Skyship Stalker MTG Card
2016-09-30 - Number 130
2016-09-30 - Number 130s
2016-09-30 - Number 130
2020-11-12 - Number 146
2021-07-23 - Number 141
2002-06-24 - Number 62215
| Card sets | Released in 6 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Dragon |
| Abilities | Flying |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 3 |
Text of card
Flying : Skyship Stalker gets +1/+0 until end of turn. : Skyship Stalker gains first strike until end of turn. : Skyship Stalker gains haste until end of turn.
Cards like Skyship Stalker
Skyship Stalker fiercely competes with other red dragon creatures for a spot in MTG decks. Notably, it shares the skies with cards like Lathliss, Dragon Queen, who offers a powerful ability to create dragon tokens with each other dragon’s entrance. However, where Lathliss requires a battalion of dragons for optimization, Skyship Stalker stands independently strong with multiple activated abilities right out of the gate.
Comparing it further, Glorybringer is another comparable card, which also presents a formidable presence with exert to deal damage. Unlike Skyship Stalker, Glorybringer offers immediate impact without additional mana investment, but lacks the versatile enhancement options, such as gaining first strike or haste.
A closer counterpart is Stormbreath Dragon, which shares the protection from white and potential massive damage output. Stormbreath may have haste innately and can avoid some removal spells, but it doesn’t possess the same flexible upgradeability to control the battlefield turn by turn like Skyship Stalker does with its repeatable abilities. In essence, while each dragon has its unique advantages, Skyship Stalker is a well-rounded choice for players valuing adaptability and robust board presence.
Cards similar to Skyship Stalker by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Skyship Stalker ensures you maintain a solid presence on the board. If left unchecked, this dragon can repeatedly activate its abilities to generate significant card advantage as you soar over defenses or remove key threats.
Resource Acceleration: While Skyship Stalker itself doesn’t directly provide mana, its aggressive presence can force opponents to deal with it quickly. This indirect pressure can turn into resource acceleration as opponents may have to tap out or use resources inefficiently to answer the threat, giving you a resource and tempo advantage.
Instant Speed: Skyship Stalker benefits from any instant-speed buffs or protection spells you may hold. The versatility of instant-speed interaction allows you to make on-the-fly decisions that can swing the game in your favor, making Skyship Stalker a flexible threat in your MTG arsenal.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Skyship Stalker offers flexibility with its multiple abilities, players may find that not having a similar discard mechanism can be a limiting factor, forcing deck adjustments or play style changes to fully leverage its potential.
Specific Mana Cost: Skyship Stalker demands a specific mana alignment, red, which can be restrictive. Decks that don’t heavily feature red may struggle to consistently produce the necessary mana, thereby reducing the card’s playability across all deck types.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that includes three red mana, Skyship Stalker can be challenging to play early in the game, especially in multicolor decks. Its cost demands a significant investment, which could potentially be directed towards playing multiple lower-cost cards for greater immediate board presence.
Reasons to Include Skyship Stalker in Your Collection
Versatility: Skyship Stalker offers flexible abilities, allowing you to adapt to various board states. Whether you need a flier, additional firepower or just a robust blocker, this dragon can meet multiple needs in red decks.
Combo Potential: As a dragon that can gain multiple abilities, Skyship Stalker works well with cards that capitalize on powerful, multi-faceted creatures. It can complement strategies focused on +1/+1 counters, or serve as an excellent recipient for equipment and auras.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta that values creatures with immediate board impact, Skyship Stalker fits in perfectly. Its ability to gain haste makes it a threatening presence the moment it flies onto the battlefield, giving it relevance in aggressive and midrange decks alike.
How to beat
Skyship Stalker is a dynamic creature card that brings versatility to the battlefield in MTG. With its powerful flying ability and the option to gain first strike, Skyship Stalker emerges as a formidable adversary. The card’s strength lies in its flexibility, allowing players to invest mana to enhance its power or grant it haste for a swift attack. This creates a challenge for opponents, as it can quickly swing the tide of a match if left unchecked.
To counteract the threat of Skyship Stalker, consider employing removal spells that can bypass its potential buffs, such as ‘Murder’ or ‘Hero’s Downfall’. It’s crucial to have a strategy in place for dealing with flying creatures, so including cards like ‘Windstorm’ or ‘Plummet’ could prove valuable in your deck. Additionally, maintaining board control with sweepers like ‘Day of Judgment’ can clear the path for your victory without giving the stalker a chance to soar. Effective timing and anticipation of when your opponent might unleash the stalker is key, so be prepared with answers before it takes to the skies.
Understanding the essentials of evasive creature management and maintaining a diverse arsenal of responses ensures that when you face Skyship Stalker, you’ll be well-equipped to send it crashing down.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Skyship Stalker MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Kaladesh, 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 Skyship Stalker 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 Skyship Stalker Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2016-09-30 and 2021-07-23. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 62215 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Tyler Jacobson | ||
| 2 | 2016-09-30 | Kaladesh | KLD | 130 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Chris Rahn | |
| 3 | 2016-09-30 | Kaladesh Promos | PKLD | 130s | 2015 | Normal | Black | Chris Rahn | |
| 4 | 2016-09-30 | Kaladesh Promos | PKLD | 130 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Tyler Jacobson | |
| 5 | 2020-11-12 | Kaladesh Remastered | KLR | 146 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Chris Rahn | |
| 6 | 2021-07-23 | Forgotten Realms Commander | AFC | 141 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Chris Rahn |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Skyship Stalker has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |