Kolaghan Skirmisher MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Human Warrior
Abilities	Dash
Released	2015-03-27
Set symbol
Set name	Dragons of Tarkir
Set code	DTK
Power	2
Toughness	2
Number	107
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Anthony Palumbo

Key Takeaways

Dash ability offers surprise attacks, enhancing aggressiveness and strategic flexibility in gameplay.
The Skirmisher’s synergy with other cards can escalate its impact, making it a combo-friendly creature.
Despite some limitations, the card’s instant speed and low dash cost provide a valuable early-game presence.

Text of card

Dash (You may cast this spell for its dash cost. If you do, it gains haste, and it's returned from the battlefield to its owner's hand at the beginning of the next end step.)

Kolaghan's army rushes from kill to kill, desperate to avoid the dragon's wrath.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Kolaghan Skirmisher itself does not draw cards directly, its recurring potential through mechanics like dash may pressure opponents to trade inefficiently, indirectly leading to card advantage as they deplete resources to deal with it.

Resource Acceleration: Although not a direct source of resource acceleration, the Skirmisher’s low mana cost integrates well with aggressive decks that capitalize on early-game momentum, effectively speeding up your board presence and pressuring opponents to respond.

Instant Speed: Dash gives the Kolaghan Skirmisher a unique advantage by allowing it to be played at instant speed. Deploying the creature at the end of an opponent’s turn can surprise an unprepared adversary and potentially dodge sorcery-speed removals, aligning with the strategic flexibility of instant speed spells.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Playing Kolaghan Skirmisher often comes with a prerequisite to discard a card. This trade-off can strain your hand especially when you’re battling to maintain card advantage against your opponent.

Specific Mana Cost: This card demands a split mana cost, including both black and red. While flavorful for its clan, this requirement can restrict its inclusion to decks that support these colors, potentially excluding it from a wider variety of deck builds where it could otherwise be advantageous.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost that is on the higher side for its creature stats and abilities, the Skirmisher could be considered a less economical choice when compared to other creatures in the same mana bracket. Players might find that other cards offer a greater impact on the game’s state at a similar or lower cost point.

Reasons to Include Kolaghan Skirmisher in Your Collection

Versatility: Kolaghan Skirmisher is a nifty addition to any deck that thrives on swift aggression. With its Dash ability, it can be a surprise threat dodging sorcery speed removal and enabling strategies that capitalize on quick, evasive attacks.

Combo Potential: This creature’s synergy with other cards that boost Warriors or exploit entering the battlefield or leaving combat such as “Mardu Strike Leader” or “Blood-Chin Rager”, makes it a tantalizing option for combo-centric players seeking to weave intricate patterns on the battlefield.

Meta-Relevance: In a game state teeming with slow-developing decks, Kolaghan Skirmisher’s ability to hit the ground running and apply early pressure can be a deciding factor in outpacing opponents and disrupting their game plan effectively.

How to beat

Kolaghan Skirmisher is a creature that brings straightforward aggression to the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering. It’s not a complex card, featuring dash as its primary ability which allows you to pay its dash cost for a hasty attack then return it to hand at the beginning of the next end step. Though it seems formidable at first, it’s manageable once you understand how to effectively counter it.

One effective strategy to combat Kolaghan Skirmisher is through the use of instant removal spells that can be cast during the combat phase or in response to its dash ability. Cards that deal damage or force the owner to sacrifice the attacking creature can neutralize the Skirmisher before it has a chance to deal damage. Moreover, having creatures with reach or those that can block flying creatures provides a solid line of defense, as these blockers can withstand the attack and likely survive to tell the tale.

Every card presents an opportunity for players to showcase strategic depth and adaptability. Recognizing when to eliminate key threats like Kolaghan Skirmisher can tip the scales in your favor, ensuring that your opponent’s quick attacks aren’t so damning after all.

Cards like Kolaghan Skirmisher

Kolaghan Skirmisher brings a particular flair to the array of aggressive creatures in Magic: The Gathering. It shares some characteristics with cards like the Goblin Glory Chaser, which also has a strong early-game presence. However, the Skirmisher is distinct due to its dash ability, allowing for sudden attacks and a flexible playstyle. Unlike the Goblin Glory Chaser, which becomes renowned and slightly stronger when it hits the opponent, the Skirmisher can repeatedly dash into play to avoid sorcery-speed removal.

Looking into other creatures, we find the War-Name Aspirant, which benefits from raid to potentially evade blockers. The Skirmisher does not have this type of evasion, but instead relies on dash to be a recurring threat. Another comparable creature is the Mardu Scout, which also boasts the dash ability. Yet, the Scout requires more mana to utilize dash, making the Skirmisher a more mana-efficient choice for cyclic attacks.

All things considered, the Kolaghan Skirmisher stands its ground in the early game skirmishes, due to its low-cost dash and capability to consistently pressure opponents. It offers a delicate balance of aggression and tactical flexibility that can shape the battlefield in favor of the player commanding it.

Cards similar to Kolaghan Skirmisher by color, type and mana cost

Order of the Ebon Hand - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Kolaghan Skirmisher MTG card by a specific set like Dragons of Tarkir, 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 Kolaghan Skirmisher and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Kolaghan Skirmisher has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2015-02-25	If a creature enters the battlefield as a copy of or becomes a copy of a creature whose dash cost was paid, the copy won’t have haste and won’t be returned to its owner’s hand.
2015-02-25	If you choose to pay the dash cost rather than the mana cost, you’re still casting the spell. It goes on the stack and can be responded to and countered. You can cast a creature spell for its dash cost only when you otherwise could cast that creature spell. Most of the time, this means during your main phase when the stack is empty.
2015-02-25	If you pay the dash cost to cast a creature spell, that card will be returned to its owner’s hand only if it’s still on the battlefield when its triggered ability resolves. If it dies or goes to another zone before then, it will stay where it is.
2015-02-25	You don’t have to attack with the creature with dash unless another ability says you do.