Blazethorn Scarecrow MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	5
Rarity	Common
Type	Artifact Creature — Scarecrow
Released	2008-05-02
Set symbol
Set name	Shadowmoor
Set code	SHM
Power	3
Toughness	3
Number	246
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Dave Kendall

Key Takeaways

Blazethorn Scarecrow offers MTG players repeatable value through card advantage and synergistic play.
This scarecrow accelerates resources, fitting well into artifact and creature-focused MTG decks.
Easily integrated into fast-paced strategies, it remains viable even with mana open for interaction.

Text of card

Blazethorn Scarecrow has haste as long as you control a red creature. Blazethorn Scarecrow has wither as long as you control a green creature. (It deals damage to creatures in the form of -1/-1 counters.)

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Blazethorn Scarecrow’s unique ability to stay on the board under certain circumstances provides a potential advantage. As a creature that can return to the hand, it allows MTG players to reuse any enter-the-battlefield effects it may have or those of other cards synergizing with it.

Resource Acceleration: This scarecrow can be a cog in the machine of resource acceleration. By fitting into scarecrow and artifact-centric decks, it works well with cards that benefit from having multiple artifacts or creatures enter the battlefield or die. This can lead to an increase in resource generation over the course of a match.

Instant Speed: While Blazethorn Scarecrow itself doesn’t act at instant speed, it works well in a deck that does. It supports a strategy that keeps mana open for instant speed interaction, ensuring you’re never behind while committing to the board.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Blazethorn Scarecrow doesn’t have a direct discard mechanic, but when delving into its playstyle, it’s noteworthy that it can sometimes sit in your hand while you wait for the right moment or specific conditions to play it. This can potentially clog your hand, especially in fast-paced games where holding onto a card with a limited impact can be less than ideal.

Specific Mana Cost: This scarecrow requires a mix of generic and red mana to cast, which means it automatically finds its best fit in decks that can reliably produce that color. For players running multi-color or colorless decks, the specific red mana requirement could be a deterrent, limiting the scarecrow’s versatility across various deck types.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that might be considered steep for its offered abilities, Blazethorn Scarecrow might not be the most mana-efficient choice. Its impact on the game may not always justify a spot in your deck over cheaper creatures that provide similar or better functionality. This makes its inclusion a strategic choice, requiring careful consideration of the card’s value relative to its mana investment.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Blazethorn Scarecrow brings adaptability to a wide array of decks with its changeling ability, allowing it to fit seamlessly into tribal themes and enhance strategies that target specific creature types.

Combo Potential: With its ability to gain haste when controlled by a player with a red permanent, this scarecrow has synergy potential in decks that can manipulate colors or benefit from rapidly deploying creatures.

Meta-Relevance: Its resilience against sorcery speed removal thanks to the untap ability triggered by players owning a green permanent makes Blazethorn Scarecrow a strategically sound pick in environments heavy with sorcery-based control methods.

How to beat

The Blazethorn Scarecrow has managed to pique the interest of many players in MTG with its unique combination of abilities and effects. One of the key tactics in overpowering this peculiar scarecrow lies in understanding its dependence on another card having the same color to fully utilize its menace ability. Without the requisite color match, its menace becomes null, making it an easier target for blocking and removal.

As players navigate their strategies, it’s essential to consider the use of removal spells that can bypass the scarecrow’s resilience. Cards like Doom Blade or Path to Exile can effectively dispatch the Blazethorn Scarecrow without the need to engage it in combat. Similarly, color-specific removal or global board wipes are equally effective in clearing it from the board. By keeping a close eye on your opponent’s mana availability and creature colors, you can judge the perfect moment to strike and remove the scarecrow from play.

In essence, maintaining control over the board by neutralizing the scarecrow’s companions or employing direct removal spells are proven methods to defeat the Blazethorn Scarecrow. Successfully executing these strategies can significantly diminish the scarecrow’s threat and increase your likelihood of victory.

Cards like Blazethorn Scarecrow

The Blazethorn Scarecrow card presents a unique presence on the battlefield for players of Magic: The Gathering. Its similarities with other artifact creatures, such as the Watchwork Automaton, gives players a sense of its utility. However, Blazethorn Scarecrow offers an advantage with its potential power increase when you control another creature with a specific color, appealing to those who tailor their deck strategies around color synergies.

Analogous in function to the Scuttlemutt, another artifact creature capable of providing mana flexibility, Blazethorn Scarecrow takes a different route. Where Scuttlemutt aids in mana fixing, Blazethorn Scarecrow focuses on offensive capabilities, becoming more formidable with the right board state. Conversely, Rattleblaze Scarecrow also shares the theme but with an emphasis on bolstering defensive strategies with its regeneration ability, offering a distinct game plan for players considering a similar scarecrow-themed card.

Evaluating the Blazethorn Scarecrow against its counterparts showcases the importance of selecting artifact creatures that not only blend with a deck’s overarching scheme but also provide a tactical edge, whether through augmentation of offensive might or enhancement of defensive lines.

Rattleblaze Scarecrow - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Blazethorn Scarecrow by color, type and mana cost

The Deck of Many Things - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Blazethorn Scarecrow MTG card by a specific set like Shadowmoor, 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 Blazethorn Scarecrow and other MTG cards: