Skanos Dragonheart MTG Card


Provides card advantage, ensuring players can outmaneuver opponents with clever in-game tactics. Accelerates mana resources, allowing for early summoning of powerful threats in matches. Facilitates instant-speed plays, granting flexibility to adapt quickly to game changes.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityUncommon
TypeLegendary Creature — Dragon Ranger
Abilities Choose a background
Power 4
Toughness 4

Text of card

Whenever Skanos Dragonheart attacks, it gets +X/+X until end of turn, where X is the greatest power among other Dragons you control and Dragon cards in your graveyard. Choose a Background (You can have a Background as a second commander.)


Cards like Skanos Dragonheart

The intrigue surrounding Skanos Dragonheart in the MTG landscape comes from its ability to become a flying threat at a moment’s notice. When examining cards of a similar nature, we find ourselves looking at Dragon Hatchling, a creature that shares the Dragonheart’s fire-breathing functionality. Dragon Hatchling allows you to boost its power for each mana invested, similar to how Skanos Dragonheart can temporarily bolster its abilities.

Another card worth discussing is Fire-Belly Changeling, which also has the capacity to gain flying for a turn, albeit at a lower cost. However, unlike Skanos Dragonheart, the Changeling doesn’t provide the same permanent boost in power. Moreover, Skyship Stalker stands out as a formidable counterpart, offering not only flying but also fire-breathing and first strike capabilities. Although these abilities come with a higher mana cost compared to Skanos Dragonheart, the Stalker’s flexibility in combat can be a significant game-changer.

All things considered, Skanos Dragonheart holds its own in the world of red creature spells, boasting a balanced mixture of cost-efficient stat increases and transformative combat potential, thereby solidifying its place in any MTG deck looking to harness the fiery power of dragons.

Dragon Hatchling - MTG Card versions
Fire-Belly Changeling - MTG Card versions
Skyship Stalker - MTG Card versions
Dragon Hatchling - MTG Card versions
Fire-Belly Changeling - MTG Card versions
Skyship Stalker - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Skanos Dragonheart by color, type and mana cost

Thicket Basilisk - MTG Card versions
Cockatrice - MTG Card versions
Ironroot Treefolk - MTG Card versions
Elvish Bard - MTG Card versions
Durkwood Boars - MTG Card versions
Elven Riders - MTG Card versions
Panther Warriors - MTG Card versions
Redwood Treefolk - MTG Card versions
Spined Wurm - MTG Card versions
Rabid Wolverines - MTG Card versions
Deadly Insect - MTG Card versions
Vintara Elephant - MTG Card versions
Crashing Boars - MTG Card versions
Kavu Climber - MTG Card versions
Kavu Chameleon - MTG Card versions
Spring-Leaf Avenger - MTG Card versions
Okina Nightwatch - MTG Card versions
Consuming Blob - MTG Card versions
Ashaya, Soul of the Wild - MTG Card versions
Primeval Force - MTG Card versions
Thicket Basilisk - MTG Card versions
Cockatrice - MTG Card versions
Ironroot Treefolk - MTG Card versions
Elvish Bard - MTG Card versions
Durkwood Boars - MTG Card versions
Elven Riders - MTG Card versions
Panther Warriors - MTG Card versions
Redwood Treefolk - MTG Card versions
Spined Wurm - MTG Card versions
Rabid Wolverines - MTG Card versions
Deadly Insect - MTG Card versions
Vintara Elephant - MTG Card versions
Crashing Boars - MTG Card versions
Kavu Climber - MTG Card versions
Kavu Chameleon - MTG Card versions
Spring-Leaf Avenger - MTG Card versions
Okina Nightwatch - MTG Card versions
Consuming Blob - MTG Card versions
Ashaya, Soul of the Wild - MTG Card versions
Primeval Force - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: When you play Skanos Dragonheart, its potent abilities can set you up for an advantageous position. Gaining control of the board through obtaining more cards can be pivotal for outmaneuvering your opponent and this card, with its clever mechanics, is designed to ensure you’re ahead in the resource race.

Resource Acceleration: Skanos Dragonheart has a knack for accelerating your mana resources, giving you that essential boost to summon bigger threats faster. This is a key strategy in overwhelming your adversaries and a cornerstone of building a successful deck that can consistently outpace the competition.

Instant Speed: The ability to operate at instant speed cannot be overstated. It allows for tactical flexibility, enabling you to react swiftly to the changing tides of the game. Whether you’re disrupting an opponent’s strategy or seizing a momentary advantage, Skanos Dragonheart affords you the agility to make game-changing plays when it matters most.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Skanos Dragonheart requires you to discard another card as part of its activation cost. This can be a significant setback in situations where your hand is depleted, and every card counts toward your game strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: The card demands a specific combination of mana colors for casting, which could pose a challenge in multicolored decks that may not always have the required mana readily available, thus hindering its playability.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: When you weigh its mana cost against other cards in the game, Skanos Dragonheart might come off as costly. In situations where mana efficiency is key, there may be alternatives that provide similar benefits for a lower investment, offering more strategic flexibility in deck building and gameplay.


Reasons to Include Skanos Dragonheart in Your Collection

Versatility: Skanos Dragonheart boasts a flexible playstyle, fitting into various deck archetypes. Its ability to gain flying represents an adaptable threat that can be a reliable plan in aggressive strategies or a formidable blocker in more defensive setups.

Combo Potential: With its capacity to seamlessly convert cards into aerial power, Skanos Dragonheart pairs well with strategies that cycle or discard cards for value, meshing with engines that turn the graveyard into a resource.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta that favors quick, evasive threats, Skanos Dragonheart stands out as a card that can quickly adapt to the pace of play. Its swift transformation into a flying creature ensures it maintains relevancy against various opponents and game states.


How to Beat Skanos Dragonheart

Skanos Dragonheart may initially seem daunting with its ability to gain flying and a sizeable power boost, transforming the battlefield dynamics in a blink. The card thrives in a deck abundant with the means to ensure a steady flow of creatures to sacrifice, thereby unlocking its potent abilities. While facing this red creature card, remember that timing is crucial. Utilize removal spells right before your opponent declares attackers, preventing them from getting the chance to bolster Skanos Dragonheart’s strength. Cards like Shock or Fatal Push work wonders in removing it before it becomes a threat.

One should also consider the graveyard’s role in such strategies. Employ graveyard-hating cards to prevent creatures from being easily recycled for Skanos Dragonheart’s ability. Silent Gravestone or Grafdigger’s Cage can thus be instrumental. Moreover, countering creature spells before they hit the board disrupts synergy. Counterspells or Essence Scatter can stop the dragonheart before it takes flight. Finally, keeping a robust block-ready board can dissuade opponents from sacrificing creatures prematurely, thus keeping Skanos Dragonheart grounded and manageable.

When all is said and done, it’s clear that while Skanos Dragonheart can pose a significant threat, with strategic planning and the right cards, reigning in this powerhouse and keeping your life points secure is entirely achievable.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering your MTG gameplay involves not just knowing your deck, but also understanding each card’s strengths and potential drawbacks. Skanos Dragonheart is a card that brings both challenges and opportunities to the table. Enhancing card advantage, speeding up your mana, and the capability to act at instant speed make this dragon-themed card a must-have for red deck enthusiasts. Yet, like all potent cards, it comes with its considerations, like hand management and mana diversity. To maximize its incredible potential, dive deeper with us. Discover strategies, synergies, and successful tactics that will help you harness the full might of Skanos Dragonheart in your MTG battles.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Skanos Dragonheart MTG card by a specific set like Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate and Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate, 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 Skanos Dragonheart and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Skanos Dragonheart Magic the Gathering card was released in 1 different sets between 2022-06-10 and 2022-06-10. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12022-06-10Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's GateCLB 2552015NormalBlackDaarken
22022-06-10Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's GateCLB 4102015NormalBlackMark A. Nelson
32022-06-10Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's GateCLB 5212015NormalBlackDaarken

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Skanos Dragonheart has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2022-06-10 An effect that checks whether you control your commander is satisfied if you control one or both of your two commanders.
2022-06-10 Both commanders start in the command zone, and the remaining 98 cards (or 58 cards in a Commander Draft game) of your deck are shuffled to become your library.
2022-06-10 Choose a Background is a variant of the partner ability. You may have two commanders if one of them is a legendary creature with the choose a background ability and the other is a legendary Background enchantment. Backgrounds and cards with choose a Background do not interact with cards which have any other partner ability.
2022-06-10 If a card refers to a commander creature you own, a Background won't usually be counted or included for that effect. If another spell or ability causes your Background to become a creature, however, it will be included. Any effect that refers to your commander or a commander you own or control without specifying creature will apply to a Background that is your commander, as appropriate.
2022-06-10 If something refers to your commander while you have two commanders, it refers to one of them of your choice. If you are instructed to perform an action on your commander (e.g. put it from the command zone into your hand due to Command Beacon), you choose one of your commanders at the time the effect happens.
2022-06-10 If you control a Background that grants an ability to commander creatures you own, and you own more than one commander creature, each of them will have that ability.
2022-06-10 If your Commander deck has two commanders, you can include only cards whose own color identities are also found in your commanders’ combined color identities.
2022-06-10 If your commander loses the choose a Background ability or stops being a Background during the game, as appropriate, it is still your commander.
2022-06-10 Once the game begins, your two commanders are tracked separately. If you cast one, you won’t have to pay an additional the first time you cast the other. A player loses the game after having been dealt 21 combat damage from any one of them, not from both of them combined (although your Background won’t usually be a creature anyway).
2022-06-10 You can choose two commanders that are the same color or colors.