Cleaver Skaab MTG Card


Boasting card advantage, Cleaver Skaab recycles threats from the graveyard for a persistent board presence. The creature’s instant speed ability and exploit feature offer tactical depth during gameplay. Demands careful deck construction due to specific mana requirements and potential card disadvantage.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Zombie Horror
Power 2
Toughness 4

Text of card

, , Sacrifice another Zombie: Create two tokens that are copies of the sacrificed creature.


Cards like Cleaver Skaab

Cleaver Skaab emerges as a strategic option within the realm of creature modification in Magic: The Gathering. At a glance, it may remind seasoned players of Stitcher’s Apprentice, a card that shares the ability to churn out homunculus tokens. However, Cleaver Skaab carves a unique niche with its ability to exile cards from the graveyard to generate more powerful stitched tokens, which is not a feature seen in Stitcher’s Apprentice.

Comparatively, Master Splicer presents an intriguing parallel, granting Golems a notable power boost. While Master Splicer does not involve graveyard interaction, it delivers an immediate impact on the board by beefing up existing creatures. On the other spectrum, we have Exhumer Thrull, which shares a kinship with graveyard utilization. However, Exhumer Thrull’s recursive ability targets return of creatures to hand rather than the creation of tokens, offering a different set of strategic advantages.

Despite the similarities to its counterparts, Cleaver Skaab stands out by offering a unique blend of graveyard manipulation and token generation. This harmonious union elevates its place within the echelons of creature-augmenting cards in the game, ticking both boxes for utility and the ability to shift game states significantly.

Stitcher's Apprentice - MTG Card versions
Master Splicer - MTG Card versions
Exhumer Thrull - MTG Card versions
Stitcher's Apprentice - MTG Card versions
Master Splicer - MTG Card versions
Exhumer Thrull - MTG Card versions

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Phantasmal Forces - MTG Card versions
Wall of Vapor - MTG Card versions
Tradewind Rider - MTG Card versions
Archivist - MTG Card versions
Thieving Magpie - MTG Card versions
Inga Rune-Eyes - MTG Card versions
Sakashima of a Thousand Faces - MTG Card versions
Laboratory Drudge - MTG Card versions
Johnny, Combo Player - MTG Card versions
Dream Prowler - MTG Card versions
Clone - MTG Card versions
Cytoplast Manipulator - MTG Card versions
Crookclaw Transmuter - MTG Card versions
Turtleshell Changeling - MTG Card versions
Glen Elendra Archmage - MTG Card versions
Fatestitcher - MTG Card versions
Argent Sphinx - MTG Card versions
Lumengrid Drake - MTG Card versions
Vedalken Infuser - MTG Card versions
Phantasmal Dragon - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Cleaver Skaab’s ability to create a copy of a creature card in your graveyard not only populates the board but also effectively recycles valuable threats from the graveyard. This mechanic provides you with additional resources without depleting your hand, maintaining a strong card presence both in play and potential.

Resource Acceleration: By allowing you to exploit a creature, Cleaver Skaab can transform an expendable asset into a strategic advantage. This ability facilitates a form of resource acceleration where the creature’s sacrifice paves the way for more potent creatures to take the stage, optimizing your gameplay efficiency.

Instant Speed: The versatility of activating Cleaver Skaab’s ability at instant speed grants you the flexibility to make strategic decisions during your opponent’s turn. This can lead to surprise blocks or threats that may not have been possible at sorcery speed, enhancing your tactical depth in a match.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Cleaver Skaab demands that a player discards a card for its exploit ability, which might not be beneficial if your hand is already running low on options. Discarding may potentially lead to a disadvantage in card advantage against opponents.

Specific Mana Cost: This zombie horror creature requires one blue and two generic mana to cast, making it a card that aligns specifically with blue-focused strategies. Decks that aren’t structured to provide blue mana consistently might find it difficult to play Cleaver Skaab at the right moment.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its casting cost set at three mana, Cleaver Skaab might be a bit on the higher side for its abilities. Considering other creatures and spells in the same mana range, players may find alternatives that provide immediate impact without the additional discard cost associated with exploiting another creature.


Reasons to Include Cleaver Skaab in Your Collection

Versatility: Cleaver Skaab provides flexibility in gameplay, serving not only as a creature but also enabling you to tinker with your graveyard. Its ability to cast spells from among the cards it excavated promotes various strategic plays across game formats.

Combo Potential: This creature shines in combination with decks that harness the graveyard for value. It works seamlessly with mechanics like flashback and can forge powerful play sequences by recurring key spells or creatures, setting up potential game-winning turns.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment rich with graveyard interaction, Cleaver Skaab steps up as a significant player. It confronts slower, control-oriented decks by providing ongoing value and threats, keeping you a step ahead in the resource game.


How to beat

Cleaver Skaab presents an interesting challenge on the battlefield in MTG. The card’s strength lies in its ability to create token creatures by exiling a creature card from your graveyard. Overcoming this versatile blue Zombie Horror requires strategic planning. One effective method is employing graveyard hate mechanisms like Tormod’s Crypt or Scavenging Ooze, which can remove creature cards from graveyards before Cleaver Skaab gets a chance to utilize them.

Spot removal spells like Fatal Push or Path to Exile offer another line of defense, quickly dispatching Cleaver Skaab before it can generate value through its ability. Furthermore, since the tokens produced are Zombie creatures, board wipes that specifically target creature types, such as Crippling Fear, can eradicate the tokens and reset the board state in your favor. It’s crucial to anticipate and disrupt your opponent’s strategy while ensuring you have the right countermeasures to prevent the advantage that Cleaver Skaab can provide over the course of a game.

To summarize, maintaining control of the game state and being preemptive with your removal and graveyard management can effectively neutralize the impact of Cleaver Skaab, edging you closer to victory in your MTG matches.


BurnMana Recommendations

The crux of MTG gameplay is recognizing and leveraging every card’s potential. Cleaver Skaab is a fascinating contender with its card advantage and speed on one’s side, while tactical discard and mana specifics could be the fulcrum to balance. Its unique capabilities in graveyard manipulation and immediate effect on the board make it a noteworthy addition to blue-themed strategies. Are you curious about integrating Cleaver Skaab into your deck or finding the perfect counterplay? Dive deeper with us, where we unlock strategies, deck-building tips, and ways to optimize your MTG experience with cards like Cleaver Skaab. Your next game-changing move awaits!


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Cleaver Skaab MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Midnight Hunt Commander, 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 Cleaver Skaab and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Cleaver Skaab Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2021-09-24 and 2021-09-24. Illustrated by Johann Bodin.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 939242015NormalBlackJohann Bodin
22021-09-24Midnight Hunt CommanderMIC 492015NormalBlackJohann Bodin
32021-09-24Midnight Hunt CommanderMIC 112015NormalBlackJohann Bodin

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Cleaver Skaab has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2021-09-24 If the sacrificed Zombie was itself copying a permanent, the tokens will be copies of whatever it was copying, as modified by that copy effect. The tokens won't copy any other effects that were applying to the sacrificed creature, including effects that changed its types, color, power, or toughness while it was on the battlefield.
2021-09-24 You can choose to sacrifice a Zombie token to activate the ability. You'll create two tokens that are copies of that token as normal.