Chant of the Skifsang MTG Card


Offers card advantage by weakening creatures, saving resources for other plays. Instant-speed casting gives strategic flexibility for reactive or preparatory plays. Presents a resource trade-off with its discard requirement and specific mana costs.
Chant of the Skifsang - Dark Ascension
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeEnchantment — Aura
Abilities Enchant
Released2012-02-03
Set symbol
Set nameDark Ascension
Set codeDKA
Number31
Frame2003
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byNils Hamm

Text of card

Enchant creature Enchanted creature gets -13/-0.

The skifsang, seafarers of Nephalia, craft spells like other sailors craft nets—making them strong enough to snare even the deadliest catch.


Cards like Chant of the Skifsang

Chant of the Skifsang is an intriguing enchantment aura in Magic: The Gathering that specializes in neutralizing threats by crippling an opponent’s creature. In examining cards with comparable effects, Claustrophobia comes to mind, which also incapacitates a target creature by tapping it and preventing it from untapping. However, Chant of the Skifsang differentiates itself by allowing the target to remain untapped but reducing its power to a meager zero, rendering it harmless whether it is on the offensive or defensive.

Narcolepsy is another card that shares the theme of incapacitating creatures. While it doesn’t alter a creature’s stats, it taps a creature during each upkeep, having a similar immobilizing effect but with a recurring trigger unlike the Skifsang’s one-time application. Then there’s Ice Over, applying a freezing effect that prevents a creature or vehicle from untapping. Although Ice Over completely immobilizes the threat, it doesn’t have the same element of weakening the creature like Chant of the Skifsang’s enduring debuff.

Evaluating these enchantment auras reveals that Chant of the Skifsang holds its ground by offering a unique blend of creature control without recurring mana costs or maintenance, which can be critical in certain tactical situations within Magic: The Gathering matches.

Claustrophobia - MTG Card versions
Narcolepsy - MTG Card versions
Ice Over - MTG Card versions
Claustrophobia - MTG Card versions
Narcolepsy - MTG Card versions
Ice Over - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Chant of the Skifsang by color, type and mana cost

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Feedback - MTG Card versions
In the Eye of Chaos - MTG Card versions
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Mana Vortex - MTG Card versions
Energy Flux - MTG Card versions
Mesmeric Trance - MTG Card versions
Soul Barrier - MTG Card versions
Puppet Master - MTG Card versions
Intruder Alarm - MTG Card versions
Equilibrium - MTG Card versions
Mana Breach - MTG Card versions
Checks and Balances - MTG Card versions
Douse - MTG Card versions
Veiled Crocodile - MTG Card versions
Charisma - MTG Card versions
Gaseous Form - MTG Card versions
Traveler's Cloak - MTG Card versions
Shifting Sky - MTG Card versions
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Card Pros

Card Advantage: Chant of the Skifsang leverages card advantage by applying a persistent debuff on a key opposing creature. Neutralizing a threat without expending additional resources can tilt the game in your favor by attrition over time.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly accelerating resources, Chant of the Skifsang can effectively save mana by locking down a potential target for removal. This allows you to allocate resources elsewhere, potentially accelerating your board state development in indirect ways.

Instant Speed: With its ability to be cast at instant speed, Chant of the Skifsang offers strategic flexibility. You can deploy this aura on your opponent’s turn, ideally after they’ve committed mana to a creature, ensuring your turn remains open for proactive plays or reacting to other threats.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Chant of the Skifsang requires you to discard a card in addition to its mana cost. For players who need to maintain a full hand for strategic plays or combos, this may put them at a disadvantage by depleting valuable resources prematurely.

Specific Mana Cost: This card calls for one blue and two other mana which necessitates a commitment to blue mana. Players running a multicolored deck might find this challenging, as it can be difficult to consistently generate the right mana combination, especially in the early stages of the game.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana, Chant of the Skifsang stands on the more expensive side when compared to other enchantment cards that can immobilize creatures. This can slow down your tempo, especially if you need to establish early game defense or are looking for a card with a more immediate impact.


Reasons to Include Chant of the Skifsang in Your Collection

Versatility: Chant of the Skifsang brings flexibility to your deck with its aura ability to debuff enemy creatures. It can slot into a variety of control decks, helping to neutralize opponents’ threats and swing the game in your favor.

Combo Potential: This card is a great tool for setting up combos. It can work as a piece in a larger puzzle, holding down potential blockers or attackers while you assemble the components for a game-winning move.

Meta-Relevance: In a game that has aggressive creatures at the forefront, Chant of the Skifsang offers a cost-effective solution. Its ability to consistently weaken an opponent’s key creature can be crucial in maintaining parity or gaining advantage on the battlefield.


How to Beat

Chant of the Skifsang is an intriguing enchantment card that can pose a significant control challenge in Magic: The Gathering. This card’s ability to lock down an opponent’s creature with a -13/-0 effect is a considerable threat, especially against decks that rely heavily on a single powerful creature. Unlike other control spells, such as Pacifism, which prevents creatures from attacking or blocking entirely, Chant of the Skifsang still allows the creature to block—it just won’t deal any damage.

To effectively counteract Chant of the Skifsang, versatility in your deck is crucial. Consider incorporating enchantment removal cards like Disenchant or Naturalize, which can directly target and eliminate the Chant. Another strategy is using hexproof creatures, as they are immune to being targeted by such enchantments. Additionally, instant-speed removals like Murder or Hero’s Downfall can preemptively address creatures before the Chant takes effect, thereby maintaining the tempo. It’s also beneficial to diversify your threats, so a single enchantment does not cripple your game plan. Adaptability and adequate preparation for enchantment-based control artifacts will greatly improve your resilience against Chant of the Skifsang.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Chant of the Skifsang MTG card by a specific set like Dark Ascension, 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 Chant of the Skifsang and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Chant of the Skifsang has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Chant of the Skifsang card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2011-01-22 A creature with power 0 or less assigns no combat damage. (It doesn’t assign a negative amount of combat damage.)