Nighthawk Scavenger 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
Flying, deathtouch, lifelink Nighthawk Scavenger's power is equal to 1 plus the number of card types among cards in your opponents' graveyards.
Complete guide
Nighthawk Scavenger is a versatile Vampire Rogue that scales in power based on the contents of your opponents' graveyards. Combining keyword efficiency with a dynamic stat line, it serves as both a defensive wall and a terrifying offensive threat. This card is a modern reimagining of the classic Vampire Nighthawk, trading a fixed power for one that grows as the game progresses.
Variable Power Mechanics
Nighthawk Scavenger has a characteristic-defining ability that sets its power. Its power is always 1 plus the number of card types found among cards in all your opponents' graveyards. This ability functions in every zone, meaning it has the calculated power even while in your hand, library, or graveyard. The card types it looks for are Artifact, Creature, Enchantment, Instant, Land, Planeswalker, and Sorcery.
Calculating Types Step by Step
To determine the Scavenger's power, look at all cards in all your opponents' graveyards. Identify each unique card type present at least once. For example, if an opponent has a Land and a Sorcery, that is two types. You then add 1 to that total. Note that supertypes like Legendary or Snow, and subtypes like Vampire or Golem, do not count toward this total. A single card that has multiple types, such as an Artifact Creature, will contribute two types toward the count simultaneously.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
A common error is counting the total number of cards rather than the number of card types. If your opponent has five Sorcery cards in their graveyard, Nighthawk Scavenger only counts that as one type, giving it +1 power from those cards. Another mistake is misidentifying types; remember that 'Tribal' (found on older cards) is a card type, but 'Legendary' is not. If no opponents have any cards in their graveyards, Nighthawk Scavenger is a 1/3.
When to Play It
Nighthawk Scavenger is most effective in the mid-to-late game once players have traded resources. Because it has deathtouch, it is an excellent blocker against large creatures, and its lifelink ensures you stay ahead in racing situations. In formats with fetch lands or cheap cantrips, the Scavenger can easily become a 3/3 or 4/3 as early as turn three.
Interaction examples
Solemn SimulacrumIf your opponent has only a Solemn Simulacrum in their graveyard, Nighthawk Scavenger checks the card types. Solemn Simulacrum is both an Artifact and a Creature. Therefore, there are two card types in the graveyard. Nighthawk Scavenger's power becomes 1 plus 2, making it a 3/3 creature.
Roaming ThroneSuppose your opponent has both Solemn Simulacrum and Roaming Throne in their graveyard. Both cards share the exact same card types: Artifact and Creature. Even though there are two cards, there are still only two unique card types represented. Nighthawk Scavenger remains a 3/3 because it only counts the variety of types, not the quantity of cards.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Nighthawk Scavenger
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
The ability that defines Nighthawk Scavenger's power applies in all zones, not just the battlefield.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
Nighthawk Scavenger counts card types, not cards. If the only card in your opponents' graveyards is a single artifact creature card, Nighthawk Scavenger will be 3/3. If the only cards in those graveyards are ten artifact cards and ten creature cards, Nighthawk Scavenger will still be 3/3.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
Card types that can appear on cards in a graveyard include artifact, creature, enchantment, instant, land, planeswalker, and sorcery. Legendary, basic, and snow are supertypes, not card types; Vampire and Rogue are subtypes, not card types.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Nighthawk Scavenger
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