Skyway Sniper MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	1
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Elf Archer
Abilities	Reach
Released	2020-07-03
Set symbol
Set name	Core Set 2021
Set code	M21
Power	1
Toughness	2
Number	206
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Even Amundsen

Key Takeaways

Skyway Sniper manages threats at instant speed, offering tactical advantage by controlling aerial combat.
Green mana requirement limits versatility but opens strategic deck-building options for specific metas.
Sideboard worthy as a tactical anti-flyer, Skyway Sniper proves its worth in flying-heavy formats.

Text of card

Reach (This creature can block creatures with flying.) : Skyway Sniper deals 1 damage to target creature with flying.

"No sight is more beautiful than a clear sky."

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Skyway Sniper can repeatedly eliminate problematic small creatures, maintaining your card advantage by dealing with multiple threats using just one card.

Resource Acceleration: Although not directly providing mana or tokens, Skyway Sniper can influence resource acceleration by clearing the path for your creatures to attack and thereby helping to ensure your land drops remain uncontested.

Instant Speed: Skyway Sniper’s activated ability can be used at instant speed, which provides flexibility. Hold back mana during your opponent’s turn to threaten any incoming flyers and only use the ability when it’s most tactically advantageous.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Skyway Sniper demands the disposal of other cards from your hand to unlock its full potential, which can place you at a disadvantage, particularly when your hand is already running thin.

Specific Mana Cost: With a casting cost that requires green mana, Skyway Sniper is not universally adaptable, potentially restricting deck-building options and its synergy with multicolored strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Casting Skyway Sniper might be resource-intensive when compared to other cards with similar abilities. Allocating valuable mana to this card can sometimes prove inefficient, especially in faster paced matches where tempo is key.

Reasons to Include Skyway Sniper in Your Collection

Versatility: Skyway Sniper suits a range of decks with its capacity to serve both as an early blocker against aggressive creatures and a repeatable source of damage against flyers, becoming particularly useful in formats where flying creatures are prevalent.

Combo Potential: This card can synergize with effects that reward you for dealing damage or targeting creatures, as well as with cards that capitalize on activated abilities as a part of a more intricate combo.

Meta-Relevance: In a game environment where aerial threats are dominant, Skyway Sniper’s utility as an anti-flying tool means it could be an essential sideboard card and offer strategic advantage in various matchups.

How to beat

Skyway Sniper can be a tricky creature to handle in Magic: The Gathering. With its ability to deal damage to creatures with flying, it serves as a powerful deterrent, especially for decks that rely heavily on airborne strategies. To outmaneuver Skyway Sniper, the key is to minimize its effectiveness or remove it from the board swiftly.

One efficient strategy is to utilize removal spells that can bypass its reach capability. Spells like Fatal Push or Bloodchief’s Thirst are excellent at dealing with low-cost creatures like Skyway Sniper. Alternatively, if your deck includes creatures that can grow beyond the damage threshold of Skyway Sniper, you can force your opponent into a position where using the Sniper’s ability becomes a less favorable option. Lastly, consider employing non-flying threats that can pressure your opponent into using their mana elsewhere, thus negating the presence of the Skyway Sniper on the field.

Ultimately, understanding the dynamics of your opponent’s deck and anticipating the presence of Skyway Sniper allows you to prepare adequately. By choosing the right spells or creatures, or adopting an adaptive playstyle, you can render the Sniper far less intimidating, safeguarding your path to victory.

Cards like Skyway Sniper

In the realm of ranged threats within Magic: The Gathering, Skyway Sniper stands out as an adept creature for poking at opponents’ flying creatures. Comparable in this role to cards like Giant Spider, which can also block flying creatures effectively, Skyway Sniper gets an edge with its activated ability to directly damage flying creatures. Unlike Giant Spider, Skyway Sniper requires mana investment for its ability, adding strategic depth to its use.

Another card worth considering in comparison is Archer’s Parapet. While Archer’s Parapet can’t target creatures specifically, it shares the ability to deal direct damage, albeit to players, by tapping and paying mana. What sets Skyway Sniper apart is its focus on creature control, which can be crucial in battles for aerial superiority. Then there’s Turret Archer, which also damages flying creatures but does so passively during your turn without the need for mana, albeit restricted in activation.

Scrutinizing these cards reveals Skyway Sniper’s niche as a tactical tool for defending against flying assailants in MTG. Its unique combination of creature targeting and flexibility in use places it as an intriguing option for players looking to fine-tune their defense against airborne strategies.

Cards similar to Skyway Sniper by color, type and mana cost

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Skyway Sniper MTG card by a specific set like Core Set 2021, 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 Skyway Sniper and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Skyway Sniper has restrictions

Format	Legality
Historicbrawl	Legal
Historic	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Restricted
Oathbreaker	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Commander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Explorer	Legal
Penny	Legal
Timeless	Legal