Voda Sea ScavengerHow it works & interactions with other cards

Understanding Domain

The Domain ability on Voda Sea Scavenger checks the number of basic land types among lands you control at the moment its triggered ability resolves. There are five basic land types: Plains, Island, Swamp, Mountain, and Forest. It is important to note that this counts the types, not the number of lands; for example, controlling two Islands and a Forest still only counts as two types.

Step-by-Step Resolution

When Voda Sea Scavenger enters the battlefield, its ability goes on the stack. Upon resolution, the game checks your lands for basic land types. You then look at that many cards from the top of your library. You may choose one of those cards to place back on top of your library, ensuring it will be your next draw. All other cards looked at this way are placed on the bottom of your library in a random order.

Common Pitfalls

A common mistake is assuming non-basic land types, such as Desert or Gate, contribute to the X value. Only the five standard basic types count. Additionally, if you control no lands with basic land types when the ability resolves, X will be zero, and you will not look at any cards. Always ensure your mana base is established before deploying the Scavenger for maximum value.

Strategic Timing

Play Voda Sea Scavenger when you need to find a specific win condition or a land drop. Because it places the chosen card on top of the library rather than in your hand, it is best used right before a draw step or in combination with effects that allow you to draw extra cards immediately.

Interaction examples

Ramping into Domain

Solemn Simulacrum

First, you play Solemn Simulacrum and use its triggered ability to search for a basic land card, such as a Mountain, and put it onto the battlefield. If you already controlled an Island and a Forest, your basic land type count is now three. When you subsequently play Voda Sea Scavenger, its Domain ability will allow you to look at the top three cards of your library instead of just two.

Doubling the Scavenge

Roaming Throne

With Roaming Throne on the battlefield naming 'Merfolk', Voda Sea Scavenger's enters-the-battlefield ability triggers twice. If you have four basic land types, the first trigger lets you look at four cards and put one on top. Then, the second trigger resolves, letting you look at the top four cards again (including the one you just put there) to potentially dig even deeper or confirm your next draw.