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Skullcrack, art by Dave Kendall
Art by Dave Kendall · ™ & © Wizards of the Coast · image via Scryfall
Selected printing · USD
$0.28
checked Jun 14, 2026 · Scryfall
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Skullcrack

{1}{R} · Instant

Players can't gain life this turn. Damage can't be prevented this turn. Skullcrack deals 3 damage to target player or planeswalker.

Rulings (4)

Jan 12, 2024 · Effects that would replace gaining life with another effect won't apply because it's impossible for players to gain life.

Jan 12, 2024 · Spells and abilities that would cause a player to gain life or that would prevent damage still resolve, but the life-gain and damage-prevention parts have no effect.

Jan 12, 2024 · Skullcrack targets only the player or planeswalker. If that player or planeswalker is an illegal target when Skullcrack tries to resolve, it won't resolve and none of its effects will happen.

Jan 12, 2024 · If an effect says to set a player's life total to a certain number and that number is higher than the player's current life total, that part of the effect won't do anything. (If the number is lower than the player's current life total, the effect will work as normal.)

LegacyLegal
VintageLegal
ModernLegal
PioneerLegal
StandardNot legal
PauperNot legal
PremodernNot legal
cEDHLegal

Where it’s played now

Inclusion by archetype · Modern

% of archetype's lists running it · last 30 days · n=70 decks
ArchetypeFormatInclusionCopiesDecks (n)
Naya RitualModern100%1
Boros AggroModern80%1–4×50
Mono Red AggroModern60%2–3×5
Rakdos AggroModern7.1%14
Data as of Jun 14, 2026 · MTGO + papercasthaven.com

Price

Skullcrack — price trend

Daily cheapest printing · USD · last 90 days · n=2 snapshots
Data as of Jun 14, 2026 · Scryfallcasthaven.com

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