Lure

The lure ability, informally named after the eponymous Lure card, is an ability that limits an opponent's options when blocking, such that he or she is impelled to block any creatures with the ability.

History

This ability has been with Magic since Alpha. It is primary in green, but R&D has started scaling back how often it is used. It's done infrequently now, and only at higher rarities because of its impact on Limited.

Two main forms of the ability exist, forcing all creatures able to block ("lure") or a given target creature to block a creature with the ability ("targeted lure" or "Lure Limited"). R&D has started occasionally using the latter ability in red.

The lure ability can be used to force opponents to block smaller creatures to permit larger ones to directly attack them or to block creatures with abilities that would produce a favourable outcome to the attacking player (e.g., deathtouch, venom, rampage).

On cards

Lure

Creatures

• Elvish Bard
• Golgari Decoy
• Marble Priest (walls)
• Mortipede
• Nath's Elite
• Noble Quarry
• Ochran Assassin
• Prized Unicorn
• Shinen of Life's Roar
• Stone-Tongue Basilisk
• Talruum Piper (creatures with flying)
• Taunting Elf
• Tempting Licid

Enchantments

• Gift of the Deity
• Indrik Umbra
• Lure
• Seton's Desire

Sorceries

• Alluring Scent
• Revenge of the Hunted
• Roar of Challenge
• Taunting Challenge

Instants

• Bloodscent

Artifacts

• Nemesis Mask

Targeted Lure

Creatures

• Burning-Tree Bloodscale
• Courtly Provocateur
• Giant Ambush Beetle
• Matsu-Tribe Decoy
• Nacatl Hunt-Pride
• Rampant Elephant
• Rimehorn Aurochs
• Sisters of Stone Death
• Tangle Angler
• Torchling
• Trumpeting Armodon
• Turntimber Basilisk

Sorceries

• Feral Contest
• Hunt Down
• Tower Above

Artifacts

• Grappling Hook

See also

• Provoke