A-Moss-Pit Skeleton MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Plant Skeleton |
| Abilities | Kicker |
| Released | 2020-09-25 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Zendikar Rising |
| Set code | ZNR |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 2 |
| Number | A-228 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Bryan Sola |
Key Takeaways
- Moss-Pit Skeleton offers card advantage and repeat playability through its graveyard recursion.
- Kicker at instant speed provides strategic depth, enhancing its tactical use in games.
- However, specific mana requirements and higher costs may hinder its early game potential.
Text of card
Kicker (You may pay an additional as you cast this spell.) If Moss-Pit Skeleton was kicked, it enters the battlefield with three +1/+1 counters on it. Whenever one or more +1/+1 counters are put on a creature you control, if Moss-Pit Skeleton is in your graveyard, return A-Moss-Pit Skeleton from your graveyard to your hand at the beginning of the next end step.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Moss-Pit Skeleton offers the potential for recurring board presence. Should it be in your graveyard with a +1/+1 counter on it, when you meet its condition – playing a creature with greater power – it will return to your hand. This ability underscores its resilience and allows you to continually leverage its presence for maintaining hand resources over time.
Resource Acceleration: This card shines in decks focused on +1/+1 counters and amplifies the speed at which those decks can generate a threatening board state. By adding counters to Moss-Pit Skeleton, you’re both creating a substantial blocker/attacker and potentially setting the stage for its return from the graveyard to your hand, catalyzing your gameplay with consistent threat recuperation.
Instant Speed: Its kicker ability can be utilized at instant speed, which is a significant tactical advantage. This means you can wait until the opportune moment during your turn or your opponent’s turn to spring a surprise blocker, avoid sorcery-speed removal, and make informed decisions based on the continuously evolving game state.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Moss-Pit Skeleton comes with an inherent challenge of having to discard another creature card or having had a creature die under your control to utilize its ability from the graveyard. This can be a deterrent for players if their hand or battlefield doesn’t align with these conditions.
Specific Mana Cost: Requiring both black and green mana, Moss-Pit Skeleton’s casting cost is restrictive in deck creation, demanding a commitment to a Golgari deck type or a mana base with adequate fixing to accommodate dual colors.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting and kicker cost that totals up to five mana, the investment into bringing Moss-Pit Skeleton back with its kicker ability is relatively steep. This can be especially ponderous during the early game or in faster-paced matches where mana efficiency is critical.
Reasons to Include A Moss-Pit Skeleton in Your Collection
Versatility: A Moss-Pit Skeleton can adapt seamlessly into various deck builds, especially those that emphasize graveyard mechanics or +1/+1 counter strategies. Its ability to be placed on top of your library from your graveyard ensures it remains a recurring threat throughout the game.
Combo Potential: With its Kicker cost and synergies with +1/+1 counters, A Moss-Pit Skeleton can be a key component in combo decks. It works well with cards that allow for counter manipulation or benefit from having creatures entering the battlefield repeatedly.
Meta-Relevance: As the game evolves, A Moss-Pit Skeleton retains relevance in metagames that favor resilience and recurring creatures. Its persistent presence on the board and the resultant pressure on opponents make it a valuable addition in matchups requiring endurance.
How to Beat A Moss-Pit Skeleton
A Moss-Pit Skeleton is a versatile creature card that offers resilience thanks to its ability to return from the graveyard to the battlefield. This key characteristic can make it a thorn in the side of any opponent, persistently reappearing after being dealt with. Yet, there are strategies to effectively overcome this stubborn adversary.
To counter a Moss-Pit Skeleton, focus on utilizing exile effects or graveyard hate cards. When you exile the Moss-Pit Skeleton, it removes the possibility of it returning to the battlefield, bypassing its recursive ability altogether. Cards like Scavenger Grounds or Leyline of the Void can hamstring this ability by preventing cards from entering the graveyard or removing them entirely once they get there. Another strategy is to address the counters placed on it. By preventing the distribution of +1/+1 counters, you can also prevent the skeleton’s reanimation ability from triggering as it returns only if you had a creature with a +1/+1 counter on it at the beginning of your upkeep.
Ultimately, A Moss-Pit Skeleton can potentially establish formidable board presence, but with the right approach and key tactical plays, you can ensure that this persistent creature rests permanently in the graveyard.
Cards like A-Moss-Pit Skeleton
Moss-Pit Skeleton makes a unique mark within the range of persistent creature cards in Magic: The Gathering. It finds comparison with other cards like Scavenging Ooze, which similarly manipulates the graveyard for advantageous outcomes. Where Moss-Pit Skeleton excels is in its inherent recursion ability, automatically placing itself back onto the battlefield or into your hand from your graveyard, provided you’ve met the +1/+1 counter condition.
Another card to consider in relation to Moss-Pit Skeleton is the undying mechanic wielder, Young Wolf. Though lacking the self-recurring property of the skeleton, Young Wolf comes back stronger after initially dying with a +1/+1 counter. However, this happens only once, whereas Moss-Pit Skeleton can return multiple times under the right circumstances. Also worth noting is Meren of Clan Nel Toth, which also interacts favorably with the graveyard, allowing for creatures to return to the battlefield or your hand but requires a wholly different setup and strategy for optimal use.
Ultimately, Moss-Pit Skeleton provides a resilient choice for decks that focus on counters and graveyard interaction, propelling itself as a formidable contender in this category of Magic: The Gathering cards.
Cards similar to A-Moss-Pit Skeleton by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase A-Moss-Pit Skeleton MTG card by a specific set like Zendikar Rising, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.
For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.
Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.
Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the A-Moss-Pit Skeleton and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where A-Moss-Pit Skeleton has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |