Lurking Predators is one of those cards players keep asking about. Here is, in plain words, what its official text says, the rulings published by Wizards of the Coast, and the combos players actually run.
Official card text
Whenever an opponent casts a spell, reveal the top card of your library. If it's a creature card, put it onto the battlefield. Otherwise, you may put that card on the bottom of your library.
Complete guide
Lurking Predators is a powerful enchantment that turns your opponents' spells into opportunities for your library to strike. Every time an opponent attempts to cast a spell, you get a chance to cheat a massive creature directly onto the battlefield. This card forces opponents to reconsider every move, as their progress might accidentally summon your greatest threats.
What It Does
Lurking Predators has a triggered ability that responds to any spell an opponent casts. When the trigger resolves, you reveal the top card of your library. If that card is a creature, it enters the battlefield immediately. If it is not a creature, you have a choice: leave it on top of your library or move it to the bottom. This effect applies to any spell, including creatures, instants, sorceries, or even other enchantments.
How It Resolves Step by Step
First, an opponent casts a spell and pays its costs. This puts the Lurking Predators trigger on the stack above their spell. Next, the trigger resolves before the opponent's spell does. You reveal the top card; if it is a creature, you must put it onto the battlefield. If it is not, you choose its destination (top or bottom). Finally, after your creature is safely on the board, the opponent's original spell continues toward resolution.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
One common error is thinking you can choose not to put a revealed creature onto the battlefield; the card states you 'put it' there, which is a mandatory instruction if the card is a creature. Additionally, remember that a 'creature card' includes those with multiple types, such as artifact creatures or enchantment creatures. If you reveal a non-creature and choose not to put it on the bottom, it simply stays on top, hidden once again from your opponents.
When to Play It
Lurking Predators is best utilized in decks with a high density of creatures to maximize the chances of a successful reveal. It is particularly devastating in multiplayer games like Commander, where multiple opponents casting spells will trigger the ability many times before your next turn begins.
Interaction examples
Unnatural GrowthIf you have Lurking Predators on the battlefield and an opponent casts a spell, you reveal the top card. If it is Unnatural Growth, you cannot put it onto the battlefield because it is not a creature card. You may then choose to put Unnatural Growth on the bottom of your library to search for a creature, or keep it on top to draw it naturally during your next turn.
Doubling SeasonSuppose an opponent casts a spell while you control Lurking Predators. You reveal the top card and it is a creature that enters the battlefield with +1/+1 counters. Because the creature is put onto the battlefield by the Predators' ability, Doubling Season will correctly see those counters being placed and double them. Note that Doubling Season itself is an enchantment, so if it were revealed by the Predators, it would stay on top or go to the bottom rather than entering the battlefield.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Lurking Predators
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
If an opponent casts a spell, this ability triggers and is put on the stack on top of that spell. This ability will resolve (meaning that a revealed creature card will enter) before the spell resolves.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
You must put the revealed card onto the battlefield if it's a creature card. If it's not a creature card and you don't put it on the bottom of your library, it stops being revealed and simply remains on top of your library.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
A "creature card" is any card with the type creature, even if it has other types such as artifact, enchantment, or land. Older cards of type summon are also creature cards.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Lurking Predators
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.