Rust Scarab

Creature — Insect

Whenever Rust Scarab becomes blocked, you may destroy target artifact or enchantment defending player controls.

Legality

Format	Legality
1v1 Commander	Legal
Archenemy	Legal
Block Constructed	Legal
Canadian Highlander	Legal
Casual	Legal
Commander / EDH	Legal
Commander: Rule 0	Legal
Custom	Legal
Duel Commander	Legal
Highlander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Leviathan	Legal
Limited	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Planechase	Legal
Quest Magic	Legal
Vanguard	Legal
Vintage	Legal

Discussion (15)

Chasmolinker on Splinter Shell

2 years ago

This is grotesque! Looks like stay alive long enough to wipe out a mana source then drop a Thragtusk hammer on them while they squirm to find playable lands. Sounds broken against mono color but anything running a greedy mana base is gonna be tough. Rust Scarab may be a nice mix of threat/combo piece. Attack for 4 and make a vital game piece an artifact before blockers with one of your primers. Also, Karn, the Great Creator could be a good alternate win con. You would need to restructure the SB to get the most from it. Nice build. +1

wallisface on Forged Execution (Gruul Land-Hate)

2 years ago

I think there will be matchups where Splinter has its place, but i think the majority of the time it won’t be the case - though your meta may vary (i’m from a very competitive background, so the games usually close-to-already- decided by the time someone has the mana to cast this). Having as a sideboard option seems like a better decision, as it means you can bring it in for the games it matters, instead of being stuck with it the games it doesn’t.

I think Smash to Smithereens is a fine card, and good in this deck. I’d only thought of dropping a single copy to make room for the other mentioned spells.

As for the lands, the scry-lands are always better than the lifegain lands. 1 life seldom matters but being able to fix your draw often will. But if you’re looking to invest in a better land i’d suggest Copperline Gorge - it is a little pricier, but it’s much more useful and’ll generally go up in price over time, so’ll be a better use of your money.

As for the original question, imo Rust Scarab is better than Sunder Shaman (though i wouldn’t run more than 2). Your mana base isn’t tuned enough to cater for the stupid requirements of the Shaman.

MortisAngelus on Forged Execution (Gruul Land-Hate)

2 years ago

@wallisface

Hey! Thank you so much for the extensive feedback! You make a lot of good points!

However, I think you underestimate the power Splinter brings. Being able to remove all win cons from a combo deck or removing all basic lands of one type is what really makes ppl hate it. But I have been considering bringing the count down to 3.

I am surprised about you also not liking Smash to Smithereens; I see your point with always having a destruction card, but ultimately, the end goal is to kill the opponent, not just control them. So killing a permanent and pinging them 3 seems like a win-win imho. Or?

Ancient Stirrings is definitely something I must try to insert here. I have played against it; how have I not realized how good it would be here?..

And Barrier Breach I have already considered for side board. :) Gotta deal with those pesky God-creatures.

Ultimately, 4x Rootbound Crag is what I want for this deck. I am considering switching the Kazandu Refuge cards for the scry-equivalent cards instead. But we'll see.

But we never solved the original question, if you left the deck as it is for now, and only thought about Sunder Shaman vs Rust Scarab , which one would you insert?

Anyway, thanks a lot for all the feedback! Have a lot to think about now.

wallisface on Forged Execution (Gruul Land-Hate)

2 years ago

Nice build! Very juicy!

Some thoughts from looking through the list:

• As you already mentioned, Shenanigans looks really good here. But I wouldn't necessarily drop Ancient Grudge for it, as Grudge will almost always be a 2-for-1, where as Shenanigans will always be a 1-for-1 (it's just you can have it in hand whenever you want it). Shenanigans is better than all of Destructive Revelry, Smash to Smithereens, and Splinter, so I'd suggest ditching one of them (if it were me, it'd be Splinter.

• Your land count is really low. A bunch of your cards need for you to be at 3 mana, which you're going to only reach unreliably at 20 lands. I'd suggest going to 22 personally. This will also help you actually get Rust Scarab out too (which I personally think works good as a 1-or-2-of)

• I'm really unconvinced by Splinter. If you're hosing your opponents boardstate, it usually won't matter whether they have more copies of a particular card in-deck. More often than not, it'll be the instants/sorceries giving you grief rather than the permanents (and Splinter can't hit those). This'd be the card i'd be ditching for Shenanigans as mentioned above. Splinter is a sideboard card at-best.

• You mentioned on the forum-thread potentially using Voltaic Key, but I don't think this is necessary, as once the engine is going, the untap of the Key is just overkill. Something like Ancient Stirrings might be better suited though, as it gives you a turn 1 play, and lets you grab either additional lands, or grab additional Liquimetal cards (I would suggest staying at 20 lands if you added a playset of Ancient Stirrings).

• Barrier Breach feels really strong here, though probably just as a 2-of. The cycling is nice if you're in a bad spot, but it's also going to end the game on-the-spot if you have multiple Liquimetal cards in play.

• I reeaallly don't rate taplands (Kazandu Refuge). They're going to trip you up more often than they're going to help you colour-fix. Personally I'd sooner be running all your lands as basics, than include the Refuge. Only running 2 colours, and nothing needing multiple of a particular-pip you're very likely to be fine just running all basics anyway.

If it were me, I'd be ditching 4x Splinter, 4x Tin Street Hooligan, and 1x Smash to Smithereens, for 3x Shenanigans, 4x Ancient Stirrings, 2x Barrier Breach - but that's just me. You'll have a better idea of whether this sounds viable or nonsense.

MortisAngelus on Sunder Shaman or Rust Scarab …

2 years ago

Objectively speaking, which one is better?

I run a Liquimetal Coating + Liquimetal Torque deck and I currently run 2x Rust Scarab as they fit the theme very well. And because Sunder Shaman didnt exist when I built the first version.

Now,I have difficulty deciding which is better.

If one lists the positives, SCARAB wins for only requiring one green and mostly gets through as ppl dont want to lose anything due to their permanents becoming artifacts. But it costs 5 and also do not get anything destroyed.

SHAMAN only costs 4 and will destroy something whenever he attacks; either an artifact or a blocking creature. But he costs GGRR, which is much more complicated than 4G.

DaWubber on Regulators Mount up!

4 years ago

Rust Scarab is a particular favorite creature of mine that works very well with combat buffs like Berserk or Xenagos, God of Revels . It creates a situation where opponents don't want to block the buffed out beetle. However, it might be too slow for a deck as tuned as yours.

legendofa on Ravnica Allegiance: Spoilers and Speculation

5 years ago

Nikya of the Old Ways is also credited on Rust Scarab, Skarrg Goliath, and Rubblebelt Raiders. I believe Nikya is a shaman for the Gruul. If so, I'd like to see this character get a card.

Rainboworochi on To the Slaughter

5 years ago

Looks pretty solid. I think the biggest downfall is graveyard hate. Most of that that i can think of is enchantment or artifact. Tormod's Crypt, Leyline of the Void, Grafdigger's Cage, Ground Seal, Nihil Spellbomb, Crook of Condemnation. I would run more hate for it. Krosan Grip is a staple, but something recurring like Rust Scarab or creatures that add to your strategy like Thrashing Brontodon or Viridian Zealot could be good too. You unfortunately are not in the colors for Aura Shards but i think that your strategy is solid, it just lacks protection for it.