Boneyard Lurker MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Nightmare Beast
Abilities Mutate
Power 4
Toughness 4

Key Takeaways

  1. Card advantage is increased as Boneyard Lurker fetches permanents from the graveyard to your hand.
  2. Resource acceleration is possible with land or mana-rock retrieval, enabling more impactful turns.
  3. Despite its versatility, Boneyard Lurker requires specific mana and another creature for Mutate.

Text of card

Mutate {B/G}{B/G} (If you cast this spell for its mutate cost, put it over or under target non-Human creature you own. They mutate into the creature on top plus all abilities from under it.) Whenever this creature mutates, return target permanent card from your graveyard to your hand.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Boneyard Lurker contributes greatly to card advantage through its Mutate ability. When you cast it for its Mutate cost and it resolves, you may return a permanent card from your graveyard to your hand, effectively recovering resources and increasing your hand size without losing field presence.

Resource Acceleration: In a well-structured deck, Boneyard Lurker can be a key component to accelerate your resource availability. Returning a land or mana-rock from graveyard to the battlefield can often be the difference between a good turn and a game-winning turn, letting you ramp your mana production.

Instant Speed: While Boneyard Lurker is not an instant itself, its Mutate ability can be used at instant speed if combined with a creature that has flash. This flexible timing gives you the power to surprise your opponent, turning your creatures into more significant threats or responding to graveyard hate at a moment’s notice.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Boneyard Lurker’s Mutate ability necessitates another non-Human creature on the battlefield to cast it for its mutate cost, potentially limiting its immediate impact if your board is empty.

Specific Mana Cost: Requiring both black and green mana, Boneyard Lurker may not fit seamlessly into decks that don’t run both colors, hindering its versatility across various deck types.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a four-mana value (2 generic, 1 black, 1 green) for its base casting, it’s worth considering that other creatures or spells could provide a more immediate return on investment, especially in fast-paced games where efficiency is paramount.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Boneyard Lurker’s capacity to retrieve any permanent card from your graveyard lends it a high degree of flexibility. It can slip right into various deck themes, supporting strategies that hinge on specific non-creature permanents or creature-heavy builds alike.

Combo Potential: This card’s mutation mechanism enables a wide range of synergistic plays, as it not only returns a card to your hand but also offers the opportunity to stack powerful abilities on an unassuming creature already on the battlefield.

Meta-Relevance: In a game state that’s defined by recurring valuable resources from the graveyard, Boneyard Lurker’s utility cannot be overstated. It can disrupt opponents’ graveyard tactics while replenishing your own arsenal, making it a prudent pick in an ever-evolving gameplay environment.


How to beat Boneyard Lurker

Boneyard Lurker is a versatile creature in the MTG universe, known for its mutate ability that can bring back permanents from the graveyard to the owner’s hand. To trump this persistent threat, it’s essential to disrupt the graveyard synergy. Utilizing graveyard exile effects is one of the reliable means to hinder its ability to recur valuable cards. Cards like Scavenging Ooze offer both the advantage of neutralizing potential targets for Boneyard Lurker and provide a growing threat on your side of the board.

Additionally, countering the mutate trigger itself is another effective approach. Since mutating is a creature casting alternative, countermagic can prevent the Lurker from entering the battlefield altogether. For instance, a timely Essence Scatter can effectively counter a mutate play, thereby preserving your game state from being impacted by unwanted permanents returning to your opponent’s hand. Utilizing these strategies can tilt the balance against a Boneyard Lurker and help maintain control of the match.

In summary, facing a Boneyard Lurker requires strategic use of graveyard control and counterspells to mitigate its impact and maintain dominance in your MTG games.


BurnMana Recommendations

Dive deeper into the evolution of your MTG strategies with insights from the Boneyard Lurker. Enhance your resource recovery, embrace instant-speed versatility, and tailor your deck to exploit its mutate ability. Aspiring to outmaneuver opponents with nuanced plays? Integrating the Lurker could be your ace in the hole. Manage its mana demands and play around its limitations to unlock its full potential. Master the art of deck composition and understand when to deploy this creature for optimal effect. For valuable tactics and a broader understanding of mutation mechanics, join our community where knowledge and playful expertise converge to shape champions.


Cards like Boneyard Lurker

Boneyard Lurker is an intriguing creature card that stands out in MTG thanks to its mutate ability. When assessing its parallels, cards such as Baloth Null come to mind, which also offers the player the chance to return creatures from the graveyard to their hand. The Lurker, however, brings the added versatility of mutating onto other creatures, enhancing its utility and board presence.

Another card with a semblance of functionality is Grave Sifter. This card similarly grants a mass return of creature cards from the graveyard. Nevertheless, unlike the selective and immediate perk of Boneyard Lurker’s mutate trigger, Grave Sifter’s blanket effect requires a creature leaving the battlefield, which demands a more specific situation to exploit its full potential.

Lastly, Den Protector merits attention due to its ability to retrieve a card from the graveyard while also becoming unblockable when flipped. Despite this advantageous evasion tactic, Den Protector lacks the raw power and the option to alter combat dynamics through mutation that Boneyard Lurker provides. In evaluating their competencies, Boneyard Lurker rises as a robust choice for graveyard retrieval and adaptability on the battlefield.

Baloth Null - MTG Card versions
Grave Sifter - MTG Card versions
Den Protector - MTG Card versions
Baloth Null - MTG Card versions
Grave Sifter - MTG Card versions
Den Protector - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Boneyard Lurker MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths, 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 Boneyard Lurker and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Boneyard Lurker Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2020-04-24 and 2020-04-24. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 809632015MutateBlackCarl Critchlow
22020-04-24Ikoria: Lair of BehemothsIKO 2982015MutateBlackCarl Critchlow
32020-04-24Ikoria: Lair of BehemothsIKO 1782015MutateBlackNils Hamm

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Boneyard Lurker has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

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