Showdown of the Skalds MTG Card
2021-02-05 - Number 229
2021-02-06 - Number 229s
2021-02-06 - Number 229p
2020-09-26 - Number KHM-229
| Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Enchantment — Saga |
Text of card
(As this Saga enters and after your draw step, add a lore counter. Sacrifice after III.) I — Exile the top four cards of your library. Until the end of your next turn, you may play those cards. II, III — Whenever you cast a spell this turn, put a +1/+1 counter on target creature you control.
Cards like Showdown of the Skalds
Showdown of the Skalds, a pivotal saga card within the MTG landscape, invites comparison to other enchantments that offer card advantage and additional plays. Akin to Outpost Siege, Showdown of the Skalds presents players with the opportunity to play additional cards at a certain phase in the game. While Outpost Siege has the flexibility of dealing damage through its Dragons mode, Showdown of the Skalds excels by providing an immediate four-card potential and the bonus of adding power to your creatures with additional counters on subsequent turns.
Another card that resonates with Showdown of the Skalds is Light Up the Stage. Popular for its spectacle cost, this card also allows you to play more cards for a brief window, albeit only two and until your next turn, contrasting Showdown’s multi-turn advantage. The hallmark of Showdown of the Skalds, however, is its ability to bolster your forces while refilling your hand, a duality of benefits not mirrored in Light Up the Stage.
In the realm of Red and White playstyles that seek both aggression and card advantage, Showdown of the Skalds is an outlier, offering prolonged value over multiple turns unlike its contemporaries, thereby securing a unique position in the MTG arena.
Cards similar to Showdown of the Skalds by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Showdown of the Skalds. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Boros Pia | Pioneer | Boros Pia | Pioneer League 2024-03-05 |
 | Boros Aggro | Gladiator | Gladiator Proving Grounds: Week 08 2024 | |
 | WR | Pioneer | Pioneer League 2024-04-08 | |
 | Mardu Midrange | Gladiator | Sword and Sandals Showdown: AM Week 10 2024 | |
 | Naya Winota | Gladiator | Gladiator Proving Grounds: Week 13 2024 | |
| Boros Death & Taxes | Gladiator | Gladiator Proving Grounds: Week 13 2024 | |
 | Decklist | Free form | Canadian Highlander for Duals - Underground Sea Guaranteed - Proxies Allowed | |
 | General Ferrous | Modern | General Ferrous | Modern Challenge 64 2024-03-10 |
 | Mardu Aggro | Gladiator | Gladiator Proving Grounds: Week 10 2024 |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Showdown of the Skalds excels at providing card advantage by allowing you to exile the top four cards of your deck, giving you the opportunity to play those cards over the next few turns.
Resource Acceleration: Each time you cast a spell from among the exiled cards, Showdown of the Skalds grants you a +1/+1 counter on a creature you control, effectively accelerating your board presence and increasing your resources for winning the game.
Instant Speed: While Showdown of the Skalds itself isn’t cast at instant speed, the Sagas’ design allows you to use the cards exiled with it at any time you could normally play those cards, including instants during your opponent’s turn, enabling dynamic and flexible gameplay.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: With Showdown of the Skalds, one potential downside is that it does not require a discard, which could be seen as missing an opportunity for additional strategic play or graveyard fueling in decks that synergize with discard mechanics.
Specific Mana Cost: Deck inclusion can be restrictive due to Showdown of the Skalds’ need for both red and white mana, which may not align with the strategy or mana base of every deck, particularly those running three or more colors.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Clocking in at four mana, Showdown of the Skalds can be considered costly for the immediate impact it provides. This can be a setback in faster, more aggressive games where lower-cost spells could be played with more frequency.
Reasons to Include Showdown of the Skalds in Your Collection
Versatility: Showdown of the Skalds offers an exceptional level of flexibility, easily sliding into a variety of red and white decks. This Saga card shines with its ability to provide card advantage and bolster your board presence, all within the same card.
Combo Potential: As the chapters unfold, Showdown of the Skalds serves as a powerhouse, facilitating combos by allowing you to play extra cards and boosting your creatures. It is a strong enabler in decks that thrive on casting numerous spells in a single turn.
Meta-Relevance: In a constantly shifting meta, this card holds its ground by equipping players with the tools to keep up with various competing strategies. Its draw capabilities contend with control decks while its buffing abilities allow for aggressive play, making it a staple in many competitive decks.
How to beat Showdown of the Skalds
Showdown of the Skalds is a potent saga card that presents a unique challenge for any MTG player. The card excels in creating card advantage and setting up potentially game-winning turns through its chapter abilities. In its initial chapter, it allows a player to exile the top four cards of their library, and they may play those cards this turn. This ability is reminiscent of card advantage engines like Experimental Frenzy but with the added bonus of empowering your other spells.
To effectively counter Showdown of the Skalds, you must focus on limiting your opponent’s ability to capitalize on the cards they exile. Strategies include instant-speed removal to disrupt their setup before they derive value from their exiled cards. Hand disruption can also be effective by stripping away key pieces before they reach the board. Moreover, enchantment removal spells like Disenchant are critical to remove Showdown of the Skalds after the first chapter, diminishing the overall value gained from it.
In essence, keeping a tight control over the board and disrupting your opponent’s hand are your best tools to undermine the advantage Showdown of the Skalds brings to the table. This proactiveness in your game plan is essential in tilting the odds in your favor against this powerful saga.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Showdown of the Skalds MTG card by a specific set like The List and Kaldheim, 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 Showdown of the Skalds and other MTG cards:
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Printings
The Showdown of the Skalds Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2021-02-05 and 2021-02-06. Illustrated by Steven Belledin.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The List | PLST | KHM-229 | 2015 | Saga | Black | Steven Belledin | ||
| 2 | 2021-02-05 | Kaldheim | KHM | 229 | 2015 | Saga | Black | Steven Belledin | |
| 3 | 2021-02-06 | Kaldheim Promos | PKHM | 229s | 2015 | Saga | Black | Steven Belledin | |
| 4 | 2021-02-06 | Kaldheim Promos | PKHM | 229p | 2015 | Saga | Black | Steven Belledin |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Showdown of the Skalds has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Showdown of the Skalds card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2021-02-05 | A chapter ability doesn’t trigger if a lore counter is put on a Saga that already had a number of lore counters greater than or equal to that chapter’s number. For example, the third lore counter put on a Saga causes the chapter III ability to trigger, but chapters I and II won’t trigger again. |
| 2021-02-05 | Any cards you don’t play by the end of your next turn will remain exiled. |
| 2021-02-05 | As a Saga enters the battlefield, its controller puts a lore counter on it. As your precombat main phase begins (immediately after your draw step), you put another lore counter on each Saga you control. Putting a lore counter on a Saga in either of these ways doesn’t use the stack. |
| 2021-02-05 | Each symbol on the left of a Saga’s text box represents a chapter ability. A chapter ability is a triggered ability that triggers when a lore counter that is put on the Saga causes the number of lore counters on the Saga to become equal to or greater than the ability’s chapter number. Chapter abilities are put onto the stack and may be responded to. |
| 2021-02-05 | If multiple chapter abilities trigger at the same time, their controller puts them on the stack in any order. If any of them require targets, those targets are chosen as you put the abilities on the stack, before any of those abilities resolve. |
| 2021-02-05 | Once a chapter ability has triggered, the ability on the stack won’t be affected if the Saga gains or loses counters, or if it leaves the battlefield. |
| 2021-02-05 | Once the number of lore counters on a Saga is greater than or equal to the greatest number among its chapter abilities, the Saga’s controller sacrifices it as soon as its chapter ability has left the stack, most likely by resolving or being countered. This state-based action doesn’t use the stack. |
| 2021-02-05 | Playing a card this way follows the normal rules for playing the card. You must pay its costs, and you must follow all applicable timing rules. For example, if one of the cards is a sorcery card, you can cast it only during your main phase while the stack is empty. |
| 2021-02-05 | Removing lore counters won’t cause a previous chapter ability to trigger. If lore counters are removed from a Saga, the appropriate chapter abilities will trigger again when the Saga receives more lore counters. |
| 2021-02-05 | The cards you exile because of the chapter I ability are exiled face up. |
| 2021-02-05 | Under normal circumstances, you can play a land from among the exiled cards only if you haven’t played a land yet that turn. |