Skyshroud Cutter MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Beast
Released	2000-02-14
Set symbol
Set name	Nemesis
Set code	NEM
Power	2
Toughness	2
Number	118
Frame	1997
Layout	normal
Border	black
Illustred by	Tony Szczudlo

Key Takeaways

Casting Skyshroud Cutter for free maintains hand size and accelerates board development without using mana.
Its restrictively green mana cost and 2/2 stats limit deck versatility and optimal mana allocation.
Valuable in life payment strategies and combo decks where opponent’s life gain is negligible.

Text of card

If you control a forest, you may have each other player gain 5 life instead of paying Skyshroud Cutter's mana cost.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Skyshroud Cutter can be cast essentially for free with its alternative casting cost, allowing you to maintain your hand size while still developing your board presence.

Resource Acceleration: By leveraging its ability to be cast without spending mana, you can effectively save resources for other strategic plays or to deploy multiple threats in a single turn.

Instant Speed: Though Skyshroud Cutter doesn’t have flash, its low cost synergizes well with instant speed spells by providing a creature on the field without tapping out, keeping mana available for immediate responses during your opponent’s turn.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: In the case of Skyshroud Cutter, while there isn’t a discard prerequisite, it’s essential to bear in mind similar cards where discarding might be necessary which can be a setback when you’re already behind in the game.

Specific Mana Cost: Skyshroud Cutter’s green mana cost can restrict integration in non-green or multi-colored decks, potentially reducing its versatility across various deck builds.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Despite its alternative cost option, Skyshroud Cutter’s regular casting cost is marginally steep for its stats, which can make other creatures or cards more appealing for a four-mana slot in a deck.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Skyshroud Cutter can be a useful addition to decks that take advantage of life payment methods or need free spell casting options for storm counts or cascade triggers.

Combo Potential: This card has synergy with strategies that capitalize on casting creatures without paying mana costs, potentially enabling a combo with cards that reward you for casting green creatures or utilizing free spells.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where the cost of life is less impactful than the speed of play, Skyshroud Cutter can offer a significant tempo advantage. In decks where the life gain for opponents is inconsequential compared to the board presence and speed you gain, it becomes a tactical asset.

How to beat

Skyshroud Cutter presents its own unique challenges on the battlefield due to its ability to be cast for no mana cost at the expense of giving an opponent 5 life. This characteristic makes it tricky to manage, especially when playing against green decks that are poised to capitalize on their creature-heavy strategy. To effectively counteract the Skyshroud Cutter, it’s essential to have removal options ready. Direct damage spells or creature-based removals that can outmatch its 2/2 stat line are valuable, allowing you to maintain control of the board state.

Another strategy includes utilizing life point manipulations. Since your opponent gains life with the Cutter’s alternative casting cost, effects that punish life gain can be particularly potent. Cards that inflict damage upon life gain or redirect the life to you instead can swiftly turn the tide. Moreover, being vigilant about your opponent’s mana can guide you on the best time to strike. If they’re aiming for a no-cost summon, having a countermeasure ready can prevent or, at the very least, lessen potential board impact.

Overall, the key to outmaneuver Skyshroud Cutter lies in preparedness – knowing that removal, life manipulation tactics, and timing can defuse its advantage and help maintain your stronghold in the game.

Cards like Skyshroud Cutter

The Skyshroud Cutter is an intriguing creature in Magic: The Gathering, sharing the battlefield with other notable green creatures. Comparable in its mana value is the Albino Troll, which offers regeneration and a solid body, albeit for a costlier mana investment. The Skyshroud Cutter distinguishes itself with its ability to bypass its mana cost, allowing for an extremely early, sizable creature if your opponent gains life, which may offset early game momentum.

Similarly, looking at the Invigorate card, we see an echo of this life-for-benefit trade. Invigorate grants a creature a substantial power boost at no mana cost should an opponent gain life, much like the Cutter’s casting condition. Another relative in this family of alternative cost creatures is Vine Dryad. It can be deployed swiftly through forest sacrifice rather than life gain, offering evasion with its forestwalk ability.

In essence, while assessing the strategic uses and comparative advantages of such cards, Skyshroud Cutter displays a unique twist on creature deployment. It can provide aggressive opening strategies without mana expenditure, setting it apart in the realm of green creatures in Magic: The Gathering.

Cards similar to Skyshroud Cutter by color, type and mana cost

Ulvenwald Oddity // Ulvenwald Behemoth - MTG Card versions

Monkey Monkey Monkey - MTG Card versions

Matsu-Tribe Birdstalker - MTG Card versions

Order of the Sacred Bell - MTG Card versions

Carnivorous Plant - Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border (4BB)

Erhnam Djinn - Pro Tour Collector Set (PTC)

War Mammoth - Introductory Two-Player Set (ITP)

Lhurgoyf - World Championship Decks 1997 (WC97)

Ulvenwald Oddity // Ulvenwald Behemoth - Magic Online Promos (PRM)

Matsu-Tribe Birdstalker - Saviors of Kamigawa (SOK)

Order of the Sacred Bell - Ninth Edition (9ED)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Skyshroud Cutter MTG card by a specific set like Nemesis, 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 Cutter and other MTG cards: