Stitchwing Skaab MTG Card
2016-04-08 - Number 90
2021-08-26 - Number 256
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Zombie Horror |
| Abilities | Flying |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 1 |
Text of card
Flying , Discard two cards: Return Stitchwing Skaab from your graveyard to the battlefield tapped.
"Amazing, isn't it, how scraps can come together to create such a wonder?" —Stitcher Geralf
Cards like Stitchwing Skaab
Stitchwing Skaab makes a splash in the realm of creature cards with recursion abilities in MTG. This blue zombie horror shares kinship with Advanced Stitchwing, which also allows for return from the graveyard to the battlefield. While both require discarding two cards as a resurrection cost, Advanced Stitchwing has a heftier casting and activation cost but provides a stronger power and toughness. It’s a measure of balance for the additional investment.
Comparable in functionality is Scrapheap Scrounger, thriving in black’s territory. Although this artifact creature doesn’t necessitate discarding cards, it can only bring itself back during your turn and lacks the flying ability that grants Stitchwing Skaab an aerial advantage.
There is also Havengul Lich, which provides a targeted creature retrieval from any graveyard, but at a higher cost and a different strategic application. Given these comparisons, Stitchwing Skaab fits snugly into its niche of offering repeatable aerial threats for decks revolving around graveyard strategies, solidified by its balance of cost and utility.
Cards similar to Stitchwing Skaab by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Stitchwing Skaab aids in filling your graveyard, which can lead to significant card advantage for strategies revolving around graveyard interactions. Its ability to return from the graveyard to the battlefield also circumvents the need for drawing additional creatures, allowing for sustained pressure on the board.
Resource Acceleration: Though not directly a resource accelerator, Stitchwing Skaab’s ability to discard cards can indirectly lead to resource acceleration in decks that benefit from having certain card types in the graveyard—enabling faster deployment of graveyard-based mechanics or threshold activations.
Instant Speed: The true value of Stitchwing Skaab lies in its instant speed capability. You can activate its return ability during an opponent’s end step, thus maximizing mana usage and maintaining the element of surprise. This tactical edge keeps opponents guessing and can disrupt their strategies, particularly if they’ve already accounted for the creatures on the battlefield.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Stitchwing Skaab has an ability activation that comes at the price of discarding two other cards. For players who may already be at a hand disadvantage, this requirement might exacerbate the situation and deplete valuable hand assets.
Specific Mana Cost: This card demands a blend of generic and blue mana which could pose difficulties in multi-colored decks not heavily invested in blue. Ensuring the right mana balance is crucial, and this requirement can impose limitations on deck flexibility.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that includes three generic and one blue mana, Stitchwing Skaab might lag behind in the tempo game. Players might find alternative creatures or spells that provide equal or greater board presence or impact for a similar or lower investment.
Reasons to Include Stitchwing Skaab in Your Collection
Versatility: Stitchwing Skaab offers unique flexibility as a flying creature that can be easily returned from the graveyard to the battlefield. This makes it a recurring threat that can be used in a variety of blue-based decks such as self-mill, reanimator, or graveyard synergistic strategies.
Combo Potential: With its discard ability, Stitchwing Skaab enables players to set up graveyard combos or synergize with madness and spells that benefit from cards being discarded. It’s an excellent piece in strategies aiming to get specific cards into the graveyard for later use.
Meta-Relevance: In environments where the graveyard is a resource as valuable as the hand or battlefield, Stitchwing Skaab becomes a potent tool. It’s especially powerful in metas where evasive creatures can swing games and where being able to recur threats gives you a long-term advantage.
How to beat
Stitchwing Skaab presents itself as a resilient threat in any Magic: The Gathering match due to its ability to return from the graveyard. This quality means that typical removal spells might not be as effective against it. That’s where graveyard hate comes into play. By using cards like Rest in Peace or Scavenging Ooze, you can exile Stitchwing Skaab and prevent it from continually reanimating. Another strategy is to employ counterspells when your opponent attempts to bring it back from the graveyard, disrupting their resource allocation and setting them back.
It also pays to monitor your opponent’s graveyard, as Stitchwing Skaab requires a specific activation cost to return to play. By keeping their graveyard clean or their hand size down through targeted discard spells or hand disruption tactics, the Skaab becomes much less of a recurring problem. It’s about anticipation and managing the resources your opponent relies upon to utilize Stitchwing Skaab effectively. If done correctly, this will help you maintain the upper hand and keep the Skaab at bay.
Despite its daunting ability to come back from the dead, with mindful planning and the right cards, ensuring Stitchwing Skaab stays in the graveyard isn’t an insurmountable task. Your deck can overcome this challenge and lead you to victory in your Magic: The Gathering duels.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Stitchwing Skaab MTG card by a specific set like Shadows over Innistrad and Jumpstart: Historic Horizons, 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 Stitchwing Skaab 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
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Printings
The Stitchwing Skaab Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2016-04-08 and 2021-08-26. Illustrated by Nils Hamm.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2016-04-08 | Shadows over Innistrad | SOI | 90 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Nils Hamm | |
| 2 | 2021-08-26 | Jumpstart: Historic Horizons | J21 | 256 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Nils Hamm |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Stitchwing Skaab has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Stitchwing Skaab card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2016-04-08 | Stitchwing Skaab’s last ability can only be activated while it’s in your graveyard. |