Lure

Lure (Targeted Lure)
Mechanic
Introduced	Alpha
Last used	Streets of New Capenna
Text	All creatures able to block [creature] do so. Target creature blocks [creature] this turn if able.
Statistics	32 Lure cards 3.1% 3.1% 3.1% 68.8% 3.1% 3.1% 9.4% 6.3% 23 Targeted lure cards 8.7% 8.7% 8.7% 52.2% 4.3% 8.7% 4.3% 4.3%
Scryfall Search
fulloracle:"able to block" fulloracle:"Target creature blocks"

The lure ability, informally named after the eponymous Lure card, is an ability that limits an opponent's options when blocking, such that they are 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

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

Enchantments

• Gift of the Deity
• Indrik Umbra
• Lure
• Noble Quarry (in Aura form)
• Seton's Desire
• Tempting Licid (in Aura form)

Sorceries

• Armed//Dangerous
• Alluring Scent
• Compelled Duel
• Declare Dominance
• Destined//Lead
• Revenge of the Hunted
• Roar of Challenge
• Taunting Challenge

Instants

• Bloodscent

Artifacts

• Nemesis Mask

Targeted Lure

Creatures

• Auriok Siege Sled
• Burning-Tree Bloodscale
• Courtly Provocateur
• Giant Ambush Beetle
• Lurking Arynx
• Maraleaf Rider
• Matsu-Tribe Decoy
• Nacatl Hunt-Pride
• Peema Aether-Seer
• Rampant Elephant
• Rimehorn Aurochs
• Sisters of Stone Death
• Tangle Angler
• Torchling
• Trumpeting Armodon
• Turntimber Basilisk
• Vortex Elemental

Instants

• Academic Dispute

Sorceries

• Blaze of Glory
• Culling Mark
• Feral Contest
• Hunt Down
• Mark For Death
• Monstrous Step
• Provoke
• Tower Above

Artifacts

• Grappling Hook

See also

• Provoke