Diver Skaab MTG Card
2021-11-19 - Number 56
2022-01-28 - Number 323
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Zombie |
| Abilities | Exploit |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 5 |
Text of card
Exploit (When this creature enters the battlefield, you may sacrifice a creature.) When Diver Skaab exploits a creature, target creature's owner puts it on the top or bottom of their library.
It doesn't need to breathe, but the suit does help keep the parts together.
Cards like Diver Skaab
Diver Skaab stands out among zombie creature cards in its ability to dabble in the realm of card utility. It shares qualities with Archaeomancer, which is known for its capability to return an instant or sorcery card from the graveyard to your hand upon entering the battlefield. However, Diver Skaab has a leg up, given its exploit mechanic allows for a selective self-mill strategy, making it potentially more versatile in decks aimed at utilizing the graveyard as a resource.
Comparing further, we find Stitcher’s Apprentice, which also interacts with creatures. While the Apprentice focuses on producing Homunculus creature tokens, Diver Skaab leans towards a more strategic card advantage, allowing you to engineer your graveyard contents to your benefit. Then there’s Havengul Skaab, another creature that plays with the idea of library manipulation, but Diver Skaab is more cost-efficient and brings immediate value upon exploiting another creature.
Therefore, the multifaceted nature of Diver Skaab, combining creature-based interactions with self-mill and graveyard manipulation strategies, establishes it as a creature card with a nuanced role in MTG decks that favor a long-term tactical approach.
Cards similar to Diver Skaab by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Diver Skaab offers an efficient way to maintain momentum through its ability to return an instant or sorcery card from your graveyard to your hand when it enters the battlefield. This replenishes your resources and can tilt the scales in your favor during a match.
Resource Acceleration: Although Diver Skaab doesn’t directly accelerate resources in terms of mana, it contributes indirectly by retrieving high-impact spells that have the potential to change the game’s dynamics, effectively giving you more options and the upper hand in utilizing your existing resources effectively.
Instant Speed: The utility of Diver Skaab is underlined by its capacity to interact at instant speed with its exploit mechanic. This trait allows you to wait for the opportune moment to sacrifice it, possibly in response to removal or other instant-speed interactions, showcasing tactical versatility and strategic depth.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Diver Skaab requires you to discard a card to exploit it, which can be counterproductive when you’re already behind in card advantage.
Specific Mana Cost: This card demands both blue and black mana, making it somewhat restrictive as it fits only into decks that accommodate both colors.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The casting cost might appear reasonable at first glance, but for a four mana investment, the player might expect a more immediate impact on the game state.
Reasons to Include Diver Skaab in Your Collection
Versatility: Diver Skaab stands out due to its utility in both aggressive and control-based blue decks. Its synergistic properties enhance strategies focused around flashback or graveyard interactions, allowing you to maximize the value of your spells over the course of a game.
Combo Potential: The prowess of Diver Skaab shines when it’s combined with cards that benefit from or enable graveyard recursion. It can be a key component in setting up powerful turns, where casting spells from your graveyard can turn the tide of battle in your favor.
Meta-Relevance: With the ever-evolving gameplay in MTG, a card like Diver Skaab can proactively adapt to numerous scenarios. Its presence in your collection ensures you have a card that is continually relevant, providing strategic depth to your deck as the competitive landscape shifts.
How to beat
Diver Skaab presents itself as a persistent nuisance to many players in the world of Magic: The Gathering. This pesky creature from the Innistrad: Midnight Hunt edition puts up a notable defense thanks to its ability to return from the graveyard to the battlefield by exiling two other creature cards from your graveyard. To effectively counter this card, your strategy should revolve around exile effects or graveyard disruption tactics.
Consider cards like Rest in Peace or Scavenging Ooze that can handle graveyard-based strategies by removing creatures before Diver Skaab can make use of them. Keeping the graveyard empty can render Diver Skaab’s ability useless, removing its threat altogether. Furthermore, instant removal spells that exile, such as Path to Exile or the more recent Roiling Vortex, directly tackle Diver Skaab by ensuring it doesn’t get another chance to rise from the dead.
Victory against Diver Skaab can often mean managing the larger battlefield and maintaining control over the state of both players’ graveyards. A well-timed piece of graveyard hate can ensure that the Skaab stays sunk, allowing you to focus on the other threats at hand.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Diver Skaab MTG card by a specific set like Innistrad: Crimson Vow and Innistrad: Double Feature, 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 Diver Skaab and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Printings
The Diver Skaab Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2021-11-19 and 2022-01-28. Illustrated by Dave Kendall.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2021-11-19 | Innistrad: Crimson Vow | VOW | 56 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Dave Kendall | |
| 2 | 2022-01-28 | Innistrad: Double Feature | DBL | 323 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Dave Kendall |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Diver Skaab has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |