Enterprising Scallywag is one of those cards players keep asking about. Here is, in plain words, what its official text says, the rulings published by Wizards of the Coast, and the combos players actually run.
Official card text
At the beginning of your end step, if you descended this turn, create a Treasure token. (You descended if a permanent card was put into your graveyard from anywhere.)
Complete guide
Enterprising Scallywag is a two-mana Goblin Pirate that rewards you for exploring the depths of your graveyard. By satisfying the 'descended' condition, this creature provides a consistent flow of Treasure tokens to fuel your spells and abilities.
What it Does
Enterprising Scallywag features an intervening 'if' clause that checks for the 'descended' status. You have descended if at least one permanent card—such as a creature, land, or artifact—was put into your graveyard from anywhere this turn. This includes cards put there from the battlefield, your hand, or even milled directly from your library.
How it Resolves
The ability triggers at the start of your end step, but only if you have already descended. Upon resolution, it checks the condition again; if a permanent card entered your graveyard at any point earlier in the turn, you create a Treasure token. Note that tokens going to the graveyard do not count for descend, as they are not cards.
Common Mistakes
A common error is trying to trigger the Scallywag during the end step itself. Because the ability checks the condition as the step begins, you cannot discard or sacrifice a card in response to the end step starting to make the ability fire. Additionally, multiple instances of descending do not grant multiple Treasures; it is a simple yes/no check for the turn.
When to Play It
This Goblin is best utilized in decks that use fetch lands, sacrifice outlets, or self-mill strategies. Since it doesn't need to be on the battlefield when you descend, you can cast it during your second main phase after a creature has died in combat, and you will still receive your Treasure token at the end of the turn.
Interaction examples
Ornithopter of ParadiseIf you sacrifice Ornithopter of Paradise for mana or to an effect during your turn, it is a permanent card put into your graveyard. At the beginning of your end step, Enterprising Scallywag detects that you have descended and creates a Treasure token.
Professional Face-BreakerAfter you descend and reach your end step, Enterprising Scallywag creates a Treasure token. You can then use Professional Face-Breaker to sacrifice that Treasure, allowing you to exile the top card of your library and play it, turning your graveyard progress into card advantage.
TreasureIf you sacrifice a Treasure token to add mana, Enterprising Scallywag will not trigger unless another actual card was put into your graveyard this turn. Although tokens move to the graveyard briefly, they are not 'cards' and therefore do not satisfy the descend condition.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Enterprising Scallywag
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
Some cards refer to a player who has "descended this turn." This means that a permanent card has been put into that player's graveyard from anywhere this turn.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
Some cards refer to the number of times a player descended this turn. Those cards care about the number of permanent cards put into that player's graveyard from anywhere this turn.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
In either case, it doesn't matter if those cards are still in that player's graveyard.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #4· Wizards of the Coast
A permanent card is an artifact, battle, creature, enchantment, land, or planeswalker card. Tokens are not cards, and while tokens are put into the graveyard before ceasing to exist, that action doesn't count as a player having descended.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #5· Wizards of the Coast
Multiple cards have abilities that begin with "At the beginning of your end step, if you descended this turn." These cards don't need to have been under your control at the time you descended. For example, if a permanent card is put into your graveyard during your first main phase and you cast Stalactite Stalker your second main phase, its ability will trigger at the beginning of your end step.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #6· Wizards of the Coast
Abilities that begin with "At the beginning of your end step, if you descended this turn" will trigger only once during your end step, no matter how many times you descended this turn. However, if you haven't descended this turn as your end step begins, the ability won't trigger at all. It's not possible to put a permanent card into your graveyard during the end step in time to have the ability trigger.
No other card is named in this ruling.
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Meta decks with Enterprising Scallywag
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