Ravenous Skirge MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Phyrexian Imp
Abilities	Flying
Released	1998-10-12
Set symbol
Set name	Urza's Saga
Set code	USG
Power	1
Toughness	1
Number	152
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Ron Spencer

Key Takeaways

Ravenous Skirge can force opponent card discards, offering strategic hand advantage when dealing combat damage.
Its affordable casting cost and flying trait allow for swift board impact and potential game tempo control.
Discard play requirement and specific mana needs could limit early game potential and deck versatility.

Text of card

Flying Whenever Ravenous Skirge attacks, it gets +2/+0 until end of turn.

Hunger is a kind of madness—and here, all madness flourishes.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Ravenous Skirge offers a unique edge by potentially causing an opponent to discard a card when it deals combat damage. This can tip the balance in your favor by depleting your opponent’s resources while you maintain your hand.

Resource Acceleration: With its reasonable casting cost, the Ravenous Skirge is capable of accelerating your board presence early in the game. Efficient mana cost for its power and flying capability means you get a fast and impactful creature on the battlefield to apply pressure quickly.

Instant Speed: Although the Ravenous Skirge itself is not an instant, its flying trait allows for a tactical advantage. With the potential to bypass ground defenses at instant speed with cards that can give it haste, this creature can be a surprise aggressor that’s tough for an opponent to anticipate.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Ravenous Skirge necessitates that players discard a card to play it. This can put you at a significant disadvantage, especially during the early game or when your hand is already running low on options. Efficient hand management is crucial, and the requirement of discarding can upset your strategic plans.

Specific Mana Cost: This card’s casting cost demands black mana, which might not seamlessly fit into multicolored decks. For players not running a black-centric or compatible mana base, including Ravenous Skirge in your deck could impact your mana curve and overall deck fluidity.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that sits on the higher end for its abilities, Ravenous Skirge might not be the most mana-efficient option. When deck building, it’s worth considering other creatures or spells that offer a better cost-to-benefit ratio, maximizing your plays each turn without overcommitting your resources.

Reasons to Include Ravenous Skirge in Your Collection

Versatility: Ravenous Skirge offers a unique blend of aggression and life gain. Its capacity to swing the tide of a game makes it suitable for a myriad of deck archetypes, from fast-paced aggro to more balanced midrange builds.

Combo Potential: With its life-linking ability, this creature can be a cornerstone in strategies that capitalize on health gain or need consistent creature-based damage. It synergizes well with cards that amplify life gain or benefit from consistent attacking creatures.

Meta-Relevance: Given the pace of most current meta environments, having a card that can quickly pressure life totals while providing a cushion of health is invaluable. Ravenous Skirge fits into decks designed to keep up with or outpace the prevailing metagame tempo.

How to beat

The Ravenous Skirge presents a unique challenge on the battlefield. This creature thrives by being aggressive early in the game, applying pressure with its flying capability and by increasing its power through damage to the opponent. However, like all challenges in Magic: The Gathering, there are strategies to overcome it. Addressing this threat involves timely removal or setting up a defense that can withstand aerial attacks.

Consider spells that can remove creatures at instant speed, giving you the flexibility to deal with the Skirge on your terms. Spells such as Murder or Fatal Push are efficient ways to remove this nuisance before it grows too powerful. Alternatively, having creatures with reach or abilities that can block flying creatures on standby ensures that you have a persistent barrier against the Skirge’s assaults. Ensnaring Bridge is another effective card that can prevent the Skirge from attacking, especially if you manage to keep your hand size low.

It’s about balancing your offensive moves with strategic defenses and removals. By planning ahead and having the right cards in your deck, the Ravenous Skirge, while formidable, can be contained, allowing you to turn the tide of the game in your favor.

Cards like Ravenous Skirge

The Ravenous Skirge is an intriguing creature in the realm of Magic: The Gathering, inviting comparisons with other cards based on similar strategies. Take Vampire Nighthawk, for example, which boasts flying and lifelink and packs an additional deathtouch ability. While Nighthawk allows for a more defensive play due to its deathtouch, Ravenous Skirge is geared towards more aggressive tactics aimed at swiftly reducing an opponent’s life total.

Then there’s the Stormblood Berserker, another creature that excels in an aggressive deck. Although it doesn’t fly, it becomes harder to block with its battle cry perk once you’ve dealt damage to the opponent, similar to how Ravenous Skirge encourages a confrontational style. Lastly, we’d compare it to Skarrgan Pit-Skulk which gets stronger as damage is dealt to an opponent, but lacks the aerial advantage of the Ravenous Skirge.

Through this lens, Ravenous Skirge finds its niche among aggressive MTG cards, with its ability to soar past ground defenses and quickly deplete an opponent’s life total. As players consider the offensive capabilities in their decks, Ravenous Skirge stands out with its singular focus on unyielding offensive pressure.

Stormblood Berserker - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Ravenous Skirge by color, type and mana cost

Mischievous Poltergeist - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Ravenous Skirge MTG card by a specific set like Urza's Saga, 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 Ravenous Skirge and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Ravenous Skirge has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Premodern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

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