Maze Skullbomb Editions: Unraveling Print Run Differences

In TCG ·

Maze Skullbomb card art from Phyrexia: All Will Be One

Image courtesy of Scryfall.com

Maze Skullbomb Editions: Unraveling Print Run Differences

Print runs are a backstage pass to Magic’s history, and Maze Skullbomb is a perfect lens for seeing how small production choices ripple through time. This unassuming 1-mana artifact from Phyrexia: All Will Be One sits in the colorless slot but carries a green identity that plays nicely with sacrifice and value engines. It’s a card that thrives on tempo and planning—sacrifice it for a card now, or juice a creature later for a beefy punch. The duality of its simplicity and depth makes it an ideal specimen for examining how editions differ in real terms 🧙‍♂️🔥.

Launched in 2023 within ONE (Phyrexia: All Will Be One), Maze Skullbomb is a common rarity artifact with two meaningful modes. Its first ability costs just {1} and draws you a card, a straightforward exchange that scales nicely in longer games. The second mode, accessible for {2}{G}, pumps a creature you control by +3/+3 and grants trample until end of turn, drawing a card again—activate only as a sorcery. The card’s green color identity hints at how players in green-heavy artifact decks might lean into sacrifice outlets and value engines. The print run reality matters here: it has foil and non-foil finishes, and it’s not been reprinted since its ONE appearance, which means scarcity is shaped more by foil availability, supply chain quirks, and collector demand than by a reprint rebalancing the playing field. Scryfall’s data paints a practical picture: the card sits at common rarity with minimal market premium, often showing around a few cents for non-foils and a touch more for foils—a reminder that not all print runs are created equal even when the card itself is simple in concept 🧩💎.

What exactly changes from edition to edition? Look for the obvious: the set symbol, frame and border treatment (this card uses the black frame characteristic of 2015-era printing), the collector number (231 in ONE), and the foil treatment. A card like Maze Skullbomb is a teachable moment: foil copies tend to appear slightly more readily in some print runs than others, and regional print facilities can affect tiny visual quirks like edge wear or color rendering. The result is a spectrum: identical in function, different in the physical story you hold in your hands. In broader terms, this is why people care about edition differences—not just card text, but the tangible history of how many were produced, in which finishes, and how those finishes age in a sleeve under a desk lamp ⚔️🎨.

Why this print nuance matters for players and collectors

  • Edition identity: Maze Skullbomb’s ONE printing uses a specific frame (frame 2015) and a black border, with a collector number of 231, signaling its place in the set’s run history. This matters when you’re sorting cards into a collection or evaluating potential trades.
  • Foil vs. non-foil availability: A foil copy commands a different shopping story than its non-foil sibling, even if the card text is identical. For players, foils can feel nicer in a green-powered artifact deck; for collectors, foil differences can anchor price ladders across print runs.
  • Reprint reality: Maze Skullbomb has not been reprinted in other recent sets, which makes the ONE printing a continuing reference point for value and completeness in a green artifact suite.
  • Play strategy remains evergreen: The card’s two modes promote a flexible plan—draw power early, then leverage a late-game swing with a pumped ally. In a sac-friendly shell, you can maximize its utility across the game’s mid-to-late turns, regardless of edition (though print quirks will influence how it looks and feels in your deckbox) 🧙‍♂️.
  • Market signals: The USD price sits modestly low in most print runs, but foil scarcity and collector interest can create micro-bumps in certain markets. The player’s takeaway is clear: a well-loved, two-in-one artifact can punch above its weight in a green-leaning artifact shell, especially when you consider future cross-format play in formats like Commander or Pauper (depending on local rules) 🔥.

As you plan your next brew, imagine Maze Skullbomb tucked into a green artifact theme list, where sacrifice outlets and card draw feed a cycle of resource advantage. It isn’t a flashy commander staple, but it’s the kind of card that rewards patient deckbuilding and careful edition-aware acquisitions. If you’re an adapter who loves tactile collecting as much as deck-building, you’ll appreciate how a single card can illuminate the quiet drama of print runs while still contributing to your board state in meaningful ways 🧙‍♂️🧩.

To explore this topic further while you sip on the lore, check out some related reads from the network. And while you’re at it, if you’re safeguarding your collection, consider protective gear that matches the care you give to your decks—the right case can keep your fragile foils pristine in transit and in storage. And yes, a sturdy case makes a great gift for any planeswalker in your orbit 🔥💎.

Shockproof Phone Case — Durable TPU Polycarbonate Shell

More from our network