Skeleton Archer MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 7 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Skeleton Archer
Power 3
Toughness 3

Key Takeaways

  1. Efficiently handles threats, offering a strategic edge by requiring fewer resources to manage the board later.
  2. Demands careful play, as utilizing its abilities involves a discard, affecting your hand and strategy.
  3. The Archer brings utility to decks, pairing well with deathtouch synergies and disrupting token strategies.

Text of card

When Skeleton Archer enters the battlefield, it deals 1 damage to any target.

"When it comes to killing with precision, a soul is but a hindrance." —Isareth the Awakener


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Adds valuable utility by eliminating an opponent’s creature upon entering the battlefield, potentially tipping the card balance in your favor.

Resource Acceleration: Although not directly providing mana or tokens, efficiently managing threats can indirectly accelerate your game plan by requiring less resources to control the board later on.

Instant Speed: The Skeleton Archer’s ability triggers upon hitting the battlefield, functioning similarly to an instant by giving you the advantage of immediate impact – especially during your main phases or after an unsuspected flash play.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Engaging a Skeleton Archer in your play requires a calculated risk, as it necessitates discarding another card from your hand. This trade-off can leave you at a strategic disadvantage, especially when your hand is already sparse.

Specific Mana Cost: The Skeleton Archer demands a precise combination of mana, including one black. This requirement can potentially restrict the card’s incorporation into multicolored decks or strategies not focused on black mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its mana cost on the upper end of the curve for its effects, the Skeleton Archer could be considered a costly investment when evaluating the balance between mana expenditure and in-game impact. Alternate cards may provide a similar or improved effect for less, leaving room to question the Archer’s efficiency.


Reasons to Include Skeleton Archer in Your Collection

Versatility: The Skeleton Archer offers a unique balance of creature control and battlefield presence, capable of slotting into a variety of deck archetypes such as those focused on deathtouch synergies or undead themes.

Combo Potential: Its ability to deal damage upon entering the battlefield lends itself to various combos, particularly with cards that care about targeting or damaging other creatures, or those that benefit from death triggers and graveyard mechanics.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where small creatures are prevalent, the Skeleton Archer can be a relevant inclusion. Its immediate impact on the board can disrupt opponents’ plays, making it useful in a meta that’s heavy on utility creatures and token strategies.


How to beat

Skeleton Archer stands out in the wide array of creature cards available in Magic: The Gathering. Its unique ability to deal one damage to any target upon entering the battlefield makes it a versatile choice for players seeking to tip the scales in their favor. This direct damage can disrupt an opponent’s strategy, especially if they rely on creatures with one toughness or are attempting to maintain a planeswalker on the field.

To effectively counter the Skeleton Archer, consider using creature cards with higher toughness to absorb the initial hit. This will nullify the impact of its entry effect. Additionally, having instant-speed removal spells in your hand can swiftly eliminate the Skeleton Archer before its presence can affect the board state significantly. Creatures with hexproof or protection from black are also effective, as Skeleton Archer’s ability is rendered ineffective against them, providing a robust defense against its targeted damage.

Navigating against a Skeleton Archer requires a strategic approach that blends timely removal with robust creature defense. By anticipating its arrival and preparing your board accordingly, you can mitigate its impact and maintain control of the game.


Cards like Skeleton Archer

Skeleton Archer presents an intriguing dynamic in Magic: The Gathering’s roster of creatures with enter-the-battlefield effects. It shares a commonality with cards like Elvish Visionary, both providing immediate value upon hitting the battlefield. While the Elvish Visionary offers card draw, Skeleton Archer deals damage directly to any target, a utility that can be crucial for removing key threats or closing out a game.

Another card that echoes a related theme is Thornbow Archer. Both cards are part of the skeleton tribe, which can be beneficial in a deck focused on tribal synergies. However, Thornbow Archer is angled more towards offensive strategies with its ability to chip away at the opponent’s life total when attacking, as compared to Skeleton Archer’s direct damage capability.

Comparatively, when delving into the variety of creature cards with impactful arrival abilities, Skeleton Archer holds a nice niche. Its ability to snipe creatures or directly target opponents gives it a degree of versatility that can be significant in the right deck, setting it apart from other creatures in its class.

Elvish Visionary - MTG Card versions
Thornbow Archer - MTG Card versions
Elvish Visionary - Shards of Alara (ALA)
Thornbow Archer - Magic Origins (ORI)

Cards similar to Skeleton Archer by color, type and mana cost

Hell's Caretaker - MTG Card versions
Rag Man - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Debaser - MTG Card versions
Xiahou Dun, the One-Eyed - MTG Card versions
Slinking Skirge - MTG Card versions
Gravedigger - MTG Card versions
Scandalmonger - MTG Card versions
Urborg Shambler - MTG Card versions
Whispering Shade - MTG Card versions
Filth - MTG Card versions
Demon of Catastrophes - MTG Card versions
Bold Plagiarist - MTG Card versions
Toxin Sliver - MTG Card versions
Vampiric Spirit - MTG Card versions
Nim Shambler - MTG Card versions
Scourge of Numai - MTG Card versions
Deathgazer - MTG Card versions
Dirty Wererat - MTG Card versions
Faceless Butcher - MTG Card versions
Crowd of Cinders - MTG Card versions
Hell's Caretaker - Chronicles (CHR)
Rag Man - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Phyrexian Debaser - Urza's Legacy (ULG)
Xiahou Dun, the One-Eyed - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)
Slinking Skirge - Urza's Destiny (UDS)
Gravedigger - The List (PLST)
Scandalmonger - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Urborg Shambler - Invasion (INV)
Whispering Shade - Odyssey (ODY)
Filth - Judgment (JUD)
Demon of Catastrophes - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Bold Plagiarist - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Toxin Sliver - Legions (LGN)
Vampiric Spirit - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Nim Shambler - Mirrodin (MRD)
Scourge of Numai - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Deathgazer - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Dirty Wererat - Hachette UK (PHUK)
Faceless Butcher - Time Spiral Timeshifted (TSB)
Crowd of Cinders - Shadowmoor (SHM)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Skeleton Archer MTG card by a specific set like Core Set 2019 and Core Set 2020, 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 Skeleton Archer and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Skeleton Archer Magic the Gathering card was released in 7 different sets between 2018-07-13 and 2022-07-08. Illustrated by Randy Vargas.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12018-07-13Core Set 2019M19 1182015normalblackRandy Vargas
22019-07-12Core Set 2020M20 3242015normalblackRandy Vargas
32019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 7752015normalblackRandy Vargas
42020-07-03Core Set 2021M21 1232015normalblackRandy Vargas
52020-08-13Arena Beginner SetANB 612015normalblackRandy Vargas
62020-09-26The ListPLST M19-1182015normalblackRandy Vargas
72022-07-08Double Masters 20222X2 902015normalblackRandy Vargas

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Skeleton Archer has restrictions

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

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