When i first saw this card it appeared to be some remake of Drop of Honey, and i was bugged that i wasn't going to be able to destroy my opponent's bigger threats since the Scales will destroy itself before. Of course it's already useful by itself, therefore regenerating this card, making it indestructible or giving it shroud should proof useful to ensure that you won't have to destroy itself and can keep playing your own cards with a cc3 (or cc4 in the latter case).
A card that proofs to be useful in general is Forbidden Orchard since it will ensure that the Scales aren't going to destroy themselves.
But then i noticed this card actually doesn't care whether it's on the field when the ability resolves or not. What does that mean? Bounce it! Aside from Capsize there aren't any reusable instants, and since the mana cost every turn isn't that appealing either (six for the bounce and three for the Scales), you should preferably use permanents that either bounce in your upkeep or have an activated ability that lets you do so. Activated abilities will however have the downside that you'll have to pay them on top of the casting cost for replaying the Scales every turn. (Cards like Heidar, Rimewind Master would therefore normally do a better job by just bouncing your opponent's stuff, Tolarian Sentinel won't be that useful either.)
Cache Raiders is an example for an free upkeep trigger and this way lets you destroy your opponent's nonland permanents up to a cmc of 5. Master Transmuter is another useful card that lets you return the scales while bringing out another big artifact. She "only" has a cmc of 4, but remember you can always prevent her from becoming destroyed with the Orchard again in case your opponent has nothing left. Blood Clock and Umbilicus are further examples for the upkeep and also very profitable with the Scales. This way your opponent has the choice between replaying his cards (since he also has to bounce one every turn) and let them going to be destroyed by the Culling Scales, or just play his expensive stuff with a cmc of 5 or more, which he has to afford every turn again and again. If you have multiple bouncers and bring up Avalanche Riders as well, your opponent will soon have nothing left on his side.
Zulp
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Hm. The first thing my brain did when it saw the word "destroy" instead of "sacrifice" was recall Darksteel Forge, and use it in an all-artifact deck. Your stuff is safe, and their stuff dies, at least until it balances out and you have the lowest CMC of permanents in play, which will probably be around three, considering this thing's cost itself. Now that I think about it, that doesn't sound very efficient. There are better things you could be doing with your time.
Ichorix
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(5 votes)
I just run it with Darksteel Ingot, it is the perfect cmc and is a good card in its own right.
spectermonger
★★★★☆ (4.2/5.0)(2 votes)
I think the big catch of this card is that it gives off color decks a source of permanent destruction.
Now your safe and your opponent is searching for a board sweeper.
Buderus
★★☆☆☆ (2.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Pretty cool card, combine it with Paradox Haze for double-destruction ^^
verzanix
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Can't believe no one said this: Darksteel Myr That way it doesn't have to destroy itself Oh, and if this card stops you from sleeping at night and you don't use tokens, Darksteel relic
Enelysios
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Well, my immediate reaction was to make it a land, but that is almost impossible, and certainly not elegant or worth doing. (March of the Machines + Xenograft + Life and Limb?) Running this with Forbidden Orchard as Mode suggested seems like a good idea. Your opponent is basically prevented from running anything cost less than 3, and that really messes up most decks. Especially the Zoo and Delver I have been seeing a lot of in modern. Sadly, everyone is running 4 copies of Ancient Grudge, so protecting the scales is going to be tough.
Comments (10)
Of course it's already useful by itself, therefore regenerating this card, making it indestructible or giving it shroud should proof useful to ensure that you won't have to destroy itself and can keep playing your own cards with a cc3 (or cc4 in the latter case).
A card that proofs to be useful in general is Forbidden Orchard since it will ensure that the Scales aren't going to destroy themselves.
But then i noticed this card actually doesn't care whether it's on the field when the ability resolves or not. What does that mean? Bounce it!
Aside from Capsize there aren't any reusable instants, and since the mana cost every turn isn't that appealing either (six for the bounce and three for the Scales), you should preferably use permanents that either bounce in your upkeep or have an activated ability that lets you do so.
Activated abilities will however have the downside that you'll have to pay them on top of the casting cost for replaying the Scales every turn. (Cards like Heidar, Rimewind Master would therefore normally do a better job by just bouncing your opponent's stuff, Tolarian Sentinel won't be that useful either.)
Cache Raiders is an example for an free upkeep trigger and this way lets you destroy your opponent's nonland permanents up to a cmc of 5.
Master Transmuter is another useful card that lets you return the scales while bringing out another big artifact. She "only" has a cmc of 4, but remember you can always prevent her from becoming destroyed with the Orchard again in case your opponent has nothing left.
Blood Clock and Umbilicus are further examples for the upkeep and also very profitable with the Scales.
This way your opponent has the choice between replaying his cards (since he also has to bounce one every turn) and let them going to be destroyed by the Culling Scales, or just play his expensive stuff with a cmc of 5 or more, which he has to afford every turn again and again.
If you have multiple bouncers and bring up Avalanche Riders as well, your opponent will soon have nothing left on his side.
Edit: Ah, damn. I just realized that Privileged Position grants super-shroud.
Now your safe and your opponent is searching for a board sweeper.
Oh, and if this card stops you from sleeping at night and you don't use tokens, Darksteel relic