Scornful Egotist MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	8
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Human Wizard
Abilities	Morph
Released	2003-05-26
Set symbol
Set name	Scourge
Set code	SCG
Power	1
Toughness	1
Number	50
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Jim Nelson

Key Takeaways

Scornful Egotist excels in MTG decks capitalizing on high converted mana cost synergies.
Morph ability adds instant speed versatility to gameplay, enabling strategic surprises.
Despite its cost, the Egotist can indirectly boost resource acceleration in savvy decks.

Text of card

Morph (You may play this face down as a 2/2 creature for . Turn it face up any time for its morph cost.)

"Once I was human. Now I am far more."

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While at first glance Scornful Egotist may not seem like a typical source of card advantage, in decks that exploit the mechanic of “cards with a converted mana cost of..” or “highest converted mana cost matters” themes, Scornful Egotist shines. By effectively being an 8 CMC card on the field or in the graveyard, it synergizes with spells that care about those values and can manipulate this to the player’s benefit.

Resource Acceleration: Scornful Egotist itself doesn’t directly ramp or accelerate resources. However, its high converted mana cost can be used resourcefully in conjunction with cards such as Rush of Knowledge for a substantial card draw or to cheat into play high-cost spells with an effect that allows you to cast spells with a certain CMC for less. The Egotist can thus indirectly contribute to resource acceleration in the right deck configuration.

Instant Speed: Although Scornful Egotist is not an instant, its morph ability allows it to be played face down for only three mana and then turned face up at instant speed for a single blue mana. This enables strategic flexibility, allowing players to bluff or surprise opponents by revealing the Egotist at the most opportune moment, potentially disrupting the opponent’s plays.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Scornful Egotist doesn’t require an actual discard, but its effect to morph revealing itself calls for a hand reveal that could strategically disadvantage you by showing your opponents a glimpse of your tactics.

Specific Mana Cost: The card’s morph cost necessitates blue mana, which could be restrictive for multicolor decks that are not blue-centric or lack sufficient mana fixing.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although Scornful Egotist comes with a peculiar ability to set its power and toughness to notable levels, its converted mana cost of eight is disproportionately high compared to the stats and impact it brings to the game.

Reasons to Include Scornful Egotist in Your Collection

Versatility: Though unassuming at first glance, Scornful Egotist has a unique ability to morph, making it flexible for different gameplay strategies. Its presence in your collection allows for various deck builds that can benefit from high converted mana cost (CMC) synergies at a lower mana investment.

Combo Potential: This card shines when combined with other cards that interact with high CMC values or require sacrifices. Its interaction with the mechanic “Storm” or cards like “Rush of Knowledge” can be surprisingly effective, turning what looks like a high-cost creature into a strategic advantage.

Meta-Relevance: While not a staple in every meta, Scornful Egotist can become particularly relevant in formats where CMC matters. Its presence in a diverse meta can catch opponents off guard, leveraging its seeming weakness as a strength within the right deck composition.

How to beat

Scornful Egotist is a quirky creature card that has long intrigued Magic: The Gathering players. Its ability to set its converted mana cost to seven for spells and abilities that care about the highest mana cost among creatures you control might seem baffling due to its mere 1/1 stats. Nevertheless, its true power emerges when combined with cards that exploit high mana costs, such as those that involve morph or which allow you to reveal a card from your hand to produce an effect.

To counter Scornful Egotist effectively, it’s beneficial to focus on timing and disruption. Instant-speed removals like Path to Exile or Fatal Push can efficiently eliminate the Egotist before its high mana cost can be utilized advantageously. Additionally, counter spells such as Counterspell or Spell Pierce, when used judiciously, can prevent your opponent from ever benefiting from the Egotist’s unique trait. Simple bounce spells that return the Egotist to its owner’s hand, like Unsummon or Blink of an Eye, can also disrupt your opponent’s strategy and delay their game plan.

It’s crucial to be proactive and attentive to the state of the game. By preventing Scornful Egotist from being a cog in your opponent’s strategy, you stay on top of the match and maintain control of the board state.

Cards like Scornful Egotist

The Scornful Egotist from Magic: The Gathering stands out with its unassuming presence, but its unique morph feature allows players to unveil it at an advantageous moment. This characteristic can be likened to creatures with morph in MTG such as Exalted Dragon which, like Scornful Egotist, can surprise opponents by flipping face up at a critical moment. However, Exalted Dragon demands a significantly higher mana cost for its combat prowess.

Another card worth mentioning is Zoetic Cavern, which utilizes morph to transform from a land into a creature, providing versatile tactical options. Although the cavern does not draw attention like the Egotist, it serves a dual role in both mana fixing and creature deployment. Then there’s Chromeshell Crab, which not only morphs but also enables you to swap creatures with an opponent, another layer of strategy not presented by the Egotist.

Ultimately, Scornful Egotist’s claim to fame is its high converted mana cost for effects that key off of that statistic. It sits in a niche that is both amusing and thought-provoking for deck builders, encouraging creative plays that spotlight the game’s intricate mechanics and inspiring surprising strategies.

Cards similar to Scornful Egotist by color, type and mana cost

Brinelin, the Moon Kraken - MTG Card versions

Sphinx of the Second Sun - MTG Card versions

Lorthos, the Tidemaker - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Scornful Egotist MTG card by a specific set like Scourge, 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 Scornful Egotist and other MTG cards: