Skulk
| Skulk | |
|---|---|
|
[[File:{{#setmainimage:Duels Skulk.png}}|70x70px]] | |
| Keyword Ability | |
| Type | Evasion |
| Introduced | Shadows over Innistrad |
| Last used | Wilds of Eldraine |
| Reminder Text | Skulk (This creature can't be blocked by creatures with greater power.) |
| Storm Scale | 7[1][2] |
| Statistics |
12 cards  50%  41.7%  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. The return of Skulk on Ingenious Prodigy in the Standard set Wilds of Eldraine suggests the keyword becoming deciduous.
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 
Creature — Homunculus
2/1
Skulk (This creature can't be blocked by creatures with greater power.)
References
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (March 09, 2019). "Will we ever see skulk again it was pretty cool...". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (2021-08-29). "Where is skulk on the storm scale?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Matt Tabak (March 7, 2016). "Shadows over Innistrad Mechanics". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (March 14, 2016). "Chasing Shadows, Part 1". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (March 21, 2016). "Chasing Shadows, Part 2". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (August 07, 2016). "Is Wizards still looking for a common keyword in Blue/Black?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (August 08, 2016). "How was Skulk's design space limited?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (September 19, 2021). "What did players dislike about the mechanic?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (February 18, 2023). "I loved the mechanic, and the name was perfect. Wish it could’ve worked its way to some usage here and there.". Blogatog. Tumblr.