Setessan Skirmisher MTG Card


Facilitates card advantage by excelling in combat without depleting your hand. Aids in resource acceleration and maintaining tempo with its low cost. Adds combat tricks potential, partnering well with instant-speed buffs.
Setessan Skirmisher - Theros Beyond Death
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Human Warrior
Abilities Constellation
Released2020-01-24
Set symbol
Set nameTheros Beyond Death
Set codeTHB
Power 2
Toughness 1
Number200
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byGreg Staples

Text of card

Constellation — Whenever an enchantment enters the battlefield under your control, Setessan Skirmisher gets +1/+1 until end of turn.

Bassara, the tower of the fox, houses the elite skirmishers who guard the Nessian Wood against trespassers.


Cards like Setessan Skirmisher

Setessan Skirmisher carves a niche for itself among the creatures of Magic: The Gathering with its blend of efficiency and synergy in green decks. Reflecting on cards like Leonin Warleader, one can see similarities in creature type as both are Cats. Yet, Leonin Warleader stands out for its ability to create additional creature tokens, a feature Setessan Skirmisher lacks. However, Setessan Skirmisher holds an advantage in mana efficiency, costing only two mana to summon compared to the Warleader’s more expensive four mana.

Comparing with Prowling Serpopard, Setessan Skirmisher shares the Creature – Cat trait as well and both cards are part of green’s roster. The Serpopard offers an entirely different utility, granting your other creature spells the ability to not be countered. Although Setessan Skirmisher doesn’t provide this specific form of protection, it’s valued for enhancing the offense rapidly thanks to its Constellation ability, a unique aspect not present in the Serpopard’s toolset.

Whether you prefer the token generation of Leonin Warleader, the counter-protection of Prowling Serpopard, or the combat-focused bonuses of Setessan Skirmisher, each card has its own merits and plays different roles within the diverse strategies of Magic: The Gathering.

Leonin Warleader - MTG Card versions
Prowling Serpopard - MTG Card versions
Leonin Warleader - MTG Card versions
Prowling Serpopard - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Setessan Skirmisher may not directly offer card draw, its prowess in battles can tilt skirmishes in your favor without sacrificing cards from your hand. This efficiency can indirectly contribute to card advantage by preserving your hand while dealing with opponents’ threats.

Resource Acceleration: By efficiently trading on the battlefield, Setessan Skirmisher can help maintain your tempo and resource allocation – allowing you to accelerate your board presence while holding back resources for future endeavors. Its modest mana cost aids in curving out your plays without depleting your mana pool excessively.

Instant Speed: Though the Skirmisher itself isn’t an instant, the versatility it adds to your deck can complement instant-speed interactions. Integrating seamlessly with tricks and buffs that you can play at instant speed, it helps to maximize the potential surprise factor and turn the tides during combat at critical moments.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Setessan Skirmisher, like many cards, doesn’t necessitate a direct discard upon casting but it’s worth considering what holding a low-impact creature might force you to discard later in the game. Every card in your hand counts towards your strategic reserves, and this card might not always justify a slot when high-stakes decisions come into play.

Specific Mana Cost: The need for green mana to cast Setessan Skirmisher can be limiting in multi-color decks that may prioritize other hues for more impactful plays. Balancing the mana base can be challenging and having too many color-specific cards might lead to a bottleneck in your resources, hindering the deck’s overall performance.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Setessan Skirmisher’s mana cost isn’t exorbitant, it’s important to weigh the creature’s modest stats and abilities against others available. Two mana for a 2/1 creature may not be the best rate of return when you’re aiming to maximize every mana spent, particularly in a landscape where efficiency can often dictate the victor of a skirmish.


Reasons to Include Setessan Skirmisher in Your Collection

Versatility: Setessan Skirmisher is a flexible card that can be slotted into various deck types, particularly those that are creature-based or that prioritize aggressive starts in the early game.

Combo Potential: This card is well-suited for synergies with other cards that capitalize on +1/+1 counters or hero-like abilities, enhancing decks built around such mechanics.

Meta-Relevance: Given that it’s a cost-effective creature, it can be particularly efficient in a meta that favors quick build-up and maintaining board presence against control-style decks.


How to beat

Setessan Skirmisher is a creature card that can be quite the aggressor in Magic: The Gathering due to its heroic ability, which bolsters its own strength whenever you target it with a spell. To effectively manage this threat, consider using removal spells that don’t target it directly and can sidestep its ability, such as board wipes or sacrifice effects. Cards like Doom Blade or Murder are less effective here since they trigger the heroic ability, giving your opponent the upper hand. One efficient strategy is to utilize mass removal spells like Wrath of God or Supreme Verdict, which can clear the board without targeting and bolstering the Setessan Skirmisher. Additionally, keeping a pace that pressures your opponent before they can make the most of their heroic triggers is beneficial. Strive to manage your resources and maintain board control, focusing on eliminating the Skirmisher swiftly and preventing the buildup of a formidable presence on the battlefield.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Setessan Skirmisher MTG card by a specific set like Theros Beyond Death, 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 Setessan Skirmisher and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Setessan Skirmisher has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2020-01-24 A constellation ability triggers whenever an enchantment enters the battlefield under your control for any reason. Enchantments with other card types, such as enchantment creatures, will also cause constellation abilities to trigger.
2020-01-24 An Aura spell that has an illegal target when it tries to resolve doesn’t resolve and is instead put into its owner’s graveyard. It doesn’t enter the battlefield, so constellation abilities don’t trigger.