Hakbal of the Surging Soul

Hakbal of the Surging Soul was released in 2023 as the face commander of the Explorers of the Deep deck, part of The Lost Caverns of Ixalan Commander series. This card was designed to anchor a Merfolk-themed strategy, reflecting the set's return to the plane of Ixalan and its focus on subterranean adventure and tribal synergy. The character represents a legendary Merfolk scout, crafted to bridge the mechanical gap between exploring the deck for resources and aggressive board development through a unique 'explore' mechanic triggered during combat.

The visual design of Hakbal was developed by Wizards of the Coast to emphasize the character's mastery over the tides and his role as a vanguard of the River Heralds. By integrating the explore mechanic directly into his combat ability, the designers aimed to provide players with a repeatable card-advantage engine that scales in power as the battlefield fills with Merfolk tokens or creatures. Upon its release, the card was widely received by the Commander community as a powerful, cohesive leader for Simic-colored tribal decks, consistently praised for its efficiency and thematic alignment with Ixalan's lore.