A valve train lever for actuating a valve of a reciprocating piston engine, in particular an internal combustion engine. The valve train lever comprises a lever arm, which is pivotally movable about a pin; a tapping element, which lies against or can be made to lie against a cam of a camshaft of the reciprocating piston engine; a coupling mechanism, by way of which the tapping element is coupled to the lever arm spring-elastically in a first state and rigidly in a second state; and an actuating element, which is connected to the lever arm and lies against or can be made to lie against a valve tappet of the valve.