Skirk Ridge Exhumer MTG Card


Skirk Ridge Exhumer - Future Sight
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Zombie Spellshaper
Released2007-05-04
Set symbol
Set nameFuture Sight
Set codeFUT
Power 1
Toughness 1
Number77
Frame2003
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byMichael Phillippi

Key Takeaways

  1. Generates tokens, offering card advantage by expanding battlefield presence without depleting the hand.
  2. Activatable at instant speed, it augments flexibility and strategic depth in gameplay.
  3. Investment-heavy costs might limit its use in fast-paced or mana-sensitive games.

Text of card

, , Discard a card: Put a 1/1 black Zombie Goblin creature token named Festering Goblin into play with "When Festering Goblin is put into a graveyard from play, target creature gets -1/-1 until end of turn."


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Skirk Ridge Exhumer enables the generation of additional creatures, which can translate into card advantage over time. With each activation, you gain more assets on the battlefield without losing hand presence.

Resource Acceleration: The creature tokens generated by this card can be sacrificed for various effects, potentially ramping up your mana or fueling other card synergies within your deck. This tactic accelerates your resource availability, allowing for more impactful plays.

Instant Speed: Skirk Ridge Exhumer’s ability can be activated at instant speed, offering flexibility within your strategy. This allows players to wait for the most opportune moment during a game, maximizing the effectiveness of their plays and disrupting enemy tactics.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The activation of Skirk Ridge Exhumer requires you to discard a card, which can be detrimental if your hand is already depleted or if you need to maintain card advantage against your opponent.

Specific Mana Cost: Skirk Ridge Exhumer demands black mana not only for its casting cost but also for its activated ability. This can make it less flexible for decks that run multiple colors or those that cannot reliably produce the necessary black mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a total investment of three mana to cast and an additional two to activate, the cost to get a single 1/1 creature token may not align with the mana efficiency expected in fast-paced games or in meta where lower-cost alternatives provide greater value.


Reasons to Include Skirk Ridge Exhumer in Your Collection

Versatility: Not only is Skirk Ridge Exhumer a valuable card for black decks focused on creature control, but it can also synergize with strategies revolving around token generation and sacrifice mechanics. It can slip into various deck archetypes that utilize creatures’ death for beneficial effects.

Combo Potential: This card interacts well with other cards that benefit from creatures dying or being sacrificed. The tokens it produces can feed into powerful combos, enabling everything from mana generation to devastating board effects.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where the interaction between graveyard play and token utility is vital, Skirk Ridge Exhumer can hold its own. It’s a card that encourages thoughtful play and can become increasingly advantageous as the game progresses, fitting well in the current meta that appreciates incremental advantage.


How to beat Skirk Ridge Exhumer

Skirk Ridge Exhumer can be quite a nuanced threat on the table, capable of producing token creatures that can outmaneuver basic defenses. Unlike other creature-centric cards, the Exhumer’s strength isn’t in raw power but in its strategic utility to constantly field minions, supporting larger strategies at play within a game.

Countering this card relies on smart use of removal spells that can efficiently deal with both the Exhumer and the tokens it creates. Spot removal isn’t always the best approach, as it often leads to a one-for-one trade, leaving the Exhumer’s controller at little disadvantage. Therefore, sweepers or mass removal spells are often a more effective solution, clearing all tokens and potentially the Exhumer itself in one fell swoop. Cards like Pyroclasm or Electrickery can serve as economical choices to clear out multiple tokens along with smaller creatures like the Exhumer. Additionally, be mindful of graveyard recursion, as the Exhumer or its tokens could be brought back for another round. Including graveyard hate in your deck, such as Tormod’s Crypt or Relic of Progenitus, can shut down such strategies and secure your lead against this pesky card.

Gauging when to target the Exhumer and its tokens is the key. By keeping the board clear of swathes of token creatures and disrupting the opponent’s graveyard synergies, you can maintain the upper hand against decks that wield Skirk Ridge Exhumer.


Cards like Skirk Ridge Exhumer

Skirk Ridge Exhumer finds its niche within MTG’s array of creature cards that manipulate graveyards. Drawing parallels with other cards, we can look at Doomed Necromancer. Both can return creatures from the graveyard to the battlefield, but Skirk Ridge Exhumer is unique with its ability to also create a 1/1 black Goblin Rogue creature token with its morph cost. This dual functionality gives it a more flexible position in game strategies.

Another card worth comparing is Apprentice Necromancer, which similarly reanimates a creature at the cost of sacrificing it at the next end step. Where Skirk Ridge Exhumer stands out is in its potential for repeatable usage, albeit with a slower setup through its morphing cost. Moreover, comparing it with Footsteps of the Goryo, which brings a creature back only briefly, the exhumer offers more lasting board presence, as it doesn’t inherently require the creature to be sacrificed.

Assessing these comparisons, Skirk Ridge Exhumer presents a valuable intersection of creature production and recurring graveyard utility, making it a noteworthy card among graveyard-synergy strategies in MTG.

Doomed Necromancer - MTG Card versions
Apprentice Necromancer - MTG Card versions
Footsteps of the Goryo - MTG Card versions
Doomed Necromancer - Onslaught (ONS)
Apprentice Necromancer - Urza's Destiny (UDS)
Footsteps of the Goryo - Saviors of Kamigawa (SOK)

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Drudge Skeletons - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Erg Raiders - Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border (4BB)
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Dakmor Bat - Portal Second Age (P02)
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Flesh Reaver - Urza's Saga (USG)
Bloodcurdler - Odyssey (ODY)
Nantuko Shade - Commander 2014 (C14)
Piper of the Swarm - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Undead Augur - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Shepherd of Rot - Onslaught (ONS)
Swarm of Rats - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Skullsnatcher - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Nezumi Cutthroat - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Stromgald Crusader - Coldsnap (CSP)
Scarred Vinebreeder - Lorwyn (LRW)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Skirk Ridge Exhumer MTG card by a specific set like Future Sight, 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 Skirk Ridge Exhumer and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Skirk Ridge Exhumer has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

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