Lurking Deadeye MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Human Assassin
Abilities Flash
Power 4
Toughness 2

Key Takeaways

  1. Lurking Deadeye excels in removing threats, effectively replacing itself with its battlefield presence.
  2. Its flash ability grants players the flexibility to disrupt opponents’ strategies at instant speed.
  3. Its dependency on a creature’s death limits its use without the right supporting cards.
Flash card art

Guide to Flash card ability

Explore the dynamic Flash ability in Magic: The Gathering (MTG), a feature that allows you to cast spells at lightning speed, often leaving your opponents reeling and your strategy several steps ahead. This versatile ability can turn the tide of a game, providing the element of surprise and tactical advantage. It places a premium on timing and foresight, transforming an ordinary deck into a formidable arsenal of instant threats and responses.

Text of card

Flash When Lurking Deadeye enters the battlefield, destroy target creature that was dealt damage this turn.

"There's no roar so mighty that it can't be silenced."


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Lurking Deadeye’s ability to take out a creature upon entering the battlefield can swing the game in your favor. This not only removes a potential threat but effectively replaces itself by its sheer board impact.

Resource Acceleration: Neutral in terms of mana cost and effect, the Lurking Deadeye doesn’t provide direct resource acceleration. However, its utility in removing a key blocker can pave the way for more profitable attacks, indirectly resulting in an advantage.

Instant Speed: Its flash ability allows you to introduce Lurking Deadeye at the most opportune moment, ideally right after an opponent has invested resources into their creature, which aligns with the strategic depth of instant-speed interactions. This tactical flexibility can give you a significant edge during the game.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Lurking Deadeye’s activated ability hinges on another creature dying, which means you need a steady stream of creatures to sacrifice or kill, potentially depleting your own resources or requiring additional setup to use effectively.

Specific Mana Cost: With a casting cost that includes both black mana and generic mana, Lurking Deadeye may not fit easily into multicolored decks that aren’t focused on black mana, potentially limiting its flexibility and increasing the difficulty of casting it on curve.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Priced at four mana to deploy, this creature can be a bit heavy on the mana curve, especially when you consider that most decks aim for a more efficient board presence by that stage of the game. Other creatures or spells in the same mana range might provide greater impact or versatility, making Lurking Deadeye potentially less competitive in certain deck builds.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Lurking Deadeye can be a flexible addition across various deck types, lending itself to strategies that thrive on creature control by providing a surprise removal effect when it enters the battlefield.

Combo Potential: This card partners well with effects that repeatedly bounce or flicker creatures to repeatedly exploit its enter-the-battlefield trigger, thereby eliminating multiple threats on the board over the course of a game.

Meta-Relevance: With an ever-shifting competitive scene, Lurking Deadeye holds value in metas characterized by creature-heavy decks. It can serve as an efficient way to disrupt opponent plays and maintain board advantage.


How to beat

Lurking Deadeye is an intriguing creature card that can create surprise interactions on the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering. As a flash creature, it can be played unexpectedly and its ability to destroy a target creature that was dealt damage this turn can disrupt opponent strategies. This ability is quite potent for controlling the board and taking out key threats.

When facing a card like Lurking Deadeye, it’s essential to be mindful of open mana and the number of cards in your opponent’s hand, especially in the later stages of the game. One effective strategy to counter this card is to employ instant-speed removals or counterspells when your opponent attempts to play it. This denies them the opportunity to take advantage of its enter-the-battlefield ability. Furthermore, evasive maneuvers such as hexproof or indestructibility can effectively safeguard your creatures from being targeted by Lurking Deadeye’s triggered ability.

Ultimately, understanding the right moment to play your threats and holding back key removal or protection spells until the crucial moment can ensure Lurking Deadeye doesn’t tip the scales in your opponent’s favor. Efficient management of resources and anticipating the flash mechanic are paramount in navigating around powerful cards like Lurking Deadeye in Magic: The Gathering.


Cards like Lurking Deadeye

Lurking Deadeye stands out in MTG as an intriguing creature with flash that separates itself from the pack. Its ability to destroy another creature when it enters the battlefield if a creature died under your control this turn is reminiscent of other removal creatures such as Ravenous Chupacabra. Yet, the latter doesn’t require a prior event and can target any creature upon entry. This difference in condition can make Lurking Deadeye a more situational but potentially more rewarding play.

Another card worth comparing is Murderous Rider, which also offers targeted creature elimination. However, Murderous Rider has the flexibility of being an instant-speed removal spell via its Adventure mechanic, and it subsequently serves as a lifelink creature once in play. This dual utility provides more consistent value across various game states than the conditional Lurking Deadeye.

Overall, while Lurking Deadeye may not offer the unequivocal removal of Ravenous Chupacabra or the versatility of Murderous Rider, its stealthy flash ability still provides players with the opportunity to surprise opponents and shift the battlefield in their favor within the right circumstances.

Ravenous Chupacabra - MTG Card versions
Ravenous Chupacabra - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Lurking Deadeye MTG card by a specific set like Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths and Jumpstart 2022, 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 Deadeye and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Lurking Deadeye Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2020-04-24 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by Livia Prima.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12020-04-24Ikoria: Lair of BehemothsIKO 942015NormalBlackLivia Prima
22022-12-02Jumpstart 2022J22 4372015NormalBlackLivia Prima

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Lurking Deadeye has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

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