Leapfrog MTG Card
2018-10-05 - Number 42
2019-11-07 - Number 418
2024-01-12 - Number 49
2024-02-23 - Number 89
2020-09-26 - Number GRN-42
| Card sets | Released in 5 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Frog |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 1 |
Text of card
Leapfrog has flying as long as you've cast an instant or sorcery spell this turn.
"Most compete for insects at street level. Some dwell near Izzet laboratories and ride the thermal updrafts." —Yolov, Simic bioengineer
Cards like Leapfrog
Leapfrog is a unique creature in the realm of MTG that offers a twist to combat strategies. This card bears resemblance to other creatures that gain flying until the end of the turn, such as Tandem Lookout. While Tandem Lookout shares the potential to become airborne, what sets Leapfrog apart is its specific trigger condition—casting an instant or sorcery spell—which can be a more frequent occurrence in spell-heavy decks.
Analogous to Leapfrog, we can look at cards like Spellstutter Sprite. This card not only gains the benefit of flying but also brings along a counterspell ability upon its entry to the battlefield. In essence, Sprite provides both an offensive and a defensive capability, which is quite valuable. Even closer in functionality to Leapfrog, we have Thrummingbird, which carries the potential for flying and also supports the proliferation of counters, enhancing the long-term strategic value in decks built around +1/+1 counters or other types of counters.
When measuring the effectiveness of Leapfrog against its counterparts, its reliance on casting spells offers a distinct advantage in certain deck archetypes. Particularly in Izzet (red and blue) spell-slinging decks, Leapfrog can be a consistent aerial threat each turn, making it a compelling choice for players who prefer to keep their opponents guessing with numerous spells.
Cards similar to Leapfrog by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Leapfrog offers a unique mechanism that potentially lets you bypass your draw step to put a specific card into your hand, providing a strategic edge by effectively curating your draws to suit the situation at hand.
Resource Acceleration: The Leapfrog card can contribute to resource acceleration by rapidly increasing the number of spells you cast in a turn. This can be exceptionally beneficial in decks that synergize with casting multiple spells and can potentially overwhelm opponents with a flurry of actions.
Instant Speed: With the ability to cast spells at instant speed, Leapfrog flexes its tactical muscles by enabling reactive gameplay. This ensures you can adapt to threats or opportunities on the fly without sacrificing the momentum of your own strategy.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One of the drawbacks of Leapfrog is the discard requirement to activate its ability. This can deplete your hand quickly and leave you at a disadvantage if you don’t have enough cards or a way to replenish your hand.
Specific Mana Cost: Leapfrog’s effectiveness is also tied to a specific mana cost that dictates its compatibility with decks. If your deck doesn’t align with its mana needs, it can be a dead card in your hand, contributing nothing to your game strategy.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a higher mana cost than some of its contemporaries, Leapfrog can fall behind in the race for tempo. Players often seek out lower-cost alternatives that offer more immediate impact on the game, rendering Leapfrog less optimal in fast-paced matches.
Reasons to Include Leapfrog in Your Collection
Versatility: Leapfrog offers a flexible role in decks that capitalize on spellcasting. Its ability to gain flying until end of turn makes it a consistent evasive threat in strategies that cast a lot of instants and sorceries.
Combo Potential: This card shines in synergistic builds that focus on casting multiple spells in a single turn. Its flying ability can be repeatedly triggered, providing a reliable form of repeated aerial offense in the right deck.
Meta-Relevance: With a shift towards spell-heavy and tempo decks in the current meta, Leapfrog’s attribute to quickly become unblockable presents a significant advantage. Its low mana cost also aligns well with fast-paced decks looking to maintain board presence and pressure.
How to beat
Leapfrog presents an interesting tactical hurdle for Magic: The Gathering players. This card truly shines in decks that frequently play instants and sorceries, gaining flying until the end of the turn every time you cast a noncreature spell. To counter this amphibian’s ascent, players should consider keeping removal spells in hand until Leapfrog commits to an attack. This way, you can eliminate it before it becomes untouchable in aerial combat.
Strategic spell timing is also crucial when facing this formidable creature. Deploying your own instants during your opponent’s end step will limit Leapfrog’s opportunities to leap over your defenses. If Leapfrog is already dominating the board, look for spells that can force it to tap or that apply a pacifying effect, preventing it from taking flight. Examples of such spells might include cards that enforce tapping creatures or that prevent the creature from attacking or blocking.
Leapfrog is no doubt a card that can hop to the occasion, but with careful planning and selective play, you can ground this threat and maintain control of the battlefield.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Leapfrog MTG card by a specific set like Guilds of Ravnica and Mystery Booster, 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 Leapfrog 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
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Printings
The Leapfrog Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2018-10-05 and 2024-02-23. Illustrated by Aaron Miller.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2018-10-05 | Guilds of Ravnica | GRN | 42 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Aaron Miller | |
| 2 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 418 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Aaron Miller | |
| 3 | The List | PLST | GRN-42 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Aaron Miller | ||
| 4 | 2024-01-12 | Ravnica Remastered | RVR | 49 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Aaron Miller | |
| 5 | 2024-02-23 | Ravnica: Clue Edition | CLU | 89 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Aaron Miller |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Leapfrog has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |