Skylasher MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Insect |
| Abilities | Protection,Reach, Flash |
| Released | 2013-05-03 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Dragon's Maze |
| Set code | DGM |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 2 |
| Number | 49 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Dan Scott |
Text of card
Flash Skylasher can't be countered. Reach, protection from blue
"It preys on those who would spy on our lands, so we never prey on it." —Kroshkar, Gruul shaman
Cards like Skylasher
The Skylasher card offers a unique place in Magic: The Gathering’s array of creature cards. Known for its ability to stand against blue-flyers, this creature garners comparison with the likes of Deadly Recluse. Both share reach capabilities, allowing them to block creatures with flying. However, Skylasher’s inherent protection from blue and the capacity to be uncounterable specifically tailors it as a strong defense in matches against blue-centric decks.
Gutter Skulk is another creature that often comes up in discussions about two-mana creature slots. While it doesn’t have Skylasher’s specialized skills against blue, it provides a reliable early game presence with no color restrictions. The value of each card is nuanced and dependent on the deck’s strategy. Another parallel is drawn with Scryb Ranger. This card offers protection from blue as well and has flash like Skylasher, but it also boasts versatility with its return a forest ability, granting additional utility.
Analyzing these options reveals Skylasher as a specialized tool for certain encounters, making it an important consideration for players crafting sideboards or main decks with a plan against blue-focused opponents in Magic: The Gathering.
Cards similar to Skylasher by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Skylasher presents a nuanced form of card advantage. It’s not about drawing cards but rather rendering opponents’ blue instants and creatures less effective. This can lead to an indirect card advantage as opponents may find their cards less useful against Skylasher, potentially leaving them with dead cards in hand while you apply pressure with an uncounterable threat.
Resource Acceleration: While Skylasher doesn’t ramp your mana in the traditional sense, its low cost provides a resource advantage. For only two mana – one green, one generic – you get a creature that can immediately impact the board. This efficient cost-to-effect ratio allows you to deploy other threats or hold mana for interaction, maximizing your resource efficiency each turn.
Instant Speed: Skylasher’s flash ability bestows it with the versatility of being played at instant speed, catching opponents off-guard. This can disrupt their strategy, especially when they play a blue creature that Skylasher can block due to its reach ability. The potential to surprise an opponent with a flash creature can lead to favorable combat exchanges or disrupt their end-of-turn plans, giving you a strategic edge.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Skylasher compels players to carefully consider hand management, as it necessitates the retention of specific cards to counteract flying threats, potentially leading to a challenging discard decision in tight scenarios.
Specific Mana Cost: Requiring both green mana can constrict the card’s adaptability, predominantly tethering it to green-centric or two-color decks that can reliably meet the mana prerequisites.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Skylasher’s unique abilities justify its cost to some extent, in the fast-paced environment of competitive play, the two-mana investment might be seen as less efficient, particularly when mana could be allocated to broader impacting spells or creatures.
Reasons to Include Skylasher in Your Collection
Versatility: Skylasher is an adaptable card that fits snugly into green decks aiming to counter blue-heavy strategies. Its ability to be uncounterable and have reach allows it to stand up against flying creatures while remaining safely on the board.
Combo Potential: When paired with cards that benefit from creatures with hexproof or those that need to bolster the number of insects or beasts in play, Skylasher shines. Its flash ability also enables surprise defenses and unexpected combat tricks during your opponent’s turn.
Meta-Relevance: In environments dominated by blue spells or flying creatures, Skylasher is a strong meta choice. Its swift versatility offers a substantial edge, especially in sideboarded games, making it an essential consideration for players looking to strengthen their green decks against common blue threats.
How to beat
Skylasher is a nifty creature card in Magic: The Gathering that can pose quite a challenge due to its reach ability, letting it block flying creatures, and its protection from blue, making it invulnerable to blue spells and effects. This particular set of skills makes Skylasher a formidable foe against decks with a heavy blue component, especially those relying on flying creatures for defense or offense.
To effectively counter Skylasher, it’s wise to consider using cards or strategies that don’t rely on targeting or that can bypass its protective characteristics. Area of effect removal like Wrath of God, which doesn’t target individual creatures or depend on color, can be particularly effective. Moreover, creature abilities that don’t target, such as those granted by Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite, can reduce Skylasher’s toughness to zero, effectively removing it from play without engaging in direct confrontation.
Ultimately, the key to surpassing the challenge of Skylasher lies in adapting your strategy to include versatile removal options or strategies that can circumvent its defenses. This planning not only prepares you for a single card like Skylasher but also enhances your deck’s resilience against a broader range of threats.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Skylasher MTG card by a specific set like Dragon's Maze, 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 Skylasher 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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Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Skylasher has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Guide to Flash card ability
Explore the dynamic Flash ability in Magic: The Gathering (MTG), a feature that allows you to cast spells at lightning speed, often leaving your opponents reeling and your strategy several steps ahead. This versatile ability can turn the tide of a game, providing the element of surprise and tactical advantage. It places a premium on timing and foresight, transforming an ordinary deck into a formidable arsenal of instant threats and responses.