Gustcloak Skirmisher MTG Card
2002-10-07 - Number 38
2015-02-27 - Number 13
2019-11-07 - Number 130
2020-09-26 - Number DDO-13
| Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Bird Soldier |
| Abilities | Flying |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 3 |
Text of card
Flying Whenever Gustcloak Skirmisher becomes blocked, you may untap it and remove it from combat.
They're trained in the art of pressing their luck.
Cards like Gustcloak Skirmisher
In the diverse ecosystem of creatures within Magic: The Gathering, Gustcloak Skirmisher has its unique place. A bird soldier with flying, it’s often set against the likes of Aven Sunstriker. Like the Skirmisher, the Sunstriker soars onto the battlefield with flying. However, it comes equipped with double strike instead of the Skirmisher’s ability to untap when it becomes blocked and remove itself from combat. This gives the Skirmisher an edge in terms of versatility, allowing for strategic retreats and sustained attacks over multiple turns.
Turning our gaze to another relative, Gustcloak Savior stands out with a similar mechanic that protects not just itself but also your other creatures. While Gustcloak Skirmisher shields itself, Savior acts as the guardian for your entire army. This difference in scope can make a significant impact on the battlefield, offering a broader defensive strategy for your deck.
Although each card has its strengths, Gustcloak Skirmisher shines through with its unique combination of evasion and resilience. It plays a vital part in strategies aiming to maintain a consistent board presence and provides a reliable option for players seeking a creature that can adeptly avoid unfavorable combat outcomes.
Cards similar to Gustcloak Skirmisher by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Gustcloak Skirmisher comes in handy to replenish your hand by offering other cards an incentive to connect with opponents. This translates into you having more resources and options at your disposal, potentially outweighing your adversary in both strategy and card count.
Resource Acceleration: This card might not produce mana or treasure tokens directly, however, it does provide an indirect way to accelerate your resources. By protecting your more important creatures with its untap ability, this can ensure your key assets stay on the board longer to augment your resource generation in subsequent turns.
Instant Speed: Effectively, it acts at the speed of the game. With the ability to untap a Gustcloak creature whenever it becomes blocked, you are given the flexibility to react to your opponent’s actions during the combat phase, similar to how you would with instant speed interactions, thus keeping you one step ahead in the turn sequence.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Gustcloak Skirmisher does not impose a discard requirement itself, which is an upside. Concern, however, comes from the environment it is played in, where synergies are vital. If a deck’s strategy requires card retention for combos or late-game power, this card doesn’t necessitate sacrifices that might otherwise contribute to such strategic depth.
Specific Mana Cost: Gustcloak Skirmisher’s mana cost is explicitly white-centric, needing two white mana as part of its total cost. This can challenge deck-building for multi-colored decks that might struggle with mana consistency, potentially limiting the card’s versatility across various deck archetypes.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Bearing a cost of four mana, Gustcloak Skirmisher demands a significant investment for its 2/3 body and abilities. When considering the overall mana curve of a deck, especially in formats that value speed and efficiency, there may be alternative creatures or spells that offer more impact or value for the same or less mana.
Reasons to Include Gustcloak Skirmisher in Your Collection
Versatility: Gustcloak Skirmisher can easily slot into various deck archetypes that appreciate evasion abilities. Its flying attribute makes it a consistent threat in the skies, while its untapping ability adds a clever defensive utility.
Combo Potential: This card pairs exceedingly well with equipment and enchantments that trigger upon attacking or dealing damage. Additionally, it can be part of intricate tap-untap combos due to its ability to untap whenever it becomes blocked.
Meta-Relevance: Given the right circumstances, Gustcloak Skirmisher holds its ground in environments where combat tactics are key. Its presence forces opponents to rethink blocks, lending a subtle psychological edge to your gameplay.
How to Beat Gustcloak Skirmisher
Gustcloak Skirmisher is an intriguing creature card that brings not just a body to the battlefield but a tactical advantage in evasion. That said, any card has its Achilles’ heel, and defeating Gustcloak Skirmisher involves strategic play. Cards that deny the creature’s ability to attack or block effectively are key when facing it. For instance, employing removal spells before it has the chance to untap during the combat phase can eliminate the threat it poses. This includes options like Doom Blade for its cost-efficiency or even a Pacifism to render it useless without having to remove it from play.
Icy Manipulator is another solution, allowing you to tap Gustcloak Skirmisher at the start of the combat phase, thus preventing it from engaging in combat in the first place. When looking at more permanent solutions, consider using enchantments that keep the creature tapped indefinitely, or better yet, exile it with spells like Path to Exile to ensure it doesn’t make a reappearance. Timing is crucial in these interactions, so watch the board and choose your moment wisely to maintain control over the battlefield.
Understanding the capabilities of Gustcloak Skirmisher and how it fits into the current game state is the key to outmaneuvering it. Keeping the pressure with a mixture of instant-speed interactions and permanent solutions will secure your victory against this evasive threat.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Gustcloak Skirmisher MTG card by a specific set like Onslaught and Duel Decks: Elspeth vs. Kiora, 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 Gustcloak Skirmisher 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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Printings
The Gustcloak Skirmisher Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2002-10-07 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by Dan Frazier.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2002-10-07 | Onslaught | ONS | 38 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Dan Frazier | |
| 2 | 2015-02-27 | Duel Decks: Elspeth vs. Kiora | DDO | 13 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Dan Frazier | |
| 3 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 130 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Dan Frazier | |
| 4 | The List | PLST | DDO-13 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Dan Frazier |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Gustcloak Skirmisher has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |