Skirsdag Cultist MTG Card


Skirsdag Cultist excels at resource conversion and instant-speed plays, enhancing strategic depth in games. However, its strengths come at a cost of specific mana needs and potentially depleting your hand. Despite trade-offs, its versatility in sacrifice strategies makes it a desirable addition to certain MTG decks.
Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Human Shaman
Power 2
Toughness 2

Text of card

, , Sacrifice a creature: Skirsdag Cultist deals 2 damage to target creature or player.

"Within blood is life. Within life is fire. Within fire is the path to our masters' glory!"


Cards like Skirsdag Cultist

Skirsdag Cultist brings its own flair to the red creature card lineup in Magic: The Gathering. It shares attributes with cards like Goblin Cratermaker, given its ability to destroy something under certain circumstances. Skirsdag Cultist requires a heftier sacrifice – four mana and two creatures, but in return, it lets you target any creature on the battlefield, making it versatile yet costly.

Magmatic Chasm and Barrage of Boulders also echo this creature removal theme, although they don’t necessitate a sacrifice like Skirsdag Cultist. They clear out multiple creatures with their sweeping effects, yet they lack the direct targeting precision the Cultist offers. This makes the Cultist potentially more powerful in games where eliminating key threats is crucial.

In weighing options for red creature control, Skirsdag Cultist’s niche is in its unconditional destruction at a price. While its competitors may be more efficient or broader in scope, the Cultist’s ability to single out and destroy any troubling creature stands out, despite the significant investment required to wield this power.

Goblin Cratermaker - MTG Card versions
Magmatic Chasm - MTG Card versions
Barrage of Boulders - MTG Card versions
Goblin Cratermaker - MTG Card versions
Magmatic Chasm - MTG Card versions
Barrage of Boulders - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Skirsdag Cultist by color, type and mana cost

Dragon Whelp - MTG Card versions
Keldon Warlord - MTG Card versions
Crimson Manticore - MTG Card versions
Márton Stromgald - MTG Card versions
Reckless Embermage - MTG Card versions
Wildfire Emissary - MTG Card versions
Flowstone Giant - MTG Card versions
Rathi Dragon - MTG Card versions
Mogg Bombers - MTG Card versions
Warmonger - MTG Card versions
Bloodfire Kavu - MTG Card versions
Whipkeeper - MTG Card versions
Anger - MTG Card versions
Nalathni Dragon - MTG Card versions
Everquill Phoenix - MTG Card versions
Goblin Goon - MTG Card versions
Lesser Gargadon - MTG Card versions
Krark-Clan Engineers - MTG Card versions
Shimatsu the Bloodcloaked - MTG Card versions
Ogre Taskmaster - MTG Card versions
Dragon Whelp - MTG Card versions
Keldon Warlord - MTG Card versions
Crimson Manticore - MTG Card versions
Márton Stromgald - MTG Card versions
Reckless Embermage - MTG Card versions
Wildfire Emissary - MTG Card versions
Flowstone Giant - MTG Card versions
Rathi Dragon - MTG Card versions
Mogg Bombers - MTG Card versions
Warmonger - MTG Card versions
Bloodfire Kavu - MTG Card versions
Whipkeeper - MTG Card versions
Anger - MTG Card versions
Nalathni Dragon - MTG Card versions
Everquill Phoenix - MTG Card versions
Goblin Goon - MTG Card versions
Lesser Gargadon - MTG Card versions
Krark-Clan Engineers - MTG Card versions
Shimatsu the Bloodcloaked - MTG Card versions
Ogre Taskmaster - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Skirsdag Cultist provides an edge by allowing you to unearth potential card value from your graveyard. It enables you to strategically sacrifice creatures when beneficial and potentially gain additional effects or synergies that trigger upon death or leaving the battlefield.

Resource Acceleration: Through its ability to convert existing creatures into new resources, Skirsdag Cultist can accelerate your resource management. This adds a layer of flexibility to your game plan, making it easier to deploy threats or answers with the resources acquired.

Instant Speed: The Cultist’s ability can be activated at instant speed, providing a dynamic line of play that can disrupt opponent’s strategies. This allows for reactionary plays during your opponent’s turn or after they’ve committed to an unfavorable action, bolstering both offense and defense.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Skirsdag Cultist demands the discard of another card to activate its ability. This cost could deplete your hand, leaving you at a disadvantage during critical turns.

Specific Mana Cost: The card’s activation not only requires a red mana but also necessitates a precisely colored mana pool, potentially restricting it to decks that can consistently provide red sources.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The Cultist’s activation cost is on the higher end, and when considering the total cost for its ability, it might be less economical compared to other creature-removal options available in the game.


Reasons to Include Skirsdag Cultist in Your Collection

Versatility: Skirsdag Cultist is a flexible card that can seamlessly integrate into decks that thrive on sacrifice mechanics or require a consistent source of creature removal. Its ability to turn any creature into direct damage provides multiple strategic options during gameplay.

Combo Potential: This card opens the door to multiple combo avenues. It pairs well with decks that generate token creatures, allowing you to convert excess creatures into damage, or with cards that create benefits from sacrificing creatures, such as triggering morbid abilities.

Meta-Relevance: In a game environment where creature-based strategies are dominant, Skirsdag Cultist offers a reliable way to control the battlefield. It can shift the tide by removing key threats or providing the final points of damage for a win, ensuring its relevance in various meta scenarios.


How to beat

The Skirsdag Cultist card can be a subtle yet potent threat on the battlefield, and overcoming it requires a strategic approach. This particular card thrives in decks stacked with creatures, as its ability to sacrifice another creature for damage amplifies its impact. Therefore, one efficient tactic is to limit the number of creatures your opponent has available. Creature removal spells can be highly effective in thwarting the Cultist’s ability to dominate the game. Removal options such as Fatal Push or Path to Exile provide a direct way to handle the Cultist itself.

Additionally, focusing on indirect strategies like enchantments that prevent the activation of abilities, like Suppression Bonds or Pacifism, can also stifle the Cultist’s effectiveness. Cards that grant you hexproof, like Leyline of Sanctity, can be viable too, as they shield you from the direct damage dealt by the Cultist’s ability. Lastly, maintaining a strong board presence and applying pressure can divert your opponent’s resources away from fueling the Cultist’s power. By doing so, you can take control of the game and ultimately render the Skirsdag Cultist’s influence negligible.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Skirsdag Cultist MTG card by a specific set like Innistrad and Duel Decks: Sorin vs. Tibalt, 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 Skirsdag Cultist and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Skirsdag Cultist Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2011-09-30 and 2023-03-21. Illustrated by Slawomir Maniak.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12011-09-30InnistradISD 1632003NormalBlackSlawomir Maniak
22013-03-15Duel Decks: Sorin vs. TibaltDDK 532003NormalBlackSlawomir Maniak
32017-03-17Modern Masters 2017MM3 1122015NormalBlackSlawomir Maniak
42023-03-21Shadows of the PastSIS 442015NormalBlackSlawomir Maniak

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Skirsdag Cultist has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
GladiatorLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal