The Scorpion DC MD came out in July 2026, list price JPY 44,500 (excl. tax). It carries the same 38mm spool as the Antares DC MD for JPY 39,600 less. If you cast big lures far, it's a buy.
The Gear Nerd's Pick
The heart of this reel is the spool diameter, more than the brake. At the same gear ratio, a spool just 3mm wider adds 7cm of line per handle turn. So I pay the JPY 15,000 gap to the SVS MD 200 as the price of both DC and speed.
Key points
- Out in July 2026. The two left-handle models are due in September
- JPY 15,000 more than the SVS MD 200, and 10g heavier
- Retrieving 100m takes about 113.6 turns on the HG. The MD 200 takes 123.5
When does the Scorpion DC MD come out? What does it cost?
The Shimano Scorpion DC MD came out in July 2026. The official page says the left-handle 201HG LEFT and 201XG LEFT are due in September.
| Item | Official listing |
|---|---|
| Release date | July 2026 (201HG LEFT and 201XG LEFT due in September 2026) |
| List price | JPY 44,500 (excl. tax, same for all 4 models) |
| Sizes | 200HG RIGHT, 201HG LEFT, 200XG RIGHT, 201XG LEFT |
| Brake | I-DC5 (3 modes × 5 steps = 15 steps) |
Does the Scorpion DC MD have a previous generation?
It has none. Announced in the Scorpion series as "the long-awaited DC MD arrives," this is the first model.
The model to compare against is the Scorpion MD 200 in the same 200 size. Its brake is SVS Infinity and the spool is 35mm in diameter and 23mm wide. The DC MD has the electronically controlled I-DC5, with a Magnumlite Spool IV that is 38mm in diameter and 21mm wide.
How I judged it
What I looked at first was not the brake but the length per turn. The HG has the same 7.4 gear ratio, yet the DC MD gives 88cm against the MD 200's 81cm. That is 7cm longer.
What I struggled with was being 10g heavier than the MD 200. It's still a buy. It has the same spool diameter and width as the Antares DC MD above it, 10g lighter, at about half the list price.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Shimano Scorpion DC MD
Lowest price on Rakuten: JPY 30,855 (as of Oct 14). Some stores go up to JPY 44,120. Prices change daily.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaSee it on Yahoo! Shopping JapanWhere does 88cm per turn come from?
A baitcasting reel's length per turn is set by spool diameter × 3.14 × gear ratio. For the DC MD HG, 38 × 3.14 × 7.4 is about 883mm, matching the table's 88cm.
For the MD 200, 35 × 3.14 × 7.4 is about 814mm, the table's 81cm. To get speed without raising the gear ratio, make the diameter bigger. The DC MD took that route. The width is 2mm narrower.
How does it compare with the MD 200 and Antares DC MD?
Swipe the table sideways →
| Model | Weight | Spool diameter / width | Per turn (HG / XG) | List price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scorpion DC MD | 225g | 38 / 21mm | 88 / 101cm | JPY 44,500 |
| Scorpion MD 200 | 215g | 35 / 23mm | 81 / 93cm | JPY 29,500 |
| Antares DC MD | 235g | 38 / 21mm | 88 / 93cm | JPY 84,100 |
Gap to the MD 200: It costs JPY 15,000 more (44,500 − 29,500) and is 10g heavier. What you pay for is the DC brake and a 7cm longer turn. Max drag was the same: 6kg on the HG and 5.5kg on the XG.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Shimano Scorpion MD 200
Lowest price on Rakuten: JPY 20,133 (as of Oct 14). Some stores go up to JPY 28,904. Prices change daily.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaSee it on Yahoo! Shopping JapanGap to the Antares DC MD: It costs JPY 39,600 less (84,100 − 44,500) and is 10g lighter. The price is about half. The Antares has four more bearings. On the XG, the Scorpion's 101cm per turn beats the Antares's 93cm.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Shimano Antares DC MD
Lowest price on Rakuten: JPY 64,757 (as of Oct 14). Some stores go up to JPY 74,008. Prices change daily.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaSee it on Yahoo! Shopping JapanHow many cranks to retrieve 100m?
100m is 10,000cm. The DC MD HG takes 10,000 ÷ 88, about 113.6 turns, and the MD 200 HG takes 10,000 ÷ 81, about 123.5 turns. On the XG it is about 99.0 and 107.5 turns.
The gap is about 10 turns on the HG and about 9 on the XG. Shimano calls the XG's 101cm the fastest in the 200 size.
HG or XG, which to choose?
The XG has a gear ratio of 8.5 and a max drag of 5.5kg, 0.5kg below the HG's 6kg. You trade drag for speed.
I'd take the HG. Even at 88cm, the gap to the MD 200 XG's 93cm is 5cm, and I keep the 6kg drag. Choose the XG only if you want to retrieve fast in current. How to read the HG-XG gap is covered in how to choose a reel gear ratio.
What changed in the 15 brake steps?
The previous I-DC5 had 5 steps for each line type: nylon, PE and fluorocarbon. The new I-DC5 has 3 modes (L, M, H) × 5 steps, 15 steps in all. You set it with the outside dial alone.
Shimano explains that it is no longer tied to line type and the range of strength is wider.
Things to watch
The MD 200 table had a capacity entry for 12lb nylon; the DC MD table does not. With the width narrowed to 21mm, using thin line in long lengths belongs to the MD 200. This part is so-so.
One more thing. At 225g, the weight sits in the middle of the three compared. It is not light.
Who is it for?
- Anglers who cast big lures far and want to retrieve fast
- Anglers who want the Antares DC MD's spool size at about half the price
For a baitcasting reel of similar size from Daiwa, I read the numbers the same way in the Zillion TW 150 review.
For anglers who want every gram of lightness or who mostly use thin line around 12lb, there is also the 10g lighter MD 200. If you're happy with your MD 200, drag and line capacity are the same, so there's no need to rush.
Dates for upcoming reels are collected in the release calendar.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Shimano Scorpion DC MD
Lowest price on Rakuten: JPY 30,855 (as of Oct 14). Some stores go up to JPY 44,120. Prices change daily.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaSee it on Yahoo! Shopping JapanFAQ
When does the Scorpion DC MD come out?
July 2026. The official page says the left-handle 201HG LEFT and 201XG LEFT are due in September 2026.
How much is the Scorpion DC MD?
The list price is JPY 44,500 (excl. tax), the same for all 4 models.
What is the difference between the Scorpion DC MD and the MD 200?
The brake moves from SVS to I-DC5, and the spool changes from 35mm diameter and 23mm width to 38mm and 21mm. Weight is 10g more at 225g.
