Undercity Scrounger 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
: Create a Treasure token. Activate only if a creature died this turn. (It's an artifact with "
Complete guide
Undercity Scrounger is a resourceful Human Rogue that turns the misfortune of others into cold, hard cash. This artifact creature allows you to generate Treasure tokens provided at least one creature has perished during the current turn.
Death as a Prerequisite
The most important aspect of Undercity Scrounger is its restriction: you can only activate its ability if a creature died earlier in the same turn. It doesn't matter who controlled the creature or where it came from; as long as a creature moved from the battlefield to the graveyard, the 'scrounging' condition is met for the rest of that turn.
How the Ability Resolves
Once the condition is met, you pay the cost by tapping Undercity Scrounger. Upon resolution, you create a Treasure token. This token is an artifact that can be sacrificed at any time for one mana of any color. Note that the ability does not check if a creature is currently in the graveyard, only that one died previously in the turn.
Common Pitfalls
Players often forget that tokens count as creatures when they die. If a creature token is destroyed, it briefly hits the graveyard before ceasing to exist, which successfully satisfies Undercity Scrounger's requirement. Also, remember that 'dying' specifically means moving from the battlefield to the graveyard; if a creature is exiled instead of destroyed, this ability cannot be activated.
Strategic Timing
Because this is an activated ability, you can use it on an opponent's turn if a creature dies during their combat or via their own spells. This allows you to store mana for your upcoming turn. Since the ability requires tapping, ensure you have a way to protect the Scrounger, as it is an artifact creature and vulnerable to both creature and artifact removal.
Interaction examples
Solemn SimulacrumYou sacrifice Solemn Simulacrum to an effect or it dies in combat. Its triggered ability allows you to draw a card. Because a creature died this turn, you may now tap Undercity Scrounger to create a Treasure token, effectively gaining both a card and future mana from the Golem's death.
Roaming ThroneIf you choose 'Human' or 'Rogue' for Roaming Throne, it's important to note that Roaming Throne only doubles triggered abilities. Since Undercity Scrounger has an activated ability (indicated by the colon), Roaming Throne will not allow you to create two Treasure tokens with a single tap of the Scrounger.
TreasureDuring your opponent's turn, they attack with a small creature and you block with a token. Both creatures die. Before the turn ends, you tap Undercity Scrounger to create a Treasure token. On your following turn, you can sacrifice that Treasure token to help pay for a high-cost spell.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Undercity Scrounger
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
No additional ruling has been published for this card.
Popular combos
Real combos played by the community, sorted by popularity.
Hazel's Brewmaster + Undercity Scrounger + Academy Manufactor
- 1Activate a Food using Undercity Scrounger's ability by tapping it, creating a Food, Clue and Treasure token.
- 2Repeat.
Academy Manufactor + Clock of Omens + Undercity Scrounger
- 1Activate Undercity Scrounger by tapping it, creating a Food, a Clue, and a Treasure token.
- 2Activate Clock of Omens by tapping two artifacts, untapping Undercity Scrounger.
- 3Repeat.
Hazel's Brewmaster + Undercity Scrounger + Peregrin Took
- 1Activate a Food using Undercity Scrounger's ability by tapping it, creating a Food and Treasure token.
- 2Repeat.
Hazel's Brewmaster + Gourmand's Talent + Undercity Scrounger
- 1Activate an artifact using Undercity Scrounger's ability by tapping it, creating a Treasure token.
- 2Repeat step 1 using the Treasure token.
Marneus Calgar + Undercity Scrounger + Freed from the Real
- 1Activate Undercity Scrounger by tapping it, creating a Treasure token.
- 2Marneus triggers, causing you to draw a card.
- 3Activate the Treasure by tapping and sacrificing it, adding
. - 4Activate Freed from the Real's second ability by paying , untapping Undercity Scrounger.
- 5Repeat.
Undercity Scrounger + Freed from the Real + Anointed Procession
- 1Activate Undercity Scrounger by tapping it, creating two Treasure tokens.
- 2Activate a Treasure token by tapping and sacrificing it, adding .
- 3Activate Freed from the Real's second ability by paying , untapping Undercity Scrounger.
- 4Repeat.
Marneus Calgar + Undercity Scrounger + Pemmin's Aura
- 1Activate Undercity Scrounger by tapping it, creating a Treasure token.
- 2Marneus triggers, causing you to draw a card.
- 3Activate the Treasure by tapping and sacrificing it, adding .
- 4Activate Pemmin's Aura's first ability by paying , untapping Undercity Scrounger.
- 5Repeat.
Undercity Scrounger + Pemmin's Aura + Anointed Procession
- 1Activate Undercity Scrounger by tapping it, creating two Treasure tokens.
- 2Activate a Treasure token by tapping and sacrificing it, adding .
- 3Activate Pemmin's Aura's first ability by paying , untapping Undercity Scrounger.
- 4Repeat.
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Meta decks with Undercity Scrounger
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