Duskshell Crawler MTG Card
Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
Mana cost | |
Converted mana cost | 2 |
Rarity | Common |
Type | Creature — Insect |
Power | 0 |
Toughness | 3 |
Text of card
When Duskshell Crawler enters the battlefield, put a +1/+1 counter on target creature. Each creature you control with a +1/+1 counter on it has trample.
They often perch on street lamps, causing the poles to buckle under their weight.
Cards like Duskshell Crawler
Duskshell Crawler introduces an intriguing dynamic into the world of mana acceleration in Magic: The Gathering. It offers a subtle yet impactful edge with its ability to both speed up your mana development and beef up your creatures. When we look at comparable cards such as Llanowar Elves, the focus is squarely on the mana, with the elf tapping for a single green mana each turn. The Duskshell Crawler, while not tapping for mana, gives all your creatures a slight power and toughness enhancement, which can be crucial during combat scenarios.
Another card worth noting is Birds of Paradise, a renowned mana accelerator with the added versatility of providing any color mana. The Crawler doesn’t have this kind of flexibility, but it compensates with the bonus static ability that benefits all creatures you control. Furthermore, there’s Zhur-Taa Druid, which not only taps for mana but also chips away at your opponent’s life total. Yet, it lacks the across-the-board enhancement that defines Duskshell Crawler’s uniqueness in creature-focused strategies.
These comparisons show how Duskshell Crawler carves out its niche within MTG, offering an attractive blend of mana progression and a continuous boost to your creatures, positioning itself as a valuable asset in decks that prioritize wide creature presence and combative advantage.
Cards similar to Duskshell Crawler by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Duskshell Crawler not only contributes to your board presence with its own body but also enhances the future plays by letting your creatures enter the battlefield with an additional +1/+1 counter—potentially turning every draw into a more impactful one.
Resource Acceleration: This creature’s low mana cost facilitates early game plays, smoothing out your mana curve and giving you lead in resource development. The +1/+1 counters it provides effectively increase the power of your investments on the board on subsequent turns, ensuring a stronger position as the game progresses.
Instant Speed: While Duskshell Crawler doesn’t operate at instant speed itself, the permanent boost it gives to creatures that enter the battlefield extends the value of instant-speed creatures played later on. This synergy allows for more formidable threats during surprise end-of-turn plays, keeping opponents on their toes.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Duskshell Crawler isn’t saddled with any discard prerequisites, players should stay vigilant regarding cards that do, as they impose a harsh penalty on hand size, inevitably constraining strategic flexibility.
Specific Mana Cost: Duskshell Crawler comes with a specific mana cost that confines it to decks running green mana. This restricts its adoption across the diverse array of deck archetypes available to players.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Duskshell Crawler’s cost efficiency can be critiqued when compared to other mana acceleration creatures. Often, players may find other options that provide a greater boost to their mana economy for a similar or lower investment.
Reasons to Include Duskshell Crawler in Your Collection
Versatility: Duskshell Crawler is a flexible addition to any deck looking for efficient creature buffs. As a low-cost creature, it seamlessly fits into numerous strategies, enhancing the power and toughness of other creatures you control.
Combo Potential: With its ability to bolster other creatures, this card can be a critical piece in combo decks aiming to create large, powerful creatures quickly. It synergizes well with mechanics that are triggered by creature strength or entering the battlefield.
Meta-Relevance: Given its cost-efficiency and the evergreen nature of creature-based decks, Duskshell Crawler holds relevance in various metagames, making it a smart choice for players who want to stay competitive without frequent deck overhauls.
How to beat
Mastering your matches in Magic: The Gathering often revolves around knowing how to tackle various threats on the battlefield. When facing off against a Duskshell Crawler, understanding the subtleties of this creature can give you the upper hand. The Duskshell Crawler may appear daunting with its ability to bolster other creatures. Yet, cards that neutralize this advantage, such as instant removal spells, are key to disrupting your opponent’s strategy. Cards like ‘Shock’ and ‘Fatal Push’ work effectively to eliminate the Crawler before its fellow creatures reap the benefits.
Another approach is to limit the number of counters the Crawler can distribute by confining its interactions. Using cards that restrict players from casting spells during your turn, such as ‘Teferi, Time Raveler’, can be invaluable. Should the Duskshell Crawler manage to enhance other creatures prior to its removal, board wipes or targeted exile spells can reset the tide of the game in your favor. Optimization of your sideboard and main deck to include a blend of these strategies will keep the Duskshell Crawler’s influence at bay and increase your chances of maintaining control of the game.
BurnMana Recommendations
Duskshell Crawler has the potential to bring substantial value to your MTG gameplay. With its ability to improve creature performance and advance your mana development, it’s a smart addition for anyone building a green-centric deck. Even if it requires committing to green mana, the trade-off can be worthwhile given the right strategy. It’s important to recognize its limitations, though. To avoid being outpaced in the fast-evolving MTG scene, make sure to continually assess the meta and adapt accordingly. Are you intrigued by the strategic boost that Duskshell Crawler can offer your deck? Dive deeper into its applications and optimize your gameplay by delving into our detailed insights.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Duskshell Crawler MTG card by a specific set like Modern Horizons 2 and Jumpstart: Historic Horizons, 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 Duskshell Crawler and other MTG cards:
BUY NOWBurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
- 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 Duskshell Crawler Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2021-06-18 and 2024-02-23. Illustrated by Yeong-Hao Han.
# | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2021-06-18 | Modern Horizons 2 | MH2 | 156 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Yeong-Hao Han | |
2 | 2021-08-26 | Jumpstart: Historic Horizons | J21 | 561 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Yeong-Hao Han | |
3 | 2022-12-02 | Jumpstart 2022 | J22 | 650 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Yeong-Hao Han | |
4 | 2024-02-23 | Ravnica: Clue Edition | CLU | 161 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Yeong-Hao Han |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Duskshell Crawler has restrictions
Format | Legality |
---|---|
Historicbrawl | Legal |
Commander | Legal |
Historic | Legal |
Legacy | Legal |
Paupercommander | Legal |
Modern | Legal |
Oathbreaker | Legal |
Pauper | Legal |
Vintage | Legal |
Duel | Legal |
Gladiator | Legal |
Timeless | Legal |