---
name: "Startling Development"
mana_cost: "{1}{U}"
cmc: 2
type_line: "Instant"
colors: ["U"]
color_identity: ["U"]
keywords: ["Cycling"]
set: "IKO"
set_name: "Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths"
collector_number: "68"
rarity: "common"
artist: "Simon Dominic"
oracle_id: "8747ca90-ac1d-45fd-89fe-aac385cd66b4"
canonical_url: "https://avascry.com/printing/startling-development-iko"
legalities:
  commander: "legal"
  standard: "not_legal"
  modern: "legal"
  pioneer: "legal"
  legacy: "legal"
  vintage: "legal"
  pauper: "legal"
  penny: "not_legal"
---

# Startling Development
- **Mana Cost:** `{1}{U}` (CMC: 2)
- **Type:** Instant
- **Keywords:** Cycling

## Oracle Text
Until end of turn, target creature becomes a blue Serpent with base power and toughness 4/4.
Cycling {1} ({1}, Discard this card: Draw a card.)

> *Increíblemente, la cena prosiguió sin más interrupciones.*

## Top 4096-Dim Neural Synergies
1. [Serpentine Ambush](/printing/serpentine-ambush-plst.md) — Instant
2. [Cerulean Wisps](/printing/cerulean-wisps-shm.md) — Instant
3. [Sandbar Serpent](/printing/sandbar-serpent-usg.md) — Creature — Serpent
4. [Veiled Serpent](/printing/veiled-serpent-usg.md) — Enchantment
5. [Snakeform](/printing/snakeform-c15.md) — Instant
6. [Mercurial Transformation](/printing/mercurial-transformation-stx.md) — Sorcery — Lesson

## Printing Details
- **Set:** Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths (IKO) #68
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Artist:** Simon Dominic
- **Total Printings:** 18 across all historical editions

## Format Legalities
Commander: `legal` | Standard: `not_legal` | Modern: `legal` | Pioneer: `legal` | Legacy: `legal` | Vintage: `legal` | Pauper: `legal` | Penny: `not_legal`