Lurking Roper MTG Card
2021-07-23 - Number 328
2021-07-23 - Number 194
2022-07-07 - Number 216
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Horror |
| Power | 4 |
| Toughness | 5 |
Key Takeaways
- Lurking Roper is great for decks with life gain, providing both offense and reliable defense every turn.
- This card’s synergy with recurring life gain can pivot the game dynamics to a player’s favor effectively.
- Despite its strengths, Roper’s impact can be mitigated with thoughtful counterstrategies and card choices.
Text of card
Lurking Roper doesn't untap during your untap step. Whenever you gain life, untap Lurking Roper.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Lurking Roper’s ability to untap every time you gain life can be exploited for multiple advantages. When combined with cards that provide life gain for each card draw or each creature entering the battlefield, the Roper can turn into a repeatable source of value, effectively compound card advantage beyond its initial cost.
Resource Acceleration: By repeatedly untapping, Lurking Roper can be used in congruence with cards that tap for mana or abilities. This creates a dynamic where the Roper is not just an intimidating defender but also a key piece in ramping up your resources to play high-cost spells much earlier than expected.
Instant Speed: While the Lurking Roper itself might not act at instant speed, its synergy with instant-speed life gain spells is noteworthy. The ability to untap it during an opponent’s turn after a life-gain spell means you can keep it ready for both offense and defense, maximizing its utility at any phase of the game.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The Lurking Roper does not have an inherent discard requirement, but to take full advantage of its healing-triggered untap ability, you might need to include cards in your deck that require discarding as a payment to heal, which can deplete your hand quickly if not carefully managed.
Specific Mana Cost: While the Lurking Roper has a relatively accessible mana cost, requiring only three mana, including two green, it may still limit deck-building options. Decks not focused on green mana may find it difficult to accommodate this creature without adjusting their mana base.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana, the Lurking Roper is not the most mana-efficient creature when you consider the range of two-mana creatures available that can perform in a similar role or provide immediate impact without the need for a life gain trigger to untap it.
Reasons to Include Lurking Roper in Your Collection
Versatility: Lurking Roper shows a high degree of flexibility fitting into decks that emphasize life gain strategies. Its ability to untap after you gain life means it can be a consistent blocker or an attacker each turn.
Combo Potential: This creature works wonders with cards that offer repeatable life gain. This synergy provides a formidable combo that can rapidly change the dynamics of the game, making it a suitable addition for combo-oriented players.
Meta-Relevance: Given its robust stats for its mana cost, Lurking Roper holds its ground well in a meta that favors aggressive beatdown decks. It’s both a sizable obstacle for opponents and a recurring threat that requires an answer, ensuring its relevance in the current landscape of the game.
How to beat
Lurking Roper presents an intriguing challenge to overcome in Magic: The Gathering matches. Its unique combination of high toughness and ability to untap whenever you gain life makes Lurking Roper a formidable defender that can be difficult to remove through combat alone. To effectively counter this card, players should look towards removal spells that don’t rely on dealing damage; spells like Path to Exile, that can exile the creature regardless of its toughness, are an excellent answer to the Roper.
Another robust strategy is to prevent life gain altogether. Cards that inhibit life gain or penalize the opponent for it, such as Tainted Remedy, can neutralize Lurking Roper’s strength. Moreover, effects that force the Roper to tap without it being able to untap, such as those found on cards like Frost Lynx, can also render it ineffectual. Utilizing these methods allows players to navigate around Lurking Roper’s defenses and maintain the upper hand in the game.
Taking everything into account, while Lurking Roper may at first seem like an impenetrable wall, having the right countermeasures and strategies in place can turn this card from a formidable obstacle into a manageable aspect of your opponent’s board.
Cards like Lurking Roper
Lurking Roper has cemented its place as a unique creature card in Magic: The Gathering, drawing comparison to creatures like Courser of Kruphix. Both share the characteristic of gaining life, with Lurking Roper healing you everytime you gain life, furthering its utility as a defensive stalwart. However, Courser distinguishes itself with the ability to play land cards from the top of your library and manipulate your deck’s top card, thus offering card advantage.
Another creature that shares similarities is Thragtusk, as it also provides a life gain aspect. When entering or leaving the battlefield, Thragtusk garners five life, and also leaves behind a 3/3 token, embodying resilience and value. Although Thragtusk’s immediate impact is more prominent, Lurking Roper offers repeatable life gain activation which can be synergized with other cards to create sustainable defensive strategies.
Lurking Roper stands out for its potential to be untapped repeatedly in decks designed to gain life incrementally, providing both a formidable blocker and a life buffer. This makes the Roper a card that can be leveraged strategically to outlast opponents in prolonged matches, giving it a distinctive edge in creature-based strategies focused on life gain.
Cards similar to Lurking Roper by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Lurking Roper MTG card by a specific set like Adventures in the Forgotten Realms and Adventures in the Forgotten Realms, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.
For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.
Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.
Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Lurking Roper and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Printings
The Lurking Roper Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2021-07-23 and 2022-07-07. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2021-07-23 | Adventures in the Forgotten Realms | AFR | 328 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Justine Jones | |
| 2 | 2021-07-23 | Adventures in the Forgotten Realms | AFR | 194 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Andrew Mar | |
| 3 | 2022-07-07 | Alchemy Horizons: Baldur's Gate | HBG | 216 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Andrew Mar |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Lurking Roper has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
