Skybeast Tracker MTG Card
2023-09-08 - Number 185
2023-09-08 - Number 27
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Giant Archer |
| Abilities | Food,Reach |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 4 |
Text of card
Reach Whenever you cast a spell with mana value 5 or greater, create a Food token. (It's an artifact with ", , Sacrifice this artifact: You gain 3 life.")
Cloud eaters, heaven tillers, beanstalk wurms—he favors prey worthy of a giant's appetite.
Cards like Skybeast Tracker
In the realm of creatures with a flair for discovery, Skybeast Tracker is a remarkable card for MTG enthusiasts. Its most immediate comparison might be to cards like Elvish Visionary, which also promises card draw when it enters the battlefield. However, Skybeast Tracker distinguishes itself by focusing on spotting creatures with flash, adding an element of surprise and strategy in your gameplay that Elvish Visionary doesn’t provide.
Another card worth mentioning in the same conversation is Fierce Empath. Although not a direct provider of card draw, it serves a similar purpose by tutoring for a creature card with power six or greater upon entering the battlefield. This ability for specific retrieval often garners a tactical advantage that raw card draw may not provide. Conversely, the Skybeast Tracker’s value increases in decks heavy with flash creatures, standing out in scenarios where instant-speed threats are a game-changer.
Assessing the unique positioning of Skybeast Tracker among its peers reveals the nuanced role it plays. It is this ability to leverage the element of surprise and provide card advantage in creature-centric decks that may give this card a coveted spot in MTG strategies favoring instant-speed interactions and creature-based tactics.
Cards similar to Skybeast Tracker by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Skybeast Tracker adds value by often allowing its controller to draw a card whenever it damages a player, directly increasing the controller’s hand advantage and potential strategic options as the game progresses.
Resource Acceleration: Although not directly impacting mana resources, Skybeast Tracker aids in resource acceleration by enabling repeated card draw, which can lead to quicker access to lands and spells that drive a player’s game forward.
Instant Speed: This creature can utilize its ability to fight a creature at instant speed which provides flexibility to remove key threats during the opponent’s end step or after they have committed to an unwise attack or block, effectively turning the tables with surprise tactics.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Engaging in battles across the planes requires strategic resource management, and the Skybeast Tracker demands a sacrifice of another card to unlock its potential. This discard requirement could hinder your momentum, especially when your hand is running thin.
Specific Mana Cost: Tailoring your mana base to accommodate the Skybeast Tracker’s specific mana cost can be challenging. Its demand for a precise combination of mana types makes it less flexible and could potentially disrupt the flow of multicolored decks.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: When evaluating the efficiency of your creatures, the Skybeast Tracker’s mana cost is something to consider. Its higher casting cost might not align well with the speed of your overall deck strategy compared to other creatures in the same mana range that offer immediate board impact or lower-cost alternatives with similar abilities.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Skybeast Tracker fits into a multitude of green-based decks, especially those looking for efficient creature-based strategies. Its ability to potentially draw a card makes it a useful addition to decks that aim for both board presence and card advantage.
Combo Potential: With Skybeast Tracker’s card draw mechanic triggered by the presence of creatures with different powers, it offers synergy with decks that diversify the power of their creatures, enabling various combo opportunities.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta that values creatures and combat, Skybeast Tracker can be an advantageous play. Its tracking ability to draw more cards can give you the edge you need in games where maintaining hand superiority makes the difference between victory and defeat.
How to beat Skybeast Tracker
Skybeast Tracker presents a unique challenge to players in Magic: The Gathering. As a creature that leverages the board state, it requires a strategy to mitigate its impact. The card thrives in environments with numerous powerful creatures, gaining valuable card draw every time it fights another creature. To counter this, maintaining control over the battlefield is crucial.
Effective strategies include employing removal spells to keep the board clear of significant threats or employing creatures with low power and high toughness to withstand its attacks. Cards that prevent targeting can also prove invaluable, as they protect creatures from being chosen for the Tracker’s ability. Furthermore, speed can be of essence; deploying aggressive tactics to pressure the life total of an opponent using Skybeast Tracker can limit the time they have to exploit its benefits.
In essence, Skybeast Tracker’s potential is linked to the creatures around it, making it a card that requires a swift and decisive response. Paring down the battlefield and disrupting an opponent’s creature base can drastically reduce the Tracker’s utility and keep it from becoming an overwhelming advantage.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Skybeast Tracker MTG card by a specific set like Wilds of Eldraine and Wilds of Eldraine Art Series, 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 Skybeast Tracker 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 Skybeast Tracker Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2023-09-08 and 2023-09-08. Illustrated by Andreas Zafiratos.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2023-09-08 | Wilds of Eldraine | WOE | 185 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Andreas Zafiratos | |
| 2 | Wilds of Eldraine Art Series | AWOE | 27 | 2015 | Art series | Borderless | Andreas Zafiratos |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Skybeast Tracker has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Alchemy | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Skybeast Tracker card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2023-09-01 | Food is an artifact type. Even though it appears on some creatures, it’s never a creature type. |
| 2023-09-01 | If a spell has in its mana cost, use the value chosen for that X to determine the mana value of that spell. |
| 2023-09-01 | If an effect refers to a Food, it means any Food artifact, not just a Food artifact token. For example, you can sacrifice Tough Cookie to activate the last ability of Sweettooth Witch. |
| 2023-09-01 | Some spells and abilities that create Food tokens may require targets. If each target chosen is an illegal target as that spell or ability tries to resolve, it won’t resolve. You won’t create any Food tokens. |
| 2023-09-01 | Whatever you do, don’t eat the delicious cards. |
| 2023-09-01 | You can’t sacrifice a Food to pay multiple costs. For example, you can’t sacrifice a Food token to activate its own ability and also to activate the last ability of Sweettooth Witch. |