Lure of Prey MTG Card

Generates card advantage by putting creatures directly into play, circumventing traditional casting methods. Commands instant speed, enabling strategic battlefield presence and enhancing creature-based tactics. Requires specific conditions to activate, which could limit its impact in various board states and deck compositions.

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Rare
Type	Instant
Released	1996-10-08
Set symbol
Set name	Mirage
Set code	MIR
Number	227
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Andrew Robinson

Text of card

Play only if an opponent successfully cast a summon spell this turn. Put a green summon card from your hand into play as though it were just played.

Cards like Lure of Prey

Lure of Prey fits seamlessly into Magic: The Gathering’s green creature-focused strategies, providing an opportunity to put a green creature onto the battlefield. This ability mirrors the intent of cards like Natural Order, which also allows the player to search for a green creature. Yet, Lure of Prey offers this without the sacrifice required by Natural Order, trading consistency for surprise, given its reliance on an opponent’s actions.

Another cousin in this space is Quicksilver Amulet, which also bypasses normal casting requirements for creatures. While Lure of Prey depends on combat occurring, Quicksilver Amulet skips that need, allowing creature deployment at the end of an opponent’s turn. This gives it a more controlled and repeated summoning capability, albeit at a higher activation cost.

Lure of Prey shines in the space where creature plays are the focus, similar to Eldritch Evolution. Though Eldritch Evolution provides a very specific tutor effect with an element of sacrifice, the surprise element of Lure of Prey can be instrumental in turning the tide of battle – thrusting formidable creatures onto the battlefield when least expected.:

Cards similar to Lure of Prey by color, type and mana cost

Stonewood Invocation - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: One of the main perks of the card Lure of Prey is its ability to cheat creatures onto the battlefield potentially netting you more creatures than cards you’ve used, thus generating card advantage effortlessly.

Resource Acceleration: Lure of Prey shines in resource acceleration as it allows you to put green creature cards onto the battlefield without paying their mana costs. This can lead to significant tempo gains as you deploy threats earlier than usual.

Instant Speed: The real strength of this card lies in its instant speed, providing tactical flexibility that can surprise an opponent. You can wait for them to commit to an attack before bringing in a large blocker or simply use the end of their turn to build your board, ready for your next attack.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Lure of Prey necessitates a condition to be met, specifically an opponent’s creature coming into play this turn, which can make it situational and sometimes unusable.

Specific Mana Cost: This card’s mana cost is quite specific — it requires three green mana, which can be restrictive for multi-color decks that may struggle with color fixing.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Lure of Prey has a mana value of four, which can be quite steep considering you need to have an opponent play a creature and sufficient untapped lands to cast it effectively during their turn.

Reasons to Include Lure of Prey in Your Collection

Versatility: Lure of Prey shines in green decks that focus on creatures, smoothly slotting into strategies that aim to deploy large threats onto the battlefield unexpectedly. Its ability to flash in creatures can completely change the dynamic of a game, making it a flexible addition to your arsenal.

Combo Potential: This card works wonders with decks packed with creatures that have enter-the-battlefield effects. By cheating mana costs, you can bring in powerful creatures early or at the end of your opponent’s turn, setting the stage for game-ending combos.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta that’s heavy with decks that rely on numerous spell casts or those that operate at instant speed, Lure of Prey gives creature-based decks the speed they need to keep pace and ultimately take control of the board.

How to beat

Lure of Prey shines in MTG as a card that can dramatically swing the game by allowing green mages to cheat out large creatures. When the opponent has cast a creature spell on their last turn, Lure of Prey makes its mark by potentially putting a high-cost creature onto the battlefield at an instant speed. In many games, this can become a pivotal moment, putting an adversary under immense pressure.

Overcoming the surprise factor of Lure of Prey involves strategic foresight. One approach is to restrain from playing creatures if Lure of Prey is likely in your opponent’s hand, thereby denying them the trigger condition. Counterspells such as Negate or Disallow can provide a solid defense, ensuring you can remain in control when they attempt to cast it. Moreover, hand disruption cards like Thoughtseize or Duress offer preemptive counters by stripping Lure of Prey from your opponent’s grip before they even have a chance to use it, providing a clear path to maintaining the upper hand in the match.

While Lure of Prey might offer a jolt of power to green decks, adept players will recognize the signs and keep tight control over the game, disabling the card’s potential and leading themselves to victory.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Lure of Prey MTG card by a specific set like Mirage, 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 Lure of Prey and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Lure of Prey has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Premodern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Lure of Prey card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date	Text
2004-10-04	Does work for artifact creatures cast by your opponent.
2007-05-01	Putting the card onto the battlefield is optional. When the ability resolves, you can choose not to.