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Pojo's Magic The Gathering Card of the Day
Daily Since November 2001!

Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon
Image from Wizards.com

Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon
Scars of Mirrodin

Reviewed September 29, 2010

Constructed: 3.70
Casual: 4.00
Limited: 4.40
Multiplayer: 4.07

Ratings are based on a 1 to 5 scale
1 being the worst.  3 ... average.  
5 is the highest rating

Click here to see all of our 
Card of the Day Reviews 

BMoor

Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon

This shining example of Wizards' neverending quest to provide card names that are harder and harder to spell is also a surprisingly potent finisher. Remember, winning the game usually requires 20 points of normal damage, but only 10 poison counters. While most 4/4 dragons need to hit 5 times to put away a game, Skeeter here can do it in three, or two with as little as +1/+0. Add to that the fact that Skeeter can give itself haste if you slow-roll it as a six drop, and a player who had allowed himself to get to six poison counters thinking he had enough blockers to hold you off may just lose from nowhere. Skeeter can even regenerate itself, giving it a defense mechanism against some kill spells. And of course, flying allows it to sneak that infect damage through blockers. Alas, it still can't stand up to Baneslayer Angel's 5 power and first strike, but it still makes an admirable win condition.

Constructed- 3.75
Casual- 4
Limited- 4.5
Multiplayer- 4.25

David Fanany

Player since 1995

Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon

What's the difference between a "regular" rare dragon and a mythic dragon? Based on this card, it has something to do with poison, something to do with necrogen, and a lot to do with being undead and able to shred creatures and players alike. Skithiryx is one of the few creatures that takes people out as fast as an Eldrazi, one of the few creatures that Troll Ascetics and Inferno Titans fear to attack, and may end up as the flagship for a generation of black decks, poison-based and otherwise. Like many black cards, he demands a commitment, but he more than delivers on it. If you were lucky enough to get him at the pre-release a couple of days ago, put him in a deck and embrace the night . . .
 
Constructed: 4/5
Casual: 4/5
Limited: 4/5
Multiplayer: 4/5

Paul

Magic The Gathering Card of The Day: Skithiryx, The Blight Dragon 
 
Welcome back readers today's card of the day marks the triumphant return of poison to the game of Magic. This dragon provides a win condition in of itself, with the ability to regenerate and poison players this card is a perfect example of a flavorful and powerful card. In standard a poison or proliferate deck is bound to emerge and this card may see play as a part of it, mono black control can always use a new win condition and this card fits the bill nicely. In extended and eternal this card may see play but its expensive mana wise although time will tell. In casual and multiplayer this card is a godsend, as an Elder Dragon Highlander general this card can kill players left and right, the ability to regenerate is icing on the cake and haste means it can swing out of nowhere. Poison I think will be a hit with casual players but it will need more support to see the limelight, this card can mop up games rather quickly. In limited its a bomb pure and simple, evasion, a built in way to kill creatures, regenerative a powerful card. Overall this card is a powerful and flavorful mythic that will see extensive casual play buts its tournament quality is still up in the air.
 
Constructed: 3.0
Casual: 4.0
Limited: 4.5
Multiplayer: 4.0

Michael "Maikeruu" Pierno

Today's card of the day is Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon which is a five mana Legendary 4/4 Flying with Infect and the option to pay one Black for Haste or two Black to Regenerate.  In order the Legendary isn't a big drawback as it isn't too likely you'll often have more than one available to play and not have it removed, Flying is rarely a bad thing, and 4/4 is decent for the cost.  Infect against creatures is nice and it won't take long in a dedicated Infect deck for a Flying 4/4 to end a game.  Haste is nice to get that first attack in, but you'll need to wait for six mana instead of five or play it as a topdeck even later in the game.  The regeneration effect is a bit more useful in the Standard formats as many destroy effects have lost the can not regenerate clause older cards like Wrath of God and Terror once had and it allows the 4/4 body to block larger creatures to build up -1/-1 counters.  It doesn't help against the fairly common exile effects or various forms of bounce, but otherwise Skithiryx is difficult to get rid of whenever some mana is left untapped.  A bit mana intensive, but a this dragon can be the finisher for the likely dangerous Infect deck that will be seeing serious play across formats once Scars of Mirrodin is legal.
 
For Limited this is the kind of card that once opened will quickly determine the rest of your picks in Booster draft.  Cards like Corpse Cur gain additional value as a means of recovering a discarded or destroyed dragon.  Flying, regenerate, and Infect are all very useful abilities in Limited and the Legendary tag is hardly a drawback in a format where seeing a second copy is extremely unlikely.  Two Black in the casting cost out of five is reasonable, but keeping the mana sources untapped for regeneration may be slightly more difficult depending on how much of the deck is Black.  Even without that aspect this is a very powerful card that should be drafted first and given serious consideration in Sealed as well.  Few cards can stand up to in the air and Infect can win games quickly with support from any kind of power increase.
 
Constructed: 4.0
Casual: 4.0
Limited: 4.5
Multiplayer: 4.0


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