Skyshroud Poacher MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Rare
Type	Creature — Human Rebel
Released	2000-02-14
Set symbol
Set name	Nemesis
Set code	NEM
Power	2
Toughness	2
Number	119
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Ron Spencer

Key Takeaways

Skyshroud Poacher excels in card advantage by fetching Elves directly onto the battlefield.
It accelerates resources, especially with mana-generating Elves, enabling bigger plays early on.
Despite its utility, the four-mana cost may limit its early game viability in some matches.

Text of card

o3, oc T: Search your library for an Elf card and put that card into play. Then shuffle your library.

"It's OK. They're just elves."

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Skyshroud Poacher is a powerhouse when it comes to card advantage in MTG. Once on the battlefield, it empowers you to search for Elf cards and put them directly onto the battlefield, increasing the number of potentially game-changing creatures at your fingertips.

Resource Acceleration: The ability to tutor an Elf each turn with the Poacher can significantly accelerate resource generation. Since many Elves have mana-generating abilities, this can lead to an exponential increase in available mana, fueling bigger plays and faster development of your game strategy.

Instant Speed: Although the Poacher itself does not operate at instant speed, it can effectively fetch Elves with instant speed abilities. This flexibility adds a layer of depth to your game, as you can adapt to the evolving board state with creatures that can act at any time, including your opponent’s turn.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While card doesn’t involve a discard action, it shares similar resource allocation issues, particularly when you’re aiming to maintain card advantage.

Specific Mana Cost: Skyshroud Poacher requires one green mana as part of its casting cost, making it exclusive to green decks or those that can afford a diverse mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three colorless and one green mana, Skyshroud Poacher demands a significant investment, which may be a hurdle in the early game or in fast-paced matches where efficiency is key.

Reasons to Include Skyshroud Poacher in Your Collection

Versatility: Skyshroud Poacher is not simply a creature; it’s a tool that can search your deck for any Elf card. This gives you the flexibility to adapt to various board states by retrieving the perfect Elf for any situation.

Combo Potential: Given Elves’ propensity for synergistic play, Skyshroud Poacher enables numerous combo strategies. Whether you’re aiming for an overrun with Elf-powered aggression or setting up a complex chain of abilities, this card can help you assemble your pieces.

Meta-Relevance: Elf decks have always had a place in the meta and Skyshroud Poacher can be the linchpin in such an archetype, especially in formats where Elves are prevalent and powerful. By enabling a consistent elf strategy, it’s a solid inclusion against many of the prevalent deck types.

How to beat

Understanding your opponent’s strategy is crucial in MTG, especially when facing a card like Skyshroud Poacher. This elf tutor can quickly become overwhelming by allowing the player to search their library for any elf card and put it into play. To counteract this, disrupting their mana base can be effective as the Poacher demands a significant mana investment. Removal spells are also key—cards that can exile Skyshroud Poacher or force the player to sacrifice it circumvent its abilities and disrupt the flow of elf-play.

Playing against Skyshroud Poacher, it’s essential to keep its ability inactive. This can often be achieved through counter spells when it’s cast or using instant speed removal before the opponent gets a chance to use its activated ability. Additionally, cards that limit the number of creatures that can enter the battlefield per turn, or prevent creatures from being put into play, directly counter Poacher’s strength. Successfully managing the threat of this card requires a balance of preemptive and reactive strategies, geared towards limiting the card’s impact on the game.

Ultimately, the key to beating Skyshroud Poacher lies in early game pressure and strategic disruption, enabling you to gain control over the match and mitigate the advantages it provides to your opponent. Keeping a watchful eye on your enemy’s mana and being prepared to deal with threats quickly will help ensure Skyshroud Poacher doesn’t turn the tides in their favor.

Cards like Skyshroud Poacher

Skyshroud Poacher is an integral piece in the tribe-focused mechanics of Magic: The Gathering, drawing parallels with cards such as Goblin Matron or Eladamri’s Call. It shares the tribe tutoring trait with Goblin Matron but targets a specific creature type—Elves. Unlike Eladamri’s Call, which can search for any creature card, Skyshroud Poacher narrows the search to Elves only, yet brings it directly into play.

The resemblance to Fauna Shaman can also be observed, although Fauna Shaman requires discarding a creature card as part of its cost, with the benefit of being usable multiple times per game. In contrast, the Skyshroud Poacher’s ability, while restricted to Elf tutoring, bypasses an Elf’s casting cost and sneaks it onto the battlefield outright—a strategy that can harness the synergies and power level of Elves effortlessly.

When evaluating similar cards, Skyshroud Poacher stands out in decks dedicated to Elf synergies in Magic: The Gathering. It boasts a powerful, repeatable tutor effect that not only searches your library for the perfect piece but also cheats Elves into play, circumventing mana costs and setup requirements. This places it as a top-tier choice for players looking to streamline and upgrade their Elf-themed strategies.

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

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Skyshroud Poacher 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 Poacher and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Skyshroud Poacher has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Premodern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Skyshroud Poacher card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.