Skull Skaab MTG Card
2021-11-19 - Number 248
2022-01-28 - Number 515
2021-11-19 - Number 67
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Zombie |
| Abilities | Exploit |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Key Takeaways
- Skull Skaab excels in decks that use the graveyard for resource advantage and maintaining card flow.
- The card’s instant-speed interaction potential can catch opponents off-guard for strategic plays.
- Balancing its discard cost is crucial to avoid card disadvantage while exploiting its recurring abilities.
Text of card
Exploit (When this creature enters the battlefield, you may sacrifice a creature.) Whenever a creature you control exploits a nontoken creature, create a 2/2 black Zombie creature token.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Skull Skaab contributes to card advantage by allowing you to potentially return a creature card from your graveyard to your hand each turn, thus maximizing your resources and the cards at your disposal.
Resource Acceleration: This creature can also function as a form of resource acceleration. By exploiting another creature, you effectively utilize graveyard resources to strengthen your board position.
Instant Speed: Although Skull Skaab itself isn’t an instant, the benefit lies in its ability to interact with instant-speed cards or effects. This can create unexpected advantages during your opponent’s turn, leveraging the surprise factor inherent in the game’s dynamic nature.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Skull Skaab requires you to discard a card to exploit another creature. While this can potentially activate graveyard synergies, it can put you at a card disadvantage, especially if you’re already behind on board presence or hand size.
Specific Mana Cost: The mana cost for Skull Skaab demands both blue and generic mana which may pigeonhole it primarily into mono-blue or two-colored decks, potentially stifling its inclusion in multi-color decks that cannot consistently provide the necessary mana.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While it offers a unique benefit, the mana investment of three including one blue mana for Skull Skaab might be steep, particularly when compared to other options in the same mana range that don’t demand a discard or can impact the board immediately upon arrival.
Reasons to Include Skull Skaab in Your Collection
Versatility: Skull Skaab offers adaptability to decks centering around graveyard mechanics. By allowing you to exploit the graveyard as a resource, it fits seamlessly into strategies which focus on recursion or self-mill.
Combo Potential: As a creature that benefits from graveyard synergies, Skull Skaab can serve as a key piece in combos that capitalize on casting or recurring creatures from the graveyard. It also has the potential to scale in power and toughness, making it a growing threat on the board.
Meta-Relevance: In metas where creature-based strategies prevail, Skull Skaab can be a critical asset. Its ability to grow and enable graveyard-based plays keeps it relevant and potent against a wide array of opponents.
How to beat
Skull Skaab presents a unique challenge for Magic: The Gathering players with its ability to grow through creature card exile from your graveyard. This blue creature thrives on a well-stocked graveyard, making it crucial to limit the number of creature cards that find their way there. Graveyard management is a key strategy to prevent Skull Skaab from becoming an overwhelming threat on the board.
To effectively counter Skull Skaab, consider using removal spells that exile, rather than destroy, or employ graveyard hate cards like Rest in Peace to eliminate the graveyard as a resource altogether. Control decks may find success in countering key spells that fuel Skull Skaab’s power, while aggressive decks should aim to apply pressure early before it can become a significant presence. In any case, keeping your graveyard lean is essential when facing off against this particular adversary.
Understanding the intricate balance between utilizing your graveyard and preventing your opponent from benefiting from theirs is paramount when playing against Skull Skaab. Swift action and strategic card choices can ensure Skull Skaab remains nothing more than a minor nuisance rather than an unstoppable force in your MTG games.
Cards like Skull Skaab
Skull Skaab brings its unique flair to the zombie archetype in Magic: The Gathering. It can be compared to other zombie lords like Death Baron, which grants deathtouch and a boost to other zombies’ power and toughness. However, Skull Skaab distinguishes itself with its focus on graveyard utilization, enabling you to exile a creature card from your graveyard to create a 2/2 black Zombie creature token.
Another card in this niche is Cemetery Reaper, which also allows for the creation of zombie tokens. Though the cost of token creation is higher for Cemetery Reaper, it provides a static boost to your zombies alongside its token-making ability. Lord of the Accursed is noteworthy too, as it not only increases the strength of your zombies but also grants them all menace until end of turn with its activated ability. While these cards bolster the board in diverse ways, Skull Skaab stands out with its potential for graveyard synergy and incremental army building.
Considering the multifaceted strategies within the zombie category, Skull Skaab offers a strategic edge for those looking to maximize graveyard resources, marking its place as a valuable card for synergistic deck builders and zombie enthusiasts in Magic: The Gathering.
Cards similar to Skull Skaab by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Skull Skaab MTG card by a specific set like Innistrad: Crimson Vow and Crimson Vow Art Series, 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 Skull Skaab and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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
See MTG Products
Printings
The Skull Skaab Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2021-11-19 and 2022-01-28. Illustrated by Nicholas Gregory.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2021-11-19 | Innistrad: Crimson Vow | VOW | 248 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Nicholas Gregory | |
| 2 | Crimson Vow Art Series | AVOW | 67 | 2015 | Art series | Borderless | Nicholas Gregory | ||
| 3 | 2022-01-28 | Innistrad: Double Feature | DBL | 515 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Nicholas Gregory |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Skull Skaab has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
