Lonis, Cryptozoologist MTG Card
2021-06-18 - Number 370
2021-06-18 - Number 204
2021-06-19 - Number 204s
2021-08-26 - Number 703
2024-02-09 - Number 215
2020-09-26 - Number MH2-204
2021-06-18 - Number 57s
2021-06-18 - Number 57
| Card sets | Released in 8 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Legendary Creature — Snake Elf Scout |
| Abilities | Investigate |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Text of card
Whenever another nontoken creature enters the battlefield under your control, investigate. , Sacrifice X Clues: Target opponent reveals the top X cards of their library. You may put a nonland permanent card with mana value X or less from among them onto the battlefield under your control. That player puts the rest on the bottom of their library in a random order.
Cards like Lonis, Cryptozoologist
Lonis, Cryptozoologist shines as a unique creature card in Magic: The Gathering with its ability to delve into the world of clues and creature card advantage. In comparison, Tamiyo’s Journal is another card that leverages the clue-giving mechanism, allowing players to dig deeper into their decks. While Tamiyo’s Journal requires a setup and time, Lonis offers immediate creature presence and the potential for continuous clue generation, offering both board presence and card advantage.
Baird, Steward of Argive presents a different but related strategy, focusing on controlling players’ interactions by taxing attacks. While Baird makes it difficult for opponents to swing freely, Lonis, instead, lets you benefit from creatures entering the battlefield, emphasizing a more proactive game plan. Lastly, we look at Tireless Tracker, a creature that, like Lonis, benefits from clue tokens. Though it lacks Lonis’s immediate impact on creature play, it can become a significant threat by itself as it grows with each clue sacrificed.
Overall, Lonis, Cryptozoologist offers a compelling option for players seeking to exploit clues alongside creature strategies, standing out with its proactive, synergistic abilities that can fuel both card draw and board control.
Cards similar to Lonis, Cryptozoologist by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Lonis, Cryptozoologist. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Lonis Combo | Modern | Lonis Combo | Modern Preliminary 2023-12-05 (1) |
| Samwise Gamgee Combo | Modern | Lonis Combo | $20K RCQ (Top 4) - Modern - SCG CON Cincinnati - Saturday - 10:00 am |
 | Four-color Midrange | Gladiator | Gladiator Proving Grounds: Week 08 2024 | |
| Bant Midrange | Gladiator | Sword and Sandals Showdown: AM Week 06 2024 | |
| Naya Enchantress | Modern | Lonis Combo | $10K RCQ - Modern - SCG CON Hartford - Sunday - 9:00 am |
| Asmo Food | Modern | Asmo Food | Modern Challenge 96 2023-12-24 |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Lonis, Cryptozoologist excels in providing steady card advantage for players. By turning creature tokens into an opportunity to dig through your deck, you consistently replenish your hand, ensuring you never run out of options.
Resource Acceleration: This card’s ability to investigate whenever a non-token creature enters the battlefield under your control can rapidly accelerate your resources. Each Clue token generated can be later transformed into additional mana, effectively fueling more potent spells or multiple actions in a single turn.
Instant Speed: While Lonis, Cryptozoologist doesn’t operate at instant speed itself, it synergizes well with instant speed mechanics. The Clue tokens it creates can be sacrificed at instant speed, allowing you to draw cards on your opponent’s turn or in response to actions, keeping your strategy flexible and reactive.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Lonis, Cryptozoologist demands you trade clues for cards, which implies you need a steady clue production to optimize his potential. Without a reliable engine to generate clue tokens, you might end up with a less impactful board presence.
Specific Mana Cost: Lonis requires both green and blue mana, which necessitates a dedicated deck structure to ensure consistency. Players wanting to include him in multicolored decks might struggle with mana fixing to meet the specific color demands.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that involves two specific mana points, Lonis might be considered slow to hit the field. In fast-paced formats, this mana cost potentially hinders early game tempo, where quicker plays could establish a stronger position.
Reasons to Include Lonis, Cryptozoologist in Your Collection
Versatility: Lonis, Cryptozoologist thrives in numerous deck builds, particularly those that capitalize on card draw or require a consistent flow of creature-based clues for tactical advantages.
Combo Potential: This card can seamlessly integrate into intricate combos, fueling strategies that revolve around clue tokens or require a diverse array of creatures for synergistic plays.
Meta-Relevance: Given its ability to generate value over time and bolster board presence through clues, Lonis, Cryptozoologist remains relevant in metagames where accumulating incremental advantages can dictate the pace of play.
How to beat Lonis, Cryptozoologist
Lonis, Cryptozoologist is a compelling commander in MTG that can turn your creatures into a cascade of Clue tokens, fueling card advantage. To effectively outmaneuver Lonis, players should focus on limiting Lonis’s ability to generate Clue tokens. Strategies include preventing Lonis from tapping by using cards with effects to keep creatures tapped down or otherwise incapacitated, such as pacifism effects or cards like Frost Titan.
Another strategy is to reduce the number of creatures on the battlefield. Since Lonis’s ability relies on having creatures entering the battlefield or transforming into Clue tokens, controlling the creature count with removal spells can halt Lonis’s engine. Furthermore, exile effects are particularly potent as they prevent reanimation strategies which Lonis’s deck might employ, thereby hindering potential recursion of the creatures-turned-Clues process.
Lastly, targeting the Clue tokens directly can also be a savvy tactic. Spell effects or abilities that deal with artifacts can wipe out accrued Clue tokens, thus robbing the Lonis player of valuable card draws. In essence, when facing Lonis, Cryptozoologist, the trick lies in disrupting the Clue-generation synergy and controlling the battlefield terrain to your advantage.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Lonis, Cryptozoologist MTG card by a specific set like The List and Modern Horizons 2, 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 Lonis, Cryptozoologist 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
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Printings
The Lonis, Cryptozoologist Magic the Gathering card was released in 6 different sets between 2021-06-18 and 2024-02-09. Illustrated by Andrew Mar.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The List | PLST | MH2-204 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Andrew Mar | ||
| 2 | 2021-06-18 | Modern Horizons 2 | MH2 | 370 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Andrew Mar | |
| 3 | Modern Horizons 2 Art Series | AMH2 | 57s | 2015 | Art series | Borderless | Andrew Mar | ||
| 4 | Modern Horizons 2 Art Series | AMH2 | 57 | 2015 | Art series | Borderless | Andrew Mar | ||
| 5 | 2021-06-18 | Modern Horizons 2 | MH2 | 204 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Andrew Mar | |
| 6 | 2021-06-19 | Modern Horizons 2 Promos | PMH2 | 204s | 2015 | Normal | Black | Andrew Mar | |
| 7 | 2021-08-26 | Jumpstart: Historic Horizons | J21 | 703 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Andrew Mar | |
| 8 | 2024-02-09 | Murders at Karlov Manor Commander | MKC | 215 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Andrew Mar |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Lonis, Cryptozoologist has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Lonis, Cryptozoologist card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2021-06-18 | The token is named Clue and has the artifact subtype Clue. Clue isn't a creature type. |
| 2021-06-18 | The tokens are normal artifacts. For example, one can be sacrificed to activate the ability of Breya's Apprentice and one can be the target of Break Ties. |
| 2021-06-18 | You can't sacrifice a Clue to activate its own ability and also to activate the ability of Lonis, Cryptozoologist. |