Skeleton Shard MTG Card
2003-10-02 - Number 242
2009-09-04 - Number 127
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Artifact |
Text of card
, or , : Return target artifact creature card from your graveyard to your hand.
Metal permeates the marrow of every bone in Mephidross—except one.
Cards like Skeleton Shard
Skeleton Shard is an intriguing artifact in Magic: The Gathering, offering utility to decks that capitalize on creature recovery from the graveyard. Its ability to resurrect artifact creatures echoes the mechanics of other notable reanimation tools such as Unearth or Phyrexian Reclamation. Yet, Skeleton Shard provides a repeatable effect specifically tailored for artifact creatures, differentiating it from the broader scope of Unearth’s single-use nature and Phyrexian Reclamation’s life cost for any creature type.
In comparing Skeleton Shard to Myr Retriever, another card with a recursion bent, the Retriever shines in self-triggering upon death, bringing back another artifact. Skeleton Shard, while requiring an initial mana investment and tapping, does not consume the card and delivers ongoing value. Then we have Junk Diver, with a similar retrieval ability to Myr Retriever, yet the Shard stands out for its targeted recursion without needing to sacrifice an on-field presence.
Overall, Skeleton Shard carves its niche within artifact-centric strategies in Magic: The Gathering. Its unique functionality establishes a resilience for artifact creatures, making it a key piece in maintaining board presence and resource advantage over the course of a game.
Cards similar to Skeleton Shard by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Skeleton Shard provides the ability to reclaim creatures from your graveyard, offering a recurring source of card advantage by returning key artifact creatures to your hand for another use.
Resource Acceleration: By efficiently using mana to retrieve creatures from the graveyard, Skeleton Shard can act as a form of resource acceleration, letting you redeploy threats without expending additional cards from your hand.
Instant Speed: Skeleton Shard’s activated ability can be used at instant speed, giving you the flexibility to react to your opponent’s moves or to make strategic plays at the end of their turn, all while maintaining the element of surprise.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Skeleton Shard requires an artifact creature in your graveyard as the essential resource to activate its ability. This prerequisite might dampen its utility in decks not heavily stocked with artifact creatures.
Specific Mana Cost: The activation cost demands one black mana, which could restrict its playability to decks with a black mana base, potentially excluding it from various multi-colored or colorless artifact-focused strategies.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While three mana for its casting may seem moderate, the additional mana for each activation contributes to a gradually steep cost, especially when competing with other low-cost graveyard retrieval options in MTG.
Reasons to Include Skeleton Shard in Your Collection
Versatility: Skeleton Shard is an artifact that offers flexibility in deck-building, slotting into strategies that rely on recurring creatures from the graveyard.
Combo Potential: This artifact provides a consistent way to return artifact creatures to your hand, enabling intricate combinations with cards that benefit from frequent creature casting or sacrificing.
Meta-Relevance: In environments where creature removal is prevalent, Skeleton Shard ensures that your key artifact creatures can come back to the battlefield, maintaining your board presence.
How to beat
Skeleton Shard, a unique artifact in Magic: The Gathering, provides players with a steady stream of creature recovery from their graveyard. This card can be a thorn in the side for many opponents because it continuously brings back creature cards with skeleton, zombie, or other subtype synergies. Unlike single-use recovery spells or abilities, Skeleton Shard can be utilized multiple times, given enough mana and a stocked graveyard.
To combat the persistent threat of Skeleton Shard, it’s essential to deal with it directly. Artifacts destruction cards like Naturalize or Abrade can provide straightforward solutions. Alternatively, countermagic such as Negate offers a preemptive approach by never allowing the artifact to hit the board in the first place. Additionally, graveyard disruption tactics, typified by cards like Tormod’s Crypt or Leyline of the Void, ensure that the Shard has no targets to bring back, therefore nullifying its utility.
Oustings Skeleton Shard from the battlefield or hampering its effectiveness can significantly diminish an opponent’s resilience. It’s a powerful component in archetypes designed to exploit the synergies of creature types, so keeping a check on it is crucial for maintaining control over the game.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Skeleton Shard MTG card by a specific set like Mirrodin and Planechase, 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 Skeleton Shard and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
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Printings
The Skeleton Shard Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2003-10-02 and 2009-09-04. Illustrated by Doug Chaffee.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2003-10-02 | Mirrodin | MRD | 242 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Doug Chaffee | |
| 2 | 2009-09-04 | Planechase | HOP | 127 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Doug Chaffee |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Skeleton Shard has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Skeleton Shard card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2004-10-04 | You can pay either of the two costs (but not both at the same time) to activate the ability. |