At first glance, this looks pretty cool. Five
Eldrazi Spawn tokens on command, and any color
can produce them. This is especially handy when
you realize that all cards that make Eldrazi
Spawn tokens besides this one and Spawnsire of
Ulamog are red, green, or black-- white and blue
don't get any cards that make them.
Then you realize that you're spending seven mana
to get only five mana worth of tokens, and you
start questioning the worth of this card. Why
would I want five tokens when I could just spend
the seven mana on whatever I would sacrifice the
tokens to pay for? This is especially egregious
when you realize that practically all lands
provide colored mana, which is generally more
useful than colorless mana.
But then again, you realize that your tokens can
be sacrificed next turn, after you untap the
lands you tapped for the Invasion, at which
point you'll have 12 mana on turn eight-- enough
to hardcast It that Betrays. Or, you could keep
your Eldrazi Spawn tokens for purposes of
attacking and blocking, especially if you've got
a Broodwarden or a Marshal's Anthem on the
board.
Mind-breaking Lovecraftian horror comes in
all sizes, from the continent-spanning wake of
Emrakul down to the travel-sized Nest Invader.
Somewhere in the middle is Skittering Invasion,
which you can look at as the colorless Spectral
Procession, or perhaps a one-step accelerant
from seven mana to twelve (Kozilek's mana
cost!). I like it.
Magic The Gathering Card of The Day: Skittering
Invasion
Welcome back readers today's card of the day
is Skittering Invasion a highly costed colorless
Eldrazi spell from Rise of The Eldrazi,
providing a possible five mana for an investment
of seven mana is not extraordinarily bad and
provides a supply of chump blockers. In standard
most of the current Eldrazi focused decks are
packed to the max with powerful cards, I dont
see this card making an impact due to its
expense and often time lackluster game effects.
In extended and eternal this card wont see play
due to the mana cost and obvious power level of
cards. In casual and multiplayer I can see this
working. Its feasible to get to seven mana a lot
quicker in multiplayer and casual games and the
chump blockers could prove entirely useful as
well as more mana accelerator for various
abilities. Not to mention combine this Grave
Pact for an insane amount of fun. In limited it
could be playable as it is colorless and can
fuel bombs and clog your field to win wars of
attrition. Overall a decent card for casual and
limited but unexciting in a competitive sense.
Today's card of the day is Skittering Invasion
which is a seven mana colorless spell that puts
five Eldrazi Spawn tokens into play. There is
quite a bit of combo potential with creatures or
tokens coming into play effects or being
sacrificed or sent to the graveyard. Either
option has use in the right deck and five
blockers from one card can be a decent stalling
mechanism in a pinch while the colorless aspect
allows any deck to run this if desired. Eldrazi
support such as Eldrazi Temple or Eye of Ugin,
token support like Rhys the Redeemed or Doubling
Season, or sacrifice options like Grave Pact or
Blade of the Bloodchief all add to the
versatility of this card. Without support the
cost is a little high on the curve and the
tokens can not deal damage themselves, but it
may see some justified play alongside specific
themes.
For Limited the slower format and variety of
Eldrazi options make this an impressive uncommon
that can accelerate into an Eldrazi on or before
the eighth turn. An excellent pick in Booster
after a colorless rare and being colorless can
easily be included in any Sealed build. Token or
sacrifice support are both available in set as
well, so there should be no shortage of options
when this enters your hand.
