Skyshroud Vampire MTG Card
1997-10-14 - Number 157
2015-05-06 - Number 118
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Vampire |
| Abilities | Flying |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 3 |
Text of card
Flying Choose and discard a creature card: Skyshroud Vampire gets +2/+2 until end of turn.
"If it tastes one drop of elvish blood I will cast it from the shroud to see it burn." —Eladamri, Lord of Leaves
Cards like Skyshroud Vampire
Skyshroud Vampire brings a unique dynamic to the realm of creature cards in Magic: The Gathering. While many other creatures boast abilities to manipulate the battlefield, Skyshroud Vampire offers something different with its special power to trade creatures for a temporary boost in strength. A classic example of a similar card is Vampire Bats, with the advantage that it has a lower initial cost and provides more control over the creature’s power and toughness. However, it lacks Skyshroud Vampire’s potential for sheer power increase and the ability to utilize graveyard synergy.
Contrasting Skyshroud Vampire with another kindred spirit, we encounter Bloodthirsty Aerialist. Both cards have the vampire lineage, but the Aerialist grows stronger over the course of a game and benefits from lifegain strategies, whereas Skyshroud Vampire requires a creature to be sacrificed to unlock its full potential, making for a different strategic angle. Nantuko Shade is another comparable card, with its ability to pump its power. Nonetheless, its mana-intensive nature contrasts with Skyshroud Vampire’s use of the creature-based ability.
Across these comparisons, Skyshroud Vampire offers a distinctive approach to deck building and gameplay, inviting tactical sacrifices that can result in considerable power spikes, thus holding its unique position among MTG’s diverse array of vampiric forces.
Cards similar to Skyshroud Vampire by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Skyshroud Vampire presents a strategic edge, facilitating creature recycling from your hand to potentially draw into more impactful cards or answers, effectively turning unwanted or used creatures into new opportunities.
Resource Acceleration: Although not directly impacting your mana pool, Skyshroud Vampire uses mana efficiently by enabling the recurring use of creatures for a mere two mana, making it adaptable in various stages of the game.
Instant Speed: The vampire’s ability can be activated at instant speed, granting a tactical advantage by allowing you to wait until the most advantageous moment to sacrifice a creature, whether during combat or in response to an opponent’s actions.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Demanding a card to be discarded can be a hefty price, especially in tightly contested games where every card in hand is crucial. This can particularly affect your late-game where options need to be flexible and plentiful.
Specific Mana Cost: Requiring a distinct combination of black mana, the Skyshroud Vampire may not seamlessly fit into multicolored decks, potentially limiting its versatility in a diverse metagame.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost that could be seen as steep relative to its stats and abilities, there might be alternative creatures or spells that offer a better cost-benefit ratio, impacting the efficiency of your mana usage during the game.
Reasons to Include Skyshroud Vampire in Your Collection
Versatility: Skyshroud Vampire offers adaptability across various deck builds. Its ability to sacrifice a creature for a flying boost allows it to seamlessly integrate into decks centered around graveyard strategies or those looking to exploit death-triggered abilities.
Combo Potential: This creature’s ability to discard a creature card to summon a Bat token opens up avenues for synergy with cards that benefit from creatures entering or leaving the battlefield, setting the stage for powerful combinations.
Meta-Relevance: In a game state where strategies hinge upon creature presence and graveyard dynamics, Skyshroud Vampire can become a formidable force, providing a recurrent creature presence that can influence the battlefield’s power balance.
How to beat
Tackling the nuances of the Skyshroud Vampire in MTG requires strategic insight. This creature card allows its controller to turn potential dead draws into unexpected threats by discarding a creature card to summon bats onto the battlefield. To surpass the inherent advantage this vampire offers, players must be shrewd in their control of the graveyard and in limiting creature cards in their opponent’s hand.
One approach is leveraging graveyard disruption tactics such as exile effects, which can preemptively eliminate the Vampire’s targets. Additionally, deploying hand disruption spells that force the opponent to discard or reveal their hand can degrade the value of the Skyshroud Vampire’s ability. Ensuring that you maintain pressure and forcing unfavorable trades for your opponent can also curb the effectiveness of this vampire as a recurring threat on the board.
Ultimately, while the Skyshroud Vampire brings a dimension of versatility and resilience to the game, a well-crafted strategy that emphasizes resource denial and graveyard management can nullify its impact. Keep these tips in mind, and you’ll find yourself dismantling the might of the Skyshroud Vampire with precision and control.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Skyshroud Vampire MTG card by a specific set like Tempest and Tempest Remastered, 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 Skyshroud Vampire 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 Skyshroud Vampire Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1997-10-14 and 2015-05-06. Illustrated by Gary Leach.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1997-10-14 | Tempest | TMP | 157 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Gary Leach | |
| 2 | 2015-05-06 | Tempest Remastered | TPR | 118 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Gary Leach |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Skyshroud Vampire has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |