Inscryption is packed with cards that often steal the spotlight—Ouroboros loops, Dire Wolves tearing up lanes, Mantis Gods ending fights before they begin. But beyond the obvious power plays lies a roster of underrated cards and sigils that, when used cleverly, can become game-changers—especially in the brutal Skull Storm challenge of Casey’s Mod. Today, we’re diving into those cards and combos that don’t get the recognition they deserve but can absolutely turn the tide in the right hands.

Touch of Death – The Silent Assassin

Let’s kick things off with what might be the single most underrated sigil in the game: Touch of Death. Found on cards like Adder and Long Elk, this sigil instantly destroys anything it touches—health points be damned. It’s powerful enough to one-shot the Moon in Act 1. In fact, it was so effective that a new sigil, Made of Stone, had to be added to Casey’s Mod specifically to counter it (alongside Stinky, which was also cheesed too hard).

And yes, in Casey’s Mod you can still use Touch of Death to eliminate enemies protected by Made of Stone by removing it with the magical bleach item. That’s how potent this ability is—it breaks bosses and demands dedicated counters.

The strength of Touch of Death becomes even more apparent in Skull Storm runs, where Grizzlies are everywhere. Need to take one down instantly? Adder. Need to clean up a whole wall of bears? There are combos for that.

One of the best synergies here is pairing Touch of Death with Sharp Quills (from Porcupine). A card with both will instantly kill any enemy it attacks and any that attack it. It’s a two-for-one Grizzly killer in a single turn. Add a little setup, and you’ve got a card that controls the board without needing massive stats.

Grizzly-Proof Bodies – River Snapper, Hodag, and Mud Turtle

Another underestimated category: durable defenders. River Snapper and Hodag both come with enough base health to survive a hit from a Grizzly (four attack) with no buffs. Hodag even has a hidden effect that buffs its attack over time. Add Touch of Death to either one, and they become stallers and killers.

Then there’s Mud Turtle, whose Armored sigil lets it tank hits that would otherwise be fatal. Transfer that sigil to other cards and you’ve got the foundation of a seriously robust wall.

Sometimes, all it takes is a couple health buffs—like adding two health to an Adder—and suddenly even it can take down two Grizzlies before falling. These subtle plays shine especially when you’re surrounded on all sides by big threats.

Stalling the Bears – Daus and Beaver

When faced with a full board of Eight Bears, offense won’t always save you. That’s where defensive utilities like Dausand Beaver step in. These cards protect three zones, buying you a whole turn to react and reset the board.

The summoned bells and dams inherit any sigils from the original card, which makes sigil transfer here especially powerful. Imagine summoning three blockers that all carry Touch of Death or Stinky—it multiplies value while holding off the Grizzly horde. This kind of synergy can carry you through the toughest waves Skull Storm can throw.

Pronghorn – The Precision Sweeper

Let’s talk about Pronghorn. It has bifurcated strike, a decent statline, and just needs one health buff to survive a Grizzly attack. Add Touch of Death, and suddenly it becomes a strategic sweeper.

Placed in the second slot from the left, Pronghorn can take out four Grizzlies in one turn if used right. Four. That’s half of the entire Eight Bears lineup—neutralized by a single card. While Mantis might seem like the better pick thanks to its low cost and similar bifurcated strike, Pronghorn becomes essential when you’re working with the fairhand mechanic, where avoiding low-cost cards is crucial.

Hidden Value in High-Cost Cards

Speaking of higher costs, most of the three blood cards are actually solid picks when used properly. Dire Wolf isn’t underrated—everyone knows it’s great—but cards like Moose Buck and Urayuli gain extra value when you can easily set up combos with Mycologists or sigil stacking.

There are only five total three-blood cards, and two are exclusive to Casey’s Mod. That means choosing the three-blood cost option at drop events gives you a 20% chance per card (33% in Act 1), making them easier to collect duplicates of. Combine two Moose Bucks with Mycologists and you’ve got a high-stats card begging for something like Sharp Quills or Unkillable.

If you’re running a Black Goat starter deck, you already start with a Moose Buck, and it’s easy to pick up another. That makes it one of the easiest cards to build around for massive power plays.

Pack Rat – The Ultimate Utility

Pack Rat gets a lot of love for giving items, but it might be even better than you think. First, you can guarantee one every run—even in Skull Storm—by going to an item drop event with a full inventory. That alone makes it extremely reliable.

But there’s more. In decks that start weak (like Geck or Egg), getting a Pack Rat early adds both value and attack power. And when rare card options are limited—especially if you’re avoiding one-bloods or Geck to preserve a fairhand setup—Pack Rat becomes the best of bad choices.

You can also get multiple Pack Rats the same way, which makes them great Mycologist fuel. Combine two Pack Rats and you’ve got a reliable, high-stat card that pays off repeatedly.

Final Thoughts

Cards like Adder, Long Elk, River Snapper, Pronghorn, Daus, and even Pack Rat aren’t just filler—they’re keys to survival and success, especially in Skull Storm. Whether it’s countering Eight Bears with surgical precision or stacking your deck for explosive synergies, Inscryption rewards players who look beyond surface value.

So the next time you pull a card that seems underwhelming, think twice. With the right buffs, combos, and context, it just might become your MVP.

Let us know what underrated cards you swear by, and until next time—keep those sigils stacking and those Grizzlies in check.