Skullmulcher MTG Card

Shards of Alara (ALA)
2008-10-03 - Number 148

Double Masters (2XM)
2020-08-07 - Number 180

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	5
Rarity	Rare
Type	Creature — Elemental
Abilities	Devour
Power	3
Toughness	3

Key Takeaways

Generates significant card advantage by sacrificing creatures, transforming board presence into potential new cards.
Enhances green mana-based decks, synergizing with death triggers and token strategies for stronger plays.
Demands careful play; it’s crucial to utilize its effects without conceding too much board control.

Text of card

Devour 1 (As this comes into play, you may sacrifice any number of creatures. This creature comes into play with that many +1/+1 counters on it.) When Skullmulcher comes into play, draw a card for each creature it devoured.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Skullmulcher offers a significant card drawing mechanic. When it enters the battlefield, you may sacrifice any number of creatures. It allows you to draw a card for each creature sacrificed — a powerful way to restock your hand while utilizing expendable creatures on the board.

Resource Acceleration: Although Skullmulcher itself does not directly produce additional mana or resources, the card advantage it provides can lead to situations where you draw into more lands or ramp spells. Additionally, by thinning your board of creatures you’re willing to sacrifice, you can make more efficient use of your remaining resources.

Instant Speed: While Skullmulcher doesn’t operate at instant speed, its Alara Reborn set counterpart, Devour mechanic triggers immediately upon entering the battlefield. This ability can take advantage of the end of your opponent’s turn, post-combat phase, or following a board wipe, turning a potential loss of resources into a renewed hand full of opportunities.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Playing Skullmulcher often necessitates sacrificing creatures to trigger its ability, which can put you at a potential card disadvantage or deplete your board presence, hindering momentum against your opponent.

Specific Mana Cost: With a casting cost that requires both generic and green mana, it may not seamlessly fit into multicolored mana bases, making it less versatile in decks that do not prioritize green.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana value of five, Skullmulcher demands a significant investment, which might be inefficient in fast-paced games or against decks that can outpace its benefits quickly.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Skullmulcher offers a unique adaptability, fitting seamlessly into creature-heavy decks where sacrificing is advantageous. Its ability to draw cards while also functioning as a significant creature on the battlefield makes it a valuable asset in any green deck looking to capitalize on board presence.

Combo Potential: This card thrives in synergy-rich environments, interacting well with death triggers, token generation, and graveyard strategies. The life gain and card draw Skullmulcher provides can turn the tide in combos that feed off creature sacrifices or high creature counts.

Meta-Relevance: In a game where board states can be large and complex, Skullmulcher maintains relevance. It can be a game-changer in the right meta, offering card advantage and a path to victory against opponents who are unable to manage its devouring potential effectively.

How to Beat Skullmulcher

Skullmulcher offers a unique capability in MTG, serving as both a formidable creature and a source for card draw, contingent on the number of creatures you sacrifice when it enters the battlefield. This ability can potentially swing a game if left unchecked. To outmaneuver Skullmulcher, it’s essential to limit the number of creatures available for your opponent to sacrifice. Employing removal spells on key targets before Skullmulcher lands can substantially reduce its impact, ensuring its card-drawing potential remains minimal.

Strategic use of instant-speed interaction spells to dismantle the opponent’s battlefield presence ensures that by the time Skullmulcher is on the stack, it’s far less threatening. Spot removal, such as Fatal Push or Path to Exile, proves highly effective against crucial creatures lined up for the sacrifice. Moreover, graveyard disruption can be a vital tactic, with cards like Tormod’s Crypt nullifying the strategic benefits your opponent might glean from a creature-rich graveyard post-sacrifice.

The key is foresight and preparation. Anticipating the arrival of Skullmulcher and maintaining a stance that pre-emptively addresses its mechanism allows players to maintain control over the game and mitigate the card advantage that Skullmulcher offers.

Cards like Skullmulcher

Skullmulcher stands out in the realm of green creature cards with its unique self-sacrificing card draw ability. Among creatures that have similar card draw capabilities, we find Soul of the Harvest, which draws a card for each other nontoken creature you play, offering a more long-term advantage as opposed to Skullmulcher’s one-time effect.

Another comparable card is Regal Force, which draws a card for each green creature you control when it enters the battlefield. While Regal Force can potentially yield a larger draw, it lacks the aspect of also being a removal tool for your own creatures which can be tactically significant. Then there is Greater Good, an enchantment that allows for repeatable card draw power but comes with the additional cost of sacrificing a creature as part of its activation.

When weighing the pros and cons, Skullmulcher provides a burst of card draw that can be highly beneficial when timing is crucial and when you’re aiming to capitalize on the board presence of expendable creatures. It enchants green deck strategies with a mix of creature control and resource refresh, making it a card worthy of note.

Cards similar to Skullmulcher by color, type and mana cost

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Skullmulcher MTG card by a specific set like Shards of Alara and Double Masters, 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 Skullmulcher and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Skullmulcher Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2008-10-03 and 2020-08-07. Illustrated by Michael Ryan.

#	Released	Name	Code	Symbol	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2008-10-03	Shards of Alara	ALA		148	2003	Normal	Black	Michael Ryan
2	2020-08-07	Double Masters	2XM		180	2015	Normal	Black	Michael Ryan

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Skullmulcher 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 Skullmulcher card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.