Magic: The Gathering

Skullclamp

Darksteel 140 • uncommon

Set: Darksteel
Collector number: 140
Rarity: Uncommon
Mana cost: 1 generic mana
Type: Artifact
Colors: Colorless
Artist: Luca Zontini
Market price: $6.95

Add this to your collection →Add to wishlist Buy this card on eBay

$6.95est. via TCGplayer

0collectors have this

0copies owned

26other printings of this card

Market

What it's worth

$6.95market price via TCGplayer · Aug 19, 2026$5.94 – $7.06 over the tracked period

Estimate for a typical copy of Skullclamp; condition, printing, and grading move the real number.

Lore

Why it matters

As an uncommon artifact from the Darksteel set, this card is a notable inclusion for any collection. Its utility as an equipment piece creates a distinct dynamic on the table, allowing players to exchange creatures for a swift replenishment of resources.

Generated by Pi, the collecto.rs collecting companion

Card face

What it does

Equipped creature gets +1/-1.

Whenever equipped creature dies, draw two cards.

Equip 1 generic mana

Formats

Where you can play it

StandardNot legal
PioneerNot legal
ModernBanned
LegacyBanned
VintageLegal
CommanderLegal
PauperNot legal
BrawlNot legal
HistoricNot legal
TimelessNot legal
Penny DreadfulNot legal
OathbreakerLegal

Portions of the materials used are property of Wizards of the Coast. ©Wizards of the Coast LLC. Card text via Scryfall. Not approved or endorsed by Wizards. As of the last catalogue refresh.

Buy

Where to find one

Search for Skullclamp on the marketplaces collectors use.

Listings from external marketplaces. We may earn a commission on qualifying purchases.

Provenance

Where it came from

Skullclamp was released in the 2004 Darksteel expansion for the Magic: The Gathering trading card game. Developed during a period of experimentation within the game's design, the card was intended to provide card advantage to aggressive decks. However, the final design proved far more potent than anticipated due to its extremely low mana cost and its ease of activation, which inadvertently turned creatures into high-value resources for card drawing.

The artwork was commissioned from Luca Zontini, who captured a grim, utilitarian aesthetic fitting the artifact's dark purpose. Upon its release, the card quickly dominated the competitive landscape, leading to its eventual restriction and banning in multiple formats. It remains one of the most infamous examples of power creep in the game's history, frequently cited by designers as a cautionary tale in balance and testing.

Generated by Pi, the collecto.rs collecting companion

Other printings

Every version of this card

The same card, printed again — different sets, treatments, and prices.

Collectors

Who's collecting this

Real cards collectors on collecto.rs who have this in their public collection.

Nobody public has added this card yet — be the first.

About

About Skullclamp

Skullclamp is a card in the Magic: The Gathering catalog on collecto.rs. Darksteel 140 • uncommon. Catalog data is sourced from Scryfall. No public cards collectors track this one yet — adding yours would make you the first on collecto.rs.

How many collectors track Skullclamp on collecto.rs?

Skullclamp doesn't have any public collectors on collecto.rs yet. Sign up to add it and become the first.

Can I track my own copy of Skullclamp?

Yes. collecto.rs is free — sign up to log your card, upload photos, record condition, edition, and acquisition cost, and connect with other magic: the gathering collectors. Your collection stays private by default.

Where does the Skullclamp catalog entry come from?

The catalog entry for Skullclamp is sourced from Scryfall. Catalog-level facts stay consistent across every collector; your own data (condition, edition, acquisition notes) is yours.