Marsh Lurker MTG Card


Marsh Lurker - Tempest
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Beast
Released1997-10-14
Set symbol
Set nameTempest
Set codeTMP
Power 3
Toughness 2
Number144
Frame1997
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byTom Kyffin

Key Takeaways

  1. Marsh Lurker enhances gameplay by offering card advantage and versatile resource management.
  2. The card challenges players with its specific mana cost and discard requirement.
  3. With its strategic versatility, Marsh Lurker is a valuable addition to Golgari decks.

Text of card

Sacrifice a swamp: Marsh Lurker cannot be blocked this turn except by artifact creatures and black creatures.

From the mists it rises, into the mists it retreats; through the mists it walks, fearless and unseen.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Marsh Lurker can be a key component in generating card advantage, offering critical support in matches where maintaining hand superiority is essential.

Resource Acceleration: Frequently, a card like Marsh Lurker plays a pivotal role in ramp strategies, potentially providing the acceleration needed to outpace opponents by effectively managing resources.

Instant Speed: The ability to act at instant speed provides Marsh Lurker with versatile defensive and offensive capabilities, allowing players to adapt to the fluid dynamics of the game without committing resources prematurely.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Marsh Lurker’s ability hinges on discarding another card, which may set back your hand advantage and restrict your play options, especially if your hand is already running thin.

Specific Mana Cost: This creature demands a precise combination of mana types for casting, which might not always align well with decks that are not closely tied to its color identity or mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For the power and abilities it offers, Marsh Lurker comes with a mana cost that some might find on the higher side, potentially making it less appealing when considering cards of similar functionality but lower cost.


Reasons to Include Marsh Lurker in Your Collection

Versatility: Marsh Lurker can easily find its place in any Golgari (black-green) deck or strategies revolving around graveyard interaction due to its ability to influence board states and exploit death triggers.

Combo Potential: With Marsh Lurker, you have a card that synergizes well with sacrifice mechanics, enabling intricate combos that could turn the tide of the game in your favor.

Meta-Relevance: Given the prevalence of graveyard-focused decks in today’s meta, Marsh Lurker can serve as an excellent counter or support piece, making it a strategically wise choice for any competitive player.


How to beat

The Marsh Lurker is a relatively elusive creature in the realm of Magic: The Gathering. Known for its swampy habitat and capacity to outmaneuver opponents, this card can challenge players who are unprepared for its tricks. To successfully navigate against this murky adversary, it’s essential to have removal spells ready in your arsenal. Cards that can target and destroy creatures, especially those that can bypass potential hexproof abilities, are key to ensuring the Marsh Lurker does not dominate the battlefield.

Flexibility in your strategy also plays a pivotal role. Having a deck built with a balanced mix of control and aggression lets you adapt to surprises the Marsh Lurker might bring to the game. Furthermore, keeping a vigilant eye on your opponent’s mana and potential untapped lands can provide clues as to when they might be plotting to unleash the Marsh Lurker. With these careful considerations and strategic preparations, you can confidently face the threat of the Marsh Lurker and emerge victorious in your swampy encounters on the plane.


Cards like Marsh Lurker

Marsh Lurker introduces an intriguing dynamic in creature-based strategies within Magic: The Gathering. It conjures a sense of comparison with other swamp-dwelling creatures such as Bog Imp, sharing a common habitat and visual aesthetic. Nonetheless, Marsh Lurker sets itself apart from the notion of a vanilla creature through its additional abilities; it isn’t just a simple evasive body but brings additional utility to the table.

Delving into a similar ecosystem, we find the Boggart Loggers. Although they also benefit from being affiliated with swamps, their focus is on forest destruction, setting them apart from the Marsh Lurker’s more straightforward approach to the battlefield. Meanwhile, Cudgel Troll provides a different facet of comparison. Green-aligned, the troll touts regenerative capabilities, adding endurance over the Lurker’s potential for immediate board impact. These kinds of subtleties in abilities and interactions are what keep deck builders constantly weighing their options.

Ultimately, Marsh Lurker might find its place as a dark horse in the creature roster of Magic: The Gathering. For players who value a mix of thematic flavor and versatile gameplay roles within their decks, the seemingly unassuming Marsh Lurker is worth a second glance.

Bog Imp - MTG Card versions
Boggart Loggers - MTG Card versions
Cudgel Troll - MTG Card versions
Bog Imp - The Dark (DRK)
Boggart Loggers - Lorwyn (LRW)
Cudgel Troll - Magic 2010 (M10)

Cards similar to Marsh Lurker by color, type and mana cost

Hell's Caretaker - MTG Card versions
Rag Man - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Debaser - MTG Card versions
Xiahou Dun, the One-Eyed - MTG Card versions
Slinking Skirge - MTG Card versions
Gravedigger - MTG Card versions
Scandalmonger - MTG Card versions
Urborg Shambler - MTG Card versions
Whispering Shade - MTG Card versions
Filth - MTG Card versions
Demon of Catastrophes - MTG Card versions
Bold Plagiarist - MTG Card versions
Toxin Sliver - MTG Card versions
Vampiric Spirit - MTG Card versions
Nim Shambler - MTG Card versions
Scourge of Numai - MTG Card versions
Deathgazer - MTG Card versions
Dirty Wererat - MTG Card versions
Faceless Butcher - MTG Card versions
Crowd of Cinders - MTG Card versions
Hell's Caretaker - Chronicles (CHR)
Rag Man - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Phyrexian Debaser - Urza's Legacy (ULG)
Xiahou Dun, the One-Eyed - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)
Slinking Skirge - Urza's Destiny (UDS)
Gravedigger - The List (PLST)
Scandalmonger - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Urborg Shambler - Invasion (INV)
Whispering Shade - Odyssey (ODY)
Filth - Judgment (JUD)
Demon of Catastrophes - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Bold Plagiarist - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Toxin Sliver - Legions (LGN)
Vampiric Spirit - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Nim Shambler - Mirrodin (MRD)
Scourge of Numai - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Deathgazer - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Dirty Wererat - Hachette UK (PHUK)
Faceless Butcher - Time Spiral Timeshifted (TSB)
Crowd of Cinders - Shadowmoor (SHM)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Marsh Lurker MTG card by a specific set like Tempest, 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 Marsh Lurker and other MTG cards:

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See Magic products

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Marsh Lurker has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Recent MTG decks

Continue exploring other format decks
More decks