Silumgar Butcher MTG Card
2015-03-27 - Number 122
2019-11-07 - Number 773
2020-09-26 - Number DTK-122
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Zombie Djinn |
| Abilities | Exploit |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 3 |
Key Takeaways
- Silumgar Butcher enhances board control by exploiting creatures for targeted removal.
- It requires careful hand management, due to potential losses when activating its exploit mechanic.
- Despite mana cost concerns, it offers potent combo potential and adapts to various strategies.
Text of card
Exploit (When this creature enters the battlefield, you may sacrifice a creature.) When Silumgar Butcher exploits a creature, target creature gets -3/-3 until end of turn.
Silumgar takes pride in the diversity of his sibsig.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Silumgar Butcher helps you steadily gain card advantage by exploiting another creature, allowing you to remove an opponent’s creature from the battlefield. Playing multiple Silumgar Butchers can translate into a substantial lead on board presence.
Resource Acceleration: Although the Silumgar Butcher doesn’t directly accelerate resources through mana, the exploit mechanic can be seen as a form of acceleration. By sacrificing a non-essential creature, you clear the way for more strategic plays and better use of your existing resources.
Instant Speed: Silumgar Butcher’s ability to manipulate the board state doesn’t operate at instant speed itself; however, the tactical advantage it provides can be likened to timing plays typically seen with instant-speed spells. Knowing when to best deploy the exploit ability can catch an opponent off-guard and tip the scales in your favor, akin to the strategic deployment of instant-speed interactions.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: When playing Silumgar Butcher, you may find yourself at a pivotal point where retaining every card in your hand is crucial. Needing to discard one as part of its exploit mechanic can sometimes be a costly trade-off, especially if you’re already behind on card advantage.
Specific Mana Cost: Requiring both black and colorless mana makes Silumgar Butcher less flexible and might be a hurdle in multicolored decks that struggle with mana consistency. Its mana cost demands commitment to black, which can be an obstacle for decks that aren’t heavily invested in that color.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its casting cost being what it is, Silumgar Butcher may come off as an underwhelming choice. There are creatures with lower mana costs and comparable or even better abilities, which might make you reconsider its spot in your deck. In a fast-paced game, you could find that spending five mana on this card reduces the speed and efficacy of your gameplay.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Silumgar Butcher adapts effortlessly to various deck themes. Its exploit ability allows for strategic sacrifices to strengthen your board state, suitable for aggressive and control decks alike.
Combo Potential: This creature’s potential to combo with other exploit cards or any strategy that thrives on creature deaths is significant. It transforms any expendable creature into an instant removal tool.
Meta-Relevance: With creature-heavy decks often dominating the play environment, Silumgar Butcher’s removal ability keeps it relevant, offering a swift response to opponents’ threats.
How to beat
The Silumgar Butcher is a potential game-changer in Magic: The Gathering when it hits the battlefield due to its exploit ability, allowing the controller to exploit another creature to give target creature -3/-3 until end of turn. This can disrupt an opponent’s board presence significantly. To effectively counteract the Butcher, one must consider maintaining a range of creature removal options within their deck. Instant-speed removal spells such as Fatal Push or Path to Exile can be pivotal in removing the Silumgar Butcher before its exploit ability has the chance to resolve.
It’s also important to manage your creature assets wisely, avoiding overcommitting weaker creatures to the board when you suspect your opponent may play a Silumgar Butcher. Another strategy involves the use of hexproof or indestructible creatures that are immune to the Butcher’s ability. By evaluating the timing and recognizing the moments of vulnerability, players can navigate around the Butcher’s power play, preserving their side of the battlefield and maintaining a strategic advantage.
Remember, being prepared with a blend of responsive measures alongside creatures that can evade or withstand targeted abilities is key to outmaneuvering opponents and their Silumgar Butcher strategies.
Cards like Silumgar Butcher
Silumgar Butcher serves as an intriguing piece in the arsenal of creature removal options within Magic: The Gathering. This card finds its kinship with the likes of Fleshbag Marauder, both designed to force each player to sacrifice a creature upon entering the battlefield. Where Silumgar Butcher gains a subtle edge is in its exploit ability, offering a choice—the chance to sacrifice another creature you control to give a creature -3/-3 until end of turn.
Other cards that share a resemblance include Merciless Executioner, which has the exact same effect as Fleshbag Maruder. However, the Butcher’s potential for immediate impact with the exploit mechanic gives it a varied tactical benefit. Comparatively, Slum Reaper demands one more mana to offer a similar effect, which may put it at a slight disadvantage in faster-paced games where mana efficiency is paramount.
Ultimately, while many cards can initiate a sacrifice, Silumgar Butcher prides itself on versatility. It’s a solid contender in MTG when a player needs to navigate around indestructible creatures or simply when needing to pivot strategies mid-game, leveraging its exploit mechanic to maintain board presence.
Cards similar to Silumgar Butcher by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Silumgar Butcher MTG card by a specific set like Dragons of Tarkir and Mystery Booster, 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 Silumgar Butcher and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See Magic products
Printings
The Silumgar Butcher Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2015-03-27 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by Dave Kendall.
| # | Release | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2015-03-27 | Dragons of Tarkir | DTK | 122 | 2015 | normal | black | Dave Kendall | |
| 2 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 773 | 2015 | normal | black | Dave Kendall | |
| 3 | The List | PLST | DTK-122 | 2015 | normal | black | Dave Kendall |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Silumgar Butcher has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Silumgar Butcher card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2015-02-25 | A creature with exploit “exploits a creature” when the controller of the exploit ability sacrifices a creature as that ability resolves. |
| 2015-02-25 | If the creature with exploit isn’t on the battlefield as the exploit ability resolves, you won’t get any bonus from the creature with exploit, even if you sacrifice a creature. Because the creature with exploit isn’t on the battlefield, its other triggered ability won’t trigger. |
| 2015-02-25 | You can sacrifice the creature with exploit if it’s still on the battlefield. This will cause its other ability to trigger. |
| 2015-02-25 | You can’t sacrifice more than one creature to any one exploit ability. |
| 2015-02-25 | You choose whether to sacrifice a creature and which creature to sacrifice as the exploit ability resolves. |
