Lord of Shatterskull Pass MTG Card
2010-04-23 - Number 156
2010-04-23 - Number 156★
2002-06-24 - Number 36871
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Minotaur Shaman |
| Abilities | Level Up |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 3 |
Text of card
Level up (: Put a level counter on this. Level up only as a sorcery.) LEVEL 1-5 6/6 LEVEL 6+ 6/6 Whenever Lord of Shatterskull Pass attacks, it deals 6 damage to each creature defending player controls.
Cards like Lord of Shatterskull Pass
Lord of Shatterskull Pass is a unique creature that occupies a special role in MTG decks that thrive on level up mechanics. Its closest comparison in terms of game-altering abilities would be to creatures like Echo Mage. Both have level up abilities, yet Echo Mage emphasizes spell copying rather than direct damage. Echo Mage requires strategic setup, whereas Lord of Shatterskull Pass becomes a powerhouse, effortlessly dealing damage to each opponent’s creatures once sufficiently leveled up.
Another card worth mentioning is Enclave Cryptologist. This card also benefits from the leveling mechanic, focusing on card draw rather than brute force. Where Lord of Shatterskull Pass might clear the board, Enclave Cryptologist offers a steady advantage through increased hand size. Lastly, we look at Kargan Dragonlord, a fellow level up creature with a potential for massive power. While it doesn’t clear creatures en masse like Lord of Shatterskull Pass, it becomes a flying, trampling threat that can single-handedly dominate the battlefield.
In essence, while each of these cards carries the unique level up feature, their roles in MTG vary significantly. The Lord of Shatterskull Pass itself is a testament to red’s direct approach, dealing with threats immediately and making a powerful statement on the board.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The leveling up mechanic of Lord of Shatterskull Pass can translate into significant card advantage. As the creature evolves, it has the potential to clear an opponent’s board, effectively negating multiple of their cards with just one of yours.
Resource Acceleration: While Lord of Shatterskull Pass doesn’t directly accelerate resources, the threat it poses can accelerate your game plan. By focusing your mana on leveling it up, you can create a board state that’s hard for your opponent to come back from without expending additional resources.
Instant Speed: Although not an instant itself, you can level up the Lord of Shatterskull Pass at instant speed. This allows you to adapt to your opponent’s actions, keeping mana available to level up in response to threats or end-of-turn for a surprise attack boost during your next turn.
Card Cons
Specific Mana Cost: Lord of Shatterskull Pass demands a dedicated red mana cost for both its casting and level up abilities. This requirement can restrict deck-building options, limiting its inclusion to mostly red-centric or two-color decks where red is heavily featured.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With an initial cost of four mana and additional investments needed to level up, the card can be a slow start in a fast-paced game. Considering the pace at which most competitive games progress, the mana invested in this creature could potentially be put towards more immediate threats or board presence.
Discard Requirement: While this card does not have a discard requirement, its steep level up investment can lead to a similar drawback. Committing multiple turns and mana to level up this creature can leave players with fewer options in hand, somewhat mimicking the conundrum of discarding.
Reasons to Include Lord of Shatterskull Pass in Your Collection
Versatility: This fierce Minotaur can adapt to multiple strategies, sliding into decks keen on aggressive plays or those accumulating counters for a staggering late-game reveal as this card levels up to a board-clearing threat.
Combo Potential: With its ability to gain level counters, Lord of Shatterskull Pass works well with proliferate mechanics or any strategy that manipulates +1/+1 counters, amplifying not only its own might but synergizing with other creatures in your arsenal.
Meta-Relevance: In a game that rewards players for evolving their creatures’ abilities, this card holds its ground. It can significantly impact the board, offering relevancy in environments where creature-based strategies dominate.
How to beat
Confronting the Lord of Shatterskull Pass in a game of Magic: The Gathering is akin to facing down a ticking time bomb, its level up mechanic allowing it to escalate in power as the game progresses. The potent ability of this creature can obliterate an opponent’s board state when unchecked, particularly after reaching level 6, where it can deal significant damage to all creatures opposing players control.
To mitigate its threat, strategic removal spells are essential. A well-timed Path to Exile or Doom Blade can eradicate the Lord before it levels up. Counteracting its leveling by using instant-speed removal ensures that you’re not caught off guard by a sudden level-up activation in your opponent’s upkeep. Cards like Unsummon or Vapor Snag offer a temporary but cost-effective solution, bouncing the creature back to its owner’s hand and resetting its level progress.
Overcoming the Lord of Shatterskull Pass requires foresight and preparedness. Keeping up mana for instant responses and not letting your guard down is crucial, as this particular card transforms from a manageable threat to an overwhelming force if allowed to reach its full potential.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Lord of Shatterskull Pass MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Rise of the Eldrazi, 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 Lord of Shatterskull Pass and other MTG cards:
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Printings
The Lord of Shatterskull Pass Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2010-04-23 and 2010-04-23. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 36871 | 2003 | Leveler | Black | Igor Kieryluk | ||
| 2 | 2010-04-23 | Rise of the Eldrazi | ROE | 156 | 2003 | Leveler | Black | Kekai Kotaki | |
| 3 | 2010-04-23 | Rise of the Eldrazi Promos | PROE | 156★ | 2003 | Leveler | Black | Igor Kieryluk |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Lord of Shatterskull Pass has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Lord of Shatterskull Pass card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2010-06-15 | A creature’s level is based on how many level counters it has on it, not how many times its level up ability has been activated or has resolved. If a leveler gets level counters due to some other effect (such as Clockspinning) or loses level counters for some reason (such as Vampire Hexmage), its level is changed accordingly. |
| 2010-06-15 | Effects that modify a leveler’s power or toughness, such as the effects of Giant Growth or Glorious Anthem, will apply to it no matter when they started to take effect. The same is true for counters that change the creature’s power or toughness (such as +1/+1 counters) and effects that switch its power and toughness. |
| 2010-06-15 | Effects that set a leveler’s power or toughness to a specific value, including the effects from a level symbol’s ability, apply in timestamp order. The timestamp of each level symbol’s ability is the same as the timestamp of the leveler itself, regardless of when the most recent level counter was put on it. |
| 2010-06-15 | If another creature becomes a copy of a leveler, all of the leveler’s printed abilities — including those represented by level symbols — are copied. The current characteristics of the leveler, and the number of level counters on it, are not. The abilities, power, and toughness of the copy will be determined based on how many level counters are on the copy. |
| 2010-06-15 | In a multiplayer game, the only player affected by the last ability is the one Lord of Shatterskull Pass is attacking (or the one who controls the planeswalker Lord of Shatterskull Pass is attacking). |
| 2010-06-15 | The abilities a leveler grants to itself don’t overwrite any other abilities it may have. In particular, they don’t overwrite the creature’s level up ability; it always has that. |
| 2010-06-15 | The last ability triggers and resolves during the declare attackers step, before blockers are declared. |