Super-SkrullHow it works & interactions with other cards

A Swiss Army Knife of Abilities

Super-Skrull has four activated abilities, each requiring a different color of mana and offering a specific utility. It starts as a 4/4 flyer, but you can spend white mana for tokens, green for a massive stat boost, red for creature removal, or blue for significant card draw. Note that since these are activated abilities without the tap symbol, you can use them as many times as you can pay for them in a single turn, provided the timing is appropriate.

Resolving the Powers

When you activate one of Super-Skrull's abilities, it goes on the stack. The green +4/+4 boost and the white Wall creation resolve immediately without needing targets. However, the red ability requires a 'target creature' and the blue ability requires a 'target player.' If those targets become illegal before the ability resolves (for example, if the creature is sacrificed in response), the ability will fail to resolve and its effect will not happen.

Common Pitfalls

A common mistake is forgetting that Super-Skrull does not gain the abilities of other creatures on the battlefield; it simply has its own printed list of powers. Additionally, remember that the Wall tokens created by the white ability have 'defender,' meaning they cannot attack unless another effect allows them to. Lastly, while Super-Skrull is a black creature, none of its activated abilities require black mana, meaning you often need a complex mana base to unlock its full potential.

Strategic Deployment

Because Super-Skrull costs triple black mana ({1}{B}{B}{B}), it is difficult to cast early in multi-color decks. However, once it is on the battlefield, it acts as a mana sink. If your opponent tries to destroy it, you can respond by drawing four cards with the blue ability or pumping it with the green ability to survive damage-based sweepers.

Interaction examples

Defensive Reinforcements

Super-SkrullWall

If your opponent attacks with a non-flying creature, you can pay {2}{W} to activate Super-Skrull's first ability. This creates a 0/4 colorless Wall creature token with defender. You can then declare this new Wall as a blocker to soak up damage, keeping your life total safe while Super-Skrull stays ready for a counter-attack.

Clearing the Path

Super-SkrullEternal Witness

If your opponent controls an Eternal Witness that you want to remove, you can activate Super-Skrull's red ability by paying {4}{R}. You target the Eternal Witness; when the ability resolves, it deals 4 damage to the Witness, which is more than enough to destroy it since its toughness is only 1.

Refilling the Hand

Super-SkrullSolemn Simulacrum

In a late-game scenario where you have plenty of mana from cards like Solemn Simulacrum, you can pay {5}{U} to target yourself with Super-Skrull's final ability. You draw four cards instantly. If you have ten mana, you could even do this twice, drawing eight cards to find a way to end the match.