Scale Up MTG Card


Scale Up can decisively alter matchups, increasing a creature’s power for pivotal trades or a sudden win. Efficient mana cost and flexibility offered by instant speed casting make Scale Up a tactically versatile card. Potential mana constraints and higher Overload cost are notable drawbacks in certain decks and game situations.
Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityUncommon
TypeSorcery
Abilities Overload

Text of card

Until end of turn, target creature you control becomes a green Wurm with base power and toughness 6/4. Overload (You may cast this spell for its overload cost. If you do, change its text by replacing all instances of "target" with "each.")


Cards like Scale Up

Scale Up plays a unique role in the realm of creature enhancement spells within Magic: The Gathering. It serves a similar purpose as Giant Growth, a classic spell that boosts a creature’s power and toughness. Where Scale Up shines is its ability to turn any creature into a formidable 6/4 until end of turn, overshadowing the temporary +3/+3 boost that Giant Growth provides. Yet, Giant Growth only requires one green mana, making it a more accessible and instant option for players.

Another card that echoes Scale Up’s transformational impact is Mutagenic Growth. While the +2/+2 bonus isn’t as significant, the Phyrexian mana cost means it can be cast for free at the expense of life, offering flexibility in combo or aggressive strategies. Contrastingly, Scale Up’s sorcery speed demands strategic timing despite its potential for greater impact. Looking at Become Immense, it delivers an even greater increase, with a +6/+6 power-up. However, this significant bump comes with delve, requiring careful graveyard management that Scale Up does not.

Ultimately, Scale Up finds its niche by providing a massive and immediate power surge, situating it as a formidable option for players seeking to apply powerful pressure or execute decisive blows during their turn.

Giant Growth - MTG Card versions
Mutagenic Growth - MTG Card versions
Become Immense - MTG Card versions
Giant Growth - MTG Card versions
Mutagenic Growth - MTG Card versions
Become Immense - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Scale Up by color, type and mana cost

Hurricane - MTG Card versions
Stream of Life - MTG Card versions
Metamorphosis - MTG Card versions
Winter Blast - MTG Card versions
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Fruition - MTG Card versions
Salvage - MTG Card versions
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Lay of the Land - MTG Card versions
Chatter of the Squirrel - MTG Card versions
Dwell on the Past - MTG Card versions
Insist - MTG Card versions
Primal Might - MTG Card versions
Ancient Stirrings - MTG Card versions
Glimpse of Nature - MTG Card versions
Gelatinous Genesis - MTG Card versions
Green Sun's Zenith - MTG Card versions
Corrosive Gale - MTG Card versions
Prey Upon - MTG Card versions
Hurricane - MTG Card versions
Stream of Life - MTG Card versions
Metamorphosis - MTG Card versions
Winter Blast - MTG Card versions
Sylvan Tutor - MTG Card versions
Fruition - MTG Card versions
Salvage - MTG Card versions
Rofellos's Gift - MTG Card versions
Thrive - MTG Card versions
Lay of the Land - MTG Card versions
Chatter of the Squirrel - MTG Card versions
Dwell on the Past - MTG Card versions
Insist - MTG Card versions
Primal Might - MTG Card versions
Ancient Stirrings - MTG Card versions
Glimpse of Nature - MTG Card versions
Gelatinous Genesis - MTG Card versions
Green Sun's Zenith - MTG Card versions
Corrosive Gale - MTG Card versions
Prey Upon - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Scale Up. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
InfectInfect ModernInfectModern Challenge 64 2024-02-25 (1)
Gruul ProwessGruul Prowess ModernGruul ProwessModern League 2024-04-28
Bant InfectBant Infect LegacyInfect3 LPL OPEN - SEASON V - LIGA PAULISTA LEGACY
Five-color AggroFive-color Aggro Modern$10K RCQ - Modern - SCG CON Atlanta - Saturday - 9:00 am (Gold)
Simic InfectSimic Infect ModernInfect$5K RCQ - Modern - SCG CON Philadelphia - Friday - 1:00 pm
Golgari InfectGolgari Infect ModernInfect$5K RCQ - Modern - SCG CON Philadelphia - Friday - 1:00 pm
RGRG ModernModern Challenge 64 2024-03-17
Sultai InfectSultai Infect ModernInfect$10K RCQ - Modern - SCG CON Philadelphia - Saturday - 9:00 am

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Although Scale Up doesn’t directly draw cards, it significantly enhances a creature’s power, potentially leading to advantageous trades or hastening a win, which indirectly affects overall card value during gameplay.

Resource Acceleration: Scale Up offers an efficient mana cost for its effect, potentially accelerating the pace at which you can apply pressure, allowing you to utilize your resources for larger threats or protective measures concurrently.

Instant Speed: The card’s Overload mechanic isn’t instant speed, but the single-target application can be cast at any time. This offers strategic flexibility, enabling you to adapt to battlefield shifts by transforming an unassuming creature into a formidable threat instantly.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Although the Scale Up card does not require a discard outright, in a tight situation where resources matter, not having a discard option means less flexibility when your hand can’t support the ideal creature base.

Specific Mana Cost: Its singular green mana requirement can be restrictive in multicolored decks where achieving the perfect mana base might be too dependent on good draws or additional mana-fixing resources.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While the Overload cost allows you to affect all of your creatures, it does come at a steeper six-mana price point. In faster-paced games, this might be too slow when you need to quickly respond to threats or capitalizing on board advantage.


Reasons to Include Scale Up in Your Collection

Versatility: Scale Up is a flexible card capable of adapting to various strategies. It can be utilized in aggressive decks to push for early wins or in mid-game scenarios to overcome stalled board states by creating a significant threat.

Combo Potential: With its ability to turn any creature into a powerful 6/4 green Wurm, Scale Up works well with effects that capitalize on creature size or type, enabling intricate combos that can swiftly end games.

Meta-Relevance: In a competitive environment where smaller creatures and incremental advantages are prevalent, Scale Up shines by swiftly converting any creature into a formidable force, potentially altering the course of the game in your favor.


How to Beat Scale Up

Scale Up is an intriguing card in MTG that offers the ability to transform any creature into a sizeable 6/4 green Wurm until end of turn. This can be used tactically to turn small, insignificant creatures into massive threats suddenly. To effectively counter this card, consider keeping removal spells ready, such as Path to Exile or Murderous Rider, which can eliminate the pumped creature, regardless of its new size.

Permission spells like Counterspell or Mana Leak can also provide a straightforward solution by negating the spell before it has any impact. Alternatively, employing instant-speed interaction during combat, such as Settle the Wreckage, can turn an opponent’s offensive scale-up strategy into a devastating setback for them. Additionally, flash creatures that can block and trade with the Wurm, like Brineborn Cutthroat, can surprise an opponent who isn’t expecting defensive plays during their own turn.

Predicting and preparing for the use of Scale Up within the game’s context, along with well-timed spell casting, ultimately allows one to navigate and neutralize the potential threats that arise from this transformative card.


BurnMana Recommendations

Delving into the depths of MTG deckbuilding can be as thrilling as it is complex, especially with versatile cards like Scale Up. Whether you’re accelerating your creatures’ power on the board or exploring synergies for devastating combos, each card choice weaves into your strategy’s fabric. Understanding the multifaceted roles cards like Scale Up can play in your arsenal is key to achieving victory. We encourage you to dive deeper, hone your skills, and discover the myriad of ways to optimize your deck. Ready to enhance your strategic play? Explore further with us and master the art of the game with every shuffle and draw.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Scale Up MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Modern Horizons, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Scale Up and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Scale Up Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2019-06-14 and 2021-08-26. Illustrated by Suzanne Helmigh.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 913191997NormalBlackSuzanne Helmigh
22019-06-14Modern HorizonsMH1 1792015NormalBlackSuzanne Helmigh
32021-06-18Modern Horizons 1 TimeshiftsH1R 231997NormalBlackSuzanne Helmigh
42021-08-26Jumpstart: Historic HorizonsJ21 6312015NormalBlackSuzanne Helmigh

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Scale Up has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
GladiatorLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Scale Up card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2019-06-14 Because a spell with overload doesn’t target when its overload cost is paid, it may affect permanents with protection from the appropriate color.
2019-06-14 Effects that modify the affected creatures’ power or toughness (such as the effects of Force of Virtue or Giant Growth) will apply no matter when they started to take effect. The same is true for counters that change the creatures’ power or toughness (such as +1/+1 counters).
2019-06-14 If you don’t pay the overload cost of a spell, that spell will have a single target. If you pay the overload cost, the spell won’t have any targets.
2019-06-14 Scale Up overwrites all previous effects that set the affected creatures’ color, creature types, power, and/or toughness to specific values. Other effects that set these characteristics to specific values that start to apply after Scale Up resolves will overwrite that part of the effect.
2019-06-14 The affected creatures don’t lose any abilities when they become Wurms.