Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 8 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityMythic
TypeLegendary Creature — Phyrexian Dragon Skeleton
Abilities Flying,Infect
Power 4
Toughness 4

Key Takeaways

  1. Provides card advantage by demanding multiple resources from opponents to be countered effectively.
  2. Resource acceleration and instant attack potential make Skithiryx a significant early-game threat.
  3. Mana cost and specific color requirements pose deckbuilding challenges for MTG players.

Text of card

Flying Infect (This creature deals damage to creatures in the form of -1/-1 counters and to players in the form of poison counters.) : Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon gains haste until end of turn. : Regenerate Skithiryx.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon brings significant card superiority by posing as a singular threat that must be answered. Its potent combo of infect and regeneration means that it often requires multiple cards from an opponent to deal with, frequently leading to advantageous trades that can deplete an opponent’s resources.

Resource Acceleration: Skithiryx can be a catalyst for resource acceleration in decks that synergize with proliferate mechanics or those that benefit from having a powerful creature on the battlefield early. In such strategies, the presence of Skithiryx accelerates the game’s pace, often pressuring opponents before they are sufficiently set up in resources or defenses.

Instant Speed: Thanks to its innate ability to gain haste for a mere {B}, Skithiryx can strike swiftly and unexpectedly, not unlike a spell cast at instant speed. This allows a tactical player to keep mana open for other interactions while presenting the potential for an immediate and lethal attack when the moment is right.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon doesn’t directly ask you to discard, controlling such a valuable card often leads to tough decisions. Opponents may force discards, targeting high-value creatures like Skithiryx in your hand, potentially putting you at a resource disadvantage.

Specific Mana Cost: This dragon requires a dedicated mana base, needing not just five mana but also three sources of black mana. This can be restrictive and hard to manage, especially in multicolored decks that may not prioritize or consistently produce the required black mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Commanding a total of five mana, where two can be of any color but three must be black, makes Skithiryx a significant investment. Its impact on the game is considerable, but there are scenarios where tapping out for the dragon can leave you vulnerable to more mana-efficient threats or responses.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon offers a wide range of strategic options with its infect ability, flying, and haste, allowing it to adapt to various playstyles and deck types while posing a significant threat to opponents.

Combo Potential: The dragon’s ability to regenerate and its synergies with proliferate and doubling counters can create lethal combinations, turning it into a cornerstone for powerful and game-ending combos.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where games can end quickly, Skithiryx shines by offering a swift clock towards victory. Its presence in a deck can force opponents to alter their game plan, proving its significant impact in a competitive setting.


How to beat

Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon presents a formidable challenge for many MTG players due to its infect ability and the fact that it can gain haste. To successfully counter this dragon, it’s crucial to have removal spells ready or means to block its attacks effectively. Spells like Path to Exile or Go for the Throat can dispatch Skithiryx before it becomes a threat. Alternatively, having creatures with high toughness on the board can deter an attack from Skithiryx since it needs to deal combat damage to deliver those powerful infect counters.

In addition, employing graveyard hate cards, such as Relic of Progenitus, can prevent Skithiryx from returning to the battlefield after it’s dealt with. Lastly, countermagic remains a reliable strategy; holding up spells like Negate or Dismember can stop Skithiryx in its tracks or cripple it sufficiently to make it less of a threat. Preparing your deck with these strategies in mind will enhance your resilience against Skithiryx and the inevitable tide of poison counters it aims to deliver.


Cards like Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon

Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon stands out in the roster of fearsome creatures in Magic: The Gathering. It’s akin to other infect creatures like Phyrexian Crusader, with both delivering poison counters to opponents. Yet, Skithiryx possesses a unique edge with its ability to gain haste and regenerate, making it a resilient and surprising threat. In contrast, Phyrexian Crusader relies on first strike and protection to ward off specific colors, not on speed and durability.

Blighted Agent is another card that shares the infect trait, enabling players to win through accumulating poison counters on the opponent. However, unlike Skithiryx, the Blighted Agent cannot protect itself from being destroyed and lacks the haste to attack immediately. On a grander scale, we find the towering Whispering Specter, which also carries infect and can cause discarding when it deals combat damage–different from Skithiryx’s straightforward but formidable tactics.

Ultimately, Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon carves its niche within MTG as a truly threatening creature. Its merger of infect damage, haste, and regrowth capacity makes it a worthy addition to any deck aiming to leverage the infect strategy, elevating it above many of its counterparts in terms of both impact and adaptability.

Phyrexian Crusader - MTG Card versions
Blighted Agent - MTG Card versions
Whispering Specter - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Crusader - Mirrodin Besieged (MBS)
Blighted Agent - New Phyrexia (NPH)
Whispering Specter - New Phyrexia (NPH)

Cards similar to Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon by color, type and mana cost

Skyshroud Vampire - MTG Card versions
Entropic Specter - MTG Card versions
Predatory Nightstalker - MTG Card versions
Fallen Angel - MTG Card versions
Stone Catapult - MTG Card versions
Sengir Vampire - MTG Card versions
Hollow Dogs - MTG Card versions
Grotesque Hybrid - MTG Card versions
Earwig Squad - MTG Card versions
Indulgent Tormentor - MTG Card versions
Sootfeather Flock - MTG Card versions
Zombie Cutthroat - MTG Card versions
Gluttonous Zombie - MTG Card versions
Vermiculos - MTG Card versions
Woebearer - MTG Card versions
Wei Elite Companions - MTG Card versions
Halo Hunter - MTG Card versions
Malakir Bloodwitch - MTG Card versions
Caustic Crawler - MTG Card versions
Shriekmaw - MTG Card versions
Skyshroud Vampire - Tempest (TMP)
Entropic Specter - Exodus (EXO)
Predatory Nightstalker - Vintage Masters (VMA)
Fallen Angel - Mystery Booster (MB1)
Stone Catapult - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)
Sengir Vampire - Arena Beginner Set (ANB)
Hollow Dogs - Beatdown Box Set (BTD)
Grotesque Hybrid - Torment (TOR)
Earwig Squad - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Indulgent Tormentor - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Sootfeather Flock - Legions (LGN)
Zombie Cutthroat - Scourge (SCG)
Gluttonous Zombie - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Vermiculos - Mirrodin (MRD)
Woebearer - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Wei Elite Companions - Masters Edition III (ME3)
Halo Hunter - Zendikar (ZEN)
Malakir Bloodwitch - Zendikar (ZEN)
Caustic Crawler - Worldwake (WWK)
Shriekmaw - Time Spiral Remastered (TSR)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon MTG card by a specific set like Scars of Mirrodin and Double Masters, 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 Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2010-10-01 and 2023-04-21. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12010-10-01Scars of MirrodinSOM 792003normalblackChippy
22020-08-07Double Masters2XM 1072015normalblackChippy
32020-09-26The ListPLST SOM-792003normalblackChippy
42023-04-21Multiverse LegendsMUL 822015normalblackChippy
52023-04-21Multiverse LegendsMUL 147z2015normalborderlessKekai Kotaki
62023-04-21March of the Machine Art SeriesAMOM 712015art_seriesborderless
72023-04-21Multiverse LegendsMUL 1472015normalborderlessKekai Kotaki
82023-04-21Multiverse LegendsMUL 172015normalborderlessKekai Kotaki

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
GladiatorLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2020-08-07 A player who has ten or more poison counters loses the game. This is a state-based action.
2020-08-07 Damage from a source with infect is damage in all respects. If the source with infect also has lifelink, damage dealt by that source also causes its controller to gain that much life. Damage from a source with infect can be prevented or redirected. Abilities that trigger on damage being dealt will trigger if a source with infect deals damage, if appropriate.
2020-08-07 Damage that a creature with infect deals doesn't result in damage being marked on a creature or a player losing life. Instead, it results in that many -1/-1 counters being put on that creature or that many poison counters being given to that player. Damage dealt to planeswalkers still results in that planeswalker losing that many loyalty counters.
2020-08-07 The -1/-1 counters remain on the creature indefinitely. They're not removed if the creature regenerates or the turn ends.

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