Skalla Wolf MTG Card


Skalla Wolf - Core Set 2019
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Wolf Spirit
Released2018-07-13
Set symbol
Set nameCore Set 2019
Set codeM19
Power 3
Toughness 3
Number303
Frame2015
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byLius Lasahido

Key Takeaways

  1. Skalla Wolf allows for deliberate deck manipulation, fortifying positions with well-timed creature retrievals.
  2. Generates on-board value through token creation, amplifying effect with no extra resources needed.
  3. Instant speed interactions bolster Skalla Wolf’s versatility, making it a surprising tactical asset.

Text of card

When Skalla Wolf enters the battlefield, look at the top five cards of your library. You may reveal a green card from among them and put it into your hand. Put the rest on the bottom of your library in a random order.

"This imprint was the familiar of a friend." —Vivien Reid


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Skalla Wolf offers a unique dynamic to acquiring card superiority. The added benefit of searching your library for a creature card when it enters the battlefield lets you dictate the flow by choosing cards that can pivot your position towards victory.

Resource Acceleration: When Skalla Wolf dies, it leaves behind a token that is a carbon copy of itself, ensuring that the powerhouse it embodies continues to serve your strategy without additional resource expenditure. This can effectively double the value you get from a single card, potentially accelerating your board presence.

Instant Speed: While not directly affecting Skalla Wolf, cards enabling it to flash into play at instant speed, such as Vivien, Champion of the Wilds, amplify its tactical utility. The threat of a surprise blocker or an end-of-turn play that your competitor must consider can shift the tide of the match, making Skalla Wolf a versatile tool in your arsenal.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Skalla Wolf requires a player to discard a card, which can become a setback especially when every card in hand is crucial for maintaining one’s strategy or in late-game scenarios where hand size is already minimized.

Specific Mana Cost: Being a green-aligned card, Skalla Wolf necessitates a dedicated amount of green mana. This specification can be limiting and potentially problematic in multicolored decks that require a flexible mana base to cast various spells.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Sitting at a higher end of the mana curve, Skalla Wolf may not be as appealing in high-speed matches or against decks that thrive on early game pressure. It competes for a slot with other impactful creatures and spells, which may offer immediate board presence or value that matches or exceeds its cost.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Skalla Wolf offers flexibility in its application on the battlefield, integrating smoothly into decks that focus on creature synergies or that value the power surge a solid four-legged powerhouse can provide.

Combo Potential: This card can be an engine in combos, particularly in decks accentuating wolf or werewolf themes, bolstering fellow pack members, or preparing the ground for tribal-flavored victories.

Meta-Relevance: With its robust stats and creature type, Skalla Wolf maintains relevance within numerous match-ups, settling in nicely against an array of current meta decks that might struggle with its size and on-board presence.


How to beat

Skalla Wolf, a formidable presence in Magic: The Gathering, commands respect on the battlefield with its potent ability to generate card advantage and formidable stats. Facing this creature, one must prioritize removal strategies that can handle it efficiently. Direct removal spells such as Murder or Path to Exile are valuable tools that can dispatch Skalla Wolf before its card-drawing ability becomes overwhelming. Additionally, countering it upon its casting is an effective measure. Spells like Negate or Essence Scatter can ensure that Skalla Wolf never touches the field, thereby neutralizing its threat immediately.

Beyond these direct interventions, board control can be maintained through the use of sweepers like Wrath of God or Damnation to clear the battlefield, including any lurking wolves. It’s also worth considering the timing of expansions. Play spells strategically to pressure the opponent either by making them commit Skalla Wolf prematurely or by exhausting their resources, reducing the impact of their card advantage. Timely interaction and judicious resource management are key to outmaneuvering Skalla Wolf and reigning victorious in your Magic: The Gathering confrontations.


Cards like Skalla Wolf

Skalla Wolf is a unique entry in the world of creature cards in Magic: The Gathering, falling into the category of wolf type creatures with impactful entry abilities. Its closest relative might be Nightpack Ambusher, another powerful wolf that strengthens your pack while offering a passive advantage during your opponent’s turn. However, Skalla Wolf distinguishes itself with its ability to fetch a card when it enters the battlefield, potentially turning the tide in your favor by adding a valuable piece to your hand.

Comparing it to Tolsimir, Friend to Wolves, they both share the wolf-centric synergies, but Tolsimir brings a friend along upon entry and provides a life gain and removal option, extending additional utility in particular deck archetypes. Skalla Wolf doesn’t offer these benefits directly, focusing rather on enhancing your hand and increasing your strategic options.

When reviewing Skalla Wolf within the context of similar creature cards in Magic: The Gathering, it offers a compelling blend of size and utility. It stands as a solid choice for players looking to optimize their deck with a creature capable of making an immediate impact both on the battlefield and through card advantage.

Nightpack Ambusher - MTG Card versions
Tolsimir, Friend to Wolves - MTG Card versions
Nightpack Ambusher - Core Set 2020 Promos (PM20)
Tolsimir, Friend to Wolves - War of the Spark (WAR)

Cards similar to Skalla Wolf by color, type and mana cost

Thicket Basilisk - MTG Card versions
Cockatrice - MTG Card versions
Ironroot Treefolk - MTG Card versions
Elvish Bard - MTG Card versions
Durkwood Boars - MTG Card versions
Redwood Treefolk - MTG Card versions
Spined Wurm - MTG Card versions
Rabid Wolverines - MTG Card versions
Deadly Insect - MTG Card versions
Vintara Elephant - MTG Card versions
Spring-Leaf Avenger - MTG Card versions
Primeval Force - MTG Card versions
Spitting Spider - MTG Card versions
Copperhoof Vorrac - MTG Card versions
Tel-Jilad Lifebreather - MTG Card versions
Llanowar Behemoth - MTG Card versions
Bramble Elemental - MTG Card versions
Indrik Stomphowler - MTG Card versions
Golgari Grave-Troll - MTG Card versions
Kavu Climber - MTG Card versions
Thicket Basilisk - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Cockatrice - Unlimited Edition (2ED)
Ironroot Treefolk - Intl. Collectors' Edition (CEI)
Elvish Bard - Alliances (ALL)
Durkwood Boars - Rivals Quick Start Set (RQS)
Redwood Treefolk - Weatherlight (WTH)
Spined Wurm - Stronghold (STH)
Rabid Wolverines - Exodus (EXO)
Deadly Insect - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Vintara Elephant - Prophecy (PCY)
Spring-Leaf Avenger - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Primeval Force - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Spitting Spider - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Copperhoof Vorrac - Mirrodin (MRD)
Tel-Jilad Lifebreather - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
Llanowar Behemoth - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Bramble Elemental - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Indrik Stomphowler - Commander 2015 (C15)
Golgari Grave-Troll - Ravnica: City of Guilds (RAV)
Kavu Climber - Masters 25 (A25)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Skalla Wolf MTG card by a specific set like Core Set 2019, 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 Skalla Wolf and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Skalla Wolf has restrictions

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

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