Lurking Skirge MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Enchantment |
| Released | 1999-02-15 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Urza's Legacy |
| Set code | ULG |
| Number | 55 |
| Frame | 1997 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Daren Bader |
Text of card
When a creature is put into one of your opponents' graveyards, if Lurking Skirge is an enchantment, Lurking Skirge becomes a 3/2 creature with flying that counts as an Imp.
They never miss a funeral.
Cards like Lurking Skirge
Lurking Skirge stands out in the realm of flip cards within Magic: The Gathering. It begins as an enchantment that, when certain conditions are met, transforms into a flying creature – Skirge Familiar. This mechanic is reminiscent of other transformation cards like Delver of Secrets, which transitions from a humble human wizard into the formidable Insectile Aberration. However, Lurking Skirge requires you to lose a creature in combat, whereas Delver of Secrets changes form by simply revealing an instant or sorcery card.
Other parallel designs include the Hunted Witness, which provides a benefit upon death much like our Lurking Skirge, although it gives you a lifelink token instead of a new creature. Another comparison could be made with Bloodsoaked Champion, which requires an active condition – specifically, attacking – to return it to the battlefield, similar to how Lurking Skirge needs a trigger for its transformation.
Evaluating the nuances of these cards highlights Lurking Skirge’s unique place in strategic deck building. It caters to a playstyle that leverages creature combat and offers a resilient asset that can emerge from the pitfalls of battle, making it a versatile option for players crafting their deck dynamics.
Cards similar to Lurking Skirge by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The transformation of Lurking Skirge into Skirge Familiar grants you access to increased hand utility. Activating the card’s ability to transform by dealing damage offers a rewarding way to generate an edge over your opponent by potentially drawing into more options.
Resource Acceleration: Once transformed into Skirge Familiar, this card provides a consistent form of resource acceleration. Discarding a card gives you an additional black mana, enabling quicker deployment of high-impact spells and overloading opponents before they are prepared.
Instant Speed: Although the initial cast of Lurking Skirge is not at instant speed, its transform condition can be met on either player’s turn. This flexibility allows you to strategize and optimize the timing for your advantage, disrupting opponents’ plays and adjusting to the ever-changing battlefield.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Lurking Skirge’s transformation is contingent upon an additional cost—discarding a card. This can be particularly detrimental if your hand is already depleted or if it forces you to relinquish key cards in your strategy.
Specific Mana Cost: This card’s casting cost requires black mana, making it exclusive for black mana decks or those that can reliably generate multiple mana colors, potentially restricting its versatility in a broader range of deck types.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its transformation condition and the upkeep needed to sustain its presence on the battlefield, the cost of Lurking Skirge might overshadow its benefits when compared to other creatures or spells in the same mana range that could provide immediate or more substantial impact.
Reasons to Include Lurking Skirge in Your Collection
Versatility: Lurking Skirge is a card that can adapt to various deck themes due to its unique ability to turn into a creature under certain conditions. Its initial status as an enchantment makes it less susceptible to removal, offering a tactical advantage.
Combo Potential: This card pairs excellently with decks that manipulate the number of swamps on the battlefield, or with strategies that incentivize opponents to overextend, enabling Lurking Skirge to become a creature at an opportune moment.
Meta-Relevance: In a game flush with decks that frequently play numerous lands, Lurking Skirge has the potential to thrive and become a significant threat. Its transformation into an offensive creature aligns well with the current trend of flexible and adaptive gameplay.
How to beat
Lurking Skirge is a unique card in MTG with an ability that can turn the tides of the game upon meeting its transformation condition. This card initially presents itself as an enchantment that blossoms into a flying creature when a player has seven or more lands in play. The transformation from an innocuous enchantment to a threatening creature makes Lurking Skirge a challenge to handle if allowed to activate.
To counter this transformation, a strategy would be to focus on land destruction or control tactics to ensure that your opponent remains below the seven-land threshold. Cards that allow you to remove lands from the game or return them to the player’s hand will be instrumental in keeping Lurking Skirge inert. Moreover, enchantment removal spells are essential for dealing with it before it becomes a creature. Cards like Disenchant or Naturalize can provide an efficient solution to this problem.
Anticipating the potential threat of Lurking Skirge is key to your success on the MTG battlefield. With proactive measures and strategic execution, you can prevent its transformation and maintain a competitive edge, ensuring that Lurking Skirge remains just a lurking threat, rather than an airborne adversary.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Lurking Skirge MTG card by a specific set like Urza's Legacy, 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 Skirge 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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Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Lurking Skirge has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Lurking Skirge card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2008-08-01 | A noncreature permanent that turns into a creature can attack, and its abilities can be activated, only if its controller has continuously controlled that permanent since the beginning of their most recent turn. It doesn’t matter how long the permanent has been a creature. |