Skanos, Red Dragon Vassal MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 6 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Legendary Creature — Dragon Ranger |
| Abilities | First strike |
| Released | 2022-07-07 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Alchemy Horizons: Baldur's Gate |
| Set code | HBG |
| Power | 5 |
| Toughness | 5 |
| Number | 18r |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Daarken |
Text of card
First strike Whenever Skanos, Red Dragon Vassal attacks, another target attacking creature gains first strike and gets +X/+0 until end of turn, where X is Skanos's power.
Cards like Skanos, Red Dragon Vassal
Skanos, Red Dragon Vassal makes a fiery entrance into the Magic: The Gathering dragon lineup. It can easily be compared to other red dragons such as Lathliss, Dragon Queen. While Lathliss leans on synergizing with other dragons, rewarding players with token generation, Skanos focuses on mana cost reduction for Dragon spells, which can be crucial for casting those high-cost flyers early on.
Dragonlord’s Servant is another pertinent card to mention alongside Skanos. Both share the mana cost reduction ability for Dragons, but whereas Skanos demands a greater initial mana investment, Dragonlord’s Servant is a lower-cost creature with a lesser impact on the board. Conversely, Skanos brings an immediate battlefield presence through its formidable power and toughness.
Evaluating these cards’ roles within a dragon-centric deck, Skanos holds its own among other dragon allies. Providing a beefier creature that also serves as a mana accelerator for other dragons enhances its value, especially in a format where dragons excel and need such support to dominate the skies.
Cards similar to Skanos, Red Dragon Vassal by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Skanos, Red Dragon Vassal, shines in scenarios where board presence and maintaining a steady flow of resources are key. Its ability to generate card advantage cannot be understated, especially in the later stages of the game where every draw counts.
Resource Acceleration: This card supports strategies that thrive on quick resource acceleration. By potentially reducing the cost of your dragon spells, it ensures that your bigger threats hit the battlefield earlier than expected, giving you a significant edge over opponents.
Instant Speed: The ability to react at instant speed makes Skanos an exceptionally versatile card. This allows for more strategic depth to your plays, enabling you to adapt to an evolving game state and surprise opponents with decisive, game-changing moves during their turns.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: When playing Skanos, Red Dragon Vassal, you may find the discard prerequisite less than ideal, especially if the match has left you clinging to a thin hand. Surrendering a potentially valuable card can set back your game plan significantly.
Specific Mana Cost: Summoning this vassal demands an exact red mana composition, inevitably reducing its versatility. Those committed to a strictly red mana curve can leverage this, but it’s a hurdle for multicolor strategies looking to diversify their plays.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Allocating resources to bring Skanos into play can be a steep cost, particularly when pitted against other options within the same mana range. Critics argue that other creatures or spells might yield greater impact for the mana expended, presenting alternatives that might align better with your overall strategy.
Reasons to Include Skanos, Red Dragon Vassal in Your Collection
Versatility: Skanos, Red Dragon Vassal can seamlessly adapt to various strategies, functioning effectively in decks that prioritize speed or those seeking a powerful late-game presence.
Combo Potential: This card’s ability to enable combos is significant, especially in red-centric decks designed to utilize Dragons or benefit from the specific mechanics associated with Skanos.
Meta-Relevance: Given the shifting dynamics of the gameplay environment, the presence of a strong and versatile creature like Skanos, Red Dragon Vassal could be extremely beneficial in tackling prevalent deck archetypes.
How to beat
Skanos, Red Dragon Vassal presents a formidable challenge on the battlefield of Magic: The Gathering with its blend of abilities enhancing red’s aggressive potential. To effectively counteract this particular card, players must strategize around its strengths. Acknowledging that Skanos is a creature card means removal spells are the direct answer. Utilizing low-cost, efficient removal such as Swift End or Doom Blade can swiftly dispatch Skanos before its controller derives significant advantage.
In addition to direct removal, players should prioritize keeping their life total healthy, as Skanos can reduce it quickly when left unchecked. For this reason, having life-gain strategies in your deck could mitigate the damage and extend the game beyond the reach of Skanos’ influence. Moreover, countering it upon cast is also viable, with spells like Counterspell providing a clean and immediate solution.
Ultimately, maintaining control over the board state and being proactive with threats will keep Skanos, Red Dragon Vassal at bay. Regularly evaluating the opponent’s mana and potential threats can ensure that when Skanos enters the fray, you are ready with an answer that fits the situation, keeping your game plan secure and leading you toward victory.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Skanos, Red Dragon Vassal MTG card by a specific set like Alchemy Horizons: 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, Red Dragon Vassal and other MTG cards:
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