Merfolk Skyscout MTG Card
2010-04-23 - Number 77
2016-08-26 - Number 115
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Merfolk Scout |
| Abilities | Flying |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 3 |
Text of card
Flying Whenever Merfolk Skyscout attacks or blocks, untap target permanent.
"Emeria is a pleasant lie, a figment to hide Emrakul's hideous face. I can only hope to uncover a truth that lies deeper still."
Cards like Merfolk Skyscout
Merfolk Skyscout is an intriguing creature card that offers both pragmatic utility and aggressive capabilities in the world of Magic: The Gathering. It draws parallels to cards like Skyship Plunderer, which shares the ability to fly, thus evading terrestrial blockers. Even though Skyship Plunderer interacts differently with +1/+1 counters, the key feature that echoes with Merfolk Skyscout is its aerial advantage, offering strategists an elevated approach to the battlefield.
Another card that captains similar waters is the Mist-Cloaked Herald. What it lacks in flying, it makes up for with its unblockable trait, ensuring that it can slip past enemy lines unnoticed. However, Merfolk Skyscout stands out with its capacity to untap a permanent, giving it a strategic edge by allowing players to reactivate resources for stronger plays within a turn.
In appraising their niches in gameplay, Merfolk Skyscout carves its own through its versatile untapping ability, giving it a distinct position among flying creatures within Magic: The Gathering. It may not have the brute strength of other cards, but its potential for tactical maneuvers can consistently tip the scales in favor of the astute player.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Diving into the blue depths of your MTG deck, Merfolk Skyscout can be a strategic addition in generating card advantage. This card allows you to untap a permanent which may lead to additional card draw opportunities or reuse of abilities that are critical for staying ahead of your opponent.
Resource Acceleration: In the ever-changing tides of MTG gameplay, the Merfolk Skyscout facilitates a form of resource acceleration by untapping a land. This action can effectively increase your mana availability during the turn it’s played, potentially allowing for the casting of additional spells or activating mana-intensive abilities sooner than expected.
Instant Speed: Flexibility is key in MTG, and the Merfolk Skyscout can be used at instant speed. This advantage means you’re free to make decisive plays during your opponent’s turn, keeping them on their toes and giving you the opportunity to respond to threats or optimize your board state on the fly, without missing a beat.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Merfolk Skyscout may not require card discard, but it’s crucial to consider cards that synergize with it and don’t lead to an unintentional card disadvantage.
Specific Mana Cost: With a mana cost that includes blue, Merfolk Skyscout could be restrictive for decks not focused around this color, limiting its versatility in mana-diverse deck builds.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While its flying ability is an asset, the mana investment might be steep considering other available creatures in the game that provide immediate impact or higher stat value at the same cost.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Merfolk Skyscout is a flexible card that can adapt to various strategies, particularly in decks that capitalize on creature abilities and flying strategies to maintain board control and tempo.
Combo Potential: With the ability to untap a target permanent upon attacking, it opens up opportunities for numerous combos, synergizing with cards that have tap abilities or need to be readied multiple times within a single turn.
Meta-Relevance: As gameplay often involves key permanents and utilizing them effectively, having a card like Merfolk Skyscout that can reset those permanents for additional uses can be a game-changer, ensuring its relevance in diverse meta environments.
How to beat
Merfolk Skyscout is a card that presents a tactical challenge due to its flying ability and the prospect of untapping a target permanent. This mobility can make the Skyscout a persistent nuisance, especially if leveraged for mana acceleration or to continually activate other permanents’ abilities. To neutralize this threat, controlling the skies becomes a priority. Removal spells that don’t discriminate based on size or abilities, like Doom Blade or Path to Exile, are efficient methods to dispatch the Skyscout before it can be a thorn in your side.
Moreover, spells that can tap a creature or strip away its abilities, like Frost Breath or Turn to Frog, also diminish the Skyscout’s effectiveness. Ensnaring the Skyscout with enchantments that keep it grounded or otherwise neutralize it, such as Pacifism, ensures that it remains a non-factor in the game. It’s important to strategize beyond the immediate threat, considering the synergy it might have within the opponent’s deck. Therefore, tackling the broader context of their strategy might be as crucial as dealing with the Merfolk Skyscout itself.
In situations where the Skyscout repeatedly poses a threat, altering your deck to include cards specifically designed to handle creatures with flying could be warranted. Ultimately, recognizing the potential combinations and threats that Merfolk Skyscout represents is key to crafting an effective counter-strategy.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Merfolk Skyscout MTG card by a specific set like Rise of the Eldrazi and Conspiracy: Take the Crown, 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 Merfolk Skyscout 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
See MTG Products
Printings
The Merfolk Skyscout Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2010-04-23 and 2016-08-26. Illustrated by rk post.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2010-04-23 | Rise of the Eldrazi | ROE | 77 | 2003 | Normal | Black | rk post | |
| 2 | 2016-08-26 | Conspiracy: Take the Crown | CN2 | 115 | 2015 | Normal | Black | rk post |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Merfolk Skyscout has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Merfolk Skyscout 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 | When Merfolk Skyscout blocks, its second ability triggers just once, even if it somehow blocked multiple attacking creatures. |
| 2010-06-15 | You may target any permanent with the ability, including Merfolk Skyscout itself or a permanent that’s already untapped. |