Jorubai Murk Lurker MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Leech |
| Released | 2014-07-18 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Magic 2015 |
| Set code | M15 |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 3 |
| Number | 65 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Clint Cearley |
Text of card
Jorubai Murk Lurker gets +1/+1 as long as you control a Swamp. : Target creature gains lifelink until end of turn. (Damage dealt by the creature also causes its controller to gain that much life.)
Cards like Jorubai Murk Lurker
Jorubai Murk Lurker is a unique creature card in Magic: The Gathering which offers both a power boost and life gain. A similar card to consider is Drana’s Emissary, which provides a consistent life loss for opponents and a life gain for you during your upkeep. While the Murk Lurker requires mana investment to give a creature lifelink, Drana’s Emissary offers a passive ability that’s always active.
Another card with lifelink synergies is Gifted Aetherborn. Though it doesn’t allow you to give other creatures lifelink, this card itself has deathtouch in addition to lifelink, serving as both a defensive and offensive asset. On the mana curve, it’s also more affordable than the Murk Lurker. Then there’s Vampire Nighthawk, also presenting deathtouch and lifelink, further providing flying capabilities which aid in evasion.
When we evaluate these cards side by side, Jorubai Murk Lurker’s appeal lies in its flexibility—it can either become a formidable lifelinking blocker or enable another creature on the battlefield to gain life link for strategic advantage in MTG. This makes it a versatile option for decks that focus on creature-based interaction and life management.
Cards similar to Jorubai Murk Lurker by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Jorubai Murk Lurker has the ability to give a player an edge by facilitating sustained creature survivability. By granting lifelink to another black creature you control, it can help you gain life with each successful attack, effectively turning a good board position into long-term card advantage.
Resource Acceleration: With its reasonable cost to benefit ratio, Jorubai Murk Lurker accelerates your resource management by requiring minimal investment for a potentially high return in life points, which can be critical in various MTG formats where life total is as crucial a resource as cards in hand.
Instant Speed: Although Jorubai Murk Lurker is not an instant itself, it allows you to leverage your mana at instant speed. You can activate its ability whenever you could cast an instant, which adds flexibility to respond to your opponent’s moves. It adapts well to various situations, potentially surprising an adversary with unexpected lifelink to sway the tide of battle in your favor.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Jorubai Murk Lurker’s ability to grant lifelink to another creature can be valuable, but it requires discarding a land card. This can be particularly taxing when your hand is already running low, leaving you with less fuel for future turns and strategic plays.
Specific Mana Cost: This creature’s casting and ability costs demand both black and blue mana, necessitating a dual-color deck. This can be restrictive as it reduces the flexibility to include it in mono-colored or other multicolor combinations that do not match its mana prerequisites.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although its effects can be impactful, the initial three mana cost for a 2/3 creature may not be the most mana-efficient investment, especially considering other creatures and spells at similar price points that might provide immediate impact on the board state. This can lead to slower game progression and a potential loss of tempo against more streamlined decks.
Reasons to Include Jorubai Murk Lurker in Your Collection
Versatility: Jorubai Murk Lurker’s ability to give creatures lifelink offers a flexible tactic in a variety of deck styles, from aggressive builds that benefit from the sustained board presence to defensive strategies that capitalize on the life gain.
Combo Potential: With cards that synergize with lifelink or benefit from creatures gaining additional abilities, Jorubai Murk Lurker can become a linchpin in a powerful and cohesive engine, particularly in decks that favor blue-black combinations.
Meta-Relevance: In a playing environment rich with creature-based decks, the ability to boost toughness while offering lifelink is an asset. This gives Jorubai Murk Lurker a place in sideboards or main decks where gaining life and durable creatures impact the board state significantly.
How to beat
Jorubai Murk Lurker presents a unique challenge as a creature with the ability to make itself or another creature gain lifelink until end of turn. To effectively manage this creature, it’s crucial to focus on timing and resource control. Removing Murk Lurker before the combat phase prevents your opponent from capitalizing on the lifelink ability, thereby ensuring that they don’t gain an advantage in life totals. Spells that force sacrifice or that can bypass its activated ability, such as instant-speed removals or exile effects, are particularly effective against it.
Disrupting your opponent’s mana base can also limit their ability to use Murk Lurker’s lifelink-giving ability, which requires a combination of black and blue mana. Attack their lands or counter key spells to keep their resources scarce. Cards that neutralize abilities or prevent the gaining of life can also be valuable here. An early game aggressive strategy might prevent the Murk Lurker from stabilizing the board in your opponent’s favor; after all, preventing it from entering the battlefield is the best way to mitigate its impact on the game.
Strategizing against Jorubai Murk Lurker demands attention to its mana-intensive ability, making use of efficient removal and control tactics. By doing so, players can prevent their opponents from leveraging the Murk Lurker’s defensive potential to turn the tides in their favor.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Jorubai Murk Lurker MTG card by a specific set like Magic 2015, 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 Jorubai Murk Lurker and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
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Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Jorubai Murk Lurker has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Jorubai Murk Lurker card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2014-07-18 | Multiple instances of lifelink on a creature are redundant. Giving the same creature lifelink more than once won’t cause its controller to gain additional life. |