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Hakbal of the Surging Soul

lccThe Lost Caverns of Ixalan Commander#3mythic
{2}{G}{U}
Treatments
Foil
Market price · TCGplayer
updated 2026-06-21
Nonfoil$0.46
Low $0.30Mid $0.48Buylist
Foil$0.38
Low $0.25Mid $0.43Buylist
All finishes · 30d
updated 22h ago
Nonfoil$0.46 +4.5%
Foil$0.38 -5.0%
Card details
Artist
Tyler Walpole
Frame
legendary
Language
EN
Border
black
Security stamp
oval
Format legality
AlchemyNot legal
BrawlNot legal
CommanderLegal
DuelLegal
Future StandardNot legal
GladiatorNot legal
HistoricNot legal
LegacyLegal
ModernNot legal
OathbreakerLegal
Old SchoolNot legal
PauperNot legal
Pauper CommanderNot legal
PennyNot legal
PioneerNot legal
PreDHNot legal
PremodernNot legal
StandardNot legal
Standard BrawlNot legal
TimelessNot legal
Tiny LeadersNot legal
VintageLegal
Oracle text

Legendary Creature — Merfolk Scout

At the beginning of combat on your turn, each Merfolk creature you control 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 the exploring creature, then put the card back or put it into your graveyard.)

Whenever Hakbal attacks, you may put a land card from your hand onto the battlefield. If you don't, draw a card.

P/T3/3
Abilities
TriggeredAt the beginning of combat on your turn, each Merfolk creature you control 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 the exploring creature, then put the card back or put it into your graveyard.)
TriggeredWhenever Hakbal attacks, you may put a land card from your hand onto the battlefield. If you don't, draw a card.
Plays as
Card DrawAttack TriggerExtra Land DropLand Ramp
Flavor & art
Illustrated by
Tyler Walpole
Rulings
  • WotCNov 10, 2023

    Each of your Merfolk creatures will explore during the resolution of Hakbal of the Surging Soul's first ability. Players won't be able to respond between the explores.

  • WotCNov 10, 2023

    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 explores" trigger as appropriate.

  • WotCNov 10, 2023

    If an ability instructs a creature to explore, its controller reveals the top card of their library. If it's a land card, they'll put it into their hand. Otherwise, they'll put a +1/+1 counter on that creature, then choose to either leave that card on top of their library or put it into their graveyard.

  • WotCNov 10, 2023

    If no card is revealed, most likely because that player's library is empty, the exploring creature receives a +1/+1 counter.

  • WotCNov 10, 2023

    If you control multiple Merfolk, you choose the order in which they explore. Make sure it's clear which Merfolk is exploring before you reveal any cards.

  • WotCNov 10, 2023

    In some unusual cases, noncreature permanents may explore. For example, if the creature card returned by Defossilize is somehow not a creature once it's on the battlefield, it can still explore. You'll take all the same actions, and you may end up putting a +1/+1 counter on the permanent. (Note that some effects target a creature, and those effects would still require a legal target to have it explore.)

  • WotCNov 10, 2023

    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.

  • WotCNov 10, 2023

    Some spells or abilities might cause a creature to explore multiple times in a row. If you reveal a nonland card when a creature explores and leave it on top of your library, then the creature explores again immediately afterwards, you'll reveal the same card again.