Scrapwork Cohort — ruling 1

If you activate a card's unearth ability but that card is removed from your graveyard before the ability resolves, that unearth ability will do nothing as it resolves.

Scrapwork Cohort — ruling 2

Activating a card's unearth ability isn't the same as casting that card. The unearth ability is put on the stack, but the card is not. Spells and abilities that interact with activated abilities (such as Defabricate's second mode) will interact with unearth, but spells and abilities that interact with spells (such as Scatter Ray) will not.

Scrapwork Cohort — ruling 3

At the beginning of the next end step, a permanent returned to the battlefield with unearth is exiled. This is a delayed triggered ability, and it can be countered by effects such as Defabricate that counter triggered abilities. If the ability is countered, the permanent will stay on the battlefield and the delayed triggered ability won't trigger again. However, the replacement effect will still exile the permanent if it eventually leaves the battlefield.

Scrapwork Cohort — ruling 4

Unearth grants haste to the permanent that's returned to the battlefield (even if it's not a creature card). However, neither of the "exile" abilities is granted to that permanent. If that permanent loses all its abilities, it will still be exiled at the beginning of the next end step, and if it would leave the battlefield, it is still exiled instead.

Scrapwork Cohort — ruling 5

If a permanent returned to the battlefield with unearth would leave the battlefield for any reason, it's exiled instead—unless the spell or ability that's causing the permanent to leave the battlefield is actually trying to exile it! In that case, it succeeds at exiling it. If that spell or ability later returns the card to the battlefield (as Static Net might, for example), the permanent card will return to the battlefield as a new object with no relation to its previous existence. The unearth effects will no longer apply to it.

Scrapwork Cohort : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

Scrapwork Cohort 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

When this creature enters, create a 1/1 colorless Soldier artifact creature token. Unearth (: Return this card from your graveyard to the battlefield. It gains haste. Exile it at the beginning of the next end step or if it would leave the battlefield. Unearth only as a sorcery.)

Complete guide

Scrapwork Cohort is a versatile artifact creature that provides multiple bodies for a single card. Its ability to return from the graveyard via Unearth makes it a resilient threat and a valuable tool for aggressive or sacrifice-themed decks.

Dual-Body Value

When Scrapwork Cohort enters the battlefield, its triggered ability puts a 1/1 colorless Soldier artifact creature token onto the battlefield. This happens whether you cast it from your hand for four mana or return it from your graveyard using its Unearth ability. You effectively get two blockers or two attackers for the price of one card.

Understanding Unearth

Unearth is an activated ability that can only be used when the card is in your graveyard and only as a sorcery. When it resolves, the creature returns to the battlefield with Haste. However, it is on borrowed time: it must be exiled at the beginning of the next end step. Additionally, if the creature would leave the battlefield for any other reason before then, it is exiled instead of going anywhere else.

Common Pitfalls

A common mistake is treating Unearth like casting a spell; it is an activated ability, so it cannot be countered by spells like Essence Scatter. Also, remember the replacement effect: if an Unearthed Scrapwork Cohort is destroyed or bounced to your hand, it goes to exile instead. The only way to 'save' it is by using an effect that already exiles it and then returns it to the battlefield, which resets the object.

When to Deploy

Scrapwork Cohort is best used to maintain board presence. Use the initial casting to establish two bodies, then use the Unearth ability later in the game when you need an immediate attacker or an extra enters-the-battlefield trigger to finish off an opponent or stabilize your defense.

Interaction examples

Doubling the Reinforcements

Roaming Throne

If you control Roaming Throne with 'Soldier' chosen as the creature type, Scrapwork Cohort's ability will trigger twice when it enters the battlefield. You will create two 1/1 Soldier tokens instead of one. This works both when you cast the Cohort and when you return it via Unearth.

Mana Acceleration and Board Presence

Solemn Simulacrum

Playing Scrapwork Cohort alongside Solemn Simulacrum allows you to build a wide board of artifact creatures. While Solemn Simulacrum helps you find the White mana needed for the Cohort's Unearth cost, both creatures provide value upon entering the battlefield. If both are on the field, you have a solid defensive line of artifact creatures.

The Unearth Sequence

Step 1: Pay {2}{W} to activate Unearth while the Cohort is in your graveyard. Step 2: The Cohort enters the battlefield and its triggered ability goes on the stack. Step 3: The ability resolves, creating a 1/1 Soldier token. Step 4: The Cohort gains Haste and can attack immediately. Step 5: At the beginning of the next end step, the Cohort is exiled, but the 1/1 Soldier token remains on the battlefield permanently.

Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.

How it works : Scrapwork Cohort

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1October 14, 2022· Wizards of the Coast
If you activate a card's unearth ability but that card is removed from your graveyard before the ability resolves, that unearth ability will do nothing as it resolves.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#2October 14, 2022· Wizards of the Coast
Activating a card's unearth ability isn't the same as casting that card. The unearth ability is put on the stack, but the card is not. Spells and abilities that interact with activated abilities (such as Defabricate's second mode) will interact with unearth, but spells and abilities that interact with spells (such as Scatter Ray) will not.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#3October 14, 2022· Wizards of the Coast
At the beginning of the next end step, a permanent returned to the battlefield with unearth is exiled. This is a delayed triggered ability, and it can be countered by effects such as Defabricate that counter triggered abilities. If the ability is countered, the permanent will stay on the battlefield and the delayed triggered ability won't trigger again. However, the replacement effect will still exile the permanent if it eventually leaves the battlefield.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#4October 14, 2022· Wizards of the Coast
Unearth grants haste to the permanent that's returned to the battlefield (even if it's not a creature card). However, neither of the "exile" abilities is granted to that permanent. If that permanent loses all its abilities, it will still be exiled at the beginning of the next end step, and if it would leave the battlefield, it is still exiled instead.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#5October 14, 2022· Wizards of the Coast
If a permanent returned to the battlefield with unearth would leave the battlefield for any reason, it's exiled instead—unless the spell or ability that's causing the permanent to leave the battlefield is actually trying to exile it! In that case, it succeeds at exiling it. If that spell or ability later returns the card to the battlefield (as Static Net might, for example), the permanent card will return to the battlefield as a new object with no relation to its previous existence. The unearth effects will no longer apply to it.
No other card is named in this ruling.