Chasm Skulker MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 8 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Squid Horror
Power 1
Toughness 1

Key Takeaways

  1. Chasm Skulker’s power scales with card-draw, making it increasingly intimidating over time.
  2. When removed, it spawns Squid tokens, sustaining your board presence effectively.
  3. Instant-speed draw spells enhance Chasm Skulker’s threat at unexpected times.

Text of card

Whenever you draw a card, put a +1/+1 counter on Chasm Skulker. When Chasm Skulker dies, create X 1/1 blue Squid creature tokens with islandwalk, where X is the number of +1/+1 counters on Chasm Skulker. (They can't be blocked as long as defending player controls an Island.)

Designed by Mike Neumann


Card Pros

Card Advantage: With Chasm Skulker, the card draws you gain from other spells and abilities become doubly valuable. Each draw juices up the Skulker, turning it into a growing threat that’s hard to ignore. When this creature finally leaves the battlefield, it doesn’t just go away quietly; instead, it creates a mini swarm of Squid tokens, keeping your side of the board advantageously populated.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly impacting mana resources, Chasm Skulker essentially accelerates your creature resources. The more cards you draw, the more Squid tokens you potentially have at your disposal. This can ramp up your board presence quickly, potentially overwhelming your opponent with sheer numbers.

Instant Speed: Chasm Skulker itself may not have instant speed, but its synergy with instant-speed draw spells is where the magic happens. Cast a draw spell on your opponent’s turn to unexpectedly bulk up the Skulker, preparing it for a surprise offensive or a more formidable defense on your next turn. This interaction keeps opponents guessing and gives you the upper hand during the flow of the game.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Chasm Skulker’s advantage is tied to drawing cards, which can be a downside if your hand is empty or if you’re unable to establish a draw engine. Without additional support to feed your card flow, it struggles to reach its monstrous potential.

Specific Mana Cost: With a cost that requires one blue mana, Chasm Skulker may not always fit seamlessly into multi-color decks. Players might find it challenging to summon the creature in decks that don’t prioritize blue mana generation.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Investing three mana into a creature that starts out as a 1/1 may feel steep, considering that other blue creatures might provide immediate impact on the game. The investment in Chasm Skulker pays off over time, which may not be conducive to faster-paced strategies.


Reasons to Include Chasm Skulker in Your Collection

Versatility: Chasm Skulker thrives in decks focused on drawing cards, snowballing in power with each card drawn. Its capability to fit into various strategies, from control to combo, makes it a multifaceted asset for any collection.

Combo Potential: When Chasm Skulker dies, it leaves behind a slew of Squid tokens, potentially overwhelming opponents. Pairing it with card-draw effects or sacrifice outlets can turn this creature into a formidable engine for token strategies.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where games stretch long and card advantage is king, Chasm Skulker can become a recurring threat. As it aligns well with various popular blue archetypes, its relevance remains steady, often catching unprepared opponents off guard.


How to beat

Chasm Skulker is a unique creature that grows stronger every time you draw a card in Magic: The Gathering. One key tactic to conquer this growing threat is the timely use of removal spells before it becomes too large. Cards like Swords to Plowshares or Path to Exile can effectively remove Chasm Skulker regardless of its size without triggering its ability, as they exile it instead of causing it to die. It’s essential to keep these kinds of answers in hand when you face a blue deck that might deploy the Skulker.

Another strategy involves preventing card draw which fuels Chasm Skulker’s growth. This can be achieved through cards like Narset, Parter of Veils, which limits the opponent’s ability to draw multiple cards in a turn, thereby inhibiting the Skulker’s growth. Lastly, board wipes such as Wrath of God or Damnation can deal with Chasm Skulker after it has accumulated a substantial number of +1/+1 counters, as they remove the Skulker and its resulting Squid tokens simultaneously, ensuring your opponent doesn’t gain an overwhelming board presence.


BurnMana Recommendations

Exploring the depths of MTG gameplay unlocks the potential of cards like Chasm Skulker, a creature that epitomizes the advantage of card draw mechanics. Understanding both its strengths and limitations is key to maximizing its impact on the battlefield. With the strategies and comparisons outlined, seasoned and novice players alike can discern the place Chasm Skulker holds in their collections and how to effectively deploy or counter it. Embrace its versatile nature and combo potential to elevate your game. Dive in further with us to uncover advanced tactics and ensure your deck leads you to victory.


Cards like Chasm Skulker

Chasm Skulker shines in the realm of creature-based card advantages within MTG. It shares its space with cards like Lorescale Coatl, which also thrives on card draw, growing in power with each card drawn. However, Chasm Skulker offers a unique explosive potential upon death, releasing a swarm of Squid tokens onto the battlefield.

In this league, we can also mention Toothy, Imaginary Friend, who follows a similar pattern of accruing benefits from card draws and leaves a parting gift when it leaves the battlefield in the form of card draws equal to its power. However, Toothy lacks the immediate board presence that Chasm Skulker’s tokens provide. Managorger Hydra is another card that grows with each spell cast, but unlike Chasm Skulker, it doesn’t bolster your army upon demise.

Each of these creatures offers distinct advantages and strategies in gameplay, but Chasm Skulker stands out for its ability to multiply its presence and keep opponents on their toes even in the face of removal. Therein lies its unique edge when compared to its counterparts.

Lorescale Coatl - MTG Card versions
Toothy, Imaginary Friend - MTG Card versions
Managorger Hydra - MTG Card versions
Lorescale Coatl - MTG Card versions
Toothy, Imaginary Friend - MTG Card versions
Managorger Hydra - MTG Card versions

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Rootwater Shaman - MTG Card versions
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Volrath's Shapeshifter - MTG Card versions
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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Chasm Skulker MTG card by a specific set like Magic 2015 Promos and Magic 2015, 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 Chasm Skulker and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Chasm Skulker Magic the Gathering card was released in 8 different sets between 2014-07-17 and 2023-04-21. Illustrated by Jack Wang.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12014-07-17Magic 2015 PromosPM15 46p2015NormalBlackJack Wang
22014-07-18Magic 2015M15 462015NormalBlackJack Wang
32016-11-11Commander 2016C16 852015NormalBlackJack Wang
42019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 3132015NormalBlackJack Wang
52020-09-26The ListPLST M15-462015NormalBlackJack Wang
62022-04-29New Capenna CommanderNCC 2142015NormalBlackJack Wang
72022-06-10Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's GateCLB 7142015NormalBlackJack Wang
82023-04-21March of the Machine CommanderMOC 2182015NormalBlackJack Wang

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Chasm Skulker has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2014-07-18 If enough -1/-1 counters are put on Chasm Skulker at the same time to make its toughness 0 or less, the number of +1/+1 counters on it before it got any -1/-1 counters will be used to determine how many Squid tokens you get. For example, if there are two +1/+1 counters on Chasm Skulker and it gets three -1/-1 counters, you'll get two Squid tokens.
2014-07-18 If you draw multiple cards, the first ability will trigger that many times. Each of these abilities will cause a +1/+1 counter to be put on Chasm Skulker.

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