Hakbal of the Surging Soul

The Lost Caverns of Ixalan Commander • #3 • mythic

Legendary Creature — Merfolk Scout |

🛒 Marketplace Links

Live Value $0.44

Foil Multiplier: Flat Baseline (1.0x)

Reprint Profile:

Printed 4 times HIGH RISK

Reprinted 4x, including dedicated reprint sets like The Lost Caverns of Ixalan Commander.

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Dealer Buylist:

$0.75

Buy/Sell Spread:

vs $2.99 retail 75% WIDE

Dealers are paying well below retail. Expect to take a hit selling this one quickly.

Buylist data via MTGJSON (Card Kingdom), October 13, 2026.

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🗂️ Alternative Printings

Compare all 4 printings & prices →

LCC #123(M) $0.23

LCC #29(M) $2.16

LCC #19(M) $3.40

Hakbal of the Surging Soul

The Lost Caverns of Ixalan Commander • #3 • mythic

Current Valuation

$0.44

30-Day Market Trend

Rarity

mythic

Set Origin

LCC

Daily Shift

0.00%

EDHREC Rank

#3,892

Mana Cost

Oracle Data

Card Type Legendary Creature — Merfolk Scout

Color Identity Green , Blue

Power / Toughness 3 / 3

🖋️ Curator's Notes

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.

⚖️

Official Judge Precedents

8 Precedents

2023-11-10

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

📜 Technical Attributes

Release Date: 2023-11-17

Set Name: The Lost Caverns of Ixalan Commander

Artist Reference: Tyler Walpole

Border Profile: black

✨ Variants & Finishes

Available Finishes Standard • Traditional Foil

Promo Status NO

Edition Status Original Printing