Skyshroud Lookout MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Elf Archer |
| Abilities | Reach,Seek |
| Released | 2021-08-26 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Jumpstart: Historic Horizons |
| Set code | J21 |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 1 |
| Number | 30 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Olena Richards |
Key Takeaways
- Fetches Elves, ensuring strategic hand optimization and outnumbering opponents with tactical plays.
- Speeds up resources in Elf decks, crucial for rapid board presence and overwhelming the adversary.
- Facilitates instant speed maneuvers, keeping opponents uncertain of your forthcoming actions.
Text of card
Reach When Skyshroud Lookout enters the battlefield, seek an Elf card.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: When Skyshroud Lookout enters the battlefield, you get the opportunity to search your library for an Elf card and put it into your hand. This not only increases your hand size but also ensures that you get access to key pieces of your strategy more consistently, thereby outmaneuvering your opponents with a broader selection of tactics.
Resource Acceleration: As Skyshroud Lookout can fetch any Elf card from your deck, you can target mana-producing elves, effectively serving as a form of resource acceleration. This can be particularly potent in Elf-based decks that hinge on swarming the board with numerous creatures and overwhelming opponents swiftly.
Instant Speed: While Skyshroud Lookout itself is a creature card and not cast at instant speed, the elf that it retrieves can be a pivotal piece to instant-speed strategies. By having access to elves with flash or those that can untap your mana sources instantly, you maintain flexibility and responsiveness, keeping opponents guessing about your next move.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The effect of Skyshroud Lookout may necessitate discarding another card, potentially depleting your hand when you need those resources to respond to opponents’ threats.
Specific Mana Cost: Skyshroud Lookout requires green mana, which means it is predominantly viable in decks that are green or have a green mana base, potentially restricting its versatility across various deck types.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Even though Skyshroud Lookout’s mana cost might seem low, when considering its stat line and effect, there are alternative creatures or spells that could provide more impact or better value for the same or a lower mana investment.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Skyshroud Lookout demonstrates an adaptable role in decks that capitalize on Elf synergies or themes involving creature searching. Its capacity to fetch another Elf upon entering the battlefield seamlessly integrates with various strategy layers.
Combo Potential: In combination-oriented decks, Skyshroud Lookout shines by initiating elf-related combos, and can be an enabler for chaining together powerful plays, or even infinite combinations with the right board state.
Meta-Relevance: With an evolving competitive scene, decks that utilize creature-based synergies can stay relevant. Skyshroud Lookout can be a valuable addition to strategies that rely on a critical mass of Elves to overpower opponents.
How to beat
Skyshroud Lookout, while not commonly encountered in the competitive scene of Magic: The Gathering, does pose some unique challenges when it hits the battlefield. As a card that brings other Elves into play, it can strengthen elf-based strategies that seek to swarm the board with creatures. However, there are strategies to effectively neutralize its impact.
Responsive removal spells prove to be the most direct method to deal with Skyshroud Lookout. Instant-speed interaction like Lightning Bolt or Path to Exile allows you to remove the Lookout before it can capitalize on its abilities, curtailing the opponent’s potential elf synergy. In the face of decks that rely on creature synergy, board wipes such as Wrath of God or Damnation can reset the playing field, making sure that the advantage gained from Skyshroud Lookout’s creature tutoring is short-lived.
Skyshroud Lookout requires a dedicated deck that capitalizes on elf synergy to be truly effective. By disrupting this synergy through timely removal, targeted hand disruption, or broader sweeping effects, you can easily maneuver around the challenges it presents and keep the board state in your favor.
Cards like Skyshroud Lookout
In the world of Magic: The Gathering, certain cards have subtle similarities and differences that can influence a game significantly. Skyshroud Lookout may remind seasoned MTG players of cards like Elvish Visionary, which also allows you to draw a card when it enters the battlefield. However, Skyshroud Lookout’s unique ability to search for elf cards is a feature the Visionary lacks, making it potentially more valuable in elf-centric decks.
Another card worth comparing is Wall of Omens. Both Wall of Omens and Skyshroud Lookout have similar entering the battlefield abilities. Still, Wall of Omens draws a card directly, while Skyshroud Lookout offers targeted selection, which can be crucial in deck strategies that require specific elf synergies.
Evaluating the roles these cards play highlights Skyshroud Lookouts value in specific deck builds, especially those focusing on elf synergy. It’s not just about drawing cards, but about sculpting your hand to fit your overall strategy on the battlefield.
Cards similar to Skyshroud Lookout by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Skyshroud Lookout MTG card by a specific set like Jumpstart: Historic Horizons, 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 Skyshroud Lookout 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
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Skyshroud Lookout has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
