Lord Skitter's Butcher MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Rat Peasant |
| Abilities | Scry |
| Released | 2023-09-08 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Wilds of Eldraine |
| Set code | WOE |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 3 |
| Number | 99 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Leesha Hannigan |
Text of card
When Lord Skitter's Butcher enters the battlefield, choose one — • Create a 1/1 black Rat creature token with "This creature can't block." • You may sacrifice another creature. If you do, scry 2, then draw a card. • Creatures you control gain menace until end of turn.
Cards like Lord Skitter's Butcher
Lord Skitter’s Butcher secures its position in the lineup of notorious MTG creatures that thrive on battlefield control. Its effect, reminiscent of Nekrataal, also destroys a target creature upon entry. However, Lord Skitter’s Butcher diverges with a unique twist, offering an additional benefit tied to the number of creatures in your graveyard, making it particularly potent in decks designed around creature recursion strategies.
Comparatively, Ravenous Chupacabra stands out with a similar enter-the-battlefield effect. While it matches Lord Skitter’s Butcher’s creature destruction ability, it doesn’t scale its power with the graveyard. This makes Lord Skitter’s Butcher a potential game-changer in the late stages where graveyards are brimming with creatures. Then there’s Shriekmaw, which offers flexibility through its Evoke cost, presenting a cost-efficient way to remove creatures. However, its limitation to non-black, non-artifact creatures can make it situationally less effective than the indiscriminate might of Lord Skitter’s Butcher.
Overall, Lord Skitter’s Butcher is more than a mere creature eliminator. For players who favor synergistic graveyard play and looking to maintain board superiority, Lord Skitter’s Butcher could surpass its counterparts and become the centrepiece of a well-orchestrated removal strategy within the MTG landscape.
Cards similar to Lord Skitter's Butcher by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Lord Skitter's Butcher. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Rakdos Tokens | Standard | Rakdos Sacrifice | WHITE - SAT - 12PM - Chicago Standard Cup |
 | Rakdos Aggro | Pioneer | Peasant Pioneer Showdown - A Josh and Pat's MTG Bazaar Sponsored Event |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Lord Skitter’s Butcher unlocks potential card advantage by eliminating key threats from your opponent’s battlefield, potentially disrupting their game plan and providing you with a strategic upper hand.
Resource Acceleration: By dispatching opposing creatures efficiently, this card can pave the way for smoother plays and enable you to accelerate resource deployment, ensuring a more rapid progression towards your ultimate win conditions.
Instant Speed: As an ability operating at instant speed, it provides flexibility, allowing players to respond to actions during the opponent’s turn. This can result in surprise advantages and enable more complex strategic plays.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Taking a closer look at Lord Skitter’s Butcher, playing the card comes with the necessity to discard another card from your hand. This diminishes your hand advantage, potentially leaving you vulnerable if you’re already running low on cards and need to maintain options for gameplay.
Specific Mana Cost: The arcane whispers around Lord Skitter’s Butcher hint at the strictness of its mana cost. This card demands specific color alignment in its casting cost, which could restrict its inclusion to only those decks that can reliably produce the necessary colors of mana, potentially reducing its versatility in a broad range of deck archetypes.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: When assessing its efficiency, Lord Skitter’s Butcher requires a significant mana investment. With other cards in the Magic universe presenting less taxing mana costs for similar — sometimes even more impactful — effects, this can position Lord Skitter’s Butcher as a less favorable choice when deckbuilding and considering mana curve optimization.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Lord Skitter’s Butcher offers flexibility across multiple deck archetypes due to its ability to manipulate counters and its role as a removal engine. This makes it a solid addition whether you’re running an aggressive, control, or combo-focused build.
Combo Potential: At the heart of many successful combos, Lord Skitter’s Butcher can synergize with cards that proliferate or modify counters, paving the way for explosive plays that can swing the game in your favor.
Meta-Relevance: In environments where creatures dictate the pace of play, having a card like Lord Skitter’s Butcher can be crucial. Its presence on the battlefield addresses threats and shapes the match in a way that aligns with current competitive trends.
How to beat
Confronting Lord Skitter’s Butcher on the battlefield can be a daunting challenge. This formidable creature brings a unique set of abilities to any MTG game it graces. Whether you’re up against it in a casual game or a more competitive environment, understanding its strengths and weaknesses is vital. The key to overcoming this adversary lies in timing and resource management.
Preparation begins with the inclusion of removal spells in your deck. Instant-speed answers such as Path to Exile or Doom Blade can disrupt your opponent’s strategy before Lord Skitter’s Butcher’s effects take a toll on your board state. It’s also recommendable to maintain board control; deploying creatures that can block effectively or using spells that can counteract those of your opponent can help neutralize the impact of Lord Skitter’s Butcher’s abilities.
Adaptability is crucial, and sometimes the best defense includes a strong offense. Implementing an aggressive strategy that pressures your opponent may limit the resources they can dedicate to supporting Lord Skitter’s Butcher. By doing so, you turn the tides in your favor and reduce the chance of this mighty card achieving its full potential during the game.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Lord Skitter's Butcher MTG card by a specific set like Wilds of Eldraine, 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 Skitter's Butcher 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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Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Lord Skitter's Butcher has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Alchemy | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |