Expedition Skulker MTG Card


Expedition Skulker - Zendikar Rising
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Vampire Rogue
Released2020-09-25
Set symbol
Set nameZendikar Rising
Set codeZNR
Power 2
Toughness 2
Number101
Frame2015
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byMathias Kollros

Key Takeaways

  1. Expedition Skulker’s Deathtouch ability is a key defensive tool for maintaining board control.
  2. Mana efficiency is optimized as Skulker’s low cost complements a variety of spells and abilities.
  3. Viable in rogue decks, Skulker’s synergy with tribal instant-speed effects enhances gameplay dynamics.

Text of card

Expedition Skulker has deathtouch as long as you control another Rogue.

Rogues bring an array of useful skills to the work of an adventuring party: stealth, agility, the ability to locate and disarm traps, and a subtle, deadly fighting style.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Expedition Skulker can give you an edge in decks that need to maintain board presence. With its Deathtouch ability, it can be a deterrent for opponents considering an attack and can help you keep control of the board.

Resource Acceleration: While this creature doesn’t directly accelerate resources, it’s a cost-effective creature, valuable for maintaining mana efficiency. Its low converted mana cost enables you to deploy other spells or abilities more readily, effectively optimizing your resource management.

Instant Speed: Although Expedition Skulker itself does not have an ability that operates at instant speed, being a Rogue it can synergize with other instant-speed Rogue tribal effects. This could potentially lead to advantages during the combat or casting of surprises that could swing a game in your favor.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Expedition Skulker can be a tricky card to play optimally considering the need to discard another card to activate its abilities. For players holding a critical hand, this cost becomes a strategic hurdle, often forcing difficult decisions about resource management.

Specific Mana Cost: The Skulker requires black mana for casting, which could be restrictive for multi-color decks or decks that aren’t mana-flexible. This specific requirement makes it less versatile for deck building, especially for those not focused heavily on black mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While not exorbitantly priced, the mana cost of Expedition Skulker is on the higher side when compared to other creatures with similar abilities and stats. In competitive play, this can make it a less efficient choice, especially when alternatives could provide equal or greater value at a lower mana investment.


Reasons to Include Expedition Skulker in Your Collection

Versatility: Expedition Skulker is a flexible inclusion, adept at fitting into rogue-themed decks and improving the overall synergetic efficiency. Its ability to become deathtouch-enabled with another rogue on the field makes it an excellent defensive choice against larger threats.

Combo Potential: With cards that benefit from deathtouch or care about party mechanics, Expedition Skulker can be a key piece. It pairs well with cards that allow rogues to tap or deal damage, as deathtouch can be a powerful deterrent to attackers or a way to clear opposing creatures.

Meta-Relevance: Facing a creature-heavy environment, the Skulker’s deathtouch capability offers significant board control. Its low mana cost aligns perfectly with fast-paced games, ensuring that it remains relevant in varied meta-game scenarios where early board presence is crucial.


How to Beat Expedition Skulker

Expedition Skulker, a creature card from Magic: The Gathering, may not seem like a major threat at first glance with its deathtouch ability. However, this card can become a nuisance, especially if you’re running creatures susceptible to its one-hit removal potential. It’s vital to understand its mechanics to navigate around this stealthy adversary effectively.

To counter the Expedition Skulker efficiently, one strategy is using removal spells that can handle creatures without the need for direct combat. Cards like Murder or Fatal Push can dispatch the Skulker before it can leverage its deathtouch. Additionally, using cards that can bypass deathtouch, such as those with indestructible or protection from black, can prove useful since Expedition Skulker is typically a black creature.

Another practical approach is playing cards that force your opponent to sacrifice creatures. Since Expedition Skulker often isn’t the most valuable creature on the board, your opponent may choose it as the sacrifice, effectively neutralizing the threat it poses. Bottom line, keeping a versatile set of removal spells in your arsenal or cards that minimize combat interaction will help ensure that Expedition Skulker doesn’t hinder your path to victory.


Cards like Expedition Skulker

Expedition Skulker is a versatile creature within the rogue archetype in Magic: The Gathering. It holds a striking resemblance to cards such as Vampire Cutthroat and Oona’s Blackguard. Both provide key capabilities that sync with the rogue theme, sporting evasive abilities which enable them to slip past defenders. Vampire Cutthroat boasts lifelink and skulk, similar to Expedition Skulker’s deathtouch as long as you control another rogue, allowing both to excel in attrition strategies.

Delving into other akin choices, Psychic Miasma shares an adversary mindset with its ability to affect the opponent’s hand when a rogue deals combat damage. Although not a creature itself, it complements the disruptive playstyle that cards like Expedition Skulker embody. Lastly, consider Thieves’ Guild Enforcer, a rogue that flourishes as more cards are added to your opponent’s graveyard, capitalizing on a shared synergy with Expedition Skulker’s attack incentives for a steady deck theme.

Analyzing these similar options, Expedition Skulker emerges as a substantial contributor to rogue-aligned decks that prioritize tactical attacks and strategic creature control. By pairing well with other rogues, it clearly demonstrates its own merit within the vast selection of MTG cards designed for cunning and calculated gameplay.

Vampire Cutthroat - MTG Card versions
Oona's Blackguard - MTG Card versions
Psychic Miasma - MTG Card versions
Thieves' Guild Enforcer - MTG Card versions
Vampire Cutthroat - Eldritch Moon (EMN)
Oona's Blackguard - Gateway 2008 (PG08)
Psychic Miasma - Scars of Mirrodin (SOM)
Thieves' Guild Enforcer - Core Set 2021 (M21)

Cards similar to Expedition Skulker by color, type and mana cost

Drudge Skeletons - MTG Card versions
Nether Shadow - MTG Card versions
Erg Raiders - MTG Card versions
Cyclopean Mummy - MTG Card versions
Cuombajj Witches - MTG Card versions
Order of the Ebon Hand - MTG Card versions
Bog Imp - MTG Card versions
Wall of Corpses - MTG Card versions
Blighted Shaman - MTG Card versions
Rabid Rats - MTG Card versions
Dakmor Bat - MTG Card versions
Ravenous Rats - MTG Card versions
Flesh Reaver - MTG Card versions
Bloodcurdler - MTG Card versions
Nantuko Shade - MTG Card versions
Piper of the Swarm - MTG Card versions
Undead Augur - MTG Card versions
Black Knight - MTG Card versions
Shepherd of Rot - MTG Card versions
Swarm of Rats - MTG Card versions
Drudge Skeletons - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Nether Shadow - Intl. Collectors' Edition (CEI)
Erg Raiders - Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border (4BB)
Cyclopean Mummy - Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border (4BB)
Cuombajj Witches - Rinascimento (RIN)
Order of the Ebon Hand - Pro Tour Collector Set (PTC)
Bog Imp - Rivals Quick Start Set (RQS)
Wall of Corpses - Mirage (MIR)
Blighted Shaman - Mirage (MIR)
Rabid Rats - Stronghold (STH)
Dakmor Bat - Portal Second Age (P02)
Ravenous Rats - Invasion (INV)
Flesh Reaver - Urza's Saga (USG)
Bloodcurdler - Odyssey (ODY)
Nantuko Shade - Commander 2014 (C14)
Piper of the Swarm - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Undead Augur - Jumpstart 2022 (J22)
Black Knight - The List (PLST)
Shepherd of Rot - Onslaught (ONS)
Swarm of Rats - Eighth Edition (8ED)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Expedition Skulker MTG card by a specific set like Zendikar Rising, 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 Expedition Skulker and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Expedition Skulker has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

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