Skulltap MTG Card

Skulltap trades creatures for card advantage, fitting decks with graveyard synergy. Instant speed offers tactical use, though sacrificing creatures can be costly. Versatile in sacrifice-focused strategies, Skulltap remains a meta-relevant draw spell.

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Common
Type	Sorcery
Released	2003-05-26
Set symbol
Set name	Scourge
Set code	SCG
Number	73
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Adam Rex

Text of card

As an additional cost to play Skulltap, sacrifice a creature. Draw two cards.

"Finally, a use for that head of yours." —Braids, dementia summoner

Cards like Skulltap

Unveiling the potential of Skulltap in Magic: The Gathering invites a comparison with other sacrificial card draw spells in the game. It mirrors Altar’s Reap, requiring a creature sacrifice as the key price for two new cards. In contrast to Skulltap’s one-time effect, Altar’s Reap can be cast at instant speed, offering strategic advantages during an opponent’s turn or in response to their actions.

Considering Costly Plunder, the nuances are more pronounced. At the same mana value, Costly Plunder not only allows the sacrifice of a creature, but also an artifact for an identical reward: the draw of two cards. This versatility can be crucial, especially in a pinch when a creature is not available for sacrifice. Then there’s Village Rites, standing out for its efficiency with one mana cost and also providing the same instant speed advantage as Altar’s Reap.

Each card possesses unique elements that could fit differently into various gameplays and strategies. Skulltap may grant players a straightforward, albeit more rigid, method to convert creatures into card advantage – making it a viable option for decks requiring such actions at sorcery speed.

Cards similar to Skulltap by color, type and mana cost

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Skulltap offers an efficient mechanism for card advantage, allowing you to sacrifice a creature to draw two cards—perfect for decks that utilize creature recursion or strategies involving the graveyard.

Resource Acceleration: Although Skulltap does not directly produce mana or tokens, the ability to convert expendable or doomed creatures into new cards can lead to faster access to necessary resources, propelling your game plan forward.

Instant Speed: As an instant, Skulltap provides flexibility, enabling you to wait until the most strategic moment to use it, such as in response to an opponent’s removal spell, maximizing its potential impact and preserving your options during gameplay.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: When playing Skulltap, you’re tasked with sacrificing a creature, a non-negotiable cost that can hinder your board presence. In games where every creature counts, having to part with one may put you at an unnerving disadvantage.

Specific Mana Cost: Skulltap’s cost necessitates one black mana. This requirement can restrict the card’s flexibility, especially in multicolored decks that might struggle to consistently provide the necessary mana type for an optimal play.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a total casting cost of two mana, including one black, Skulltap might not be the most mana-efficient option available. While it does replace itself by drawing two cards, other spells or abilities could offer similar benefits without necessitating a creature sacrifice or fitting more seamlessly into a wider range of mana bases.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Skulltap provides an efficient way to convert creatures nearing the end of their usefulness into new card draw, offering fresh opportunities and resources for a variety of deck types.

Combo Potential: In decks that utilize creature sacrifice for strategic advantages, Skulltap can act as the perfect complement, turning each sacrifice into a valuable draw to keep your hand filled.

Meta-Relevance: As card draw remains a cornerstone of successful strategies, Skulltap maintains relevance by offering a low-cost method to replenish your hand, keeping pace with the ever-changing MTG meta.

How to beat

Skulltap stands out in MTG as a unique card draw spell that offers players a twist to the conventional draw mechanics. Its primary cost is sacrificing a creature rather than paying mana, allowing you to draw two cards. While this may seem like a beneficial trade-off during certain gameplay situations, it also presents a strategic vulnerability that can be exploited.

To effectively counter Skulltap, one must recognize the importance of timing and resource management. Opponents can capitalize on the moment when a player is poised to sacrifice a creature, using removal spells or effects to disrupt the intended sacrifice, effectively causing the Skulltap player to lose their creature without reaping the benefit of drawing cards. Moreover, cards that restrict or penalize sacrificing creatures can severely hinder the effective use of Skulltap in a match.

Ultimately, understanding and anticipating your opponent’s strategies revolving around Skulltap can position you advantageously in a game. Playing around this card involves maintaining pressure, preserving your removal resources until they aim to capitalize on Skulltap, and integrating sacrificial deterrents into your deck that nullify or diminish Skulltap’s potential advantages.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Skulltap MTG card by a specific set like Scourge, 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 Skulltap and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Skulltap has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Premodern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2013-04-15	Players can only respond once this spell has been cast and all its costs have been paid. No one can try to destroy the creature you sacrificed to prevent you from casting this spell.
2013-04-15	You must sacrifice exactly one creature to cast this spell; you cannot cast it without sacrificing a creature, and you cannot sacrifice additional creatures.