Deepfathom Skulker MTG Card


Grants card draw through combat, bolstering hand options and increasing strategic plays each turn. Card advantage from Skulker can be a game-changer, providing indirect resource acceleration over time. Despite its strengths, Deepfathom Skulker’s high mana cost and deck requirements present strategic challenges.
Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost6
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Eldrazi
Abilities Devoid
Power 4
Toughness 4

Text of card

Devoid (This card has no color.) Whenever a creature you control deals combat damage to a player, you may draw a card. : Target creature can't be blocked this turn. ( represents colorless mana.)


Cards like Deepfathom Skulker

Deepfathom Skulker earns its reputation in Magic: The Gathering as a unique creature that propels card advantage underwater, reminiscent of the essence captured by the famed Whispering Madness. Both cards stimulate card flow but in disparate modes; Deepfathom Skulker requires combat damage to an opponent for its effect, adding a layer of aggression for deck strategies.

Lurking within similar depths, Thassa, God of the Sea, promotes a stealthy approach with her unblockable granting ability, edging close to Skulker’s prowess in ensuring creatures can deal combat damage. While not a direct path to drawing cards, it synergizes with Skulker’s intent. Then there’s Bident of Thassa, an artifact that echoes the Skulker’s reward of drawing cards for delivering combat damage, yet it offers a broader net by affecting all your creatures.

Ultimately, Deepfathom Skulker carves out its niche among MTG’s blue creatures that favor combat tactics and fuel card draw. It cleverly mixes offense with a continuous thirst for hand replenishment, positioning itself as a potent piece in commander decks seeking to capitalize on both combat and card advantage.

Whispering Madness - MTG Card versions
Thassa, God of the Sea - MTG Card versions
Bident of Thassa - MTG Card versions
Whispering Madness - MTG Card versions
Thassa, God of the Sea - MTG Card versions
Bident of Thassa - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Deepfathom Skulker grants you the ability to draw a card whenever a creature you control deals combat damage to a player. This consistent advantage engine ensures a steady flow of options, bolstering your strategic depth each turn.

Resource Acceleration: By granting the opportunity to draw additional cards, Deepfathom Skulker facilitates an indirect form of resource acceleration. Hand replenishment can lead to more land plays and access to a broader range of spells, which over time, significantly outpaces your opponent’s resource development.

Instant Speed: While Deepfathom Skulker itself is not an instant, its triggered ability helps to fuel casting spells at instant speed. With more cards in hand, you’re more likely to hold up mana for immediate responses, creating a mesh between developing your board and interacting with an opponent on their turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Deepfathom Skulker demands continuous card draw to utilize its ability fully, which can lead to a precarious balance of holding on to valuable hand cards versus drawing for utility.

Specific Mana Cost: Hailing from the blue mana pool, this skulker’s casting cost can be restrictive, necessitating a deck heavily invested in blue mana sources or a focused mana-fixing strategy.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Sitting at six mana, this denizen of the depths may arrive too late in the game when faster, lower-cost creatures could have already established control or when its impact may not turn the tides.


Reasons to Include Deepfathom Skulker in Your Collection

Versatility: Deepfathom Skulker offers an edge in decks that capitalize on unblocked creatures, ensuring consistent card advantage in various blue-based aggressive and tempo strategies.

Combo Potential: This card is exceptional in conjunction with effects that make creatures unblockable, synergizing to turn combat success into card draw and maintaining hand superiority.

Meta-Relevance: With a shifting meta that sometimes leans towards creature-based tactics, Deepfathom Skulker can be a critical inclusion for ensuring you keep up with card flow and present a threat that demands an answer.


How to beat

Deepfathom Skulker, a force to be reckoned with in Commander games, possesses the unique ability to reward you with card draw each time your creatures deal damage to an opponent. To tackle this card, a decisive strategy involves preventing it from leveraging its benefit—undetected attacks. Removal spells are key here, with a preference for those that can bypass any protective measures like hexproof or indestructibility.

Consider leveraging instant-speed removal to handle the Skulker before it paves the way for card advantage or board development. Sweepers, which can clear multiple threats at once, also serve as an excellent countermeasure, nullifying the Skulker’s impact on the match. Timing is crucial; aim to dismantle your opponent’s plans before the Skulker can become an insurmountable threat. Engage with control elements and keep a watchful eye on the board to maintain dominance. By doing so, you can mitigate the influence of Deepfathom Skulker and retain a solid position in your game.


BurnMana Recommendations

Deepfathom Skulker is a card that can seamlessly integrate into your blue-centric strategies, transforming every strike into a potential draw. As you weave this creature into your deck, consider its role in maintaining card flow and supplementing your resources. Whether you’re about to face your foes in a casual game or aiming for conquest in a Commander battle, Deepfathom Skulker stands as a beacon of relentless advantage. Looking for more insights and strategic advice on optimizing your deck’s performance with cards like Deepfathom Skulker? Engage with us for in-depth knowledge and tips that could tip the scales in your favor. Dive into our resources and claim your victories beneath the tides of combat.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Deepfathom Skulker MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Oath of the Gatewatch Promos, 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 Deepfathom Skulker and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Deepfathom Skulker Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2016-01-22 and 2024-06-14. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 596632015NormalBlackRaymond Swanland
22016-01-22Oath of the Gatewatch PromosPOGW 43s2015NormalBlackJoseph Meehan
32016-01-22Oath of the Gatewatch PromosPOGW 432015NormalBlackRaymond Swanland
42016-01-22Oath of the GatewatchOGW 432015NormalBlackJoseph Meehan
52024-06-14Modern Horizons 3 CommanderM3C 1802015NormalBlackJoseph Meehan

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Deepfathom Skulker has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2016-01-22 Activating Deepfathom Skulker’s last ability after it’s been legally blocked won’t change or undo that block. The declare attackers step is the last time you can activate the ability and have it be effective.