Mesa Lynx MTG Card

Zendikar Rising (ZNR)
2020-09-25 - Number 28

Jumpstart 2022 (J22)
2022-12-02 - Number 214

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Cat
Power	2
Toughness	1

Key Takeaways

Mesa Lynx provides early game defense and flexibility in resource management and board development.
While easy to cast, Mesa Lynx’s mana specificity might limit its inclusion to certain deck types.
It excels as an adaptable card, countering aggressive plays and synergizing with power-based strategies.

Text of card

As long as it's not your turn, Mesa Lynx gets +0/+2.

Its ferocity is tempered by patience, knowing it must wait for just the right moment to strike a killing blow.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While the Mesa Lynx itself may not directly offer card draw, its low casting cost can contribute to card advantage by allowing players to deploy other cards alongside it more efficiently. This can result in maintaining a full grip of cards while developing a board presence.

Resource Acceleration: Mesa Lynx may not generate additional resources in the form of mana or tokens, but by being an easily castable creature, it assists in maintaining a smooth curve and keeping up the momentum, possibly leading to more resource-intensive plays later on.

Instant Speed: Although Mesa Lynx is cast at sorcery speed, the efficiency and straightforward playability mean you can keep mana available to cast instants or engage with abilities that could disrupt your opponent’s strategy during their turn, aligning well with a strategy that values flexibility and timely interaction.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While analyzing the usability of Mesa Lynx in your deck, it’s important to note that it does not have a discard requirement. This characteristic is not relevant to this creature as it comes into play without the need for such a cost, rendering it an uncomplicated choice for players not wanting to lose card advantage.

Specific Mana Cost: Mesa Lynx requires a specific white mana to cast. This can be seen as a limitation since it may not fit well into multi-color decks that have a scarce supply of white mana sources, potentially restricting its play to mono-white or two-colored decks where white is a primary component.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: When assessing its overall efficiency, Mesa Lynx might fall behind due to its mana cost. Although a single white mana might not seem steep, when evaluating its power and toughness against other one-drop creatures, it’s clear that there are others with more impactful abilities or stats, offering greater value for the same mana investment.

Reasons to Include Mesa Lynx in Your Collection

Versatility: Mesa Lynx has a dynamic role in decks, serving well in early game defense. Its changing power during opponent’s turns can deter early aggression, making it a sound choice for decks aiming for a longer game.

Combo Potential: Its variable power offers synergies with cards that track power fluctuations, potentially combining with effects that activate during an opponent’s turn, adding a layer of strategy and surprise.

Meta-Relevance: If smaller creatures are prevalent in your local game scene, Mesa Lynx can shine by being an early-game roadblock. This can give you an edge by disrupting the rhythm of aggressive decks, ensuring you reach your deck’s full potential.

How to beat

Mesa Lynx may appear unassuming at first glance in the world of Magic: The Gathering, yet it possesses characteristics that make it a card worth understanding how to counter. As a creature with a power that fluctuates depending on whether it’s your turn or your opponent’s, Mesa Lynx demands strategic consideration. During your turn, it’s merely a 1/1 creature, which is simple enough to overcome with any creature of a larger size or a damage-inflicting spell.

However, during your opponent’s turn, Mesa Lynx becomes a 2/1, providing a better defensive potential. To effectively beat Mesa Lynx, it’s advised to take action during your turn when its power level is at its lowest. Utilizing removal spells that can target a creature regardless of its power, such as Shock or Dead Weight, can eliminate Mesa Lynx before it has the chance to become a more substantial blocker. Alternatively, engaging it in combat with a 2/2 or larger creature on your turn will neutralize its threat without giving away card advantage.

Considering these points, outmaneuvering Mesa Lynx involves exploiting its variable power and committing to the battlefield when it’s least capable of making an impact. With proper timing and resource allocation, this feline adversary can be easily subdued within Magic: The Gathering dynamics.

Cards like Mesa Lynx

Mesa Lynx is a creature card that may seem straightforward at a glance, serving as a defensive choice for the early game in Magic: The Gathering. This creature bears resemblance to cards like Savannah Lions, a classic one-mana 2/1 without additional abilities, highlighting a similar role in aggressive White decks while lacking Mesa Lynx’s conditional strength during your turn.

In comparison, cards like Elite Vanguard offer a consistent offensive threat as another 2/1 for one mana, without the variable power that Mesa Lynx displays between turns. However, Elite Vanguard does not benefit from the potential 3/1 state during your turn, which can be a tactical advantage for Mesa Lynx under the right conditions.

Delving deeper into the one-drop creatures, Isamaru, Hound of Konda also shares the space, bringing a steadfast 2/2 body that outmatches Mesa Lynx in terms of durability but comes at a legendary restriction, limiting its number in play. Mesa Lynx’s strength is in its capacity to act as a more formidable blocker when it’s most critical—on your opponent’s turn.

Despite the crowded field of one-mana White creatures, Mesa Lynx finds its niche by fitting into decks that desire a creature that can adjust to the demands of the battlefield moment-to-moment.

Isamaru, Hound of Konda - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Mesa Lynx by color, type and mana cost

Voice of the Blessed - MTG Card versions

Silverflame Squire // On Alert - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Mesa Lynx MTG card by a specific set like Zendikar Rising and Jumpstart 2022, 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 Mesa Lynx and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Mesa Lynx Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2020-09-25 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by Svetlin Velinov.

#	Released	Name	Code	Symbol	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2020-09-25	Zendikar Rising	ZNR		28	2015	Normal	Black	Svetlin Velinov
2	2022-12-02	Jumpstart 2022	J22		214	2015	Normal	Black	Svetlin Velinov

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Mesa Lynx 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