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| type = Evasion
| type = Evasion
| first = Shadows over Innistrad
| first = Shadows over Innistrad
| last = The Lord of the Rings Commander Decks
| last = Doctor Who
| reminder = This creature can't be blocked by creatures with greater power.
| reminder = This creature can't be blocked by creatures with greater power.
| stats = {{stats|U=6|B=5|WU=1}}
| stats = {{stats|U=6|B=5|WU=1}}
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Skulk was designed to be an evasion mechanic that kept you from making your unblockable creature much bigger with [[Auras]] and [[Equipment]].<ref>{{DailyRef|making-magic/chasing-shadows-part-1-2016-03-14|Chasing Shadows, Part 1|[[Mark Rosewater]]|March 14, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{DailyRef|making-magic/chasing-shadows-part-2-2016-03-21|Chasing Shadows, Part 2|[[Mark Rosewater]]|March 21, 2016}}</ref> It was designed in an attempt to create an [[evergreen]] keyword shared between [[Blue]] and [[Black]], but it didn't end up working out. It was both more complex to use than the designers thought and had far less design space than they had anticipated.<ref>{{EzTumblr|http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/148621035288/hi-mark-big-fan-of-your-drive-to-work-podcast|title=Is Wizards still looking for a common keyword in Blue/Black? |August 07, 2016}}</ref> It was only interesting on low-power creatures and didn't mix well with a lot of other creature abilities.<ref>{{EzTumblr|http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/148624571278/how-was-skulks-design-space-limited|title=How was Skulk's design space limited?|August 08, 2016}}</ref> Players were mostly disinterested in the mechanic.<ref>{{EzTumblr|https://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/662773737095151616/youve-mentioned-that-skulk-was-an-unsuccessful|title=What did players dislike about the mechanic?|September 19, 2021}}</ref>
Skulk was designed to be an evasion mechanic that kept you from making your unblockable creature much bigger with [[Auras]] and [[Equipment]].<ref>{{DailyRef|making-magic/chasing-shadows-part-1-2016-03-14|Chasing Shadows, Part 1|[[Mark Rosewater]]|March 14, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{DailyRef|making-magic/chasing-shadows-part-2-2016-03-21|Chasing Shadows, Part 2|[[Mark Rosewater]]|March 21, 2016}}</ref> It was designed in an attempt to create an [[evergreen]] keyword shared between [[Blue]] and [[Black]], but it didn't end up working out. It was both more complex to use than the designers thought and had far less design space than they had anticipated.<ref>{{EzTumblr|http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/148621035288/hi-mark-big-fan-of-your-drive-to-work-podcast|title=Is Wizards still looking for a common keyword in Blue/Black? |August 07, 2016}}</ref> It was only interesting on low-power creatures and didn't mix well with a lot of other creature abilities.<ref>{{EzTumblr|http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/148624571278/how-was-skulks-design-space-limited|title=How was Skulk's design space limited?|August 08, 2016}}</ref> Players were mostly disinterested in the mechanic.<ref>{{EzTumblr|https://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/662773737095151616/youve-mentioned-that-skulk-was-an-unsuccessful|title=What did players dislike about the mechanic?|September 19, 2021}}</ref>


Skulk was one of the non-[[evergreen]], non-[[deciduous]] keywords included in the ''[[Unfinity]]'' [[sticker]] [[Sticker#Sticker_sheets|sheets]]. According to [[Mark Rosewater]], "it’s not off limits as returning, just not up to the bar of being evergreen".<ref>{{EzTumblr|https://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/709599372860604416|title=I loved the mechanic, and the name was perfect. Wish it could’ve worked its way to some usage here and there.|February 18, 2023}}</ref> [[The Ring Tempts You]] uses the written-out form of Skulk as the first level bonus.
Skulk was one of the non-[[evergreen]], non-[[deciduous]] keywords included in the ''[[Unfinity]]'' [[sticker]] [[Sticker#Sticker_sheets|sheets]]. According to [[Mark Rosewater]], "it’s not off limits as returning, just not up to the bar of being evergreen".<ref>{{EzTumblr|https://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/709599372860604416|title=I loved the mechanic, and the name was perfect. Wish it could’ve worked its way to some usage here and there.|February 18, 2023}}</ref>
 
[[The Ring Tempts You]] mechanic from ''[[The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth]]'' uses the written-out form of Skulk as the first level bonus of {{card|The Ring||TLTR}} [[emblem]], while <c>Gollum, Obsessed Stalker</c> from the [[The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth/Commander decks|Commander decks]] has the keyworded mechanic. Skulk was granted a cameo on <c>Ingenious Prodigy</c> in the Standard set ''[[Wilds of Eldraine]]''.<ref>{{EzTumblr|https://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/731114537068216320|title=With the release of Ingenious Prodigy in WOE (a set that doesn't otherwise use skulk), has the keyword become deciduous?|October 13, 2023}}</ref>


==Rules==
==Rules==

Latest revision as of 06:13, 12 March 2024

Skulk
[[File:{{#setmainimage:Duels Skulk.png}}|70x70px]]
Keyword Ability
Type Evasion
Introduced Shadows over Innistrad
Last used Doctor Who
Reminder Text Skulk (This creature can't be blocked by creatures with greater power.)
Storm Scale 7[1][2]
Statistics
12 cards
{U} 50% {B} 41.7% {W/U} 8.3%
Scryfall Search
keyword:"Skulk"
Not to be confused with Skulking.

Skulk is an evasion ability introduced in Shadows over Innistrad.[3]

Description

A creature with the keyword skulk can't be blocked by any creature with greater power.

Skulk was designed to be an evasion mechanic that kept you from making your unblockable creature much bigger with Auras and Equipment.[4][5] It was designed in an attempt to create an evergreen keyword shared between Blue and Black, but it didn't end up working out. It was both more complex to use than the designers thought and had far less design space than they had anticipated.[6] It was only interesting on low-power creatures and didn't mix well with a lot of other creature abilities.[7] Players were mostly disinterested in the mechanic.[8]

Skulk was one of the non-evergreen, non-deciduous keywords included in the Unfinity sticker sheets. According to Mark Rosewater, "it’s not off limits as returning, just not up to the bar of being evergreen".[9]

The Ring Tempts You mechanic from The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth uses the written-out form of Skulk as the first level bonus of The Ring emblem, while Gollum, Obsessed Stalker from the Commander decks has the keyworded mechanic. Skulk was granted a cameo on Ingenious Prodigy in the Standard set Wilds of Eldraine.[10]

Rules

From the glossary of the Comprehensive Rules (June 7, 2024—Modern Horizons 3)

Skulk
A keyword ability that restricts how a creature may be blocked. See rule 702.118, “Skulk.”

From the Comprehensive Rules (June 7, 2024—Modern Horizons 3)

  • 702.118. Skulk
    • 702.118a Skulk is an evasion ability.
    • 702.118b A creature with skulk can’t be blocked by creatures with greater power. (See rule 509, “Declare Blockers Step.”)
    • 702.118c Multiple instances of skulk on the same creature are redundant.

Examples

Example

Furtive Homunculus {1}{U}
Creature — Homunculus
2/1
Skulk (This creature can't be blocked by creatures with greater power.)

References