Skaab Ruinator MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Mythic |
| Type | Creature — Zombie Horror |
| Abilities | Flying |
| Released | 2011-09-30 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Innistrad |
| Set code | ISD |
| Power | 5 |
| Toughness | 6 |
| Number | 77 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Chris Rahn |
Key Takeaways
- In decks that utilize the graveyard, Skaab Ruinator provides a powerful, reoccurring advantage.
- The Ruinator’s casting efficiency from the graveyard facilitates simultaneous threat deployment or mana allocation.
- Its presence impacts opponents’ strategies due to the potential for an unpredictable return.
Text of card
As an additional cost to cast Skaab Ruinator, exile three creature cards from your graveyard. Flying You may cast Skaab Ruinator from your graveyard.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Skaab Ruinator shines in decks that churn through creature cards. By leveraging your graveyard as an extended hand, you get to cast this formidable threat repeatedly, turning your used resources into a steady stream of advantage on the battlefield.
Resource Acceleration: Although not directly providing mana, the Ruinator’s ability to be cast from the graveyard bypasses normal casting costs associated with such a powerful creature. This efficiency acts as a form of acceleration, allowing you to deploy other threats or hold up mana for responses concurrently.
Instant Speed: While Skaab Ruinator itself doesn’t operate at instant speed, its persistent nature forces opponents to always calculate it into their equation. You gain a form of psychological edge, as opponents must constantly consider the Ruinator’s return whenever they look at your graveyard, shaping the pace and strategies employed during each match.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: To summon Skaab Ruinator, you must exile three creature cards from your graveyard, which can be a significant cost. This requirement can decimate your graveyard, making it challenging to use other abilities or spells that rely on a well-stocked graveyard.
Specific Mana Cost: The casting cost of Skaab Ruinator is quite particular, requiring one blue and two generic mana. This specificity means that it fits best in blue-centric decks and may not be as flexible for multicolored decks that run on a tight mana base.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Despite its ability to be cast from the graveyard, the initial mana cost is somewhat high. In competitive play, other creatures or spells at the same cost could potentially provide more immediate impact or versatility on the battlefield.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Skaab Ruinator can be seamlessly integrated into numerous deck builds, particularly those that capitalize on graveyard mechanics. Its ability to cast from the graveyard offers a reliable threat that persists beyond the first removal.
Combo Potential: As a creature that can recur from the graveyard, Skaab Ruinator works well in combination with self-mill strategies, leveraging the graveyard as a resource and enabling powerful synergies with other graveyard-centric cards.
Meta-Relevance: Given its inherent resilience against removal and capacity to apply pressure with a flying 5/6 body, Skaab Ruinator holds its ground in metas dominated by creature strategies, providing an enduring presence that demands an answer.
How to beat Skaab Ruinator
Skaab Ruinator, with its ability to be cast from the graveyard, presents a unique challenge on the battlefield. One strategy to overcome this formidable adversary is through graveyard control. Cards such as Rest in Peace or Leyline of the Void can be invaluable by ensuring that creatures stay in the graveyard once they are destroyed, nullifying the Ruinator’s recursion advantage. Additionally, exile effects are particularly effective; think along the lines of Path to Exile or Swords to Plowshares, which permanently remove the creature from the game.
Managing the board state is also critical. Limiting the number of creatures your opponent controls can restrict their ability to cast Skaab Ruinator in the first place, as its high creature sacrifice cost can be demanding. Board wipes like Wrath of God or Damnation can reset the game, forcing your opponent to slow down and rebuild resources. With a keen eye on resource denial and strategic removals, you can navigate around the Ruinator’s resilience and maintain control of the game.
By focusing on these tactics, you position yourself to better manage the threats posed by Skaab Ruinator, minimizing the impact of its graveyard-based strengths and maintaining dominance on the game board.
Cards like Skaab Ruinator
In the immersive world of Magic: The Gathering, Skaab Ruinator stands out as an intriguing creature with a unique resurrection mechanic. This imposing card can be cast from the graveyard, much like Reassembling Skeleton. Yet, Skaab Ruinator brings more power and toughness to the battlefield, rewarding players who stock their graveyard with creatures. Contrasting it with Reassembling Skeleton, which has a smaller presence and requires mana to return, the Ruinator can come back for free provided the creature requirement is met.
Another card worth mentioning in comparison is Havengul Lich. The Lich has the ability to cast creatures from graveyards, similar to Skaab Ruinator’s self-recasting ability. However, the Lich has a more flexible mechanic that applies to any creature and includes a mana cost to use the effect, thereby offering a broader scope of strategy. Then there’s Scrapheap Scrounger: a resilient and reoccurring threat like Skaab Ruinator, but instead of a reliance on creature count, it focuses on type, favoring artifact efficiency over sheer creature volume in your graveyard.
Evaluating the landscape of graveyard-centric cards, Skaab Ruinator appeals to players looking to capitalize on the death of their minions, bringing substantial power back to the field without demanding additional mana, a feature that distinguishes it from others in its category.
Cards similar to Skaab Ruinator by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Skaab Ruinator MTG card by a specific set like Innistrad, 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 Skaab Ruinator 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 MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Skaab Ruinator has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Skaab Ruinator card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2011-09-22 | Skaab Ruinator is on the stack when you pay its costs. It can’t be exiled to pay for itself. |
| 2011-09-22 | You must exile three creature cards from your graveyard no matter what zone you’re casting Skaab Ruinator from. |
