Steamcore Scholar
Creature — Weird Detective
Flying, vigilance
When this creature enters, draw two cards. Then discard two cards unless you discard an instant or sorcery card or a creature card with flying.
- CMC
- 3
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- U
- Rarity
- rare
- Set
- Murders at Karlov Manor
- Price
- $0.23
- EDHREC rank
- #16122
Steamcore Scholar enters and draws you a card — the flash stapling lets you hold up interaction and replace itself on your opponent's turn if nothing better happens. Four mana for a 2/2 with a single card draw is below rate in a vacuum, but the flexibility of a flash body that replaces itself makes Steamcore Scholar a reasonable include in tempo-oriented blue decks that value incremental advantage.
Format Analysis
Where it lives, where it can’t
| Format | Verdict |
|---|---|
| commander | legal |
| legacy | legal |
| modern | legal |
| pioneer | legal |
| standard | legal |
| vintage | legal |
| pauper | not legal |
| oathbreaker | legal |
Commander is the natural home for Steamcore Scholar — singleton formats reward versatile bodies that do multiple things, and the flash timing means you can keep mana open for counterspells and spend it on card draw if the window never arrives. In Modern, Pioneer, and Legacy, four mana for a 2/2 that draws one simply doesn't clear the bar; the raw card efficiency isn't close to competitive staples at that cost. Standard is the one 60-card context where Steamcore Scholar could see fringe play if the format's average power level dips low enough, but it will always be on the edge of playable. Oathbreaker mirrors the Commander read — passable in the right shell, never essential.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Price Context
Current price
$0.23 bulk tier
At $0.23, Steamcore Scholar is firmly bulk, and there's no pressure driving that price upward. It's an easy pickup if you want the effect, but don't expect the value to move.
Explore
Sources
Mentioned
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.