Furnace Scamp MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	1
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Phyrexian Beast
Released	2011-05-13
Set symbol
Set name	New Phyrexia
Set code	NPH
Power	1
Toughness	1
Number	84
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Karl Kopinski

Key Takeaways

Provides card advantage when combined with tactics that maximize its damage-dealing sacrifice ability.
Potential for early-game tempo increases, setting up for powerful spell casts or sequences.
Instant speed interactions allow for creative combo possibilities and increased board control.

Text of card

Whenever Furnace Scamp deals combat damage to a player, you may sacrifice it. If you do, Furnace Scamp deals 3 damage to that player.

Born of the core, and dying to stoke it.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Furnace Scamp, when utilized effectively, can translate into direct damage to a player or creature. Properly pairing it with sacrifice mechanics or buffs can turn it into a valuable resource for depleting your opponent’s life total while maintaining pressure on the battlefield.

Resource Acceleration: Although not a direct source of mana, successfully dealing combat damage with Furnace Scamp and sacrificing it can offer strategic advantages. This can create openings for casting more costly spells earlier in the game or enable multi-spell turns, contributing to outpacing your opponent.

Instant Speed: While the creature itself does not operate at instant speed, its ability, which triggers upon dealing damage, opens the floor for interesting combinations with instant speed spells or abilities that can enhance its impact before the damage dealing step, ensuring maximized value upon triggering its effect.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Although Furnace Scamp can deal substantial damage upon dealing combat damage to an opponent, it requires you to sacrifice it, which can leave you at a disadvantage as you’re effectively down a card.

Specific Mana Cost: Furnace Scamp falls into decks that can produce red mana. Red-centric or red-inclusive mana bases will find this useful, but many other deck types may struggle to include it due its specific mana requirements.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While the Scamp itself doesn’t have a high mana cost, relying on it for damage output could be less efficient compared to other one-drop creatures in the MTG universe that offer immediate value or have more formidable abilities.

Reasons to Include Furnace Scamp in Your Collection

Versatility: The Furnace Scamp is an adaptable addition to numerous decks, especially those that can consistently power up creatures or capitalize on dealing direct damage. It’s small enough to be cast early, helping maintain pressure from the outset.

Combo Potential: This card holds the potential to become a formidable combo piece. With the right setup, such as with cards that increase damage or provide additional attack phases, Furnace Scamp can become a reoccurring source of significant damage.

Meta-Relevance: As player strategies evolve, it’s important to keep an eye on the shifting meta. Furnace Scamp excels in a meta where smaller utility creatures are prevalent, as it becomes easier to trigger its damage ability and get value from each attack.

How to beat Furnace Scamp

Furnace Scamp may seem like a modest creature at first glance, but any seasoned player knows the impact this little beast can have in Magic: The Gathering. One key strategy to beating Furnace Scamp is to manage it before it deals damage. Since its ability triggers on successfully dealing combat damage to a player, removal spells or blockers can effectively neutralize the threat. This means having instant-speed removal or creatures ready to block is crucial.

Spot removal spells like Fatal Push or Shock can be excellent choices to deal with Furnace Scamp before it becomes a problem, especially since they are low-cost and can fit into your mana curve seamlessly. Alternatively, keeping up a tough defender can deter your opponent from attacking with the Scamp, as they risk losing it for no benefit. Moreover, be wary of potential combat tricks that might enable the Scamp to go through your defenses. Awareness and preparation are key components in keeping Furnace Scamp at bay and maintaining control over the game.

To sum up, by prioritizing early control through strategic blocking and timely removal, one can effectively handle the potential threat posed by Furnace Scamp and prevent those additional points of damage that could otherwise tip the scales against you.

Cards like Furnace Scamp

Furnace Scamp is an intriguing creature in Magic: The Gathering that offers players a unique burst of damage potential. It bears a resemblance to cards like Mogg Fanatic, which also allows players to sacrifice the creature for a direct damage outcome. Mogg Fanatic delivers its damage without any conditions, whereas Furnace Scamp requires that it deal combat damage to a player before its sacrifice ability can be activated, potentially dealing more damage.

Additionally, we can look to Goblin Arsonist, which has a similar sacrifice for damage theme. Unlike Furnace Scamp, Goblin Arsonist’s effect is guaranteed upon its death, even though it inflicts a lesser amount of damage. Moreover, the Scamp’s reliance on triggering combat damage gives it a riskier but more rewarding potential compared to the consistent, but lower damage output of the Goblin Arsonist.

Examining the potential damage output and the conditions required to achieve it gives us a clearer picture of Furnace Scamp’s place within MTG. It fits into strategies that favor aggressive play and rewarding risk with the chance for a significant damage spike, setting it apart from its fellow red creature options.

Cards similar to Furnace Scamp by color, type and mana cost

Goblin Balloon Brigade - MTG Card versions

Mons's Goblin Raiders - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Furnace Scamp MTG card by a specific set like New Phyrexia, 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 Furnace Scamp and other MTG cards: