Deity of Scars MTG Card


Deity of Scars - Eventide
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Spirit Avatar
Abilities Trample
Released2008-07-25
Set symbol
Set nameEventide
Set codeEVE
Power 7
Toughness 7
Number118
Frame2003
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred bySteve Prescott

Key Takeaways

  1. Deity of Scars grants card advantage and sustains board presence through its robust regenerative abilities.
  2. Its efficiency in resource acceleration can pivot the game’s dynamics in your favor with less mana.
  3. Instant-regeneration readiness pressures opponents, rendering common removal tactics less effective.

Text of card

Trample Deity of Scars comes into play with two -1/-1 counters on it. {BG}, Remove a -1/-1 counter from Deity of Scars: Regenerate Deity of Scars.

"His skin cuts swords." —*The Seer's Parables*


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Deity of Scars provides solid card advantage with its ability to regenerate, making it resistant to most removal spells. Keeping the Deity in play can often lead to a cumulative benefit over your opponent as you maintain a powerful board presence.

Resource Acceleration: Entering the battlefield with two +1/+1 counters for each black mana spent, the Deity of Scars accelerates your resource utilization by potentially delivering a massive creature for a reduced mana investment. This efficiency can shift the game’s momentum in your favor.

Instant Speed: While the Deity of Scars itself may not have an ability that operates at instant speed, its regeneration capacity allows you to plan for an instant response to any threats. This keeps your opponents on their toes, knowing that traditional removals are less effective against it.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Deity of Scars demands a sacrifice of another creature to utilize its regenerative abilities, which can set back your board presence significantly, especially when resources are already scarce.

Specific Mana Cost: Summoning the Deity of Scars requires a precise combination of black and green mana, which can be a challenge in multi-colored decks that don’t focus on those colors or when mana-fixing resources are lacking.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that includes two black and two green mana, the Deity of Scars has a relatively high mana cost which may delay its deployment, causing potential tempo loss when faster threats are at play.


Reasons to Include Deity of Scars in Your Collection

Versatility: Deity of Scars is a dynamic card that can find a home in various deck builds. It’s particularly effective in decks that capitalize on +1/+1 counters and those looking to leverage its significant regeneration ability.

Combo Potential: With its ability to enter the battlefield with two +1/+1 counters, Deity of Scars can synergize with a range of strategies that involve counter manipulation or sacrifice mechanics for bigger payoff.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where resilience is key, Deity of Scars stands out. Its self-repair capability through regeneration makes it a tough contender against decks reliant on destroy-based removal, keeping your board presence strong.


How to beat

The Deity of Scars is a powerful creature that can make an imposing presence on the battlefield in MTG. Its resilience, signified by regenerating abilities, tends to be a nightmare for opponents. To beat this formidable card, it’s crucial to deploy strategies that sidestep its strengths. One effective way is by using exile effects. These can remove Deity of Scars from play without triggering its regeneration. Cards like Path to Exile or Swords to Plowshares can handle this efficiently, bypassing the need to deal damage directly. Another approach is to limit your opponent’s resources, rendering the regeneration ability a non-factor. Land destruction or mana disruption strategies can impede their capability to utilize the Deity’s abilities effectively. Coupled with countering strategies to prevent the Deity from hitting the table, you stand a good chance of maintaining control over the game.

Winning against Deity of Scars also involves managing the threat before it becomes overwhelming. Utilizing sacrifice effects can be key, as this forces your opponent to make tough decisions, potentially sacrificing the Deity itself. Edict effects, such as Diabolic Edict or Liliana of the Veil’s ability, are a strategic inclusion in any deck looking to suppress creatures that boast significant protection or regeneration abilities.


Cards like Deity of Scars

In the diverse landscape of MTG creatures, Deity of Scars stands out with its formidable presence. This card offers a parallel in power and effect to cards such as Golgari Lich Lord, which similarly benefits from a built-in regeneration capability. However, Deity of Scars distinguishes itself with its two +1/+1 counter removal ability to regenerate, offering a unique survivability option for players.

Looking at Soulflayer, another creature offering versatility, its delve ability allows for a potentially low casting cost and the chance to gain multiple abilities from cards in the graveyard. Unlike Deity of Scars, Soulflayer doesn’t provide the same straightforward brute strength, but it does offer strategic flexibility. Phyrexian Obliterator is another noteworthy comparison, boasting a strong damage deterrence effect that punishes opponents for damage dealt to it, yet lacking the regeneration or adaptable power modification of Deity of Scars.

Ultimately, in examining the intrinsic qualities and strategic uses of similar cards, Deity of Scars showcases its unique position within MTG, carved by its combination of resilience and power-twisting capabilities.

Soulflayer - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Obliterator - MTG Card versions
Soulflayer - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Obliterator - MTG Card versions

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Pharika's Mender - MTG Card versions
Kheru Dreadmaw - MTG Card versions
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Mazirek, Kraul Death Priest - MTG Card versions
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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Deity of Scars MTG card by a specific set like Eventide, 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 Deity of Scars and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Deity of Scars has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2008-08-01 Deity of Scars’s ability causes it to have more toughness when you activate the ability (as a result of losing a -1/-1 counter) and then puts a regeneration shield on it when the ability resolves. If you activate the ability in advance of Deity of Scars being dealt 5 damage, for example, Deity of Scars will be 6/6 before the damage is dealt to it. It won’t use the regeneration shield unless it’s dealt more damage that turn.
2008-08-01 Removing a -1/-1 counter from Deity of Scars is a cost of activating its activated ability. You can’t activate the ability if there are no -1/-1 counters on Deity of Scars.
2008-08-01 You can pay {B/G} and remove a -1/-1 counter to activate the ability any time you want. Deity of Scars doesn’t need to be in danger of being destroyed.

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