Cavern Harpy MTG Card


Cavern Harpy provides card advantage through its self-bounce ability, enhancing board control and strategy. The card supports swift strategy implementation with its affordable cost and instant-speed return ability. Despite advantages, Cavern Harpy requires careful life and mana resource management to maximize its potential.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Harpy Beast
Abilities Flying
Power 2
Toughness 1

Text of card

Flying When Cavern Harpy comes into play, return a blue or black creature you control to its owner's hand. Pay 1 life: Return Cavern Harpy to its owner's hand.


Cards like Cavern Harpy

Cavern Harpy makes a unique mark in the realm of return-to-hand creatures in MTG. It stands in the same lineup with cards like Shrieking Drake, which also has the ability to return a creature to its owner’s hand upon entering the battlefield. Unlike Shrieking Drake, Cavern Harpy can be returned to the owner’s hand at will for a cost of 1 life, allowing for repeated use of its own or other creatures’ enter-the-battlefield effects.

Comparatively, Crystal Shard is a tool that, while not a creature itself, can mimic this function by bouncing creatures back to the hand either proactively or defensively. Crystal Shard, however, requires mana investment for each activation and doesn’t offer the board presence that Cavern Harpy brings. Additionally, we have Quickling, a creature that also bounces another creature when it hits the field. Quickling’s flash ability enables surprise tactics, but it lacks the potential for repeated activations inherent to Cavern Harpy.

Each of these cards provides utility in reusing beneficial creature effects, but Cavern Harpy’s combination of cheap recurring cost and immediate board influence positions it as a versatile choice in decks that capitalize on such synergies.

Shrieking Drake - MTG Card versions
Crystal Shard - MTG Card versions
Quickling - MTG Card versions
Shrieking Drake - MTG Card versions
Crystal Shard - MTG Card versions
Quickling - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Cavern Harpy by color, type and mana cost

Vodalian Hypnotist - MTG Card versions
Metathran Zombie - MTG Card versions
Dimir Infiltrator - MTG Card versions
Dimir Guildmage - MTG Card versions
Inkfathom Witch - MTG Card versions
Zombie Outlander - MTG Card versions
Vedalken Ghoul - MTG Card versions
Hibernation Sliver - MTG Card versions
Woodlot Crawler - MTG Card versions
Returned Phalanx - MTG Card versions
Shipwreck Singer - MTG Card versions
Disciple of Deceit - MTG Card versions
Fathom Feeder - MTG Card versions
House Guildmage - MTG Card versions
Soul Diviner - MTG Card versions
Cunning Nightbonder - MTG Card versions
Sygg, River Cutthroat - MTG Card versions
Inkfathom Infiltrator - MTG Card versions
Krydle of Baldur's Gate - MTG Card versions
Lazotep Chancellor - MTG Card versions
Vodalian Hypnotist - MTG Card versions
Metathran Zombie - MTG Card versions
Dimir Infiltrator - MTG Card versions
Dimir Guildmage - MTG Card versions
Inkfathom Witch - MTG Card versions
Zombie Outlander - MTG Card versions
Vedalken Ghoul - MTG Card versions
Hibernation Sliver - MTG Card versions
Woodlot Crawler - MTG Card versions
Returned Phalanx - MTG Card versions
Shipwreck Singer - MTG Card versions
Disciple of Deceit - MTG Card versions
Fathom Feeder - MTG Card versions
House Guildmage - MTG Card versions
Soul Diviner - MTG Card versions
Cunning Nightbonder - MTG Card versions
Sygg, River Cutthroat - MTG Card versions
Inkfathom Infiltrator - MTG Card versions
Krydle of Baldur's Gate - MTG Card versions
Lazotep Chancellor - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: This creature can bounce itself back to your hand, which can be strategically timed to save it from removal or reuse enters-the-battlefield effects on other creatures, keeping your hand full and maintaining a substantial card presence on the board.

Resource Acceleration: Its ability to return to your hand comes at the cost of only one life and a single blue mana, this allows for a flexible and rapid deployment of your strategy, especially in decks that thrive on playing creatures multiple times.

Instant Speed: Cavern Harpy can be returned to your hand at instant speed, giving you the flexibility to react during your opponent’s turn or preserve it from sorcery-speed board wipes, thus dodging commonly played removal and protecting your life total when necessary.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Cavern Harpy’s ability allows you to return it to your hand, but only at a cost. This action requires you to pay life, which is a precious resource, especially in tight games where every point counts.

Specific Mana Cost: Despite its flexibility, Cavern Harpy commands a precise mana cost that includes both blue and black. This can sometimes be restrictive, tying the card to decks that can generate these two mana types consistently.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Cavern Harpy offers a unique set of abilities, its combined casting and ability costs may pile up, making it a more substantial investment. Other creatures in the MTG universe could provide similar or even improved impact for less, making it essential to weigh the strategic benefits against the mana expenditure.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Cavern Harpy serves as a multi-faceted component in decks, helping players stabilize the board by bouncing creatures or reusing enter-the-battlefield effects. Its low mana cost and return-to-hand ability make it a flexible choice for various game scenarios.

Combo Potential: This creature’s synergy with cards that have beneficial enter-the-battlefield effects can lead to powerful combos, especially in decks that capitalize on repeated casting or abuse of life-loss mechanics. It’s a staple in strategies built around the exploitation of ETB triggers.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta filled with creature-based strategies, Cavern Harpy can act as a recurring defense, thwarting opponents’ attacks and disturbing their board development. Its presence can also dissuade certain plays, giving you a subtle psychological edge.


How to beat

Cavern Harpy is a distinctive creature in the MTG universe, loved for its evasive abilities and recurrable nature when pairing with cards that benefit from or trigger upon entering the battlefield. One might see it as a resilient threat, bouncing from the battlefield to hand only to return and evade most removal spells. But how does one effectively counter this elusive creature?

To overcome Cavern Harpy, focus on strategies that limit the player’s ability to return it to their hand or neutralize the advantage they gain by replaying it. Graveyard removal cards can prevent the recursion if the Harpy hits the graveyard. Additionally, strategies employing cards that restrict or punish creatures entering the battlefield, like Torpor Orb or Hushbringer, can effectively negate the benefits gained from repeatedly playing Cavern Harpy. Utilizing instant-speed removal in response to the Harpy’s return-to-hand ability, or employing counter spells to prevent it from hitting the field in the first place, can be paramount to ensuring it doesn’t overwhelm you with value over time.

Ultimately, being proactive in recognizing and dismantling the synergies crafted around Cavern Harpy can render it far less intimidating, allowing you to maintain control over the game’s tempo and secure your path to victory.


BurnMana Recommendations

Delving into the tactical depths of MTG reveals that every card comes with opportunities and challenges. The multifaceted Cavern Harpy exemplifies such complexity, blending card advantage, resource acceleration, and instant speed utility to empower creature-focused strategies. It demands finesse, situational awareness, and a keen understanding of its role in your deck’s ecosystem. To effectively unlock its potential or devise strategies to counteract it, players must engage with the nuances of the game. Elevate your MTG knowledge and discover ways to optimize your deck with insights from fellow enthusiasts and experts. Ready to refine your strategy? Learn more with us and thrive in your next encounter.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Cavern Harpy MTG card by a specific set like Planeshift and The List, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Cavern Harpy and other MTG cards:

TCGPlayerBUY NOW
BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Printings

The Cavern Harpy Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2001-02-05 and 2001-02-05. Illustrated by Daren Bader.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12001-02-05PlaneshiftPLS 971997NormalBlackDaren Bader
22020-09-26The ListPLST PLS-971997NormalBlackDaren Bader

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Cavern Harpy has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Cavern Harpy card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2004-10-04 You choose the creature to return on resolution of the triggered ability. This is not targeted.