Skarrgan Skybreaker MTG Card

Guildpact (GPT)
2006-02-03 - Number 130

Skarrgan Skybreaker - Duel Decks: Heroes vs. Monsters (DDL)

Duel Decks: Heroes vs. Monsters (DDL)
2013-09-06 - Number 60

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	7
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Giant Shaman
Abilities	Bloodthirst
Power	3
Toughness	3

Key Takeaways

As a source of card advantage, Skarrgan Skybreaker impacts both the board and opponents’ life totals effectively.
It can accelerate resources, pressuring opponents and creating advantageous scenarios for the controller.
The unearth ability at instant speed provides significant strategic flexibility and surprise elements in matches.

Text of card

Bloodthirst 3 (If an opponent was dealt damage this turn, this creature comes into play with three +1/+1 counters on it.) , Sacrifice Skarrgan Skybreaker: Skarrgan Skybreaker deals damage equal to its power to target creature or player.

"The sky isn't falling—it's being thrown at us!" —Otak, Tin Street shopkeep

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Skarrgan Skybreaker can be an unexpectedly rich source of card advantage due to its multifaceted utility. Once you cast it, not only do you get a formidable creature on the board, but its leaves-the-battlefield ability lets you deal damage equivalent to its power to any target, possibly removing a threat or directly chipping away at an opponent’s life total. This essentially translates to having the potential for a two-for-one deal, impacting the board and life totals simultaneously.

Resource Acceleration: Skarrgan Skybreaker arrives with a built-in mechanism that can lead to a quick rise in resources. While it doesn’t directly generate additional mana, its presence forces opponents to deal with it swiftly. This can lead to situations where opponents might overextend their resources to remove it, thus giving you a relative acceleration as they deplete their arsenal, giving you the resource advantage.

Instant Speed: Thanks to its ability to be unearthed at instant speed, Skarrgan Skybreaker grants you significant strategic flexibility. You can opt to wait until the most opportune moment to surprise your opponent, potentially resurrecting it on their turn to maximize the pressure and make it harder for them to anticipate and react to your plays. Moreover, it can serve as a sudden blocker or an unexpected source of damage, offering you an edge in the fluid dynamics of a match.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Skarrgan Skybreaker demands that you discard a card when you utilize its bloodthirst ability. While this can potentially make it more powerful, it also means potentially losing valuable hand advantage, which could set you back in the game.

Specific Mana Cost: With its mana cost requiring both red and green, Skarrgan Skybreaker can be restrictive in its deck placement. Players not running both colors might find it difficult to incorporate into their strategy, limiting its versatility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The casting cost for Skarrgan Skybreaker is fairly steep, and although its bloodthirst can be a boon, there are alternative creatures and spells available that may provide comparable or better value without the hefty mana investment.

Reasons to Include Skarrgan Skybreaker in Your Collection

Versatility: Skarrgan Skybreaker offers a flexible role within decks, easily sliding into strategies that capitalize on both direct damage and creatures with formidable power. It serves as an excellent finisher in red or Gruul decks due to its ability to scale with the game.

Combo Potential: The Skybreaker’s inherent capability to be sacrificed for damage creates opportunities for synergies, notably in decks that thrive on sacrificing creatures for greater effects or in utilizing death triggers for strategic advantage.

Meta-Relevance: As the landscape of the game shifts, Skarrgan Skybreaker remains a strong contender against decks that are slower to establish board presence, punishing opponents who are unprepared for a sudden burst of damage.

How to beat

Confronting a Skarrgan Skybreaker in Magic: The Gathering requires strategic planning. This formidable creature comes with a potent ability that can be triggered upon its demise. While it might not be the fastest card on the block, its last breath can deliver a substantial amount of damage, equal to its power, directly to any target. To successfully play against it, one would advise including options for countering or pre-emptively removing such threats.

Consider employing instant speed removal spells that can disrupt your opponent’s plans before they can utilize the Skybreaker’s ability. Cards like Path to Exile or Rapid Hybridization can be excellent tools, as they not only neutralize the threat but also do so without triggering its damaging effect. Additionally, leveraging blue spells that counter creature spells directly upon casting, such as Counterspell or Mana Leak, can prevent it from ever entering the battlefield and thus becoming an issue.

Moreover, if the Skybreaker is already in play, strategies that reduce its power, like using Humble or Ovinize, before it can sacrifice itself, minimize the impact of its parting shot. By integrating these measures into your deck, you increase your resilience against such explosive threats and enhance your control over the duel’s outcome.

Cards like Skarrgan Skybreaker

In the realm of Magic: The Gathering, Skarrgan Skybreaker presents a unique role as a creature with the ability to make a direct impact on the board state. It draws parallel with similarly costed creatures such as Spark Trooper. While Skarrgan Skybreaker requires an investment of mana to unleash its full potential, dealing damage equal to its power upon sacrifice, Spark Trooper provides immediate impact with lifelink and trample, though it possesses a shorter shelf life with the ‘sacrifice at the beginning of the next end step’ clause.

Examining another counterpart, we encounter Volcano Hellion, which showcases its flexibility in assigning any amount of damage to itself and another target. It’s a powerful option but demands careful play due to the equal damage it deals to its controller. Furthermore, Shivan Wumpus offers a different kind of threat, pressuring opponents’ land bases but without the direct damage capability of Skarrgan Skybreaker.

From this comparison, Skarrgan Skybreaker emerges as a potent choice for players seeking a damage dealer with the flexibility of late-game mana investment. Its ability to provide a substantial burst of direct damage while also being a formidable creature in battle positions it as a favorable pick among its counterparts.

Cards similar to Skarrgan Skybreaker by color, type and mana cost

Atarka, World Render - MTG Card versions

Omnath, Locus of Rage - MTG Card versions

Klauth, Unrivaled Ancient - MTG Card versions

Gut, Bestial Fanatic - MTG Card versions

Etali, Primal Conqueror // Etali, Primal Sickness - MTG Card versions

Atarka, World Render - Starter Commander Decks (SCD)

Omnath, Locus of Rage - Explorer Anthology 3 (EA3)

Klauth, Unrivaled Ancient - Forgotten Realms Commander (AFC)

Gut, Bestial Fanatic - Alchemy Horizons: Baldur's Gate (HBG)

Etali, Primal Conqueror // Etali, Primal Sickness - March of the Machine (MOM)

Riftburst Hellion - Murders at Karlov Manor (MKM)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Skarrgan Skybreaker MTG card by a specific set like Guildpact and Duel Decks: Heroes vs. Monsters, 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 Skarrgan Skybreaker and other MTG cards: