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Skeleton
Skeleton
Creature Type
(Subtype for creature/tribal cards)
Statistics
50 cards
{B} 78% {R} 2% {G} 2% {U/B} 6% {B/R} 6% {W/B} 2% {B/G} 4%
Scryfall Search
type:"Skeleton"

A Skeleton is comprised of the bones of a creature. In Magic, the creature type is used for cards that depict the magically animated bones of deceased creatures.

Description

Skeletons are with two exceptions, Viashino Skeleton and Golgari Grave-Troll, Black. There are also the two multicolored cards Skeleton Ship and Kathari Remnant which are also Blue. Skeletons are closely associated with the ability Regeneration.

Most often Skeletons are of Human origin, but that subtype is never added. This is different with other creatures. Known Skeletons include Dragons, Crocodiles, Snakes, Wurms and Walls.

Skeletons have become intertwined with the mechanical ability to keep coming back. In Alpha, it started with regeneration but now R&D tends to give them some kind of limited self reanimation.[1]

Altered Chinese art

7ED Drudge Skeletons

English and Chinese Seventh Edition Drudge Skeletons

The People's Republic of China frowns on the public display of human or humanoid skeletons and Magic cards are no exception. For this reason the artwork of many chinese-language cards depicting skeletons, though not necessarily of the type skeleton, had to be altered to make it possible to sell the product.[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10] This practice was abandoned for Shards of Alara. While skeletons are still not exactly "polite," they have turned more into an unlucky symbol that the older generation reacts much more strongly to than the younger, games-playing population.[11]

Notable Skeletons

Dominaria

New Phyrexia

Theros

Trivia

Tokens

Token Name Color Type Line P/T Text Box Source Printings
Skeleton Black Creature — Skeleton 1/1
Black Creature — Skeleton 1/1 {B}: Regenerate this creature.
Black Creature — Skeleton 2/1
Black Creature — Skeleton 4/1 Menace
Skeleton Pirate Black Creature — Skeleton Pirate 2/2
Heroes of the Realm
Token Name Color Type Line P/T Text Box Source Printings
Skeleton Black Creature — Skeleton 1/1 When this creature dies, each opponent gains 2 life.
Test cards
Token Name Color Type Line P/T Text Box Source Printings
Reassembling Skeleton Black Creature — Skeleton Warrior 1/1 (This is a token card which doesn't cease to exist in a zone other than the battlefield and has a {1}{B} mana cost.)
{1}{B}: Return Reassembling Skeleton from your graveyard to the battlefield tapped.

References

  1. Mark Rosewater (October 06, 2016). "Some trivia about Skeletons?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  2. Magic Arcana (March 13, 2002). "Chinese Skeletons (Urza's Saga and Sixth Edition)". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  3. Magic Arcana (February 12, 2002). "Chinese art (Seventh Edition)". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  4. Worth Wollpert (April 18, 2005). "Ask Wizards". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  5. Magic Arcana (November 14, 2005). "Alternate Chinese Art in Ravnica, Part 1". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  6. Magic Arcana (November 30, 2005). "Alternate Chinese Art in Ravnica, Part 2". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  7. Magic Arcana (December 14, 2005). "Alternate Chinese Art in Ravnica, Part 3". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  8. Magic Arcana (February 23, 2006). "Alternate Chinese Art in Guildpact, Part 1". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  9. Magic Arcana (March 06, 2006). "Alternate Chinese Art in Guildpact, Part 2". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  10. Wizards of the Coast (April, 2005). "Ask Wizards - April, 2005". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  11. Magic Arcana (November 13, 2008). "Ask Wizards?". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  12. Flavor text for Underworld Sentinel
  13. Monty Ashley (October 04, 2011). "Sketches: Manor Skeleton". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
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