Bilious Skulldweller MTG Card
Mana cost | |
Converted mana cost | 1 |
Rarity | Uncommon |
Type | Creature — Phyrexian Insect |
Abilities | Deathtouch,Toxic |
Released | 2023-02-03 |
Set symbol | |
Set name | Phyrexia: All Will Be One |
Set code | ONE |
Power | 1 |
Toughness | 1 |
Number | 83 |
Frame | 2015 |
Layout | Normal |
Border | Black |
Illustred by | Svetlin Velinov |
Text of card
Deathtouch Toxic 1 (Players dealt combat damage by this creature also get a poison counter.)
"Watch your footing around here. Anything you might step on probably has teeth." —Kara Vrist, resistance spymaster
Cards like Bilious Skulldweller
Bilious Skulldweller finds its niche among graveyard-utilizing creatures in MTG. It shares space with cards like Gravecrawler, which also resurrects itself from the graveyard, provided you have a Zombie to enable its return. Unlike Gravecrawler, Bilious Skulldweller doesn’t require other creatures to function, offering a more standalone revival ability.
Another peer in the creep from the deep is the Reassembling Skeleton. It returns to the battlefield at a similar mana cost but requires an investment each time you want to revive it, while Bilious Skulldweller’s trigger is a one-time beneficial arrival. Yet, the adaptability of Reassembling Skeleton to instant speed offers strategic advantages in various situations. Baloth Null is a creature that also interacts with the graveyard, but it pulls double duty by retrieving two creatures straight to your hand. However, Bilious Skulldweller has the competitive edge in mana efficiency, allowing for a potentially quicker impact on the game.
In essence, Bilious Skulldweller stands out with its effortless recursion, independent functioning, and mana efficiency. Such traits can define game strategies, making it a card worth considering in decks focusing on graveyard synergy and resourceful creature play.
Cards similar to Bilious Skulldweller by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Bilious Skulldweller. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
# | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
---|---|---|---|---|
Esper Poison | Standard | Esper Poison | Standard League 2024-03-27 | |
Dimir Poison | Standard | Dimir Poison | Standard Challenge 32 2024-02-03 | |
Golgari Toxic | Pioneer | Golgari Midrange | South America Magic Series - Regional Championship (Final Regional NOV 2023) | |
UB | Standard | Traditional Standard Ranked Decklists: February 26, 2024 | ||
4c Poison | Standard | 4c Poison | Standard Challenge 64 2023-12-31 | |
Mono-Black Aggro | Pioneer | Mono-Black Midrange | Peasant Pioneer Showdown - A Josh and Pat's MTG Bazaar Sponsored Event | |
5c Legends | Standard | 5c Legends | Standard Challenge 64 2023-12-10 (1) | |
Esper Aggro | Standard | Esper Poison | 2023Players Convention Aichi 2023 Standard Open | |
Abzan Aggro | Pioneer | Abzan Poison | ReCQ - Pioneer - SCG CON Pittsburgh - Saturday - 1:00 pm (Bronze) |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Bilious Skulldweller allows players to potentially reanimate a creature card from their graveyard when an opponent loses life, effectively turning an opponent’s setback into a personal gain and potentially multiplying the threats on the board without expending additional cards from your hand.
Resource Acceleration: While not directly creating mana, flipping a creature card with Bilious Skulldweller can put you ahead on resources as you’re employing creatures that have already been used and are now returning for a second act, bypassing the need for additional mana investment on casting those creatures again.
Instant Speed: The triggered ability of Bilious Skulldweller can occur at instant speed, meaning the effect takes place right after an opponent loses life, no matter whose turn it is. This surprise element can yield significant tactical advantages, allowing you to bring back creatures on the fly and potentially during an opponent’s turn, disrupting their strategy.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Whatever strategy you have in mind, including Bilious Skulldweller in your deck means you’re signing up for an additional cost. This creature demands a card from your hand to hit the battlefield, which can set you back if your hand is already running lean.
Specific Mana Cost: Being a creature with a penchant for the darker side of magic, Bilious Skulldweller’s casting cost is strictly black mana. This requirement can pigeonhole the card into mono-black or certain two-color decks, potentially excluding a broader inclusion in various deck types.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that may seem steep for its abilities, Bilious Skulldweller asks for more mana than some other creatures in its class. Experienced players might weigh its potential against other creatures available for the same, or fewer, mana resources.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Bilious Skulldweller offers flexibility, as it can slide into various graveyard-centric decks. Its ability to unearth creatures can be a game-changer, maneuvering past conventional summoning strategies.
Combo Potential: Unleashing the Skulldweller’s potential creates nifty synergies, especially with cards that benefit from self-mill tactics or recurring creatures from the graveyard. Its specific mechanics set the stage for surprising combos that can tilt the duel in your favor.
Meta-Relevance: With the ever-evolving MTG landscape, understanding the meta is crucial. Bilious Skulldweller’s recursive nature can put pressure on opponents in a meta that’s heavy on creature removal, ensuring that your key creatures make a valuable comeback.
How to beat
Bilious Skulldweller earns its reputation in the world of black creature cards by offering both a threat and a potential strategic advantage. Players familiar with the mechanics of Magic: The Gathering recognize that this card’s strength lies as much in its ability to recur from the graveyard as in its menace to remain uncontested on the battlefield. While the Skulldweller’s return can become a recurring nightmare for the unprepared, defeating it is a matter of smart graveyard management.
Rest in Peace is a noteworthy card that can neutralize the Skulldweller’s effectiveness. By exiling all cards from all graveyards, Rest in Peace ensures that Skulldweller’s ability to return is stifled. Similarly, Leyline of the Void is an enchantment that hinders cards from even entering the graveyards, preemptively nullifying any reanimation attempts of the Skulldweller. Fast-paced removal spell like Path to Exile also offers a direct solution by exiling the Skulldweller, bypassing the graveyard altogether.
Ultimately, incorporating cards that modify graveyard mechanics or employ immediate exiling effects can substantially mitigate the impact of Bilious Skulldweller and keep it from dominating the game. Adequate preparation and strategic deck building are key in ensuring that the Skulldweller’s presence is short-lived.
BurnMana Recommendations
The strategic complexity of MTG offers a thrilling challenge with each match, suggesting endless possibilities for deck enhancement and gameplay refinement. Bilious Skulldweller, with its intriguing potential for creature reanimation and surprise plays, could be your next strategic asset. It invites you to rethink graveyard dynamics and leverage opponent setbacks for your benefit. If you’re eager to explore this avenue and other clever strategies that could give you the upper hand in your next duel, we warmly encourage you to dive deeper. Dive into our reservoir of knowledge and join a community that thrives on making every match an opportunity for growth and ingenuity.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Bilious Skulldweller MTG card by a specific set like Phyrexia: All Will Be One, 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 Bilious Skulldweller and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
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- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
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Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Bilious Skulldweller has restrictions
Format | Legality |
---|---|
Standard | Legal |
Historicbrawl | Legal |
Historic | Legal |
Legacy | Legal |
Paupercommander | Restricted |
Oathbreaker | Legal |
Gladiator | Legal |
Alchemy | Legal |
Pioneer | Legal |
Commander | Legal |
Modern | Legal |
Future | Legal |
Vintage | Legal |
Duel | Legal |
Explorer | Legal |
Brawl | Legal |
Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Bilious Skulldweller card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
Date | Text |
---|---|
2023-02-04 | A player with ten or more poison counters loses the game. This is a state-based action and doesn't use the stack. In other words, it happens immediately and players can't respond to it, just like a player losing the game due to having 0 or less life. |
2023-02-04 | Any other effects of that damage, such as life gain from lifelink, still apply. |
2023-02-04 | Conversely, replacement effects that apply to the number of counters put on a player can modify the counters placed this way. For example, Vorinclex, Monstrous Raider's last two abilities can apply to counters placed this way. |
2023-02-04 | Damage dealt by a creature with toxic grants the same number of counters regardless of how much damage is dealt. Notably, if a replacement effect modifies the damage in some way (such as that of Gratuitous Violence), the number of counters given remains unchanged. |
2023-02-04 | If a creature with toxic deals combat damage to a creature or planeswalker, or if it deals noncombat damage, toxic has no effect and no player gets poison counters. |
2023-02-04 | Multiple instances of toxic are cumulative. For example, if a creature has toxic 2 and gains toxic 1 due to another effect, combat damage that creature deals to a player will cause that player to get 3 poison counters. |
2023-02-04 | Toxic doesn't change the amount of combat damage a creature deals. For example, if a 2/2 creature with toxic 1 deals combat damage to a player, that creature will deal 2 damage. The results of that damage are the player loses 2 life and gets a poison counter. |