Crow ScarerHow it works & interactions with other cards

What It Does

When Crow Scarer enters the battlefield, every player gets two 1/1 black Bird creature tokens with flying. However, it also has two static abilities: it makes all Birds into Cowards, and it prevents Cowards from attacking you or blocking any creatures you control. This effectively neutralizes the tokens it creates and any other Birds in play when they try to interact with your side of the board.

How It Resolves Step by Step

First, you cast Crow Scarer and it enters the battlefield. This triggers its first ability. As that ability resolves, you create two Bird tokens, and then your opponent(s) create two Bird tokens. Immediately, the static abilities of Crow Scarer apply. The tokens (and any other Birds) become Cowards. If an opponent tries to declare a Bird as an attacker against you, or use a Bird to block your attacking Solemn Simulacrum, the game rules prevent that action from being legal.

Common Mistakes

A common mistake is thinking the 'Coward' effect only applies to the tokens Crow Scarer creates. It actually applies to all Birds on the battlefield, regardless of who owns them or how they were created. Additionally, remember that while Cowards cannot attack you, they can still attack other players or planeswalkers you do not control. Lastly, if Crow Scarer leaves the battlefield, the Bird tokens lose the Coward subtype and can attack or block you normally.

When to Play It

Crow Scarer is best used when you need to stabilize the board with multiple bodies without giving your opponents useful attackers. It is particularly potent in decks that can blink or flicker creatures to create a massive army of Birds that only you can use effectively for combat.

Interaction examples

Multiplying the Flock

Roaming Throne

If you have Roaming Throne on the battlefield with 'Scarecrow' chosen as the creature type, Crow Scarer's enters-the-battlefield ability triggers twice. Each player will create a total of four 1/1 black Bird creature tokens. Because Crow Scarer is still on the battlefield, all eight Birds (and any others) are Cowards and cannot attack you or block your creatures.

Value and Defense

Solemn Simulacrum

You play Solemn Simulacrum to fetch a land, then follow up with Crow Scarer. You now have a Golem and two Birds. Your opponent also has two Birds. If you attack with Solemn Simulacrum, your opponent cannot block it with their Birds because Crow Scarer makes them Cowards. On their turn, they cannot retaliate by attacking you with those same Birds.