Seagraf Skaab MTG Card


Seagraf Skaab - Shadows over Innistrad
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Zombie
Released2016-04-08
Set symbol
Set nameShadows over Innistrad
Set codeSOI
Power 1
Toughness 3
Number84
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byJama Jurabaev

Key Takeaways

  1. Seagraf Skaab provides card advantage and deck sifting with its exploit ability for strategic depth.
  2. It supports synergies in blue decks but comes with a specific, higher mana cost.
  3. Expert use of Seagraf Skaab combines defense, graveyard synergy, and combo potential.

Card Pros

In the dynamic world of MTG, Seagraf Skaab takes the stage to offer players a concoction of benefits that can sway the tides of battle. Let’s dive into the strengths this card brings to the table.

Card Advantage: Seagraf Skaab starts by offering immediate battlefield presence. Coupled with its exploit ability, it can turn the tide by drawing you a card upon sacrificing another creature. This not only replaces itself in your hand but also sifts through your deck, inching you closer to your vital spells and strategies.

Resource Acceleration: While Seagraf Skaab itself does not directly accelerate your resources, it can work wonders with other cards that benefit from sacrificing creatures. This can lead to accelerated mana generation, buffing of your creatures, or any other linked benefit that a well-crafted deck might harness from such an interaction.

Instant Speed: While Seagraf Skaab operates at sorcery speed, its place in your deck aids in keeping opponents on their toes. The exploit mechanic can be utilized just when you need it—as you cast the creature—allowing you to immediately reap its rewards. It pairs well with cards that can be played at instant speed, setting up unexpected combos and interactions that can give you the upper hand.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Seagraf Skaab asks players to discard a card as part of its casting cost. This additional requirement could be a setback when your hand is already running on empty, forcing you to make tough decisions about what to keep and what to sacrifice.

Specific Mana Cost: This creature’s mana cost includes blue mana, which means it fits primarily in blue or multi-colored decks. If your deck doesn’t consistently produce blue mana, including Seagraf Skaab might not be the best strategy.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that demands two blue mana and two colorless mana, Seagraf Skaab can be a bit pricey when it comes to filling your board with creatures. For that amount of mana, the options are vast, and you might find creatures with more impact or lower costs to be a better fit for your deck’s curve.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Seagraf Skaab offers flexibility for various deck archetypes, slotting into strategies that capitalize on graveyard synergies or those seeking an early defensive creature.

Combo Potential: This card plays well with others, particularly in self-mill decks or with mechanics that benefit from casting or recycling creatures from the graveyard.

Meta-Relevance: In a game state teeming with aggro decks, a low-cost, high-toughness creature like Seagraf Skaab can play a key role in stabilizing early on, enhancing its value in your collection.


How to beat

Seagraf Skaab emerges as a notable player in the field of blue creatures within Magic: The Gathering. It presents itself as a formidable two-drop with a penchant for graveyard manipulation, contributing to the strategic nuances of the game. When confronted with this persistent zombie, opponents need to devise strategies that emphasize removal efficiency or graveyard disruption to destabilize its recurring threat.

Utilizing graveyard hate cards such as Rest in Peace or Leyline of the Void can be a highly effective approach to mitigate the recursive power that Seagraf Skaab can harness. These enchantments eliminate the graveyard as a resource, rendering the skaab’s ability inert. Additionally, players might consider leveraging instant-speed removal spells like Fatal Push or Path to Exile. These offer the versatility to address the creature directly on the battlefield without needing to wait for a sorcery-speed window, giving you the tactical upper hand.

To successfully navigate against Seagraf Skaab, it becomes crucial to understand and interrupt the symbiosis between the creature and its graveyard interactions. When players combine timely removal with strategies that inhibit graveyard benefits, they can effectively contain Seagraf Skaab’s influence and maintain control of the game’s trajectory.


Cards like Seagraf Skaab

Seagraf Skaab has made a splash as an efficient creature card in Magic: The Gathering, sharing the stage with cards like Walking Corpse and Vedalken Ghoul. Much like Seagraf Skaab, Walking Corpse offers a straightforward aggressive unit with a 2/2 body for two mana, making it a staple creature in many black decks focused on early pressure. However, Seagraf Skaab distinguishes itself in blue decks, with its additional ability to exploit, enabling intriguing graveyard interactions.

Another related card is Vedalken Ghoul, which also brings interesting strategic plays to the battlefield. Though it comes with a smaller 1/1 stat line, Vedalken Ghoul’s ability to cause opponents to lose life whenever it becomes blocked adds a layer of tactical nuance that Seagraf Skaab lacks. In this sense, Vedalken Ghoul can be seen as more of a nuisance than a frontline fighter.

Overall, while each creature offers similar costs and early-game relevance, the unique abilities of Seagraf Skaab cater to a niche that appeals to certain strategic blue decks, allowing it to exploit other cards for greater overall effect. This nuanced ability ensures that Seagraf Skaab holds its own in the vast sea of two-drop creatures in Magic: The Gathering.

Walking Corpse - MTG Card versions
Vedalken Ghoul - MTG Card versions
Walking Corpse - MTG Card versions
Vedalken Ghoul - MTG Card versions

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Seagraf Skaab MTG card by a specific set like Shadows over 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 Seagraf Skaab and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Seagraf Skaab has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal

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