Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon MTG Card

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon brings significant card superiority by posing as a singular threat that must be answered. Its potent combo of infect and regeneration means that it often requires multiple cards from an opponent to deal with, frequently leading to advantageous trades that can deplete an opponent’s resources.

Resource Acceleration: Skithiryx can be a catalyst for resource acceleration in decks that synergize with proliferate mechanics or those that benefit from having a powerful creature on the battlefield early. In such strategies, the presence of Skithiryx accelerates the game’s pace, often pressuring opponents before they are sufficiently set up in resources or defenses.

Instant Speed: Thanks to its innate ability to gain haste for a mere {B}, Skithiryx can strike swiftly and unexpectedly, not unlike a spell cast at instant speed. This allows a tactical player to keep mana open for other interactions while presenting the potential for an immediate and lethal attack when the moment is right.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon doesn’t directly ask you to discard, controlling such a valuable card often leads to tough decisions. Opponents may force discards, targeting high-value creatures like Skithiryx in your hand, potentially putting you at a resource disadvantage.

Specific Mana Cost: This dragon requires a dedicated mana base, needing not just five mana but also three sources of black mana. This can be restrictive and hard to manage, especially in multicolored decks that may not prioritize or consistently produce the required black mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Commanding a total of five mana, where two can be of any color but three must be black, makes Skithiryx a significant investment. Its impact on the game is considerable, but there are scenarios where tapping out for the dragon can leave you vulnerable to more mana-efficient threats or responses.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon offers a wide range of strategic options with its infect ability, flying, and haste, allowing it to adapt to various playstyles and deck types while posing a significant threat to opponents.

Combo Potential: The dragon’s ability to regenerate and its synergies with proliferate and doubling counters can create lethal combinations, turning it into a cornerstone for powerful and game-ending combos.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where games can end quickly, Skithiryx shines by offering a swift clock towards victory. Its presence in a deck can force opponents to alter their game plan, proving its significant impact in a competitive setting.

How to beat

Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon presents a formidable challenge for many MTG players due to its infect ability and the fact that it can gain haste. To successfully counter this dragon, it’s crucial to have removal spells ready or means to block its attacks effectively. Spells like Path to Exile or Go for the Throat can dispatch Skithiryx before it becomes a threat. Alternatively, having creatures with high toughness on the board can deter an attack from Skithiryx since it needs to deal combat damage to deliver those powerful infect counters.

In addition, employing graveyard hate cards, such as Relic of Progenitus, can prevent Skithiryx from returning to the battlefield after it’s dealt with. Lastly, countermagic remains a reliable strategy; holding up spells like Negate or Dismember can stop Skithiryx in its tracks or cripple it sufficiently to make it less of a threat. Preparing your deck with these strategies in mind will enhance your resilience against Skithiryx and the inevitable tide of poison counters it aims to deliver.