Duskborne Skymarcher MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	1
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Vampire Cleric
Abilities	Flying
Released	2017-09-29
Set symbol
Set name	Ixalan
Set code	XLN
Power	1
Toughness	1
Number	9
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Seb McKinnon

Key Takeaways

Offers instant speed buff for vampires, significantly impacting combat interactions and strategies.
Alignment with white mana decks is essential, limiting its versatility in multicolored builds.
Despite mana investment concerns, provides valuable synergy in vampire tribal decks.

Text of card

Flying , : Target attacking Vampire gets +1/+1 until end of turn.

"The hour of Dusk is come."

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While not directly contributing to card draw, Duskborne Skymarcher can assist in maintaining on-board advantage by empowering other creatures, thereby potentially mitigating the need for additional card resources.

Resource Acceleration: This card doesn’t provide direct resource acceleration in the form of additional mana or tokens. However, its low casting cost enables a swift deployment, allowing you to allocate mana to other spells sooner in the game.

Instant Speed: The ability of Duskborne Skymarcher to give another target attacking Vampire +1/+1 until end of turn can be activated at instant speed. This feature adds an element of surprise and tactical flexibility during combat, as it can be used to disrupt opponents’ blocking strategies.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Duskborne Skymarcher’s abilities may not require a discard, but having to keep up mana possibly means discarding other cards to maintain board presence. This situation can put players at a disadvantage, particularly in formats where each card’s value is paramount.

Specific Mana Cost: This creature card with its white mana cost can only be optimally utilized in decks that are heavy on or can produce white mana. Players running multicolored decks or those with a mana base not heavily skewed towards white might find it challenging to cast the Skymarcher consistently.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: At one white mana for a 1/1 creature, the Duskborne Skymarcher could be considered fairly costed. However, when we delve into its ability to give another target Vampire +1/+1 until end of turn for the cost of one white mana, the cumulative mana investment may not always align with the pace of some aggressive decks, which could find more impactful plays for the same amount of resource spent.

Reasons to Include Duskborne Skymarcher in Your Collection

Versatility: Duskborne Skymarcher is a flexible addition to any white-based aggro or vampire tribal deck. It can act as an early threat, a vampire synergizer, or even as a flying blocker when necessary.

Combo Potential: This card integrates well with strategies that emphasize buffing vampires or utilizing tap and untap mechanics. Its ability to give another target vampire you control flying adds a tactical advantage during combat.

Meta-Relevance: With a meta that can shift to favor cheap, evasive creatures, Duskborne Skymarcher holds its ground. It fits into decks that require a low mana curve and provides tribal decks with the utility needed to stay ahead in the game.

How to beat

Duskborne Skymarcher is a niche card in the vast universe of Magic: The Gathering, belonging to the evasive creature category that can buff your vampire allies. Understanding the strategic role of Duskborne Skymarcher is crucial to developing effective counterplay. Unlike heavy-hitters or game-changing bombs, this Skymarcher leans on synergy with other vampire creatures to establish board presence and incremental advantages.

Countering it often involves recognizing its role as an enabler rather than a standalone threat. Utilizing cheap removal spells that can target creatures regardless of their flying ability ensures that the Skymarcher’s influence is minimized quickly. Cards like Shock or Fatal Push can dispatch it before its buffing ability becomes recurrently problematic. Another strategy is to employ creatures with reach or those that can block flying creatures to establish a defensive barrier, mitigating the Skymarcher’s offensive capabilities and forcing your adversary to reassess their attack strategy.

Ultimately, overcoming Duskborne Skymarcher depends on timely removal, strategic blocking, and disrupting the vampire-based synergies that could let it soar beyond being a mere nuisance on the battlefield. Control the Skymarcher, and you control the tempo against decks that rely on its synergy.

Cards like Duskborne Skymarcher

Duskborne Skymarcher adds a unique twist to the lineup of one-drop creatures in MTG. As a vampire, this card stands out by offering both an evasive body and a supportive role for other vampires you may control. Comparable one-drops like Healer’s Hawk provide flying and lifelink but lack the tribal synergy that Duskborne Skymarcher delivers. This makes the Skymarcher an ideal pick for vampire-themed decks seeking aerial threats that also boost their kin.

Another similar card worth mentioning is Suntail Hawk, which also costs one mana and has flying. However, it doesn’t offer any additional benefits beyond being a simple flier, making Duskborne Skymarcher a more versatile choice. Skymarch Aspirant, while starting without flying, gains this ability as the game progresses and your board develops, potentially surpassing Duskborne Skymarcher in long-term value with larger battlefields.

While considering each card’s merits, Duskborne Skymarcher is appreciated for its immediate impact on vampire-centric decks and cost-effective support, coupling evasion with the potential to empower other creatures from the moment it hits the battlefield.

Cards similar to Duskborne Skymarcher by color, type and mana cost

Faerie Guidemother // Gift of the Fae - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Duskborne Skymarcher MTG card by a specific set like Ixalan, 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 Duskborne Skymarcher and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Duskborne Skymarcher has restrictions

Format	Legality
Historicbrawl	Legal
Historic	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Restricted
Oathbreaker	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Commander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Explorer	Legal
Penny	Legal
Timeless	Legal