Locke Cole

Strategy & Gameplay

Locke Cole is a compact yet versatile legendary creature that brings exceptional value to blue-black strategies across multiple formats. This two-mana 2/3 offers impressive defensive stats while presenting a genuine threat in the combat phase, thanks to the combination of deathtouch and lifelink that makes it difficult for opponents to profitably trade into. The real power emerges from Locke's triggered ability, which generates card advantage whenever it deals combat damage to a player, allowing you to draw a card while discarding another. This looting effect is deceptively powerful for deck construction and gameplay, enabling you to fill your graveyard with cards that benefit from being discarded, smooth out awkward hands, and interact with escape mechanics or threshold strategies. Locke Cole fits naturally into tempo-focused blue-black decks, dimir control variants, and any strategy that values efficient creatures with evasive qualities and card manipulation. The legend type makes it particularly compelling in Commander and Brawl formats where the card draw combines with graveyard synergies for extended value. Across Standard, Pioneer, Modern, and beyond, Locke Cole appeals to players seeking a low-mana-cost creature that doesn't sacrifice utility for cost efficiency. Whether you're building an aggressive tempo deck that wants a creature capable of protecting itself through deathtouch while generating card advantage, or a control-heavy strategy that benefits from looting effects, Locke Cole deserves consideration as a flexible and efficient addition to your blue-black creature suite.