Grakmaw, Skyclave Ravager MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeLegendary Creature — Hydra Horror
Power 0
Toughness 0

Key Takeaways

  1. Grakmaw offers consistent board growth, accumulating value through +1/+1 counters without extra card costs.
  2. Upon defeat, it generates a Hydra token, effectively doubling its presence and maintaining board pressure.
  3. Combos with instant speed spells and counter manipulation enhance Grakmaw’s strategic utility in gameplay.

Text of card

Grakmaw, Skyclave Ravager enters the battlefield with three +1/+1 counters on it. Whenever another creature you control dies, if it had a +1/+1 counter on it, put a +1/+1 counter on Grakmaw. When Grakmaw dies, create an X/X black and green Hydra creature token, where X is the number of +1/+1 counters on Grakmaw.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Grakmaw, Skyclave Ravager brings consistent value to the board. Each time a counter is placed on a creature you control, Grakmaw gains an additional +1/+1 counter, effectively building your board presence and increasing the threat level with no additional card cost.

Resource Acceleration: Upon dying, Grakmaw spawns a Hydra token whose power and toughness are equal to the number of +1/+1 counters that were on Grakmaw. This gives you an immediate replacement creature, essentially doubling the resources you had prior to Grakmaw’s demise.

Instant Speed: While Grakmaw itself isn’t an instant, the synergy with instant speed spells that place counters or trigger death effects can be a significant strategic advantage. This creature’s adaptability makes it easier to capitalize on the death triggers on your terms, during any phase of the game.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Grakmaw, Skyclave Ravager does not directly ask for a discard, building a deck around it often requires specific cards that synergize with its abilities, potentially causing you to discard beneficial cards for the sake of optimization.

Specific Mana Cost: Grakmaw demands a particular blend of mana colors – green and black. This potentially limits the card’s integration into a variety of decks, especially those not running a Golgari (green-black) theme or lacking the necessary mana fixing.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana, including one green and one black, Grakmaw sits at the higher end of the spectrum for its initial impact compared to other three-drop creatures. Some decks may find this cost restrictive, particularly in fast-paced games where efficiency is key.


Reasons to Include Grakmaw, Skyclave Ravager in Your Collection

Versatility: Grakmaw, Skyclave Ravager seamlessly slots into various deck archetypes, including counter-centric, sacrifice, and Golgari ramp strategies. Its ability to grow and leave behind a menacing token makes it a flexible and threatening presence on the board.

Combo Potential: This creature synergizes with proliferate mechanics and any strategy that manipulates counters. The hydra’s death can also be exploited in numerous combos, creating a lethal board state or securing the game with an overwhelming Hydra token.

Meta-Relevance: In a battlefield often dominated by creature interactions, Grakmaw holds its own. Its durability through removal spells ensures it remains a relevant choice, contributing value in a fluctuating meta, particularly against attrition-based strategies.


How to beat

Grakmaw, Skyclave Ravager proves to be a persistent threat in Magic: The Gathering due to its ability to grow with +1/+1 counters and leave behind a large Hydra token when it dies. Removing Grakmaw without triggering its last ability can be a challenge, but there are effective strategies to counteract this formidable card. Targeted exile effects, such as Swords to Plowshares or Path to Exile, can be pivotal as they can permanently deal with Grakmaw without it leaving a token behind. Additionally, managing the +1/+1 counters which contribute to Grakmaw’s size and the size of the token it creates is crucial.

Using cards that prevent counters from being placed, like Solemnity, or ones that remove counters, such as Vampire Hexmage, can mitigate the impact of Grakmaw’s ability. Finally, employing graveyard hate cards that exile creatures from graveyards, such as Rest in Peace or Leyline of the Void, ensures that Grakmaw’s last gasp ability never triggers, keeping the board free of the subsequent Hydra token. By integrating these tactics into your game plan, you can turn the tide against Grakmaw, Skyclave Ravager and maintain control of the battlefield.


Cards like Grakmaw, Skyclave Ravager

Grakmaw, Skyclave Ravager stands out in the MTG universe as a formidable force among creature cards with scaling potential. It draws parallels with cards like Scavenging Ooze, which also thrives on the power of +1/+1 counters and benefits from creatures dying. However, Grakmaw ensures that its death leads to another high-impact board presence by leaving behind a horror token whose power and toughness equal the number of +1/+1 counters Grakmaw had.

Comparably, the card Reyhan, Last of the Abzan carries a similar theme of preserving +1/+1 counters beyond the creature’s lifespan. While Reyhan redirects these counters to other creatures, Grakmaw uses them to create a new threatening entity. Moreover, Grakmaw’s synergy with the wide array of counter manipulation strategies like proliferate mechanics gives it a unique edge in both offensive and defensive capabilities.

On balance, Grakmaw, Skyclave Ravager offers a unique combination of resilience and aggression. Its ability to impact the game both in life and in death makes it an intriguing option for decks focusing on +1/+1 counter strategies, providing significant value and threat continuity, which elevates its standing in the range of similar MTG creature cards.

Scavenging Ooze - MTG Card versions
Reyhan, Last of the Abzan - MTG Card versions
Scavenging Ooze - Commander 2011 (CMD)
Reyhan, Last of the Abzan - Commander 2016 (C16)

Cards similar to Grakmaw, Skyclave Ravager by color, type and mana cost

Harald, King of Skemfar - MTG Card versions
Chatterfang, Squirrel General - MTG Card versions
Reyhan, Last of the Abzan - MTG Card versions
Willowdusk, Essence Seer - MTG Card versions
Shambling Shell - MTG Card versions
Wormwood Dryad - MTG Card versions
Rhys the Exiled - MTG Card versions
Stalker Hag - MTG Card versions
Hag Hedge-Mage - MTG Card versions
Quillspike - MTG Card versions
Rendclaw Trow - MTG Card versions
Glissa, the Traitor - MTG Card versions
Stonefare Crocodile - MTG Card versions
Dreg Mangler - MTG Card versions
Varolz, the Scar-Striped - MTG Card versions
Quagmire Druid - MTG Card versions
Shaman of the Pack - MTG Card versions
Catacomb Sifter - MTG Card versions
Autumnal Gloom // Ancient of the Equinox - MTG Card versions
Mournwillow - MTG Card versions
Harald, King of Skemfar - Kaldheim (KHM)
Chatterfang, Squirrel General - Modern Horizons 2 (MH2)
Reyhan, Last of the Abzan - Commander Legends (CMR)
Willowdusk, Essence Seer - Commander 2021 (C21)
Shambling Shell - The List (PLST)
Wormwood Dryad - Time Spiral (TSP)
Rhys the Exiled - Morningtide (MOR)
Stalker Hag - Eventide (EVE)
Hag Hedge-Mage - Eventide (EVE)
Quillspike - Eventide (EVE)
Rendclaw Trow - Eventide (EVE)
Glissa, the Traitor - Secret Lair Drop (SLD)
Stonefare Crocodile - Duel Decks: Jace vs. Vraska (DDM)
Dreg Mangler - Return to Ravnica Promos (PRTR)
Varolz, the Scar-Striped - Dragon's Maze (DGM)
Quagmire Druid - Commander 2013 (C13)
Shaman of the Pack - Explorer Anthology 2 (EA2)
Catacomb Sifter - Battle for Zendikar (BFZ)
Autumnal Gloom // Ancient of the Equinox - Shadows over Innistrad (SOI)
Mournwillow - Shadows over Innistrad Remastered (SIR)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Grakmaw, Skyclave Ravager MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and 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 Grakmaw, Skyclave Ravager and other MTG cards:

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See Magic products

Printings

The Grakmaw, Skyclave Ravager Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2020-09-25 and 2020-09-25. Illustrated by Filip Burburan.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 838222015normalblackFilip Burburan
22020-09-25Zendikar RisingZNR 2232015normalblackFilip Burburan
32020-09-25Zendikar RisingZNR 3662015normalblackFilip Burburan
42020-09-25Zendikar Rising PromosPZNR 223s2015normalblackFilip Burburan
52020-09-25Zendikar Rising PromosPZNR 223p2015normalblackFilip Burburan

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Grakmaw, Skyclave Ravager has restrictions

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

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Grakmaw, Skyclave Ravager card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

DateText
2020-09-25 Grakmaw’s second ability puts just one +1/+1 counter on it, no matter how many counters the dying creature had.
2020-09-25 If a creature with a +1/+1 counter on it dies after receiving too many -1/-1 counters, it dies at the same time that the counters are removed, and Grakmaw’s second ability triggers. Similarly, if Grakmaw dies after receiving too many -1/-1 counters, use the number of +1/+1 counters it had prior to receiving the -1/-1 counters to determine the value of X.

Recent MTG decks

Continue exploring other format decks
More decks