Dross Scorpion MTG Card


Dross Scorpion - Mirrodin
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityCommon
TypeArtifact Creature — Scorpion
Released2003-10-02
Set symbol
Set nameMirrodin
Set codeMRD
Power 3
Toughness 1
Number164
Frame2003
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byJim Nelson

Key Takeaways

  1. Generates card advantage through artifact graveyard synergies, optimizing deck performance.
  2. Facilitates resource acceleration by repeatedly untapping mana-producing artifacts.
  3. Provides instant-speed interaction, enabling untap tricks during opponents’ turns.

Text of card

Whenever Dross Scorpion or another artifact creature is put into a graveyard from play, you may untap target artifact.

They skitter out of the mists to consume fresh kill before Mephidross has a chance to corrode it away.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Dross Scorpion can be a key component in combos that generate significant card advantage. When an artifact is put into a graveyard, Dross Scorpion’s ability allows for untapping another artifact. This can lead to drawing multiple cards in a turn, especially in decks that are designed around artifact synergies and sacrificial mechanics.

Resource Acceleration: The untap ability of Dross Scorpion can indirectly contribute to resource acceleration by unlocking the potential of mana-producing artifacts. By untapping artifacts like mana rocks, you can facilitate larger plays or even go infinite with the right combination of cards.

Instant Speed: While Dross Scorpion itself is not an instant, its untap ability triggers whenever an artifact hits the graveyard. This can create unexpected opportunities at instant speed during the course of the game. You can engineer situations where you sacrifice an artifact on your opponent’s turn to untap another artifact and gain an immediate benefit or disrupt your opponent’s strategy.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Involves sacrificing an artifact which can deplete your resources if artifacts are a key component of your gameplay.

Specific Mana Cost: Dross Scorpion’s mana cost includes four generic mana, necessitating a significant amount of resources that could potentially be allocated elsewhere.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The card’s utility is somewhat dampened by its mana cost, as competing cards may provide similar or better effects at a lower mana investment.


Reasons to Include Dross Scorpion in Your Collection

Versatility: Dross Scorpion’s functions extend beyond its surface abilities. This card stands out due to its flexibility, and it seamlessly integrates with artifact-centric decks or those that seek to manipulate and utilize tap and untap mechanics.

Combo Potential: Known for its synergy in machine-like decks, Dross Scorpion can turn into the linchpin of complex and rewarding combinations. Imagine pairing it with cards that benefit from, or cause, the sacrifice of artifacts to create a domino effect of untapping potential.

Meta-Relevance: In a landscape where artifacts play a significant role, the scorpion’s ability to untap your permanents can continuously keep your board state active and responsive, giving you an edge against slower, less interactive decks.


Understanding the Mechanics of Dross Scorpion

Dross Scorpion presents an intriguing dynamic to artifact-centered decks in Magic: The Gathering. As a four mana cost artifact creature, it may not be the flashiest card on the battlefield, but its synergistic potential is exceptional. When another artifact you control is put into a graveyard, Dross Scorpion gives you the ability to untap any artifact. This enables an array of varied combos, making it a linchpin in many artifact-based strategy decks and can crucially tip the scales during gameplay.

How to beat

Overcoming Dross Scorpion requires a strategic approach, as it thrives on the interplay between artifacts. Disrupting the combos by focusing on artifact removal can significantly weaken its impact on the game. Moreover, cards that restrict or negate the abilities of creatures can nullify the Dross Scorpion’s untapping capability. Employing instant-speed removal can be particularly effective when timed to interrupt the opponent’s planned combo execution. Alternatively, emphasizing exile effects around artifacts keeps them from hitting the graveyard in the first place, cutting off the fuel that Dross Scorpion needs to be effective.

There’s a nuanced balance to consider when facing Dross Scorpion. It requires understanding the overarching strategy it enables and dismantling the connections within that framework. Analyzing the board state and identifying the opportune moment to strike will guide you to victory against a player utilizing this crafty arthropod in their Magic: The Gathering matchup.


Cards like Dross Scorpion

Dross Scorpion stands out in Magic: The Gathering’s roster of utility creatures, particularly for its role in artifact-centric decks. It shares characteristics with other cards such as Myr Retriever, which also interacts with artifacts upon leaving the battlefield. The Scorpion, however, offers continuous utility, triggering whenever any artifact is put into the graveyard, thereby creating opportunities for combo plays.

Analogous to Dross Scorpion in functionality is Junk Diver, which provides a one-time effect to retrieve an artifact from your graveyard to your hand. While Junk Diver enables direct recursion, Dross Scorpion’s flexibility in triggering off any artifact’s death can lead to more diverse strategic plays. Additionally, there’s Workshop Assistant, echoing this theme of recursion but lacking the broad triggering conditions that make Dross Scorpion a staple in artifact synergy decks.

In weighing up the options, Dross Scorpion’s capacity to manipulate and unlock potential in artifact-laden strategies ensures its utility and distinction amongst similar MTG cards designed for intricate mechanical interactions and board advantages.

Myr Retriever - MTG Card versions
Junk Diver - MTG Card versions
Workshop Assistant - MTG Card versions
Myr Retriever - Mirrodin (MRD)
Junk Diver - Urza's Destiny (UDS)
Workshop Assistant - Kaladesh (KLD)

Cards similar to Dross Scorpion by color, type and mana cost

Jayemdae Tome - MTG Card versions
Juggernaut - MTG Card versions
Dancing Scimitar - MTG Card versions
Grinning Totem - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Processor - MTG Card versions
Patagia Golem - MTG Card versions
Lodestone Myr - MTG Card versions
Krark-Clan Ironworks - MTG Card versions
Ur-Golem's Eye - MTG Card versions
Jester's Cap - MTG Card versions
Bottled Cloister - MTG Card versions
Rod of Ruin - MTG Card versions
Gnarled Effigy - MTG Card versions
Scrapbasket - MTG Card versions
Magnetic Mine - MTG Card versions
Icy Manipulator - MTG Card versions
Eye of Doom - MTG Card versions
Well of Lost Dreams - MTG Card versions
Tower of Fortunes - MTG Card versions
Coercive Portal - MTG Card versions
Jayemdae Tome - Pro Tour Collector Set (PTC)
Juggernaut - Collectors' Edition (CED)
Dancing Scimitar - Revised Edition (3ED)
Grinning Totem - Mirage (MIR)
Phyrexian Processor - World Championship Decks 2000 (WC00)
Patagia Golem - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Lodestone Myr - Mirrodin (MRD)
Krark-Clan Ironworks - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
Ur-Golem's Eye - Commander 2014 (C14)
Jester's Cap - Pro Tour Collector Set (PTC)
Bottled Cloister - Ravnica: City of Guilds (RAV)
Rod of Ruin - Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)
Gnarled Effigy - Shadowmoor (SHM)
Scrapbasket - Shadowmoor (SHM)
Magnetic Mine - Mirrodin Besieged (MBS)
Icy Manipulator - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Eye of Doom - Commander 2013 (C13)
Well of Lost Dreams - The List (PLST)
Tower of Fortunes - Commander 2013 (C13)
Coercive Portal - Conspiracy (CNS)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Dross Scorpion MTG card by a specific set like Mirrodin, 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 Dross Scorpion and other MTG cards:

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See Magic products

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Dross Scorpion has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Recent MTG decks

Continue exploring other format decks
More decks