Reckless Scholar MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 7 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Human Wizard
Power 2
Toughness 1

Key Takeaways

  1. Reckless Scholar’s draw and discard mechanism ensures a perpetual stream of strategic options.
  2. Instant speed activation allows on-the-spot adaptability to shifting game conditions.
  3. Its specific demands can hinder broader deck integration and potentially exhaust resources.

Text of card

: Target player draws a card, then discards a card.

"Any good prospector must sift the gold from the sand."


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Reckless Scholar’s ability to draw cards can be pivotal to staying ahead in the game. By discarding a card, you get to draw another, ensuring a constant flow of options in your hand.

Resource Acceleration: While it doesn’t generate mana or tokens, the Reckless Scholar can accelerate your resources by cycling through your deck faster. This provides quicker access to the cards you need to execute your strategy.

Instant Speed: The ability to use Reckless Scholar’s effect at instant speed gives players the flexibility to adapt to the game state on the fly, making it a versatile tool during any point of a match, especially during the combat or end phases of your opponent’s turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Reckless Scholar card demands that players discard one card in order to activate its ability. This can potentially deplete a player’s hand, making it a risky play when the number of cards in hand is already low.

Specific Mana Cost: Reckless Scholar’s casting requirement includes blue mana, which necessitates its inclusion primarily in blue or blue-inclusive decks, potentially limiting its versatility across the broader spectrum of deck types.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of two generic and one blue mana, Reckless Scholar’s investment might be steep when considering other cards within the same mana range that could offer immediate impact without additional costs.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Reckless Scholar stands out with its capacity to filter cards in your hand, making it a valuable asset in decks that focus on card quality and graveyard strategies. Its flexible use allows it to be included in a variety of blue-centric builds.

Combo Potential: By enabling you to draw and discard, Reckless Scholar can serve as an engine that initiates combos or enhances archetypes that thrive on cycling through the deck or filling the graveyard with specific cards.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where incremental card advantage is key, such as slower-paced formats or control matchups, Reckless Scholar can be a subtle yet potent tool, keeping your hand filled with answers and options.


How to beat

Reckless Scholar brings a level of strategic depth to any MTG deck with its ability to selectively draw cards. This blue creature card offers players the chance to discard a card to draw another, providing substantial deck filtration opportunities. However, like many cards, it has its vulnerabilities that adept players can exploit.

To effectively counter Reckless Scholar in a match, focus on disrupting the card advantage it provides. This can be done through targeted removal spells that can deal with the creature before the opponent can maximize its utility. Cards with flash can be particularly effective by removing the Scholar in response to its activation, thus negating the draw. Moreover, taxing effects that increase the cost of activated abilities can also deter an opponent from utilizing Reckless Scholar’s ability repeatedly. Also, consider cards that punish discarding or drawing additional cards, which can inadvertently turn the Scholar’s advantage to a disadvantage.

Understanding the tempo and controlling the flow of the game are crucial when facing cards like Reckless Scholar. Anticipate the moments when your opponent might lean on this card for a strategic advantage and plan your play sequence accordingly. Thus, with the right strategy, Reckless Scholar can be effectively neutralized in any game.


Understanding the Value of Reckless Scholar in Deck Strategies

Reckless Scholar, a classic fixture in blue-based MTG decks, holds its own in the realm of card filtering. With the power to draw a card at the mere cost of discarding one, this creature brings a tactical advantage to any game, allowing players to sift through their deck for the perfect response or combo piece. Consistent with blue’s theme of knowledge and manipulation, Reckless Scholar provides a recurrent method to refine one’s hand and strategize turns ahead.

Cards like Reckless Scholar

Reckless Scholar shares a family resemblance with other MTG cards that allow players to fine-tune their hands. Merfolk Looter stands as a direct relation, with an identical tap ability that recurs each turn. While both cards facilitate drawing and discarding, Merfolk Looter offers a more affordable casting cost. Jace’s Archivist, however, elevates the concept, enabling a complete hand refresh by wheeling away your old hand for new options. Although at a higher cost and sorcery speed, it’s ideal when seeking that game-defining card within your deck.

Another similar card is Magus of the Bazaar, which sacrifices immediate card advantage for the potential of a richer haul. This card allows you to draw two cards and discard three, shaping your hand and graveyard synergies further. The distinction lies in the larger discard requirement which might synergize with graveyard-strategy decks.

Each of these cards plays a significant role in controlling the flow of options available to a player. When considering Reckless Scholar for your MTG deck, recognize not only its utility in maintaining a steady rhythm of card quality but also the strategic depth it adds in managing the relationship between your hand and graveyard.

Merfolk Looter - MTG Card versions
Jace's Archivist - MTG Card versions
Magus of the Bazaar - MTG Card versions
Merfolk Looter - Exodus (EXO)
Jace's Archivist - Magic 2012 (M12)
Magus of the Bazaar - Planar Chaos (PLC)

Cards similar to Reckless Scholar by color, type and mana cost

Wall of Water - MTG Card versions
Prodigal Sorcerer - MTG Card versions
Apprentice Wizard - MTG Card versions
Homarid - MTG Card versions
Daring Apprentice - MTG Card versions
Time Elemental - MTG Card versions
Reef Pirates - MTG Card versions
Rootwater Shaman - MTG Card versions
Wind Drake - MTG Card versions
Volrath's Shapeshifter - MTG Card versions
Stronghold Biologist - MTG Card versions
Quicksilver Wall - MTG Card versions
Wall of Air - MTG Card versions
Phantom Warrior - MTG Card versions
Wormfang Drake - MTG Card versions
Animating Faerie // Bring to Life - MTG Card versions
Ghost of Ramirez DePietro - MTG Card versions
Grazilaxx, Illithid Scholar - MTG Card versions
Queen of Ice // Rage of Winter - MTG Card versions
Svyelun of Sea and Sky - MTG Card versions
Wall of Water - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Prodigal Sorcerer - Unlimited Edition (2ED)
Apprentice Wizard - The Dark (DRK)
Homarid - Fallen Empires (FEM)
Daring Apprentice - Mirage (MIR)
Time Elemental - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Reef Pirates - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Rootwater Shaman - Tempest (TMP)
Wind Drake - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Volrath's Shapeshifter - Stronghold (STH)
Stronghold Biologist - Nemesis (NEM)
Quicksilver Wall - Prophecy (PCY)
Wall of Air - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Phantom Warrior - Duels of the Planeswalkers (DPA)
Wormfang Drake - Judgment (JUD)
Animating Faerie // Bring to Life - Throne of Eldraine (ELD)
Ghost of Ramirez DePietro - Commander Legends (CMR)
Grazilaxx, Illithid Scholar - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Queen of Ice // Rage of Winter - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Svyelun of Sea and Sky - Magic Online Promos (PRM)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Reckless Scholar MTG card by a specific set like Zendikar and Conspiracy, 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 Reckless Scholar and other MTG cards:

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See Magic products

Printings

The Reckless Scholar Magic the Gathering card was released in 7 different sets between 2009-10-02 and 2020-07-17. Illustrated by Steve Prescott.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12009-10-02ZendikarZEN 602003normalblackSteve Prescott
22014-06-06ConspiracyCNS 1042003normalblackSteve Prescott
32016-04-08Shadows over InnistradSOI 822015normalblackSteve Prescott
42017-06-16Archenemy: Nicol BolasE01 272015normalblackSteve Prescott
52018-06-08BattlebondBBD 1302015normalblackSteve Prescott
62018-11-16Game NightGNT 232015normalblackSteve Prescott
72020-07-17JumpstartJMP 1682015normalblackSteve Prescott

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Reckless Scholar has restrictions

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

Recent MTG decks

Continue exploring other format decks
More decks