Skulduggery 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
Until end of turn, target creature you control gets +1/+1 and target creature an opponent controls gets -1/-1.
Complete guide
Skulduggery is a versatile black instant that offers a dual-benefit for a single mana. It allows players to simultaneously bolster their own forces while weakening an opponent's creature, often turning the tide of combat in an unexpected way.
Dual Targeting Requirements
To cast Skulduggery, you must be able to choose two valid targets: one creature you control and one creature an opponent controls. If there are no creatures on one side of the battlefield, the spell cannot be cast. This requirement ensures the spell's power is balanced by the need for a specific board state.
Resolution and Illegal Targets
Once Skulduggery is on the stack, it checks its targets again upon resolution. If one of the targets has become illegal (for example, if a creature was sacrificed or gained Hexproof), the spell still tries to resolve for the remaining legal target. The +1/+1 or -1/-1 effect will apply to whichever creature is still a valid target at that time.
Strategic Timing
Because Skulduggery is an instant, it is most effective during the declare blockers step. By changing the power and toughness of two creatures at once, you can ensure your creature survives a trade while the opponent's creature is destroyed, resulting in a two-for-one advantage for just one black mana.
Interaction examples
Dark RitualYou cast Dark Ritual to add three black mana to your pool. You spend one of those mana to cast Skulduggery, targeting your 2/2 creature and an opponent's 1/1 creature. Your creature becomes a 3/3, and the opponent's creature becomes a 0/0 and is put into the graveyard due to state-based actions.
Vampiric TutorDuring your opponent's end step, you cast Vampiric Tutor to place Skulduggery on top of your library. On your turn, you draw it and wait for combat. When your opponent attacks with a 2/2 creature and you block with a 1/1, you cast Skulduggery to buff your blocker to a 2/2 and shrink their attacker to a 1/1, winning the combat exchange.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Skulduggery
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
You can't cast Skulduggery unless you choose both a creature you control and a creature you don't control as targets.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
If either target becomes illegal after you cast Skulduggery but before it resolves, the other is still affected as appropriate.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Legal formats
Commentaires
- Sois le premier à commenter cette carte.
Read next
Meta decks with Skulduggery
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.