Scarecrow MTG Card

The Dark (DRK)
1994-08-01 - Number 108

Masters Edition IV (ME4)
2011-01-10 - Number 225

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	5
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Artifact Creature — Scarecrow
Power	2
Toughness	2

Key Takeaways

Scarecrows grant card advantage and interact with the board immediately upon entering.
They enable resource acceleration and synergize well with artifact-based strategies.
Some scarecrow abilities can be utilized at instant speed, offering tactical flexibility.

Text of card

o6, oc T: Until end of turn, all damage done to you by flying creatures is reduced to 0.

There was more malice in its button eyes than should have been possible in something that had never known life.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Many scarecrow cards align perfectly with the strategy of gaining card advantage. One notable aspect is their ability to impact the board as soon as they enter the battlefield, often replacing themselves in your hand by drawing cards or recouping losses by retrieving artifacts or creature cards from your graveyard.

Resource Acceleration: Scarecrows offer a unique form of resource acceleration. They can synergize with other artifact-related cards, potentially reducing casting costs or providing alternative ways to utilize scarecrows on the field. This utility allows players to effectively speed up their gameplay and deploy threats or defenses more swiftly.

Instant Speed: While not all scarecrows can be cast at instant speed, some associated spells and abilities can be activated on opponents’ turns. This flexibility affords you the element of surprise and tactical advantage, as you can adapt to the evolving game state without committing resources prematurely.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One limiting factor of certain Scarecrow cards in your deck can be the drawback that comes with a discard requirement. This can sometimes force you to give up valuable hand resources, which might hinder your strategy, especially if your hand is nearly empty.

Specific Mana Cost: Some Scarecrow cards demand a very particular mana setup to cast effectively. This can restrain your deck construction by making it difficult to splash these cards in a multicolored deck or forcing you to commit to a mana base that might not be as flexible as you’d like.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: When assessing the value a Scarecrow card brings to the battlefield, it’s important to consider its mana cost. Some Scarecrows come with a higher casting cost than other creatures with similar or better abilities. This can put you at a disadvantage tempo-wise, particularly against decks that can deploy threats and develop their board presence more efficiently.

Reasons to Include Scarecrow Cards in Your Collection

Versatility: Scarecrows can be intricately woven into a diverse range of deck types, particularly those looking for tribe synergies or control elements. Cards like “Reaper King” offer a unique overarching boost to other Scarecrows, making them adaptable pieces in tribal-themed decks.

Combo Potential: These cards often possess intrinsic abilities that work well with various engine cards. For instance, the interactions with “Scarecrone” can provide continuous recursion and card advantage, serving as a backbone for combo decks.

Meta-Relevance: As the game’s landscape shifts, Scarecrow cards maintain relevance through their ability to adapt and counter widespread strategies, potentially disrupting opponent setups and enhancing your control over the game board.

How to Beat Scarecrow Cards

Scarecrow cards in Magic: The Gathering present unique challenges on the battlefield with their often quirky abilities and synergy with other types. While cards like Reaper King demand attention due to their potential to control the board by destroying permanents, it’s important to note that Scarecrow cards’ strength lies in their tribal interactions.

To efficiently handle Scarecrow threats, focus on disrupting their tribal synergy. Spot removal spells that can target key creatures, such as Scarecrone or the Reaper King itself, are essential. Cards like Path to Exile or Assassin’s Trophy give you the means to remove these threats swiftly and with minimal cost. A card such as Cursed Totem can also be instrumental, disabling activated abilities of creatures and thereby weakening the collective strength of Scarecrows.

Board wipes play a pivotal role, too. Clearing the board with a Damnation or Wrath of God resets the playing field. Since Scarecrows often rely on a critical mass to be truly effective, a well-timed board wipe can tilt the game in your favor. Remember, maintaining awareness of your opponent’s Scarecrow-related plays and being ready with an answer is your best strategy to come out on top.

Cards like Scarecrow

In the realm of creature-based utility in MTG, Scarecrow stands out as a unique piece in several deck types, particularly those utilizing artifact synergies. A prime comparison would be to Myr Retriever, both of which offer valuable recursion for artifacts upon death. While Scarecrow can retrieve any artifact, Myr Retriever specializes in the retrieval of fellow Myr cards.

Other cards that echo the thematic functionality of Scarecrow include Heap Doll and Salvage Scout. Heap Doll serves a dual role by offering a self-sacrifice mechanism to exile a card from a graveyard, potentially disrupting your opponent’s strategy. Salvage Scout, on the other hand, operates more closely to Scarecrow’s retrieval ability but is limited to recovering only artifacts from your own graveyard and requires additional mana to execute its effect.

Assessing Scarecrow within the context of these alternatives, it is evident that its versatile artifact recovery positions it as a strategic component for decks that capitalize on artifact dynamics. Though it may not offer the graveyard interaction subtleties of Heap Doll or the precision of Myr Retriever, its broad utility and interactive possibility within artifact-centric decks make it an indispensable tool among MTG cards.

Cards similar to Scarecrow by color, type and mana cost

The Deck of Many Things - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Scarecrow MTG card by a specific set like The Dark and Masters Edition IV, 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 Scarecrow and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Scarecrow Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1994-08-01 and 2011-01-10. Illustrated by Anson Maddocks.

#	Released	Name	Code	Symbol	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	1994-08-01	The Dark	DRK		108	1993	Normal	Black	Anson Maddocks
2	2011-01-10	Masters Edition IV	ME4		225	1997	Normal	Black	Anson Maddocks

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Scarecrow has restrictions

Format	Legality
Oldschool	Legal
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Restricted
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal

Rules and information

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