Culling Scales
~$0.40 low · ~$3.92 high
Colorless. Artifact
Mirrodin #160 · Illustrated by Daren Bader
Mirrodin #160 · Illustrated by Daren BaderWhat is Culling Scales worth?
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TCGplayer market prices in USD, updated October 14, 2026. Each price is for one printing and one finish.
Oracle text
At the beginning of your upkeep, destroy target nonland permanent with the lowest mana value. (If two or more permanents are tied for lowest, target any one of them.)
Format legality
The only printing of Culling Scales
| Printing | Rarity | Non-foil | Foil | Cardmarket (EUR) | My collection |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Mirrodin mrd #160· 2003rare· Cardmarket €0.20 · €1.46 foil | rare | $0.40 | $3.92 | €0.20€1.46 foil |
Prices are TCGplayer market prices in USD for each printing and finish, via Scryfall. They are a guide, not an appraisal.
Where to buy Culling Scales
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Card details
- First printed
- 2003
- Printings
- 1
- Mana value
- 3
- EDHREC rank
- #26,214 on EDHREC (Commander popularity)
- Artist
- Daren Bader
What the codes mean
The small print at the bottom of the Mirrodin card (#160).
160
- 160Collector number: this card's place in the set list. Main-set cards print it over the set's card count.
Cards from 1998 to mid-2014 print the collector number over the set's card count (like 90/383) next to the copyright line. They have no rarity letter, set code or language code: the set symbol and its colour show the set and rarity.
How to read a Magic card: every part and code, on real cards.
Card breakdown
The parts of Culling Scales, read from the Mirrodin printing. How to read any Magic card.
- Name
- Culling Scales. Rules use the English name in every language.
- Mana cost
- Mana value 3: the total mana in the cost, colors ignored.
- Type line
- Artifact is the card type.
- Text box
- What the card does. Italic text in brackets is reminder text: it explains a rule and has no effect on the game.
- Illustration
- By Daren Bader. The art has no effect on the game.
- Set symbol
- Mirrodin. Gold means rare.
- Collector number
- 160 = collector number: this card's place in the set list. Main-set cards print it over the set's card count.
- Artist
- Daren Bader, after the paintbrush.
- Copyright
- Wizards of the Coast's copyright notice, with the year.
Rulings (4)
2004-12-01
Most tokens have a mana value of 0. A token that's a copy of another permanent or card has a mana value equal to that permanent or card's mana value.
2004-12-01
If the targeted permanent doesn't have the lowest mana value when the ability resolves, the ability doesn't resolve and the permanent isn't destroyed.
2004-12-01
If the lowest mana value is 3, Culling Scales can destroy itself.
2004-12-01
You choose the target. If there's more than one nonland permanent tied for lowest mana value, you choose which one to target.
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