Fearless Skald MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Dwarf Berserker |
| Abilities | Backup,Double strike |
| Released | 2023-04-21 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | March of the Machine |
| Set code | MOM |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 2 |
| Number | 138 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Slawomir Maniak |
Text of card
Backup 1 (When this creature enters the battlefield, put a +1/+1 counter on target creature. If that's another creature, it gains the following ability until end of turn.) Double strike
"Hold nothing back, my friends. Tonight we feast in Starnheim!"
Cards like Fearless Skald
Fearless Skald carves its niche in the tribal warrior strategies of Magic the Gathering. With the ability to grant +1/+1 to another target attacking warrior, it draws parallels to cards like Goblin Banneret. Both creatures share the mechanic of boosting fellow combatants during the attack. Whereas the Goblin is more restrictive in its mentor ability, the Skald offers a wider buff to any attacking warrior, making it versatile across various warrior-based decks.
In the same space, Metallic Mimic stands out due to its adaptability. It’s not only a booster for warriors but also other creature types depending on what you choose upon casting it. Though it supports a broader range of strategies, Fearless Skald’s direct attacking bonus and its own warrior credentials synergize efficiently within a focused tribal strategy. Resemblant yet distinct in its utility is Ogre Battledriver, granting +2/+0 to other creatures when they enter the battlefield. However, unlike Fearless Skald, the Battledriver’s effect is not limited to the attack phase and includes a haste bonus, pushing the pace for an aggressive playstyle.
Each of these cards offers unique advantages to warrior-themed decks, but the Fearless Skald stands out for its consistent attack phase buffs, ensuring your warriors hit harder every combat and your tribal synergies are maximized.
Cards similar to Fearless Skald by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Fearless Skald enhances your gameplay by providing you with extra draw power. The ability to draw additional cards when it attacks bolsters your hand, offering more strategic options each turn and keeping your resources flowing smoothly. This makes sure you rarely run out of actions to take during your plays.
Resource Acceleration: This card offers an indirect form of resource acceleration by possibly discarding a card to replace itself with a more useful one from the deck when it dies. This facilitates a more consistent performance of your deck by filtering out unnecessary cards and keeping the essential plays in motion.
Instant Speed: Fearless Skald may not operate at instant speed, but it does complement instant-speed strategies by providing a reliable creature on the board. This allows you to keep your mana untapped for instant-speed interactions without sacrificing board presence, striking a fine balance between reactive play and maintaining pressure on your opponent.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Fearless Skald’s ability mandates discarding a card as part of its activation cost. This can be a considerable drawback, especially if your hand is already depleted, and you’re counting on holding key strategies or essential reactions to your opponent’s moves. An empty hand could render this ability useless, putting you at a disadvantage in crucial moments.
Specific Mana Cost: This Norse-inspired warrior’s casting cost isn’t overly taxing, but it does require a red mana. This specificity could limit the card’s flexibility, making it a potential stumbling block in multicoloured decks that might struggle with mana consistency. It’s an important aspect to consider when building your deck, as you’ll need to ensure a steady supply of red mana to play Fearless Skald on curve.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that is a bit steeper in comparison to some other options in your deck, Fearless Skald may not always be the most mana-efficient choice. In a game where tempo can be pivotal, you might find other cards that can either hit the board sooner or provide a larger impact for the same amount of mana, potentially offering you a stronger position or more immediate value.
Reasons to Include Fearless Skald in Your Collection
Versatility: Fearless Skald’s ability to provide card advantage makes it a useful asset in a variety of decks. As a creature that can draw a card when it dies, it ensures that investing in the battlefield isn’t wasted, even if it falls to a removal spell.
Combo Potential: This card’s ability to churn through your deck can be coupled with graveyard strategies, utilizing the draw to fuel further plays or recovery tactics. Moreover, in decks that benefit from creatures entering or leaving the battlefield, Fearless Skald can serve as an efficient part of a combo enabler.
Meta-Relevance: In a game state where removal is prevalent, having creatures that provide added value upon death can be a game-changer. Examples include reanimator strategies or decks that aim to overwhelm with card advantage—Fearless Skald fits right into these strategies and adapts well to shifting metas.
How to beat
Fearless Skald represents a subtle yet effective piece of the warrior tapestry in Magic: The Gathering. As a card that boasts the ability to beef up your game plan, it can be a formidable card to deal with. Boasting both the ability to enhance a creature and to thin your deck as it puts a card you draw into your hand, it creates an inherent value that can escalate if not addressed promptly.
That said, overcoming the influence of a Fearless Skald in play calls for a timely response. The most straightforward method is through removal spells. Direct damage spells or targeted removal can take the Skald off the board before it begins tipping the scales in your opponent’s favor. Additionally, control decks equipped with counter spells can prevent the Skald from ever entering the battlefield, preempting its deck-thinning ability altogether.
In terms of strategy, prioritizing the elimination of Fearless Skald or hindering its activation can be key to maintaining balance. Also considering sweeping effects for multiple creatures can be advantageous, as Fearless Skald could be just one component of a wider synergistic threat posed by warrior-centric decks. Ultimately, playing smart and having a reactive plan in place is your best tactic against this card’s potential to empower your adversary’s battlefield position.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Fearless Skald MTG card by a specific set like March of the Machine, 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 Fearless Skald 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 Fearless Skald has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Alchemy | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Fearless Skald card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2023-04-14 | Backup confers only abilities that are actually printed below it. Any abilities that are gained by the permanent are ignored, including abilities gained due to a resolving spell or ability or copy effects. |
| 2023-04-14 | If a backup ability causes another creature to gain abilities, the creature with backup will still have those abilities. |
| 2023-04-14 | If a backup ability targets the creature with backup, that creature will get +1/+1 counters, but it won’t gain additional abilities. |
| 2023-04-14 | If a permanent enters the battlefield as a copy of a card with a backup ability or a token is created that is a copy of that card, the order of the printed abilities is maintained. |
| 2023-04-14 | The abilities that backup grants to the target creature are determined only once, at the time the ability triggers. They won’t change if the permanent with backup loses any abilities before the backup ability resolves. |