Scorn Effigy MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Common
Type	Artifact Creature — Scarecrow
Abilities	Foretell
Released	2021-02-05
Set symbol
Set name	Kaldheim
Set code	KHM
Power	2
Toughness	3
Number	246
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Wayne Reynolds

Key Takeaways

Scorn Effigy accelerates game strategy by enabling artifact synergy and mana-splitting across turns.
Its instant speed play from exile offers tactical surprises, making it valuable in gameplay optimization.
Discarding cards and specific mana needs can disadvantage players, especially in multicolor decks.

Text of card

Foretell (During your turn, you may pay and exile this card from your hand face down. Cast it on a later turn for its foretell cost.)

It remembers every wound it has seen or suffered—and nothing else.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Scorn Effigy can slot into a deck to amplify strategies centered on artifacts or self-sacrifice mechanics. By leveraging its status as an artifact creature, you can fuel synergies that hinge on the number of artifacts you control or those that demand an artifact sacrifice to trigger potent effects.

Resource Acceleration: With Foretell, Scorn Effigy allows for strategic mana management. Cast for its Foretell cost and you effectively split its mana requirement across two turns, potentially freeing up resources for other crucial spells when you need them most.

Instant Speed: Foretell grants you the flexibility to cast Scorn Effigy at instant speed after it has been exiled. This can lead to surprise blockers or being able to utilize mana at the end of your opponent’s turn, keeping them guessing and enabling you to optimize your plays.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Scorn Effigy might require you to discard other cards from your hand, which can put you at a strategic disadvantage, especially if you’re already behind on card advantage.

Specific Mana Cost: Needing a precise blend of mana to cast this artifact creature, Scorn Effigy isn’t always a suitable fit for multicolor decks that might struggle to produce the necessary mana efficiently.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Despite its potential to contribute to your board state as an artifact creature, Scorn Effigy carries a relatively steep mana cost for its stat line and ability, potentially leaving you at a tempo loss compared to other options with lower mana investments.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Scorn Effigy offers a flexible role in several deck archetypes due to its Foretell ability, which allows it to be played at a reduced cost, potentially speeding up your strategy.

Combo Potential: This artifact creature can synergize with decks that capitalize on artifact synergies or sacrifice mechanics, adding layers to your combo options.

Meta-Relevance: With the shifting landscape of MTG, having an affordable and adaptable card like Scorn Effigy can bolster your defense against various prevalent strategies.

How to beat

Scorn Effigy, a low-cost artifact creature card in the MTG universe, enters the battlefield with skills that can catch opponents off guard. When strategically deployed, it offers temporary immunity from sorcery spells, posing a challenge to many traditional removal approaches.

To effectively counter Scorn Effigy, players need to look beyond sorcery-speed answers. Instant-speed removal spells such as Fatal Push or Path to Exile are key, as they provide the means to eliminate the Effigy outside of its protection window. Another approach involves the use of board wipes like Wrath of God, which can clean the field of the Effigy regardless of its temporary sorcery immunity.

Moreover, players shouldn’t underestimate the value of timing when maneuvering around Scorn Effigy’s defenses. Engaging it during your turn or when it’s tapped out can ensure its ability becomes irrelevant. With proper understanding of mechanics and the right spells in your deck, overcoming Scorn Effigy’s challenge is a manageable feat for any seasoned MTG player.

Cards like Scorn Effigy

Scorn Effigy emerges as an intriguing artifact creature in the MTG realm, especially when assessing its sculpted feature – foretell. This ability allows you to exude pressure by playing it at a reduced cost at a later turn, providing strategic flexibility. Notably, it shares a kinship with the likes of Spined Thopter in the category of low-cost artifact creatures. Spined Thopter presents the advantage of flight, yet it demands a colored mana alongside its generic cost which Scorn Effigy circumvents with its colorless foretell option.

Looking at Gingerbrute, another artifact creature, we can correlate their aggressive cost efficiency. However, Gingerbrute boasts haste and can become unblockable under specific conditions, a different tactical approach compared to Scorn Effigy’s delayed play advantage. Moreover, the comparison with Voltaic Servant is pertinent as well, primarily due to its artifact synergies and how it refreshes another artifact during your untap step, a utility that Scorn Effigy doesn’t provide.

Thus, Scorn Effigy distinguishes itself within the MTG landscape. Its foretell mechanic offers a unique edge in deckbuilding, as it can potentially be cast at an opportune moment, providing a subtle yet significant leverage in the flow of the game.

Cards similar to Scorn Effigy by color, type and mana cost

Arena of the Ancients - MTG Card versions

Scale of Chiss-Goria - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Scorn Effigy MTG card by a specific set like Kaldheim, 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 Scorn Effigy and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Scorn Effigy 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

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2021-02-05	Because exiling a card with foretell from your hand is a special action, you can do so any time you have priority during your turn, including in response to spells and abilities. Once you announce you’re taking the action, no other player can respond by trying to remove the card from your hand.
2021-02-05	Casting a foretold card from exile follows the timing rules for that card. If you foretell an instant card, you can cast it as soon as the next player’s turn. In most cases, if you foretell a card that isn’t an instant (or doesn’t have flash), you’ll have to wait until your next turn to cast it.
2021-02-05	If you’re casting a foretold card from exile for its foretell cost, you can’t choose to cast it for any other alternative costs. You can, however, pay additional costs, such as kicker costs. If the card has any mandatory additional costs, those must be paid to cast the spell.