Siren Lookout MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Siren Pirate |
| Abilities | Explore,Flying |
| Released | 2017-09-29 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Ixalan |
| Set code | XLN |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 2 |
| Number | 78 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Chris Rallis |
Key Takeaways
- Siren Lookout excels in providing card advantage and potentially smoothing mana curves with its explore ability.
- It synergizes with instant-heavy decks, but mana specificity can limit its broader deck integration.
- Despite its power-to-cost ratio, Siren Lookout’s versatility across various archetypes makes it a commendable choice.
Text of card
Flying When Siren Lookout enters the battlefield, it explores. (Reveal the top card of your library. Put that card into your hand if it's a land. Otherwise, put a +1/+1 counter on this creature, then put the card back or put it into your graveyard.)
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Siren Lookout helps you explore upon entering the battlefield, which potentially nets you an additional card on top of adding a creature to the field.
Resource Acceleration: Though not directly a resource accelerator, the explore mechanism could reveal a land card, effectively smoothing out your mana curve and paving the way for bigger plays.
Instant Speed: While Siren Lookout itself isn’t played at instant speed, it synergizes well with decks that hold mana open for instants, offering a valuable play if no immediate threats or better opportunities present themselves.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Siren Lookout itself doesn’t come with a discard requirement, the necessity to maintain card advantage can be indirectly influenced by its explore mechanic. If the card revealed is a non-land card, you may not draw a card, which could be a setback when resources are scarce.
Specific Mana Cost: Siren Lookout demands one blue mana in its casting cost. This mana specificity means that it ideally fits into blue or blue-splashed decks, potentially limiting its inclusion in decks that cannot consistently generate blue mana.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana, including one blue, for a 1/2 flying body, Siren Lookout’s initial impact on the game may not be as substantial compared with other creatures at similar mana costs. The power-to-cost ratio can be unfavorable in aggressive strategies particularly.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Siren Lookout boasts adaptability across numerous deck archetypes by introducing a flying threat that also serves to smooth your draws through its explore mechanic. This makes it a flexible card that can fit into blue-based decks focused on aerial dominance or requiring deck manipulation.
Combo Potential: With its ability to explore upon entry, Siren Lookout pairs well with cards that benefit from card draw or graveyard filling, enhancing strategies centered around those synergies. It also has the added bonus of potentially growing as a threat if a nonland card is revealed.
Meta-Relevance: In a format where fliers can pave the way to victory and where deck efficiency is key, Siren Lookout can find its place. It responds well to a meta where conserving resources while establishing board presence is paramount, offering both an immediate impact on the field and future advantage.
How to beat
Siren Lookout is an intriguing creature card with the explore mechanic that provides both flying defense and the potential to smooth out early draws in Magic: The Gathering. When Siren Lookout enters the battlefield, its explore ability allows you to reveal the top card of your library and depending on what you discover, you either draw that card or put a +1/+1 counter on the creature if it’s a land.
To counteract Siren Lookout effectively, consider using removal spells that bypass the card advantage gained through exploring. Instant speed removal like Fatal Push or Shock can be crucial since they can take out the Siren Lookout before it offers substantial benefits. Cards such as Essence Scatter can also be strategic, preventing Siren Lookout from hitting the field entirely. Playing around Siren Lookout involves anticipating the potential card draw or stat boost, and managing threats accordingly. Having control over the board state ensures that the incremental advantage Siren Lookout might provide is mitigated.
In comparison to other creatures, Siren Lookout’s impact on the game is largely through card advantage and deck manipulation. Therefore, reducing the creature’s ability to swing in for damage or block key threats can substantially diminish its effectiveness. By prioritizing its removal or outclassing it with stronger creatures, you’ll maintain a dominant position against decks utilizing Siren Lookout.
Cards like Siren Lookout
Siren Lookout is an intriguing creature card in Magic: The Gathering that offers both a body on the board and a peek into the upcoming draws. This card brings to mind the mechanics seen in cards like Cloudkin Seer, which also has flying and draws a card upon entering the battlefield. However, Siren Lookout’s explore mechanic gives it an edge, as it not only has the potential to draw a card but it may also receive a +1/+1 counter if a nonland card is revealed.
Comparable to Siren Lookout is Omenspeaker, another creature that manipulates future draws by letting you scry two when it enters the battlefield. Although it doesn’t offer card draw or flying, the precision of scry can be invaluable for setting up subsequent turns. There’s also Sea Gate Oracle, which shares a similar effect by allowing a look at the top two cards of your deck, placing one in your hand and the other on the bottom of your deck when it comes into play. While this is a direct card advantage, the lack of potential power increase from explore makes Siren Lookout a unique contender.
In the diverse ecosystem of MTG cards that offer additional draw capabilities through creatures, Siren Lookout holds a solid position, providing a decent mix of aerial threat and deck interaction.
Cards similar to Siren Lookout by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Siren Lookout MTG card by a specific set like Ixalan, 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 Siren Lookout and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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
See MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Siren Lookout has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Siren Lookout card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2018-01-19 | If a resolving spell or ability instructs a specific creature to explore but that creature has left the battlefield, the creature still explores. If you reveal a nonland card this way, you won’t put a +1/+1 counter on anything, but you may put the revealed card into your graveyard. Effects that trigger “whenever a creature you control explores” trigger if appropriate. |
| 2018-01-19 | If no card is revealed, most likely because that player’s library is empty, the exploring creature receives a +1/+1 counter. |
| 2018-01-19 | Once an ability that causes a creature to explore begins to resolve, no player may take any other actions until it’s done. Notably, opponents can’t try to remove the exploring creature after you reveal a nonland card but before it receives a counter. |
