Expedition Skulker MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Vampire Rogue |
| Released | 2020-09-25 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Zendikar Rising |
| Set code | ZNR |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 2 |
| Number | 101 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Mathias Kollros |
Text of card
Expedition Skulker has deathtouch as long as you control another Rogue.
Rogues bring an array of useful skills to the work of an adventuring party: stealth, agility, the ability to locate and disarm traps, and a subtle, deadly fighting style.
Cards like Expedition Skulker
Expedition Skulker is a versatile creature within the rogue archetype in Magic: The Gathering. It holds a striking resemblance to cards such as Vampire Cutthroat and Oona’s Blackguard. Both provide key capabilities that sync with the rogue theme, sporting evasive abilities which enable them to slip past defenders. Vampire Cutthroat boasts lifelink and skulk, similar to Expedition Skulker’s deathtouch as long as you control another rogue, allowing both to excel in attrition strategies.
Delving into other akin choices, Psychic Miasma shares an adversary mindset with its ability to affect the opponent’s hand when a rogue deals combat damage. Although not a creature itself, it complements the disruptive playstyle that cards like Expedition Skulker embody. Lastly, consider Thieves’ Guild Enforcer, a rogue that flourishes as more cards are added to your opponent’s graveyard, capitalizing on a shared synergy with Expedition Skulker’s attack incentives for a steady deck theme.
Analyzing these similar options, Expedition Skulker emerges as a substantial contributor to rogue-aligned decks that prioritize tactical attacks and strategic creature control. By pairing well with other rogues, it clearly demonstrates its own merit within the vast selection of MTG cards designed for cunning and calculated gameplay.
Cards similar to Expedition Skulker by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Expedition Skulker can give you an edge in decks that need to maintain board presence. With its Deathtouch ability, it can be a deterrent for opponents considering an attack and can help you keep control of the board.
Resource Acceleration: While this creature doesn’t directly accelerate resources, it’s a cost-effective creature, valuable for maintaining mana efficiency. Its low converted mana cost enables you to deploy other spells or abilities more readily, effectively optimizing your resource management.
Instant Speed: Although Expedition Skulker itself does not have an ability that operates at instant speed, being a Rogue it can synergize with other instant-speed Rogue tribal effects. This could potentially lead to advantages during the combat or casting of surprises that could swing a game in your favor.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Expedition Skulker can be a tricky card to play optimally considering the need to discard another card to activate its abilities. For players holding a critical hand, this cost becomes a strategic hurdle, often forcing difficult decisions about resource management.
Specific Mana Cost: The Skulker requires black mana for casting, which could be restrictive for multi-color decks or decks that aren’t mana-flexible. This specific requirement makes it less versatile for deck building, especially for those not focused heavily on black mana.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While not exorbitantly priced, the mana cost of Expedition Skulker is on the higher side when compared to other creatures with similar abilities and stats. In competitive play, this can make it a less efficient choice, especially when alternatives could provide equal or greater value at a lower mana investment.
Reasons to Include Expedition Skulker in Your Collection
Versatility: Expedition Skulker is a flexible inclusion, adept at fitting into rogue-themed decks and improving the overall synergetic efficiency. Its ability to become deathtouch-enabled with another rogue on the field makes it an excellent defensive choice against larger threats.
Combo Potential: With cards that benefit from deathtouch or care about party mechanics, Expedition Skulker can be a key piece. It pairs well with cards that allow rogues to tap or deal damage, as deathtouch can be a powerful deterrent to attackers or a way to clear opposing creatures.
Meta-Relevance: Facing a creature-heavy environment, the Skulker’s deathtouch capability offers significant board control. Its low mana cost aligns perfectly with fast-paced games, ensuring that it remains relevant in varied meta-game scenarios where early board presence is crucial.
How to Beat Expedition Skulker
Expedition Skulker, a creature card from Magic: The Gathering, may not seem like a major threat at first glance with its deathtouch ability. However, this card can become a nuisance, especially if you’re running creatures susceptible to its one-hit removal potential. It’s vital to understand its mechanics to navigate around this stealthy adversary effectively.
To counter the Expedition Skulker efficiently, one strategy is using removal spells that can handle creatures without the need for direct combat. Cards like Murder or Fatal Push can dispatch the Skulker before it can leverage its deathtouch. Additionally, using cards that can bypass deathtouch, such as those with indestructible or protection from black, can prove useful since Expedition Skulker is typically a black creature.
Another practical approach is playing cards that force your opponent to sacrifice creatures. Since Expedition Skulker often isn’t the most valuable creature on the board, your opponent may choose it as the sacrifice, effectively neutralizing the threat it poses. Bottom line, keeping a versatile set of removal spells in your arsenal or cards that minimize combat interaction will help ensure that Expedition Skulker doesn’t hinder your path to victory.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Expedition Skulker MTG card by a specific set like Zendikar Rising, 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 Expedition Skulker 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
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Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Expedition Skulker has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |