Lurker MTG Card


Lurker - The Dark
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Beast
Released1994-08-01
Set symbol
Set nameThe Dark
Set codeDRK
Power 2
Toughness 3
Number80
Frame1993
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byAnson Maddocks

Key Takeaways

  1. Lurkers provide card draw, granting players the edge with more strategic plays against the opponent.
  2. They can accelerate resource generation, enabling you to cast powerful spells quicker than normal.
  3. Instant-speed abilities of Lurkers allow for real-time strategy adjustments and threat responses.

Text of card

Lurker may not be the target of any spell unless Lurker was declared as an attacker or blocker this turn.

"Each night we felt it watching us from the darkness beyond our fire. We only had one pack horse left." —Maeveen O'Donagh, *Memoirs of a Soldier*


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Lurker card shines in providing players with additional card draw capabilities. Much like seeking treasures in the depths, a lurker can bring hidden cards to light, providing the strategic advantage of having more options at hand than your opponent.

Resource Acceleration: A key aspect of the Lurker is its ability to efficiently utilize resources. This card can accelerate your mana generation or provide alternative resource benefits, paving the way to deploy more powerful spells earlier in the match than usual.

Instant Speed: Flexibility during gameplay is crucial, and a Lurker’s instant-speed ability means you can adapt to the evolving battlefield in real time. Respond to threats or optimize your strategy on the fly, giving you the upper hand by reacting to your adversary’s moves with precision.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Playing the Lurker card necessitates discarding another card. This can deplete your hand quickly, leaving you at a strategic disadvantage, especially when facing decks that pressure your card advantage.

Specific Mana Cost: Lurker requires a precise combination of mana types to cast. This can be challenging for multicolored decks to manage consistently, potentially hindering the card’s playability across various deck archetypes.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The mana investment to bring Lurker onto the battlefield is significant when compared to other creatures with similar power and abilities. This can make it a less efficient choice during the crucial mid-game turns where tempo plays a pivotal role.


Reasons to Include Lurker Mtg Card in Your Collection

Versatility: Lurker boasts an ability to adapt to a multitude of gaming scenarios due to its unique mechanics. The card can often fly under the radar, enabling you to surprise opponents with unanticipated plays.

Combo Potential: Its sneaky nature allows it to synergize with various deck themes centered around subterfuge or defensive strategies. Lurker cards are key components in decks that capitalize on evasion and unexpected interactions.

Meta-Relevance: With an ever-evolving competitive environment, Lurker cards can be essential in decks aiming to counter dominant tactics. Their presence in your collection ensures you have a strategic tool to adapt to and challenge the prevailing metagame.


How to beat

The Lurker is an elusive creature card that could prove to be quite the conundrum if you’re not prepared. Its ability to remain untouchable as long as it’s not the strongest or tied for the strongest creature on the board can quickly turn the tide of battle. To outmaneuver this stealthy foe, strategic creature control becomes key. Managing the battlefield to ensure that Lurker is either the strongest by boosting your creatures or utilizing removal spells on stronger creatures becomes crucial. It’s not just about direct confrontation; it’s a game of subtle power shifts and keen battlefield awareness. Board wipes that don’t target can also be your ally, circumventing the Lurker’s slippery nature.

Another method is to use spells that change creature base power and toughness – this could elevate weaker creatures temporarily above the Lurker’s power level, making it vulnerable. Always remember that this game is as much about wits as it is about brute force. Therefore, sideboarding in some universal removals or versatile board control spells could give you an upper hand in the match where the Lurker lurks.


Cards like Lurker

Lurker is a captivating creature in Magic: The Gathering, sharing traits with other evasive creatures but with its unique spin. Comparable in evasion to creatures like Mist-Cloaked Herald, Lurker also carries the hard-to-block advantage, with the Herald boasting unblockability. Nevertheless, Lurker offers that additional element of surprise by remaining hidden until the moment is right, something the Herald does not.

Examining other kin, like Silkwing Scout, we note that it also provides flying evasion. However, Lurker stays distinct with the set-up for a potential strike without the need for open mana that flying requires. Comparatively, the Scout can feel less strategically flexible. A further peer in the field is the renowned Invisible Stalker, which combines unblockability with hexproof. While the Stalker guarantees safety from targeted removal, Lurker thrives on the unpredictability and the tactical finesse it demands from the player.

Conclusively, through the lens of stealth and surprise, Lurker asserts itself as a card that not only avoids detection but also creates opportunities for unforeseen plays, solidifying its position in the arsenal of sneaky and strategic creatures in Magic: The Gathering.

Mist-Cloaked Herald - MTG Card versions
Silkwing Scout - MTG Card versions
Invisible Stalker - MTG Card versions
Mist-Cloaked Herald - Rivals of Ixalan (RIX)
Silkwing Scout - Dissension (DIS)
Invisible Stalker - Innistrad (ISD)

Cards similar to Lurker by color, type and mana cost

Cat Warriors - MTG Card versions
Rysorian Badger - MTG Card versions
Sabertooth Cobra - MTG Card versions
Quirion Druid - MTG Card versions
Hungry Hungry Heifer - MTG Card versions
Titania's Chosen - MTG Card versions
Taoist Mystic - MTG Card versions
Femeref Archers - MTG Card versions
Lydari Druid - MTG Card versions
Steel Leaf Champion - MTG Card versions
Realmwalker - MTG Card versions
Topiary Stomper - MTG Card versions
Territorial Scythecat - MTG Card versions
Wirewood Savage - MTG Card versions
Reki, the History of Kamigawa - MTG Card versions
Timberwatch Elf - MTG Card versions
Pincher Beetles - MTG Card versions
Yavimaya Elder - MTG Card versions
Awakener Druid - MTG Card versions
Brindle Boar - MTG Card versions
Cat Warriors - Legends (LEG)
Rysorian Badger - Homelands (HML)
Sabertooth Cobra - Mirage (MIR)
Quirion Druid - Visions (VIS)
Hungry Hungry Heifer - Unglued (UGL)
Titania's Chosen - Urza's Saga (USG)
Taoist Mystic - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)
Femeref Archers - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Lydari Druid - Sega Dreamcast Cards (PSDG)
Steel Leaf Champion - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Realmwalker - The Lost Caverns of Ixalan Commander (LCC)
Topiary Stomper - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Territorial Scythecat - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Wirewood Savage - Onslaught (ONS)
Reki, the History of Kamigawa - Saviors of Kamigawa (SOK)
Timberwatch Elf - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Pincher Beetles - Tenth Edition (10E)
Yavimaya Elder - Duel Decks: Phyrexia vs. the Coalition (DDE)
Awakener Druid - Magic 2011 (M11)
Brindle Boar - Magic 2011 (M11)

Where to buy

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

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Lurker has restrictions

FormatLegality
OldschoolLegal
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

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