Slinking Skirge MTG Card

Prompting enchantment sacrifice, Slinking Skirge disrupts opponents’ strategies and tempo advantageously. Its low casting cost aids in speeding up board development, potentially overrunning adversaries. Flexibility with instant speed makes Slinking Skirge a tactical asset during complex plays.

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Phyrexian Imp
Abilities	Flying
Released	1999-06-07
Set symbol
Set name	Urza's Destiny
Set code	UDS
Power	2
Toughness	1
Number	71
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Ron Spencer

Text of card

Flying , Sacrifice Slinking Skirge: Draw a card.

Davvol encouraged the skirges; they made excellent sentries and were quite edible if properly seasoned.

Cards like Slinking Skirge

Slinking Skirge offers a unique dynamic in a deck’s aerial strategy in Magic: The Gathering. When compared with other flyers of its mana value, like the notorious Storm Crow, Slinking Skirge brings a tantalizing edge with its ability to be untargetable by spells or abilities unless its controller pays mana. Although Storm Crow is a staple due to its simplicity, the Skirge’s evasion capability makes it a potentially more formidable option for players looking to surprise opponents.

Similarly, Faerie Seer stands out with its scry 2 ability upon entering the battlefield, providing valuable deck filtering to shape future draws. However, Faerie Seer can’t match Slinking Skirge’s resilience to targeted removal. Falling into a higher mana category, we have spells like Vampire Nighthawk which offers flying along with deathtouch and lifelink, a combination that gives it defensive and offensive advantages. Yet, it doesn’t provide the same affordability and evasion as Slinking Skirge.

Ultimately, when evaluating the role of low-cost fliers in a deck’s composition, Slinking Skirge can claim a noteworthy spot for its uncanny ability to sneak past common removal, posing a consistent threat to an unprepared opponent’s life total.

Cards similar to Slinking Skirge by color, type and mana cost

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Card Pros

Card Advantage: Slinking Skirge provides a unique form of card efficiency in games. When it enters the battlefield, it allows a player to disrupt the opponent’s strategy by forcing them to sacrifice an enchantment, which could swing the tempo in your favor.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly impacting mana resources, the cost-efficiency of Slinking Skirge can lead to resource acceleration in other forms. Its affordable casting cost allows you to deploy more threats alongside it, effectively speeding up your board presence and overwhelming opponents earlier in the match.

Instant Speed: This creature may not itself have flash, but its evasion ability and low-cost pair well with cards that operate at instant speed. It enables you to keep mana open for instant-speed interaction, then cast Slinking Skirge if no immediate threats or opportunities present themselves. This elasticity in playstyle gives you an edge during the complex decision-making moments of a match.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Slinking Skirge demands that you discard a card to cast it. Such a requirement can put players at a disadvantage if their hand is already depleted, forcing difficult decisions that may hinder their gameplay strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: This card’s mana cost is devoted to black mana, requiring a commitment to black mana resources in your mana base. This can restrict deck-building options and may not be optimal for players looking to maintain a flexible mana base across various colors.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that demands three black mana, Slinking Skirge comes at a higher mana investment compared to other creatures of similar power and toughness levels. Savvy players might look for more cost-effective alternatives when curating their deck to ensure they’re maximizing their available mana each turn.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Slinking Skirge presents a unique blend of offensive and defensive capabilities. Its evasive nature, thanks to flying, allows it to be a consistent threat in the air, fitting well in aggressive strategies that require a reliable damage dealer.

Combo Potential: This card offers excellent synergy possibilities, especially in strategies focused on life point manipulation or sacrifice effects. Its ability to return to its owner’s hand upon demise means it can be repeatedly used as part of sacrifice-based combos or recursion engines.

Meta-Relevance: In metagames that prioritize tempo and efficiency, Slinking Skirge holds its ground. It can be a thorn in the side of slower decks, obliging opponents to have an answer or continuously lose precious life points, making it a card to consider when tuning your deck to the current competitive environment.

How to beat

When facing off against the Slinking Skirge in your MTG duels, it’s vital to have a strategy that mitigates its strengths. This creature card is recognized for being an evasive enemy due to its flying ability, allowing it to soar over ground-based defenders with ease. On top of that, its characteristic as a Phyrexian Negator may cause your opponent to think twice before deciding to attack, as the possibility of sacrificing permanents could deter aggressive play.

Dealing with Slinking Skirge effectively means being prepared to remove it swiftly from the battlefield. Utilizing spells that can target creatures in the air is a sound approach, as is employing instant-speed removal to ensure it doesn’t get a chance to cause too much havoc. Moreover, strategic deck building can include enchantments that negate the benefits of flying, or creature spells that have reach as a natural countermeasure. Spells that doesn’t allow your opponent to gain life or have specific “destroy” effects on black creatures also turn the tide against the Slinking Skirge.

Ultimately, by understanding its capabilities and having the right counters in place, you can navigate an encounter with Slinking Skirge in a way that maintains your hold on the game, preventing this creature from becoming a persistent threat to your victory.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Slinking Skirge MTG card by a specific set like Urza's Destiny, 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 Slinking Skirge and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Slinking Skirge has restrictions

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