Skrelv's Hive MTG Card


Skrelv’s Hive fuels card advantage by creating insect tokens to expand battlefield control. Flexibility and strategy are enhanced with the Hive’s instant speed activation during play. Despite its benefits, the card’s specific mana needs and casting cost may limit use.
Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityRare
TypeEnchantment
Abilities Corrupted

Text of card

At the beginning of your upkeep, you lose 1 life and create a 1/1 colorless Phyrexian Mite artifact creature token with toxic 1 and "This creature can't block." Corrupted — As long as an opponent has three or more poison counters, creatures you control with toxic have lifelink.


Cards like Skrelv's Hive

Skrelv’s Hive enters the complex and dynamic world of land cards within Magic: The Gathering, presenting an intriguing option for deck builders. Mirroring the functionality of cards like Field of the Dead, Skrelv’s Hive also offers a unique ability to add creatures to the board. While Field of the Dead capitalizes on playing different land types, Skrelv’s Hive provides consistent insect creature generation, boosting swarm strategies.

Considering Westvale Abbey, another land with creature-generating abilities, the comparison is clear. Westvale Abbey demands a higher investment for creature production, yet it can transform into a vastly powerful demon. Skrelv’s Hive, by contrast, requires a lower investment for each insect and is a tool for incremental advantage rather than a single, game-ending threat.

Lands like Hive of the Eye Tyrant share the concept of animating lands into creatures, yet Skrelv’s Hive stands out by not needing to become a creature to influence the battlefield. This allows Skrelv’s Hive to avoid direct removal that animated lands typically face. Weighing these aspects reveals how Skrelv’s Hive fills a distinctive role in the landscape of creature-generating lands in MTG, giving players a resilient and persistent method to bolster their forces.

Field of the Dead - MTG Card versions
Hive of the Eye Tyrant - MTG Card versions
Field of the Dead - MTG Card versions
Hive of the Eye Tyrant - MTG Card versions

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Crusade - MTG Card versions
Circle of Protection: Blue - MTG Card versions
Circle of Protection: Artifacts - MTG Card versions
Circle of Protection: Red - MTG Card versions
Energy Storm - MTG Card versions
Circle of Protection: Black - MTG Card versions
Ward of Lights - MTG Card versions
Gossamer Chains - MTG Card versions
I'm Rubber, You're Glue - MTG Card versions
Absolute Grace - MTG Card versions
Serenity - MTG Card versions
Mageta's Boon - MTG Card versions
Seal of Cleansing - MTG Card versions
Absolute Law - MTG Card versions
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Decks using this card

MTG decks using Skrelv's Hive. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Bant PoisonBant Poison StandardBant PoisonStandard Challenge 32 2024-04-13 (1)

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Skrelv’s Hive shines in providing card advantage by generating creature tokens. These tokens can bolster your battlefield presence without having to use additional cards from your hand, effectively allowing you to maintain a card advantage.

Resource Acceleration: The Hive’s ability to add resources is another highlight. Each insect token produced can be a potential chump blocker or an aggressor on the board, accelerating your resource advantage in creature quantity, which can be pivotal during games.

Instant Speed: The instant speed activation of Skrelv’s Hive’s ability adds a layer of flexibility and strategy to your gameplay. It permits you to react in real-time to your opponent’s actions, suddenly swelling your board state when least expected or when most advantageous.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Skrelv’s Hive necessitates discarding one or more cards, which can be a setback when you’re already handling a depleted hand, reducing your available strategic options.

Specific Mana Cost: The casting cost of Skrelv’s Hive includes specific mana that restricts it to certain color-aligned decks, potentially hampering its flexibility in multi-color deck constructs that may need broader mana accessibility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a substantial mana value required for activation, Skrelv’s Hive can strain your mana resources and may slow down your gameplay, especially when competing against decks that capitalize on swifter mana curves and more immediate board impact.


Reasons to Include Skrelv’s Hive in Your Collection

Versatility: Skrelv’s Hive offers a unique blend of offensive and defensive capabilities. Being a land card, it fits into any deck easily without taking up precious spell slots. When activated, its ability to create insect tokens offers both a defense mechanism and the potential for a surprise attack.

Combo Potential: For decks centered around synergies with creature tokens or those that capitalize on sacrificing creatures for benefits, Skrelv’s Hive provides an ongoing source of value. These generated tokens can be pivotal for various combos or as fodder for powerful sacrificial spells.

Meta-Relevance: Considering the pace of the current metagame, having a land that doubles up as a creature generator can be significant. It aligns well with strategies that aim to outlast opponents through incremental advantage, making it a card worth considering for your deck if the meta favors long, drawn-out battles.


How to Beat

Skrelv’s Hive introduces a unique challenge for players in Magic: The Gathering. This card creates an atmosphere for a poisonous strategy, leveraging the menacing insect creatures to potentially whittle down an opponent’s life total indirectly. Overcoming Skrelv’s Hive requires a strategic approach centered on creature control and board wipes. Cards like Wrath of God or Supreme Verdict can clear the long line of tokens before they become an overwhelming force. Moreover, instant speed removal, such as Path to Exile or Fatal Push, are valuable tools to remove key creatures that might otherwise spawn more tokens.

Artifact destruction spells like Naturalize or more versatile options like Assassin’s Trophy, which can target a wider array of problematic cards, also play a pivotal role in dismantling the Hive before it becomes a nest of trouble. Direct life gain effects, and cards that grant you hexproof like Leyline of Sanctity, protect against the incremental damage from poison counters effectively keeping you one step ahead. Thus, timely disruption, board management, and life defense strategies can assure the Hive’s insidious spread is kept firmly under your control.


BurnMana Recommendations

Delve deeper into the strategic layers of MTG with Skrelv’s Hive. This unique land card brings both strengths and challenges to your deck. It offers card advantage through insect tokens and bolsters your play with instant speed flexibility. While it demands a careful balance of resources, its benefits in resource acceleration and combo potential make it a key playmaker. Navigate the competitive landscape with our insights on potent synergies, meta considerations, and counterplay tactics. If you’re looking to enrich your strategic options and thrive in the current gameplay environment, we’re here to help fine-tune your deck. Discover more about mastering MTG with us.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Skrelv's Hive MTG card by a specific set like Phyrexia: All Will Be One Promos and Phyrexia: All Will Be One, 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 Skrelv's Hive and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Skrelv's Hive Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2023-02-03 and 2023-02-03. Illustrated by Heonhwa Choe.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12023-02-03Phyrexia: All Will Be One PromosPONE 34p2015NormalBlackHeonhwa Choe
22023-02-03Phyrexia: All Will Be OneONE 3762015NormalBlackHeonhwa Choe
32023-02-03Phyrexia: All Will Be One PromosPONE 34s2015NormalBlackHeonhwa Choe
42023-02-03Phyrexia: All Will Be OneONE 342015NormalBlackHeonhwa Choe

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Skrelv's Hive has restrictions

FormatLegality
StandardLegal
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
AlchemyLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
FutureLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
BrawlLegal
TimelessLegal