The Adventurous Dungeon Dweller

A Versatile Companion for Your Deck

Clattering Skeletons is a low-cost, black creature that embodies the spirit of exploration and discovery. Its unique death trigger allows it to navigate a "dungeon" sequence, providing an adaptable way to generate card advantage in various deck archetypes.

The Dungeon Sequence: A Journey Through Six Rooms

When Clattering Skeletons dies, its controller gains access to six distinct rooms, each offering a new series of effects. These effects can be triggered by the death of another creature with this same ability, creating complex dungeon sequences and increased card advantage.

Room 1: The Entrance

Upon entering the first room, the controller gains a modest life boost (2). This initial reward sets the stage for potential future growth and establishes a foundation for further progress.

Room 2: Expanding Horizons

Venturing into the second room grants the controller an additional 3 life, building upon any existing effects from previous rooms. This incremental increase in life total contributes to a more robust and resilient strategy.

Room 3: Unveiling Treasures

As players progress to the third room, they are rewarded with a card draw effect. This facilitates further exploration of their deck, allowing for more aggressive tempo plays or defensive positioning.

Room 4: Unlocking Power

Entering this room unlocks a significant card advantage: the controller can cast an instant or sorcery spell without paying its mana cost. This empowering effect enables aggressive tempo plays or defensive positioning, greatly influencing the course of the game.

Rooms 5 and 6: The Unexplored Depths

While these rooms remain largely unused in most decks due to their limited impact compared to earlier rooms, they offer additional opportunities for exploration and discovery.

Synergies and Interactions

Clattering Skeletons interacts with various cards that provide death triggers or enhance the value gained from each room. Notable examples include:

Liliana's Reclamation

When paired with Liliana's Reclamation, this enchantment provides a significant life boost and accelerates the growth rate of the dungeon sequence.

Golgari Findbroker

Golgari Findbroker enhances the value gained from each room, as it increases the amount of cards drawn by creatures that die.

Maelstrom Pulse

Combining these two cards creates an aggressive tempo play, enabling the controller to cast instants or sorceries without paying their mana costs.

Archetypes and Synergies

Clattering Skeletons can be integrated into various deck archetypes, including:

Golgari Midrange

By pairing this creature with midrange staples like Liliana's Reclamation, Golgari Findbroker, or Maelstrom Pulse, you create a well-rounded, consistent strategy that generates card advantage.

Black-Blue Combo

When combined with control elements like Jace, the Mind Sculptor and Sylvan Caryatid, this creature creates a formidable combo engine capable of manipulating cards in-hand or on the battlefield.

Aggressive Combo

Using Clattering Skeletons alongside aggressive elements like Maelstrom Pulse or Golgari Findbroker allows for an explosive tempo play that overwhelms opponents.

Format Viability and Competitive Context

Clattering Skeletons sees competitive play in various formats, including Legacy and Modern. While it remains relatively underplayed compared to other black creatures with death triggers, its unique ability makes it a valuable addition to any deck looking for an adaptable way to generate card advantage.

Rules Interactions and Technical Notes

When comparing room effects, note that:

• The controller may only enter the first room when Clattering Skeletons dies; subsequent deaths will allow progression through additional rooms.
• Each room provides a cumulative life boost or card draw effect, allowing for more aggressive tempo plays as the dungeon sequence progresses.

Art and Flavor

The artwork of Clattering Skeletons depicts a skeletal creature wielding an imposing staff amidst ancient ruins. The flavor text suggests that this creature has been exhumed from long-lost tombs to terrorize living civilizations.

Clattering Skeletons was first printed in the Zendikar Expeditions set (2015) and has since become a staple in various Golgari Midrange decks.

Conclusion

Clattering Skeletons is a versatile creature with a unique ability to generate card advantage through its dungeon sequence. By integrating this card into various deck archetypes, you can create well-rounded strategies capable of manipulating cards in-hand or on the battlefield. Its potential for growth and adaptation makes it an attractive addition to any deck seeking a dynamic and interactive gameplay experience.

Key Takeaways

• Unique death trigger allows for dungeon progression.
• Multiple creatures with this ability can create complex sequences.
• Interacts with various cards that provide death triggers or enhance value gained from each room.
• Can be used in various deck archetypes, such as Golgari Midrange and Black-Blue Combo.
• Has competitive viability in Legacy and Modern formats.