Skull Prophet MTG Card


Skull Prophet - Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Human Druid
Abilities Mill
Released2020-04-24
Set symbol
Set nameIkoria: Lair of Behemoths
Set codeIKO
Power 3
Toughness 1
Number206
Frame2015
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byNils Hamm

Key Takeaways

  1. Skull Prophet offers card advantage and resource acceleration, a potent combination for mid-game dominance.
  2. Locks into specific deck archetypes, challenging flexibility for deck builders needing varied mana sources.
  3. Accumulated graveyard synergy makes this card a formidable tool in various competitive formats.

Text of card

: Add or . : Mill two cards.

"I study bone because that's where truth dwells. One monster knucklebone is wiser than all that damp meat in your head."


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Skull Prophet excels in giving players access to more of their deck quickly. Its ability to mill two cards can strategically place key creatures or spells in the graveyard, setting the stage for powerful graveyard synergy strategies to take control.

Resource Acceleration: This valuable card can also tap to add one black or green mana to your mana pool, giving you a crucial boost in resources. It’s an efficient way to ramp up your mana and play high-cost cards ahead of the curve.

Instant Speed: While Skull Prophet doesn’t operate at instant speed, its mere presence can have an instant impact on the game by allowing instant access to resources or graveyard setup during your turn. It’s the enabler of swift and potentially game-changing plays.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: With Skull Prophet, to unleash its full potential, you’re often forced to send cards from your deck to the graveyard. This self-milling agitates strategies that rely on a hefty library to pull from throughout a match.

Specific Mana Cost: Skull Prophet’s specific mana requirements tether it closely to specific deck archetypes, demanding both black and green mana. This can place constraints on deck building, leaving little room for flexibility within multi-colored decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Positioned at a two-mana spot on your curve, competing cards at the same cost might offer a more immediate impact on the game state. Although its ability to ramp and fill the graveyard is valuable, in fast-paced games, the mana investment could be deemed too high for its effects.


Reasons to Include Skull Prophet in Your Collection

Versatility: Skull Prophet provides a dual function as both mana accelerator and graveyard filler, making it an ideal fit for a variety of decks, such as those oriented towards graveyard strategies or needing a boost in mana production.

Combo Potential: This card effortlessly synergizes with graveyard-centric decks, enabling you to quickly stock your graveyard for potent Delve spells or set up for a devastating Living Death. Its ability to swiftly dump key creatures into the graveyard can turn the tide by enabling powerful reanimation combos.

Meta-Relevance: With its solid body for early board presence and ability to feed the graveyard, Skull Prophet remains relevant in the current meta, especially in formats like Commander where its sustained acceleration and self-mill can support a variety of long-term strategies.


How to Beat Skull Prophet

Skull Prophet is a versatile creature card in MTG, serving both as mana acceleration and a mill engine. Like any card, it can be a challenge if left unchecked. To effectively neutralize the threat of Skull Prophet, consider employing targeted removal spells that can handle creatures at a low cost. Cards like Fatal Push and Path to Exile are efficient at handling such threats early on. Additionally, graveyard hate cards like Rest in Peace or Leyline of the Void can cripple its milling synergy, making it a less potent foe.

Timing is also crucial; disrupting your opponent’s strategy during their turn before they can utilize the Skull Prophet’s abilities can be key. Be mindful of cards that can protect or recur the Prophet and plan to use your removal when your opponent is least capable of defending it. Lastly, make sure to maintain some board presence. A Skull Prophet is less intimidating if you’re applying pressure and forcing your opponent to stay on the defensive, rather than focusing on their own game plan.

Remember, countering the strategy behind Skull Prophet, rather than just the card itself, is the cornerstone of turning the tide in your favor.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering the intricacies of Skull Prophet in MTG is a journey that intertwines skill with strategic deck construction. The card’s dual ability to ramp up your mana while fueling your graveyard strategies offers a pathway to commanding the battlefield. Whether you aim to exploit its synergy in graveyard-based decks or want to harness its mana acceleration, Skull Prophet has a place among the fabled cards in your collection. To deepen your understanding of this potent card’s strategic uses and discover other gems that could supplement or challenge its role in your arsenal, delve into our comprehensive insights and guides. The game constantly evolves, and so should your strategies. Let us help you stay ahead in the ever-changing landscape of MTG.


Cards like Skull Prophet

Skull Prophet stands out as a multifunctional piece in MTG, much like other cards designed for graveyard play, but with its unique set of abilities. It closely relates to cards such as Satyr Wayfinder, which also facilitates stacking the graveyard by revealing cards from the top of the library. However, Skull Prophet gives players the added advantage of not just filling up their graveyard but also ramping up their mana.

Diving into comparisons, Deathrite Shaman emerges as another similar card. While it offers graveyard manipulation, it also brings versatility with its ability to exile cards for various effects. Although it doesn’t put cards into the graveyard directly like Skull Prophet, its ability to disrupt the opponent’s graveyard makes it a staple in formats where it’s legal. Elves of Deep Shadow is noteworthy as well, providing a tap for black mana, which is a part of what makes Skull Prophet so useful. However, Elves of Deep Shadow lacks the significant second ability to self-mill, which equips Skull Prophet for more strategic deck synergies.

The combination of mana acceleration and self-mill makes Skull Prophet a valuable card, especially in decks that thrive on graveyard strategies, setting it apart from other creatures that may only offer half of its utility.

Satyr Wayfinder - MTG Card versions
Deathrite Shaman - MTG Card versions
Elves of Deep Shadow - MTG Card versions
Satyr Wayfinder - Born of the Gods (BNG)
Deathrite Shaman - Return to Ravnica (RTR)
Elves of Deep Shadow - The Dark (DRK)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Skull Prophet MTG card by a specific set like Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths, 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 Skull Prophet and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Skull Prophet has restrictions

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

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