Scroll of Griselbrand MTG Card


Scroll of Griselbrand - Avacyn Restored
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeArtifact
Released2012-05-04
Set symbol
Set nameAvacyn Restored
Set codeAVR
Number221
Frame2003
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byCliff Childs

Key Takeaways

  1. Instant speed and deck filtering provide strategic advantages, though at the cost of creature sacrifice.
  2. Scroll’s specific mana and cost-to-benefit ratio necessitate thoughtful deck integration to maximize value.
  3. Possessing versatility and meta-relevance, Scroll of Griselbrand can enhance various deck strategies effectively.

Text of card

, Sacrifice Scroll of Griselbrand: Target opponent discards a card. If you control a Demon, that player loses 3 life.

Words no eyes should see, telling of things no sane mind could fathom.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Scroll of Griselbrand enables a player to discard and then draw cards, offering the potential to filter through their deck and maintain a strong hand throughout the game.

Resource Acceleration: This card can effectively thin out a deck by removing unwanted cards, thereby increasing the likelihood of drawing into key spells or lands for faster gameplay development.

Instant Speed: The utility of using Scroll of Griselbrand at instant speed cannot be overstated; it allows players to respond to opponents’ actions or end-of-turn decisions, maximizing strategic depth and adaptability.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Scroll of Griselbrand asks you to sacrifice a creature in addition to its mana cost. This requirement can set you back in maintaining board presence, especially if your strategy relies on keeping your creatures alive.

Specific Mana Cost: Locked behind a black mana cost, this card necessitates a dedicated color scheme. If your deck isn’t built around black mana or if you’re facing a color-screw scenario, utilizing the scroll could be problematic.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a total cost of three mana for a single-use ability, some players find the investment hefty. There are alternatives with lower mana costs that offer similar – or occasionally better – graveyard interaction and immediate card advantage, making the Scroll of Griselbrand a less tempting choice for efficiency-minded deckbuilders.


Reasons to Include Scroll of Griselbrand in Your Collection

Versatility: Scroll of Griselbrand offers a unique blend of life loss and card advantage that can be pivotal in various decks. It can serve as a key resource in both aggressive strategies, looking to decrease an opponent’s life quickly, and in more controlling builds that benefit from the card draw.

Combo Potential: The ability to both cause an opponent to lose life and potentially draw into more pieces of a combo makes Scroll of Griselbrand a valuable component in combo-oriented decks. Its synergy with discard and reanimation strategies shouldn’t be underestimated.

Meta-Relevance: With the shifting landscape of competitive play, having a card that can respond to various threats while also advancing your game plan makes Scroll of Griselbrand a relevant choice for decks looking to adapt and thrive in the ever-changing meta.


How to beat

The Scroll of Griselbrand card presents a unique challenge for Magic the Gathering players. Its ability to force an opponent to discard and then draw cards can disrupt even the most well-structured game plan. It is crucial for players to anticipate this disruption and have counter strategies in place. Since the Scroll targets creatures, keeping your creature count low and the value of each creature high minimizes potential losses. Another effective tactic is to bolster your hand with card advantage tools beforehand to mitigate the card loss. Cards with flashback or other graveyard from play abilities can also turn the Scroll’s effect to your benefit, essentially nullifying the disadvantage.

Moreover, employing instant speed removal or creature protection can safeguard your key creatures from getting targeted by the Scroll’s ability. Utilizing graveyard hate cards to exile opponent’s graveyard can immensely weaken the Scroll’s efficacy, as it thrives on exploiting graveyard resources. Always be sure to have a contingency plan when Scroll of Griselbrand is a known entity in your match. Successfully doing so will mean maintaining control over your deck’s flow and keeping the board state in your favor.


Cards like Scroll of Griselbrand

The Scroll of Griselbrand offers players a unique blend of life-loss and card advantage in the Magic: The Gathering universe. This artifact shines in its similarity to other cards that trade life points for power, such as Sign in Blood, which also allows a player to draw two cards at the cost of two life. Nevertheless, the Scroll of Griselbrand requires no colored mana and can be reused, providing a sustained advantage at the cost of four life per activation.

Comparatively, Night’s Whisper presents another parallel, giving players immediate card draw for a single black mana and two life. While Night’s Whisper is a one-shot spell, the Scroll has the potential for repeated use in grindier games. Furthermore, the capability for activation at instant speed makes it a flexible tool during any phase of the game, allowing for strategic responses during an opponent’s turn, unlike the sorcery speed of the other mentioned cards.

Thus, the Scroll of Griselbrand stands out as a strong choice for decks seeking to capitalize on life as a resource for drawing cards, offering reusable utility and instant-speed interactivity. Players who value endurance and tactical options throughout a match will find this card to be a compelling addition to their arsenal.

Sign in Blood - MTG Card versions
Night's Whisper - MTG Card versions
Sign in Blood - Magic 2010 (M10)
Night's Whisper - Fifth Dawn (5DN)

Cards similar to Scroll of Griselbrand by color, type and mana cost

Glasses of Urza - MTG Card versions
Wooden Sphere - MTG Card versions
Sol Ring - MTG Card versions
Iron Star - MTG Card versions
Black Vise - MTG Card versions
Urza's Chalice - MTG Card versions
Ivory Cup - MTG Card versions
Brass Man - MTG Card versions
Mana Vault - MTG Card versions
Soul Net - MTG Card versions
The Rack - MTG Card versions
Helm of Chatzuk - MTG Card versions
Obelisk of Undoing - MTG Card versions
Feldon's Cane - MTG Card versions
Throne of Bone - MTG Card versions
Meekstone - MTG Card versions
Thran Foundry - MTG Card versions
Cursed Scroll - MTG Card versions
Candelabra of Tawnos - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Dreadnought - MTG Card versions
Glasses of Urza - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Wooden Sphere - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Sol Ring - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Iron Star - Fourth Edition (4ED)
Black Vise - Revised Edition (3ED)
Urza's Chalice - Masters Edition (ME1)
Ivory Cup - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Brass Man - Foreign Black Border (FBB)
Mana Vault - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Soul Net - Fifth Edition (5ED)
The Rack - Fourth Edition (4ED)
Helm of Chatzuk - Fourth Edition (4ED)
Obelisk of Undoing - Rinascimento (RIN)
Feldon's Cane - Pro Tour Collector Set (PTC)
Throne of Bone - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Meekstone - World Championship Decks 2000 (WC00)
Thran Foundry - World Championship Decks 1999 (WC99)
Cursed Scroll - World Championship Decks 1999 (WC99)
Candelabra of Tawnos - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Phyrexian Dreadnought - Magic Online Promos (PRM)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Scroll of Griselbrand MTG card by a specific set like Avacyn Restored, 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 Scroll of Griselbrand and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Scroll of Griselbrand has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2012-05-01 Whether you control a Demon is checked when the ability resolves.

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