Servant of the Scale MTG Card
2015-03-27 - Number 203
2021-08-26 - Number 635
2022-12-02 - Number 727
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Human Soldier |
| Power | 0 |
| Toughness | 0 |
Key Takeaways
- Enhances board presence indirectly through +1/+1 counters, favoring long-term strategic gameplay.
- Requires thoughtful play, less impact without other creatures, and single green mana can be restrictive.
- Despite one-mana cost, contributes effectively to counter strategies and adaptive gameplay tactics.
Text of card
Servant of the Scale enters the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter on it. When Servant of the Scale dies, put X +1/+1 counters on target creature you control, where X is the number of +1/+1 counters on Servant of the Scale.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Although Servant of the Scale doesn’t directly allow you to draw cards, it passes on its power in the form of +1/+1 counters when it dies, potentially giving another creature a permanent boost. This can indirectly represent card advantage as it enhances your board presence without needing additional cards.
Resource Acceleration: Servant of the Scale isn’t a direct source of resource acceleration in the traditional sense. However, by strengthening other creatures you control, it can accelerate your offensive capabilities, making each of your subsequent creatures a more potent threat.
Instant Speed: Servant of the Scale functions at sorcery speed, but its impact on the game can be felt immediately, especially when combined with instant-speed effects that can exploit the distribution of +1/+1 counters it leaves behind, thereby allowing for strategic plays during combat or at the end of your opponent’s turn.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The Servant of the Scale calls for a strategic approach to boost other creatures when it leaves the battlefield. However, this can be a downside when you have no other creatures on the board, making its ability redundant and the card less impactful in your hand.
Specific Mana Cost: Costing a single green mana might seem efficient, but in multicolored decks that require a more flexible mana base, the Servant of the Scale can be a drawback. Decks that aren’t heavily green might struggle to cast it early enough to make its presence count.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Given that Servant of the Scale only brings a solitary +1/+1 counter to the table for a one-mana creature, you might find this cost high when compared to other creatures in the same mana range. Creature cards with additional abilities or higher stats could provide more immediate value or longer-term advantages.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Servant of the Scale is a card that can adapt to various deck styles, seamlessly fitting into counter-centric strategies or as an early presence in green aggro builds.
Combo Potential: This creature’s ability to transfer its +1/+1 counters when it dies makes it a fantastic enabler for synergies with other cards that benefit from, or proliferate, +1/+1 counters.
Meta-Relevance: In metagames where combat interactions are frequent, Servant of the Scale can provide immediate value upon leaving the battlefield, reinforcing your board state and keeping pressure on opponents.
How to beat Servant of the Scale
Servant of the Scale presents a unique challenge in MTG due to its ability to accumulate +1/+1 counters that can be transferred to another creature upon its demise. Overcoming this card requires strategic removal. Instead of directly destroying the Servant, aim to neutralize it while it’s still a minimal threat. Consider deploying spells or abilities that exile it from play, sidestepping the counter transfer mechanism altogether. Cards like Swords to Plowshares or Path to Exile are excellent as they remove the Servant without triggering its ability.
Another effective tactic is to wait until your opponent commits to a big play by placing multiple counters on the Servant before swooping in with your removal. Timing is key. Attacks that can reduce the Servant’s power to zero, such as with minus-counter spells or abilities, can also circumvent its potential to bolster another creature. Moreover, utilizing board wipes can reset the playing field, ensuring the Servant’s counters don’t tip the scales in your opponent’s favor.
Ultimately, the approach to beat Servant of the Scale is to outsmart it with carefully timed responses, denying your adversary the chance to exploit its counter distribution ability, thus maintaining the equilibrium of the playing field.
Cards like Servant of the Scale
Servant of the Scale occupies a unique niche within the pool of Magic: The Gathering one-drop creatures. It shares common ground with Experiment One, another one-drop creature that has the potential to grow over time. Experiment One, though, relies on the evolve mechanic which triggers whenever a creature with greater power or toughness enters the battlefield under your control. This makes it conditionally faster in power growth compared to the steady, modulated increase that Servant of the Scale offers through its +1/+1 counters.
Precinct Captain is another card worth comparing. While it doesn’t share the counter-centric design, it boasts a similar ability to affect the board by creating 1/1 white Soldier creature tokens with each combat damage to a player. Different from Servant of the Scale, Precinct Captain primes your battlefield with numerous tokens instead of bolstering other creatures. The inclusion of such cards in a deck depends greatly on your overall strategy, whether you are looking to build one large threat or many small ones.
Ultimately, Servant of the Scale proves its merit as a reliable creature in counter-centric decks. Its death trigger, passing on accrued strength, offers a strategic advantage, ensuring your investments in bolstering its power can be redistributed, in contrast with similar one-drops.
Cards similar to Servant of the Scale by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Servant of the Scale MTG card by a specific set like Dragons of Tarkir and Jumpstart: Historic Horizons, 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 Servant of the Scale and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Printings
The Servant of the Scale Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2015-03-27 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by Winona Nelson.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2015-03-27 | Dragons of Tarkir | DTK | 203 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Winona Nelson | |
| 2 | 2021-08-26 | Jumpstart: Historic Horizons | J21 | 635 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Winona Nelson | |
| 3 | 2022-12-02 | Jumpstart 2022 | J22 | 727 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Winona Nelson |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Servant of the Scale has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
