Skittering Skirge is one of those cards players keep asking about. Here is, in plain words, what its official text says, the rulings published by Wizards of the Coast, and the combos players actually run.
Official card text
Flying When you cast a creature spell, sacrifice this creature.
Complete guide
Skittering Skirge is a high-power, low-cost flyer that offers aggressive stats at the price of a fragile board presence. This Phyrexian Imp demands careful planning, as its presence on the battlefield is immediately threatened by your own future summons. Understanding the timing of its sacrifice trigger is key to maximizing its efficiency before it inevitably hits the graveyard.
What It Does
Skittering Skirge is a 3/2 creature with Flying for only two black mana, making it an excellent early-game threat. However, it carries a significant drawback: a triggered ability that forces you to sacrifice it the moment you cast another creature spell. This effect applies to any spell with the 'Creature' type, including artifact creatures or enchantment creatures.
How It Resolves Step by Step
First, you must have Skittering Skirge on the battlefield. When you pay the costs and cast a new creature spell, Skittering Skirge's triggered ability goes on the stack immediately, sitting on top of the creature spell you just cast. The sacrifice trigger will resolve first, sending Skittering Skirge to the graveyard. Only after that trigger has finished resolving will your new creature spell attempt to resolve and enter the battlefield.
Common Mistakes
A frequent error is assuming Skittering Skirge stays around if the new creature spell is countered. Because the ability triggers upon the *casting* of the spell, Skittering Skirge is sacrificed regardless of whether the new creature actually reaches the battlefield. Additionally, remember that this trigger only happens when you cast a spell; effects that put a creature directly onto the battlefield without casting it will not force you to sacrifice the Skirge.
When to Play It
Skittering Skirge is best utilized in aggressive decks that aim to win before they need to commit more creatures to the board, or in decks that can turn a sacrifice into an advantage. It serves as a potent clock against opponents who lack early flying blockers, forcing them to deal with it or face rapid damage.
Interaction examples
Ornithopter of ParadiseIf you control Skittering Skirge and cast Ornithopter of Paradise, the Skirge's ability triggers because Ornithopter of Paradise is a creature spell. You must sacrifice Skittering Skirge before the Ornithopter of Paradise resolves. Even though the Ornithopter is an artifact, its creature type is what triggers the sacrifice.
Blood ArtistIf you have both Skittering Skirge and Blood Artist on the battlefield and you cast another creature spell, Skittering Skirge is sacrificed. This will trigger Blood Artist's ability, allowing you to drain 1 life from an opponent and gain 1 life. This sequence allows you to extract value from the Skirge's drawback.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Skittering Skirge
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
A "creature spell" is any spell with the type Creature, even if it has other types such as Artifact or Enchantment. Older cards of type Summon are also Creature spells.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
The triggered ability triggers when the creature spell is cast, and it is put on the stack before any responses can be cast or activated. This ability will resolve before that creature enters.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Skittering Skirge
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.