the creature infect. Infect allows the creature to deal damage in the form of -1/-1 counters to creatures or poison counters to players, adding a layer of strategy for winning the game. Although not as directly powerful in terms of damage as Scytheclaw, the persistent threat of accumulating poison counters is a comparable game ender.

In weighing up the various equipments akin to Scytheclaw, its unique blend of life-halving damage and a one-time counter boost places it in a niche category. For players seeking a sudden and surprising way to end games, Scytheclaw is an attractive choice in the arsenal of MTG equipment cards.

Quietus Spike - MTG Card versions
Grafted Exoskeleton - MTG Card versions
Quietus Spike - Shards of Alara (ALA)
Grafted Exoskeleton - Scars of Mirrodin (SOM)

Cards similar to Scytheclaw by color, type and mana cost

Ring of Renewal - MTG Card versions
Clockwork Avian - MTG Card versions
Gauntlets of Chaos - MTG Card versions
Soldevi Steam Beast - MTG Card versions
Sand Golem - MTG Card versions
Pandora's Box - MTG Card versions
Belbe's Portal - MTG Card versions
Crumbling Sanctuary - MTG Card versions
Mind's Eye - MTG Card versions
Horizon Stone - MTG Card versions
The Deck of Many Things - MTG Card versions
Clockwork Vorrac - MTG Card versions
Timesifter - MTG Card versions
Leveler - MTG Card versions
Myr Matrix - MTG Card versions
Dross Golem - MTG Card versions
Razormane Masticore - MTG Card versions
Thran Golem - MTG Card versions
Coat of Arms - MTG Card versions
Clockwork Hydra - MTG Card versions
Ring of Renewal - Fallen Empires (FEM)
Clockwork Avian - Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border (4BB)
Gauntlets of Chaos - Chronicles (CHR)
Soldevi Steam Beast - Alliances (ALL)
Sand Golem - Mirage (MIR)
Pandora's Box - Astral Cards (PAST)
Belbe's Portal - Nemesis (NEM)
Crumbling Sanctuary - World Championship Decks 2000 (WC00)
Mind's Eye - The Brothers' War Retro Artifacts (BRR)
Horizon Stone - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
The Deck of Many Things - Adventures in the Forgotten Realms Promos (PAFR)
Clockwork Vorrac - Mirrodin (MRD)
Timesifter - Mirrodin (MRD)
Leveler - Mystery Booster Retail Edition Foils (FMB1)
Myr Matrix - Darksteel (DST)
Dross Golem - Darksteel (DST)
Razormane Masticore - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
Thran Golem - Dominaria Remastered (DMR)
Coat of Arms - The List (PLST)
Clockwork Hydra - Time Spiral (TSP)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Scytheclaw MTG card by a specific set like Commander 2015 and Legendary Cube Prize Pack, 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 Scytheclaw and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Scytheclaw Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2015-11-13 and 2023-08-04. Illustrated by James Paick.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12015-11-13Commander 2015C15 532015normalblackJames Paick
22015-11-18Legendary Cube Prize PackPZ1 1272015normalblackJames Paick
32020-09-25Zendikar Rising CommanderZNC 1182015normalblackJames Paick
42023-04-21March of the Machine CommanderMOC 3752015normalblackJames Paick
52023-08-04Commander MastersCMM 6152015normalblackJames Paick
62023-08-04Commander MastersCMM 4082015normalblackJames Paick

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Scytheclaw has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2015-11-04 Like other Equipment, each Equipment with living weapon has an equip cost. You can pay this cost to attach an Equipment to another creature you control. Once the Germ token is no longer equipped, it will be put into your graveyard and subsequently cease to exist, unless another effect raises its toughness above 0.
2015-11-04 Scytheclaw's triggered ability triggers and resolves after combat damage is dealt. For example, if the Germ token deals 1 combat damage to a player with 10 life, combat damage will reduce that player's life total to 9. Then Scytheclaw's ability will cause the player to lose 5 life, leaving the player at 4.
2020-08-07 If the Germ token is destroyed, the Equipment remains on the battlefield as with any other Equipment.
2020-08-07 If the living weapon trigger causes two Germs to be created (due to an effect such as that of Doubling Season), the Equipment becomes attached to one of them. The other will be put into your graveyard and subsequently cease to exist, unless another effect raises its toughness above 0.
2020-08-07 The Germ token enters the battlefield as a 0/0 creature and the Equipment becomes attached to it before state-based actions would cause the token to die. Abilities that trigger as the token enters the battlefield see that a 0/0 creature entered the battlefield.

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