Elvish Skysweeper MTG Card
2005-10-07 - Number 162
2013-11-01 - Number 143
2014-11-07 - Number 192
2017-06-09 - Number 104
2022-10-14 - Number 95
| Card sets | Released in 5 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Elf Warrior |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 1 |
Text of card
, Sacrifice a creature: Destroy target creature with flying.
The spires of Ravnica are no different from the tall trees of other planes. The elves navigate and protect them just the same.
Cards like Elvish Skysweeper
Elvish Skysweeper offers a unique role in Magic: The Gathering as both a creature and a removal tool. Its closest relatives in function include cards like Scattershot Archer and Tornado Elemental. Like Elvish Skysweeper, Scattershot Archer can be used to control flying creatures, posing a threat to those with smaller toughness. However, the Archer does so without the need to sacrifice other creatures and at no mana cost, though it is limited to only dealing damage rather than outright destroying.
Meanwhile, Tornado Elemental comes with a higher cost but packs a powerful punch, capable of dealing significant damage to flying creatures upon entry to the battlefield. What sets Elvish Skysweeper apart is its recurring ability to handle flying threats and the tactical advantage of being a low-cost creature, enabling it to fit smoothly into elf-themed decks that benefit from synergistic tribal bonuses.
When evaluating these options, Elvish Skysweeper holds its own, especially in decks that can consistently generate a stream of creatures to fuel its ability. It is a versatile card that not only strengthens your board presence but also keeps the skies clear of potential aerial assailants.
Cards similar to Elvish Skysweeper by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Elvish Skysweeper’s ability to potentially remove multiple flying threats over the course of a game can deprive your opponent of their valuable assets while maintaining your board state, which can lead to a card advantage.
Resource Acceleration: The synergy with decks that focus on ramping and generating a lot of mana means Elvish Skysweeper can be an affordable way to leverage existing resources for controlling the skies, playing well into strategies that accelerate resource availability.
Instant Speed: Though not an instant itself, the Skysweeper’s activated ability can be used at instant speed, providing the flexibility to wait until the last possible moment to decide whether to utilize your mana for creature removal or other instant-speed interactions during your opponent’s turn.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Elvish Skysweeper requires sacrificing a creature as part of its activated ability. This can be detrimental, especially when your board presence is critical for maintaining control of the game.
Specific Mana Cost: The activation of this card’s ability is not only costly in terms of creatures but also requires one green mana. This requirement makes it less flexible, as you need to ensure you have the appropriate land or mana sources available.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: To utilize Elvish Skysweeper’s ability to its full potential, you need to invest a total of six mana – five of any color plus one green. This is a significant investment, particularly when there are other flying creature removal options available at a lower mana cost.
Reasons to Include Elvish Skysweeper in Your Collection
Versatility: Elvish Skysweeper offers flexible gameplay as both a low-cost creature and a flying deterrent. Its ability to destroy flying creatures can seamlessly integrate into various green decks that may lack air defense.
Combo Potential: This elf rogue can become a key piece in combos, especially with strategies that generate a multitude of creature tokens, leveraging them to consistently remove threatening flyers from the game.
Meta-Relevance: In environments where players favor flying powerhouses or token-generating archetypes, Elvish Skysweeper’s removal capability becomes increasingly valuable, keeping your skies clear and your opponents cautious.
How to beat
Confronting the Elvish Skysweeper in your MTG games can be quite the challenge, especially if you’re up against a deck that leverages its strength for aerial control. This creature is often used in strategies to remove flying creatures that threaten its owner, by combining its modest one mana activation cost with sacrificing another creature to bring down airborne threats. However, overcoming the Elvish Skysweeper is not beyond reach.
To outplay it, consider employing cards that prevent the Elvish Skysweeper from being targeted directly or indirectly. Options such as counter spells or abilities that grant hexproof to your flying creatures can invalidate its ability. Another strategy is to reduce the number of creatures your opponent controls, lessening the Skysweeper’s ammunition to sacrifice. You might also deploy flying creatures with indestructible or have abilities that trigger upon death, negating the disadvantage of potentially losing them.
The key lies in adapting your game plan by either fortifying your creatures against targeting, or by keeping your opponent’s side of the battlefield in check. With careful planning and strategic countermeasures, the Elvish Skysweeper’s influence on the sky can be effectively grounded.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Elvish Skysweeper MTG card by a specific set like Ravnica: City of Guilds and Commander 2013, 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 Elvish Skysweeper 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 Elvish Skysweeper Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2005-10-07 and 2022-10-14. Illustrated by Mark Tedin.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2005-10-07 | Ravnica: City of Guilds | RAV | 162 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Mark Tedin | |
| 2 | 2013-11-01 | Commander 2013 | C13 | 143 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Mark Tedin | |
| 3 | 2014-11-07 | Commander 2014 | C14 | 192 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Mark Tedin | |
| 4 | 2017-06-09 | Commander Anthology | CMA | 104 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Mark Tedin | |
| 5 | 2022-10-14 | Game Night: Free-for-All | GN3 | 95 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Mark Tedin |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Elvish Skysweeper has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |