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Hakbal of the Surging Soul

GreenBlue

4 printings listed in our catalog, from newest to oldest.

Hakbal of the Surging Soul, The Lost Caverns of Ixalan Commander printing
The Lost Caverns of Ixalan Commander LCC · No. 123 2023-11-17

Card text

{2}{G}{U}
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.
3 / 3
Keywords: Explore
EDHREC rank #3932 Mythic Not on the Reserved List
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The 4 printings

All, with their prices ↓

Standard ∅ Not legal
Pioneer ∅ Not legal
Modern ∅ Not legal
Legacy ✓ Legal
Vintage ✓ Legal
Pauper ∅ Not legal
Commander ✓ Legal
Oathbreaker ✓ Legal
Brawl ∅ Not legal
Historic ∅ Not legal
Timeless ∅ Not legal
Alchemy ∅ Not legal
Explorer ∅ Not legal
Gladiator ∅ Not legal
Penny ∅ Not legal
Duel ✓ Legal

Official rulings

8 rulings · in English, source Scryfall

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.

2023-11-10 · Wizards of the Coast

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.

2023-11-10 · Wizards of the Coast

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.

2023-11-10 · Wizards of the Coast

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

2023-11-10 · Wizards of the Coast

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.)

2023-11-10 · Wizards of the Coast

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.

2023-11-10 · Wizards of the Coast

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.

2023-11-10 · Wizards of the Coast

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.

2023-11-10 · Wizards of the Coast

All printings

Hakbal of the Surging Soul, The Lost Caverns of Ixalan Commander printing
The Lost Caverns of Ixalan Commander
LCC · #123
Mythic
Tapt's Canadian calculation. How to read these prices
Cartes Sportives Rive-Sud · Foil
Hakbal of the Surging Soul, The Lost Caverns of Ixalan Commander printing
The Lost Caverns of Ixalan Commander
LCC · #19
Mythic
Tapt's Canadian calculation. How to read these prices
Cartes Dynastie
Hakbal of the Surging Soul, The Lost Caverns of Ixalan Commander printing
The Lost Caverns of Ixalan Commander
LCC · #29
Mythic
Tapt's Canadian calculation. How to read these prices
Border City Games
Hakbal of the Surging Soul, The Lost Caverns of Ixalan Commander printing
The Lost Caverns of Ixalan Commander
LCC · #3
Mythic
Tapt's Canadian calculation. How to read these prices
Hairy Tarantula · Foil