Crazed Skirge MTG Card

Urza's Saga (USG)
1998-10-12 - Number 125

Crazed Skirge - Battle Royale Box Set (BRB)

Battle Royale Box Set (BRB)
1999-11-12 - Number 16

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Phyrexian Imp
Abilities	Flying,Haste
Power	2
Toughness	2

Key Takeaways

Crazed Skirge provides card advantage through formidable attack power, pressuring opponents early on.
Its specific mana cost can limit deck building versatility, requiring careful mana base consideration.
Despite its cons, Crazed Skirge’s synergy and meta relevance make it a worthwhile collection addition.

Text of card

Flying Crazed Skirge is unaffected by summoning sickness.

They are Phyrexia's couriers; the messages they carry are inscribed on their slick hides.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Crazed Skirge presents a unique opportunity for players to recoup card loss through its robust attack potential, effectively acting as a card advantage on the battlefield. By presenting a threat that must be dealt with, it may force opponents to trade off more valuable cards to handle it.

Resource Acceleration: This card doesn’t inherently accelerate resources, but its low mana cost facilitates a faster gameplay, allowing you to deploy other threats or resources sooner. Its presence can accelerate your game plan by maintaining pressure and leveraging your mana efficiency.

Instant Speed: While Crazed Skirge isn’t an instant, its interaction with instant speed spells and abilities in your deck can be noteworthy. It demands an immediate answer from your opponent, potentially clearing the way for your instant speed interactions to be more effective during their turn.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Crazed Skirge necessitates pitching another card from your hand to play it, which can put you at a disadvantage by reducing your hand size, potentially depriving you of crucial resources later in the game.

Specific Mana Cost: This card’s casting cost demands both black and red mana, which may not be easily integrated into decks that don’t run both colors. Its specific mana requirements can make it a less versatile choice when deck building.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With multiple mana required to get Crazed Skirge on the battlefield, it may lag behind other options that offer more value or greater impact for the same or lower investment. It’s essential to weigh its cost against other potential plays that could better advance your strategy.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Crazed Skirge is a chameleon on the battlefield, effortlessly adapting to various deck archetypes. Its inherent abilities allow it to complement aggressive strategies while holding its own in midrange lineups.

Combo Potential: The Crazed Skirge thrives in combination with cards that feed off of creatures entering the battlefield or sacrificing for greater benefits, enhancing synergies and enabling powerful plays.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta that’s teeming with control decks, the Crazed Skirge can often slip under countermagic due to its modest mana cost and apply consistent pressure, making it a tactically sound addition to your arsenal.

How to beat

Crazed Skirge presents a challenge due to its flying ability, making it elusive to many creatures on the ground. This card has the propensity to consistently deal damage if not checked promptly. To counteract this, your deck should include removal spells that can target flying creatures or provide ways to block them effectively. Cards such as Murder can handle the Skirge regardless of its airborne capability. Enchantments like Ghostly Prison can also deter attacks by imposing costs on your opponent.

Incorporating creatures with reach or those that can engage in aerial combat can give you an edge. Spiders with reach, such as Giant Spider, or even creatures with flying like Serra Angel can be great adversaries to Crazed Skirge. Additionally, cards that can reduce the Skirge’s power or negate combat damage such as Pacifism can diminish the threat effectively. Considering these strategies can help maintain the board and reduce the pressure from your opponent’s flying aggressors.

Remember, the key is anticipation and having the right cards in your deck to neutralize threats like Crazed Skirge. By employing these tactics, you can maintain control and turn the tide of battle in your favor.

Cards like Crazed Skirge

Crazed Skirge holds its ground in the realm of aggressive flying creatures within Magic: The Gathering. This winged horror shares the skies with the likes of Skittering Skirge, which also boasts an impactful presence with its evasion ability. Both creatures come with their own set of conditions, with Crazed Skirge requiring you to have played another black spell this turn to reduce its cost. It’s an intriguing parallel to Skittering Skirge which needs a sacrifice upon playing a creature spell.

Examining Falkenrath Noble, we find another creature providing strategic value beyond just its combat capabilities. While not as aggressive in terms of attack power compared to Crazed Skirge, Falkenrath Noble’s ability to drain life whenever another creature dies offers a different angle of board influence. When nestled amongst other creatures, it can significantly alter the course of a game, something Crazed Skirge cannot accomplish on its own.

Ultimately, Crazed Skirge’s combination of cost reduction and offensive prowess in the sky makes it a card worth considering for decks that aim to maintain pressure and can reliably meet its casting conditions, setting a niche for itself among MTG’s multifarious flying threats.

Cards similar to Crazed Skirge by color, type and mana cost

Xiahou Dun, the One-Eyed - MTG Card versions

Demon of Catastrophes - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Crazed Skirge MTG card by a specific set like Urza's Saga and Battle Royale Box Set, 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 Crazed Skirge and other MTG cards: