Gixian Skullflayer MTG Card

Enriches card economy by providing multiple choices from your library, enhancing play strategies. Accelerates gameplay by effectively utilizing graveyard resources, offering powerful comebacks. Provides instant speed flexibility, allowing for tactical responses during crucial moments.

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Phyrexian Human Assassin
Released	2022-11-18
Set symbol
Set name	The Brothers' War
Set code	BRO
Power	2
Toughness	3
Number	100
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Anna Pavleeva

Text of card

At the beginning of your upkeep, if there are three or more creature cards in your graveyard, put a +1/+1 counter on Gixian Skullflayer.

"With every culling, we bring this world closer to *compleation*."

Cards like Gixian Skullflayer

Gixian Skullflayer introduces unique mechanics in MTG’s diverse arsenal of creature cards. Drawing parallels with cards like Flametongue Kavu, it too, presents a way to deal damage to creatures upon entry. Nevertheless, Gixian Skullflayer demands a prerequisite of having three or more artifact cards in your graveyard to unleash its potential. Comparatively, Flametongue Kavu’s ability is unconditional and impacts the board immediately upon casting.

Considering Terror of the Peaks, both offer a forceful presence but differ in approach. Terror of the Peaks enables direct damage to any target when another creature enters the battlefield under your control, providing consistent value. Gixian Skullflayer, on the other hand, focuses on its once-off ability influenced by the state of your graveyard.

Lastly, Ravenous Chupacabra is a noteworthy mention. It offers outright creature destruction without the need for damage, yet Gixian Skullflayer can potentially deal with indestructible creatures if the damage dealt is enough. The strategic decision between choosing removal methods likes these comes down to the architecture of your deck and playstyle engagement.

Cards similar to Gixian Skullflayer by color, type and mana cost

Mischievous Poltergeist - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Gixian Skullflayer offers a unique edge in card economy. Once its ability triggers, you’re granted access to multiple options from the top of your library, directly fueling your strategic maneuvers and keeping your hand well-stocked against opponents.

Resource Acceleration: This sinister card also paves the way for resource acceleration. By delving into your graveyard, it puts your spent resources to good use, accelerating your gameplay and giving you a comeback potential that can catch adversaries off-guard.

Instant Speed: The ability to disrupt the battlefield at instant speed cannot be overstated. With the power to respond swiftly to threats or surprise an adversary mid-combat, the Gixian Skullflayer provides strategic flexibility that can turn the tide of a game in your favor at a moment’s notice.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Gixian Skullflayer forces you to discard a card upon resolution, potentially depleting your hand when you might need to hold on to valuable cards for later turns.

Specific Mana Cost: With a mana cost that demands both black and red mana, this card slots into a limited range of deck types, making it less versatile than more flexible options.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The mana investment for Gixian Skullflayer can be steep considering alternative creatures or removal spells that might provide a more immediate impact on the game state.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Gixian Skullflayer can be a flexible addition to decks that focus on graveyard manipulation or aggressive strategies. Its ability to self-mill and grow stronger provides various tactical advantages.

Combo Potential: This card synergizes well with strategies revolving around recursion or creature sacrifice, enabling powerful combinations that capitalize on both its power increase and graveyard stocking aspects.

Meta-Relevance: In a game where graveyard dynamics play a key role, the Gixian Skullflayer stands out as a relevant choice, adeptly fitting into the prevailing decks and often disrupting opponents’ strategies.

How to beat Gixian Skullflayer

Gixian Skullflayer presents an interesting challenge in the battlefield dynamics of Magic: The Gathering. When dealing with this card, it’s essential to understand its mechanics and how it interacts with your opponent’s strategy. The Gixian Skullflayer can be a persistent threat due to its ability to potentially exile cards from a player’s graveyard, which can turn the tide in your opponent’s favor, especially in formats where graveyard interaction is key.

To overcome Gixian Skullflayer, it’s wise to limit the number of creatures in your graveyard, or use graveyard-shuffling effects that can replenish your library and diminish the Gixian Skullflayer’s impact. Additionally, implementing instant-speed removal can be a game-changer, allowing you to eliminate the Gixian Skullflayer before it has the opportunity to activate its disruptive ability. Strategic use of counter spells can also prevent it from ever entering the battlefield. Lastly, including cards that grant hexproof to your graveyard or cards like Tormod’s Crypt that can proactively exile your graveyard, can neutralize the Gixian Skullflayer’s advantage.

Ultimately, understanding the role of Gixian Skullflayer in your opponent’s deck composition and preparing targeted countermeasures will ensure you maintain control and lead you toward victory.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Gixian Skullflayer MTG card by a specific set like The Brothers' War, 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 Gixian Skullflayer and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Gixian Skullflayer has restrictions

Format	Legality
Standard	Legal
Historicbrawl	Legal
Historic	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Alchemy	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Commander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Future	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Explorer	Legal
Brawl	Legal
Timeless	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2022-10-14	Gixian Skullflayer's triggered ability checks the number of cards in your graveyard both when it triggers and when it resolves. If there aren't three or more creature cards in your graveyard each time, you won't put a +1/+1 counter it.