Forecasting Murktide Regent Outcomes in UR Decks

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Murktide Regent card art from Modern Horizons 2

Image courtesy of Scryfall.com

Predicting Murktide Regent Outcomes in UR Decks

Blue-red tempo and midrange minds have long chased a single, brilliant idea: beat the opponent with cheap disruption, then slam a big threat that tilts the entire game plan in your favor. Murktide Regent from Modern Horizons 2 is the kind of card that makes that dream feel tangible. A mythic dragon with flying, cost management via delve, and a ticking clock built into its very arrival, it embodies the delicate balance of risk and reward that defines UR decks. 🧙‍♂️🔥💎

At a glance, Murktide Regent is a creature that looks deceptively simple: a 3/3 flyer with a formidable cost of {5}{U}{U}. But delve turns the complexity dial up to eleven. When you cast it, you may exile cards from your graveyard to pay for {1} for each card exiled. In practical terms, this means you can potentially cast Murktide Regent for a fraction of its mana cost by leveraging a steady stream of instants and sorceries exiled from your graveyard. The payoff is that the card enters the battlefield with a number of +1/+1 counters equal to the number of these instants and sorceries exiled with it, transforming a cardigan-friendly body into a looming, efficient finisher that can swing the race in a single tempo-heavy turn. And as if that weren’t enough, the Regent also features flying, letting it fly over otherwise stalwart ground defenses. 🧙‍♂️⚔️

“In UR, Murktide Regent isn’t just a threat you cast; it’s the anchor that twists tempo into inevitability.”

Beyond the raw numbers, it’s the card’s dynamic growth that matters. The enter-the-battlefield result is not a one-shot: “This creature enters with a +1/+1 counter on it for each instant and sorcery card exiled with it.” Pair that with the continuous effect, “Whenever an instant or sorcery card leaves your graveyard, put a +1/+1 counter on this creature,” and you have a card that scales with spell density. The more you cycle, pump, and pressure your opponent’s life total, the more you reward yourself with a creature that evolves as the game unfolds. It’s not just a dragon; it’s a rolling snowball that converts card flow into raw efficiency. 🔥🎲

From a strategic standpoint, the most critical decision revolves around how many instants and sorceries you’re willing to exile from your graveyard to pay for the spell. The delve mechanic is a powerful enabler, but it’s also a cost: you’re investing in your graveyard as a resource that can be burned for one mana each. The payoff comes in the form of a potentially devastating power-to-toughness ratio when Murktide Regent hits the battlefield—likely a surprise to any opponent who expected a standard 7-mana threat rather than a hulking, counter-rich flyer. The more you exile, the more aggressive your endgame becomes, turning a late-game topdeck threat into a decisive clock. ⚡

Key mechanics that shape outcomes

  • Delve: Each card exiled from your graveyard while casting Murktide Regent pays for {1}. The more you exile, the cheaper the spell becomes, enabling dramatic cost reductions that unlock a two-blue-mana anchor on a dominator of the skies.
  • Flying: Murktide Regent’s evasion ensures it can pressure planeswalkers and blockers alike, turning backlines into dead ends for many UR matchups.
  • Enter with +1/+1 counters: The number of counters equals the number of instants and sorceries exiled with it, delivering a scalable threat from the moment it arrives.
  • Don’t stop counting: Whenever an instant or sorcery card leaves your graveyard, Murktide Regent gains another +1/+1 counter. This creates a feedback loop where casting or replaying spells compounds the Regent’s power later in the game.
  • Color identity and archetype alignment: The card’s blue identity leans into tempo and permission—think cantrips, counterspells, and efficient draw—while the Regent’s presence forces careful resource management and timely pressure.

In terms of deck construction, UR lists typically prioritize spell density and disruptive elements to maximize both the delve payoff and the Regent’s late-game inevitability. Cheap cantrips fuel early phase pressure, while removal and counterspells keep you safe from opposing win conditions. The synergy isn’t just about raw numbers; it’s about the mental game of forcing decisions. Your opponent must respect the Regent’s speed and potential, which can open lanes for efficient follow-ups or a well-timed pump turn. 🧙‍♂️🎨

Design-wise, Murktide Regent showcases how a card can wear multiple hats: a potential flying finisher that scales with your graveyard usage, a synergy piece for delve-based strategies, and a built-in resilience via its evasion. The dragon’s artwork by Lucas Graciano—capturing a blend of arcane energy and draconic might—resonates with players who love the blend of nostalgia and modern design. It’s a vivid reminder that MTG is as much about storytelling as it is about math. The card’s rarity as a mythic reinforces its centerpiece status in the right build, making it a coveted collector’s piece as well as a competitive staple. 🔥💎

For those who are curious about the broader ecosystem around Murktide Regent, consider how it interacts with other UR tools—draw engines, tempo enablers, and graveyard-centric plays. The card also invites experimentation with card-sleeve philosophies and even the physical side of play, such as keeping your deck organized and your gear safe during long tournament days. If you’re chasing a synergy-rich UR plan, Murktide Regent offers a compelling core around which to orbit other exciting spell-focused strategies. ⚔️🎲

On a practical note for players and collectors alike, the card’s Modern Horizons 2 origin situates it within a set that embraced draft innovations and cross-format play—an appealing combination for players who enjoy the resonant vibes of new tricks wrapped in classic blue-red speed. And for fans who like to pair their MTG passion with stylish accessories, take a look at our Neon Card Holder Phone Case—it's a vibrant, MagSafe-friendly companion that keeps your game-day essentials protected while you chart tempo lines and simulate mulligans. Yes, even champions need a clean workspace. 🧙‍♂️🎨

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Murktide Regent

Murktide Regent

{5}{U}{U}
Creature — Dragon

Delve (Each card you exile from your graveyard while casting this spell pays for {1}.)

Flying

This creature enters with a +1/+1 counter on it for each instant and sorcery card exiled with it.

Whenever an instant or sorcery card leaves your graveyard, put a +1/+1 counter on this creature.

ID: 20c4aae1-7665-4df7-bd51-a1d95bf8a17d

Oracle ID: 7f993ac7-c2cd-413c-a106-2c051a77ebf6

Multiverse IDs: 522128

TCGPlayer ID: 240318

Cardmarket ID: 566864

Colors: U

Color Identity: U

Keywords: Flying, Delve

Rarity: Mythic

Released: 2021-06-18

Artist: Lucas Graciano

Frame: 2015

Border: black

EDHRec Rank: 14083

Set: Modern Horizons 2 (mh2)

Collector #: 52

Legalities

  • Standard — not_legal
  • Future — not_legal
  • Historic — not_legal
  • Timeless — not_legal
  • Gladiator — not_legal
  • Pioneer — not_legal
  • Modern — legal
  • Legacy — legal
  • Pauper — not_legal
  • Vintage — legal
  • Penny — not_legal
  • Commander — legal
  • Oathbreaker — legal
  • Standardbrawl — not_legal
  • Brawl — not_legal
  • Alchemy — not_legal
  • Paupercommander — not_legal
  • Duel — legal
  • Oldschool — not_legal
  • Premodern — not_legal
  • Predh — not_legal

Prices

  • USD: 7.44
  • USD_FOIL: 22.00
  • EUR: 11.34
  • EUR_FOIL: 22.74
  • TIX: 7.45
Last updated: 2025-11-14