What block is Scourge part of?

Scourge is the third and final set in the Onslaught block, following Onslaught (2002) and Legions (2003). It was released on May 26, 2003.

What mechanics are in Scourge?

Scourge is known for its Storm mechanic, which copies a spell for each spell cast before it that turn. The set also continues the Onslaught block's tribal themes and rewards players for casting high-mana-value spells.

What is the story of Scourge?

Scourge is set on Dominaria and follows Kamahl as he confronts Karona, a powerful new entity born from the clash between Phage and Akroma. The companion novel, written by J. Robert King, features a wide cast including Teferi, Braids, Ixidor, and Balthor, among others.

When was Scourge released?

Scourge was released on May 26, 2003. It is the 29th Magic: The Gathering expansion.

What is Storm in Scourge?

Storm is a keyword ability introduced in Scourge. When you cast a spell with storm, it is copied once for each spell that was cast before it in the same turn. The mechanic proved extremely powerful in competitive play and multiple Storm cards have been banned or restricted across various formats over the years.

Scourge (SCG): The Complete Set Guide

What is Scourge?

Scourge (SCG) is a small expansion released on May 26, 2003, and the third and final set in the Onslaught block, following Onslaught (ONS, 2002) and Legions (LGN, 2003). It is the 29th Magic: The Gathering expansion overall, containing 143 cards.

As the closing chapter of the Onslaught block, Scourge wraps up the storylines and mechanical threads that the block introduced - most notably the tribal theme that defined Onslaught's identity, alongside a strong focus on big mana and spell-matters design.

Themes and mechanics

The Onslaught block was built around tribal synergies - caring about creature types like Wizard, Cleric, Warrior, and Zombie - and Scourge continues that tradition as the block's conclusion. If you've been drafting or building around tribes in Onslaught and Legions, Scourge is where those strategies get their finishing pieces.

Scourge is also remembered for pushing in a distinct direction: caring about the converted mana cost (now called mana value) of spells, particularly rewarding players for casting expensive spells. Storm - the mechanic that copies a spell once for each spell cast before it that turn - appears in Scourge, and it would go on to define competitive formats for years. That alone gives Scourge an outsized legacy for a small set.

Limited and draft

Scourge was drafted as part of the full Onslaught block: one pack of Scourge plus two packs of Onslaught, or in various combinations with Legions depending on the draft format. The tribal synergies that ran through the whole block remained central, so your creature-type payoffs from Onslaught could be topped off with Scourge's contributions.

The format leaned toward midrange and bigger spells, fitting the set's mechanical identity. Players who managed to assemble a coherent tribe while also curving out into Scourge's higher-cost threats had a real edge.

Lore and setting

Scourge is set on Dominaria, and its story touches on several other planes including Serra's Realm, Phyrexia, and Mirrodin. The novel Scourge, written by J. Robert King and published in May 2003, serves as the direct companion to the set.

The story picks up from the explosive events of the Onslaught block - specifically the clash between Phage and Akroma - and centres on the emergence of Karona, a terrifying new entity born from that conflict. Kamahl, one of Dominaria's central heroes across this era, must confront Karona as his greatest foe. The novel also features a remarkable cast of characters including Stonebrow, Balthor, Braids, Ixidor, Teferi, Multani, and even Yawgmoth and Karn in supporting roles, making it a genuine crossroads moment in Dominaria's history.

"Her arms spread to the very clouds, and her robes trail like rays of sunlight. She is the destroyer. She is the answer." - Back cover of the Scourge novel

Karona herself is a fascinating figure: a being of such pure magical power that she's simultaneously worshipped and feared. Her arrival reshapes the conflict that had been building across the entire Onslaught block.

Set legacy

For a small third-set expansion, Scourge punches well above its weight in terms of lasting impact. Storm - introduced here - became one of the most influential (and, in competitive play, one of the most carefully watched) mechanics in Magic's history. Several Storm cards from this era have spent time on banned or restricted lists across formats, which tells you something about how powerful the mechanic proved to be.

The set is also a meaningful endpoint for a block that redefined tribal play in Magic. The Onslaught block's creature-type focus laid groundwork that echoes all the way through to modern sets, and Scourge is where that experiment reached its conclusion. As a piece of Magic history, it represents both the end of a beloved block and the introduction of mechanics that would ripple through the game for decades.