Skarrgan Pit-Skulk MTG Card

Guildpact (GPT)
2006-02-03 - Number 96

Skarrgan Pit-Skulk - Duel Decks: Mind vs. Might (DDS)

Duel Decks: Mind vs. Might (DDS)
2017-03-31 - Number 50

Skarrgan Pit-Skulk - RNA Guild Kit (GK2)

RNA Guild Kit (GK2)
2019-02-15 - Number 84

Card sets	Released in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	1
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Human Warrior
Abilities	Bloodthirst
Power	1
Toughness	1

Key Takeaways

This card complements creature-heavy green strategies, transforming board advantage into sustained offensive pressure.
Skarrgan Pit-Skulk’s low casting cost enables a swift, resource-efficient playstyle, crucial for outpacing opponents.
Its potential for instant-speed growth rewards aggressive tactics, making it a formidable play when timed right.

Text of card

Bloodthirst 1 (If an opponent was dealt damage this turn, this creature comes into play with a +1/+1 counter on it.) Creatures with power less than Skarrgan Pit-Skulk's power can't block it.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Skarrgan Pit-Skulk may not let you draw cards directly, but paired with green’s creature-focused strategies, it efficiently converts board presence into pressure. By synergizing with a strategy that often already includes card draw mechanisms, it helps maintain the flow of threats and therefore sustains card advantage.

Resource Acceleration: While this creature doesn’t generate additional mana, its low cost is an asset for accelerating your gameplay. Its low mana requirement allows players to deploy other resources or spells in the same turn, effectively speeding up your overall game plan.

Instant Speed: Although Skarrgan Pit-Skulk itself isn’t an instant, its Bloodthirst ability has instant-speed potential since it’s contingent on whether a creature you controlled dealt damage to an opponent this turn. This encourages and rewards an aggressive playstyle, where players can optimize the timing of their attacks to enhance the Pit-Skulk upon resolution.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Although not typical for Skarrgan Pit-Skulk, any card that necessitates discarding can deplete your hand. This tactic might backfire, leaving you with limited options as the game progresses.

Specific Mana Cost: Skarrgan Pit-Skulk demands green mana to cast, which could be problematic in multicolored or colorless decks. Its need for devotion to green narrows its flexibility across various deck builds.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Even though Skarrgan Pit-Skulk has a relatively moderate cost, it still requires more mana investment compared to other one-drop creatures. When trying to maintain a curve or deploy swift threats, its mana cost could be seen as less economical.

Reasons to Include Skarrgan Pit-Skulk in Your Collection

Versatility: Skarrgan Pit-Skulk is a unique creature card that excels in decks craving an aggressive early game. With its low mana cost and potential power boost, it’s a perfect fit for fast-paced green builds looking to overwhelm opponents quickly.

Combo Potential: This card becomes a juggernaut when bolstered by green’s prowess in boosting creature strength. Bloodthirst strengthens it if an opponent was dealt damage, and coupled with cards that grant trample or evasion, it becomes a force that can swiftly tilt the battlefield in your favor.

Meta-Relevance: Given its resilience against counterspells once powered up, Skarrgan Pit-Skulk remains a potent choice in a meta teeming with control decks. Its capacity to persist as a threat even in the late game makes it a valuable asset for players aiming to maintain relentless pressure.

How to beat

Confronting a Skarrgan Pit-Skulk on the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering can pose a unique challenge. This creature benefits greatly from its power-boosting ability when its controller has more life than an opponent. To undercut its strengths, keen strategy should include preventing life gain by your adversary, or utilizing removal spells before they can achieve this life lead. Cards such as Lightning Bolt or Fatal Push work well to eliminate the Skarrgan Pit-Skulk before it becomes a major threat.

Another effective approach lies in taking control of the battlefield with creatures that can block effectively. This strategy can negate the benefit that Skarrgan Pit-Skulk gains from having bloodthirst, essentially making it a less formidable foe. Including versatile answers in your deck that handle multiple types of threats, not just creatures, can also increase your odds of coming out on top against decks that rely on the life advantage synergy.

Understanding the mechanics and timing to play around cards like the Skarrgan Pit-Skulk requires experience and tactical foresight. Staying proactive about your life total and wielding your removal judiciously will prevent the Pit-Skulk from becoming an overwhelming presence and will maintain balance in your matches.

Cards like Skarrgan Pit-Skulk

Skarrgan Pit-Skulk holds a unique position in the realm of green creatures within MTG. When surveying its counterparts, one can’t help but compare it to other low-cost creatures that escalate in power. Like Skarrgan Pit-Skulk, the card Kird Ape flourishes when specific conditions are met – in this case, when a forest is under a player’s control, an intensifying similarity between the two.

Exploring further, we stumble upon the card Experiment One, which introduces the evolve mechanic, accruing strength and toughness whenever a larger creature enters the battlefield under your control. Skarrgan Pit-Skulk shares the ability to become a significant threat at a low cost, but depends uniquely on bloodthirst to power up. Another relative is Pelt Collector, a creature that grows stronger with every other creature that dies and has bigger power, mirroring the trend of escalating threats Skarrgan Pit-Skulk presents.

In the green creatures’ category, Skarrgan Pit-Skulk shines with its potential for growth in the right deck, capturing the essence of green’s might seamlessly, turning this seemingly unassuming creature into a force to be reckoned with.

Cards similar to Skarrgan Pit-Skulk by color, type and mana cost

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Skarrgan Pit-Skulk MTG card by a specific set like Guildpact and Duel Decks: Mind vs. Might, 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 Skarrgan Pit-Skulk and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Skarrgan Pit-Skulk Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2006-02-03 and 2019-02-15. Illustrated by Liam Sharp.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2006-02-03	Guildpact	GPT	96	2003	Normal	Black	Liam Sharp
2	2017-03-31	Duel Decks: Mind vs. Might	DDS	50	2015	Normal	Black	Liam Sharp
3	2019-02-15	RNA Guild Kit	GK2	84	2015	Normal	Black	Liam Sharp

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Skarrgan Pit-Skulk has restrictions

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

Rules and information

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