Nighthawk Scavenger – Zendikar Rising MTG Review

David
Fanany
Player
since
1995

I didn’t even notice how similar this creature is to a certain playtest card I once reviewed until someone on a different site pointed it out. I’m still holding out for a black-bordered version of that card, by the way. Until that day comes, Nighthawk Scavenger actually fills in a similar role pretty well – and even performs better in certain ways, with deathtouch meaning it’s disproportionately effective on defense in the midgame. I’m afraid that people might be turned off by that three toughness in formats with Lightning Bolt, but I think perhaps they shouldn’t be: any deck capable of disrupting the opponent can protect him from things like that, and he will grow into a dragon-level threat very rapidly.

Constructed: 4/5
Casual: 4/5
Limited: 4/5
Multiplayer: 4/5
Commander: 4/5

Vampire Nighthawk has a big brother now. For the most part, Nighthawk Scavenger justifies its higher rarity by being bigger in the vast majority of game states…but even if not, a 1/3 with flying and deathtouch is a powerful deterrent to an offensive. Where Nighthawk Scavenger shines is as the game goes late and graveyards fill up; while Nighthawk Scavenger can be as big as a 9/3 (hello, Tribal), you’re likely to see it settle around 4 or 5 power in most late games. Couple that with lifelink, and swooping early and often is a solid gameplan in terms of ending a game.

Constructed: 4
Casual: 4.5
Limited: 4.25
Multiplayer: 3.5 (remember that it tracks all opponents’ graveyards)
Commander: 3.75