Does Lurrus Let You Play Lands? The Comprehensive Guide
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The short and definitive answer is: no, Lurrus of the Dream-Den does not let you play lands from your graveyard. Lurrus’s ability specifically allows you to cast permanent spells with converted mana cost 2 or less from your graveyard. Lands, by their nature, are not spells and don’t have a mana cost; they are played. This distinction is crucial for understanding how Lurrus interacts with the rules of Magic: The Gathering (MTG). This article will break down why this is the case, explore how Lurrus does work, and cover a host of frequently asked questions regarding this powerful (and now mostly banned) companion.
Understanding Lurrus’s Ability
Lurrus of the Dream-Den, a Cat Nightmare from the plane of Ikoria, was introduced as a companion, a mechanic that allowed it to start outside of your deck in the sideboard for tournament play, or just as a separate card for casual play. It’s companion ability allowed it to be cast from outside the game if your deck met certain deck-building restrictions. However, the real power of Lurrus lies in its activated ability. This ability lets you cast one permanent card from your graveyard each turn with a converted mana cost (CMC) of two or less.
This is a key point: it must be a permanent spell, not just a permanent. Lands are permanents once they’re in play, but they aren’t cast as spells. They are a special game action, and this action is not governed by Lurrus’s ability. Therefore, you cannot use Lurrus to play lands from your graveyard, regardless of the land’s characteristics.
Why Lands Are Different
The core distinction lies in how lands are treated in MTG. Lands are played, not cast, and they have no mana cost. Playing a land is a special action that each player can usually perform once per turn during their main phase if the stack is empty and they have priority. This is distinct from casting a spell which involves paying a mana cost and adding the spell to the stack.
Lurrus’s ability uses the term “cast”, explicitly limiting the cards it can affect to spells. Therefore, lands, which are not spells when played, are ineligible for targeting by Lurrus’ ability.
The Impact of This Restriction
This limitation on lands significantly impacts how Lurrus is used. It forces players to focus on other low-cost permanents to reanimate, such as creatures, artifacts, or enchantments. It also meant players could not create a loop that allowed for endless land drops each turn. It was important in preventing the ability from becoming far too powerful.
While you can’t use Lurrus to play lands, this limitation did not stop its impact on the game. Lurrus was a ubiquitous powerhouse in many formats due to its ability to repeatedly bring back impactful permanents like powerful creatures or value-generating artifacts.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Lurrus and its Abilities
Here are some of the most common questions about Lurrus of the Dream-Den to help clarify any confusion:
Can You Cast Adventure Spells with Lurrus?
Yes, you can cast an Adventure spell with Lurrus provided the “adventure half” has a converted mana cost of two or less. However, it is crucial to note, that the adventure half has to be on the stack at the time of casting. If you have used an adventure and the spell is now in exile, it is not an eligible card for Lurrus’s ability.
Why Was Lurrus Banned?
Lurrus was banned in Modern and Pioneer due to excessive play rates. This was due to community feedback, play data, and Wizards of the Coast’s desire for diverse deck options, and its overwhelming power in competitive play.
Is Lurrus Legal in Explorer?
No, Lurrus of the Dream-Den is banned in Explorer.
Was Lurrus Ever Legal in Modern?
Yes, Lurrus was initially legal in Modern, but was later banned due to its impact on the metagame.
What Formats is Lurrus Banned In?
Lurrus of the Dream-Den is banned in Modern, Pioneer, Vintage, and Legacy.
Is Lurrus a Female?
Yes, Lurrus of the Dream-Den is a female cat nightmare from the plane of Ikoria.
Can You Cast Walking Ballista with Lurrus?
Yes, but you are limited to casting it with X=0. If you try to cast Walking Ballista for a higher X value than 1, it will fail to meet Lurrus’s casting restriction of being 2 cmc or less.
Can You Cast Lotus Bloom with Lurrus?
No, you cannot cast Lotus Bloom with Lurrus because the mana cost of the spell is not defined. The mana cost is represented by a text ability that states “Lotus Bloom doesn’t have a mana cost.”
Is Lurrus an Activated Ability?
No, Lurrus’s ability to cast from the graveyard is a special action, not an activated ability. This means that it cannot be responded to.
Can You Cast a permanent card from your graveyard with Lurrus each turn?
Yes, as long as the permanent spell in your graveyard has a converted mana cost of 2 or less, and only one such permanent each turn.
What Are Companion Rules?
Under the original Companion rules, once per game, a player could cast their chosen companion from their sideboard. However, this rule was later modified. Now you must pay 3 extra generic mana to put a companion into your hand.
Can You Change the Original Artwork on a Card and Still Be Legal in a Tournament?
Yes, provided the original artwork is still recognizable and is not offensive. You cannot change the card itself to a different card however.
Is Disciple of the Vault Legal in Pauper?
No, Disciple of the Vault is banned in Pauper.
What is a Cleric in MTG?
A Cleric is a creature type that is generally part of the party. They are primary white spellcasters that channel the power of their faith into potent magic.
Are the D&D Magic Cards Legal in All Formats?
No, cards from the Adventures in the Forgotten Realms Commander Decks are legal in Commander, Vintage, and Legacy, but are not legal in Standard, Pioneer, or Modern.
Conclusion
Lurrus of the Dream-Den is a powerful card with a very specific ability. It allows you to recast permanent spells from your graveyard, but is explicitly limited to those with a mana cost of 2 or less and to permanent spells. Remember that playing lands is a special action and not casting a spell, therefore Lurrus cannot be used to play lands from your graveyard. While this specific restriction may seem minor, it highlights the fine lines between the various types of actions and the ways that they can or cannot interact. These rules are important for keeping the gameplay fair and consistent. Understanding the limitations of powerful cards like Lurrus is key to mastering MTG strategy.