SkinwingHow it works & interactions with other cards

What it Does

Skinwing is an Artifact Equipment that grants its wielder +2/+2 and the flying ability. Its most distinctive feature is Living weapon, which allows it to enter the battlefield with its own pilot. While its equip cost is high at six mana, the initial deployment provides a body at no extra cost, making it a reliable threat in Limited and casual formats.

Living Weapon Step-by-Step

When Skinwing enters the battlefield, its Living weapon ability triggers. First, you create a 0/0 black Phyrexian Germ creature token. Immediately after the token is created, Skinwing becomes attached to it. This happens before state-based actions are checked, meaning the Germ survives because Skinwing's +2/+2 bonus raises its toughness to 2 before it would otherwise die for having 0 toughness.

Equipping and Transitions

If the Phyrexian Germ token is destroyed, Skinwing remains on the battlefield as an unattached artifact. You can then pay its equip cost of {6} to move it to another creature. Conversely, if you pay the equip cost to move Skinwing while the Germ is still alive, the Germ will immediately be put into the graveyard because its toughness returns to 0, unless another effect is boosting its stats.

When to Play Skinwing

Skinwing is best used in decks that need consistent evasive threats or can benefit from the creation of tokens. Since it counts as both an artifact and a creature entering the battlefield, it synergizes well with cards that care about either type. It is particularly useful in late-game scenarios where you have excess mana to move the wings to a more powerful attacker.

Interaction examples

Taking Flight Alone

Phyrexian Germ

When you cast Skinwing and it resolves, the Living weapon trigger creates a 0/0 Phyrexian Germ. Skinwing attaches to it, resulting in a 2/2 black creature with flying. This allows you to start attacking immediately on your next turn without needing another creature on board.

Passing the Torch

Solemn Simulacrum

Suppose you have a Solemn Simulacrum on the battlefield and a Skinwing attached to its Germ token. By paying {6}, you can move Skinwing to the Solemn Simulacrum. The Golem becomes a 4/4 with flying. Because the Phyrexian Germ no longer has Skinwing providing a toughness boost, the 0/0 token is put into the graveyard as a state-based action.

Resource Management

Commander's Sphere

In a scenario where you have Commander's Sphere, you can tap it for mana to help pay for Skinwing's initial {4} cost or its {6} equip cost. If the Germ token equipped with Skinwing is targeted by a removal spell, you don't lose the Equipment; Skinwing stays on the battlefield, waiting for you to use mana from sources like the Sphere to attach it to a new creature.