Spindrift Drake MTG Card


Spindrift Drake can indirectly lead to card advantage through its early board presence and threat level. The card supports efficient play due to its low casting cost, albeit requiring a dedicated blue mana base. With flying ability, Spindrift Drake provides versatility and can fit well in specific MTG deck strategies.
Spindrift Drake - Stronghold
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Drake
Abilities Flying
Released1998-03-02
Set symbol
Set nameStronghold
Set codeSTH
Power 2
Toughness 1
Number44
Frame1997
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byAnthony S. Waters

Text of card

Flying During your upkeep, pay o U or sacrifice Spindrift Drake.

Sea brine for blood, washing foam for laughter.


Cards like Spindrift Drake

Spindrift Drake represents an interesting point of comparison within the scope of flying creatures in Magic: The Gathering. It shares some aspects with other blue creatures such as Welkin Tern, which also boasts the flying ability but carries a stronger defensive posture due to not being able to block creatures with flying. Spindrift Drake distinguishes itself with a mana-producing ability, requiring a sacrifice of an island to boost your mana pool for a turn, whereas Welkin Tern lacks any mana-generating capabilities.

Looking at cards like Skyshroud Condor, we see a creature that can be played as soon as you control an island, similar to Spindrift Drake. Despite these similarities, Skyshroud Condor doesn’t offer the same utility in fueling your mana needs. Conversely, the card’s continuously unimpeded ability to block opponents’ creatures makes it quite formidable on the defensive end. Another parallel comes from Gust Drake, which has the option to swap the battlefield position with another creature, yet this ability doesn’t lend any direct advantage in mana acceleration akin to Spindrift Drake’s island sacrifice feature.

When weighing the characteristics of these creatures, Spindrift Drake holds a unique niche with its mana acceleration potential, despite some trade-offs in defensive utility, marking its own spot in Magic: The Gathering’s array of flyers.

Welkin Tern - MTG Card versions
Skyshroud Condor - MTG Card versions
Welkin Tern - MTG Card versions
Skyshroud Condor - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Spindrift Drake by color, type and mana cost

Merfolk of the Pearl Trident - MTG Card versions
Flying Men - MTG Card versions
Shrieking Drake - MTG Card versions
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Teardrop Kami - MTG Card versions
Dreamcatcher - MTG Card versions
Drifter il-Dal - MTG Card versions
Sage of Epityr - MTG Card versions
Screeching Sliver - MTG Card versions
Timebender - MTG Card versions
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Merrow Witsniper - MTG Card versions
Cursecatcher - MTG Card versions
Martyr of Frost - MTG Card versions
Merfolk of the Pearl Trident - MTG Card versions
Flying Men - MTG Card versions
Shrieking Drake - MTG Card versions
Cloud Pirates - MTG Card versions
Fledgling Osprey - MTG Card versions
Manta Riders - MTG Card versions
Faerie Squadron - MTG Card versions
Faerie Seer - MTG Card versions
Fugitive Wizard - MTG Card versions
Wandering Ones - MTG Card versions
Teardrop Kami - MTG Card versions
Dreamcatcher - MTG Card versions
Drifter il-Dal - MTG Card versions
Sage of Epityr - MTG Card versions
Screeching Sliver - MTG Card versions
Timebender - MTG Card versions
Cloud Sprite - MTG Card versions
Merrow Witsniper - MTG Card versions
Cursecatcher - MTG Card versions
Martyr of Frost - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Spindrift Drake doesn’t allow direct card drawing, it presents an opportunity for a trade-off. Deploying it early means engaging threats or blockers and potentially forcing your opponent to deal with it, which can lead to indirect card advantage over time.

Resource Acceleration: Spindrift Drake itself does not accelerate your resources, but its low casting cost facilitates a quicker board presence, allowing you to maintain mana for other uses. This can lead to more efficient turns as you’re able to deploy additional threats or answers more rapidly.

Instant Speed: Spindrift Drake cannot be cast at instant speed, but its flying ability gives you an aerial blocker at the ready, offering a defensive advantage that can be just as critical as responding at instant speed against an opponent who lacks reach or flying blockers.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Casting Spindrift Drake demands a blue card discard from your hand. This can place you at a disadvantage, especially when your hand size diminishes and you’re forced to let go of potentially critical plays.

Specific Mana Cost: Spindrift Drake’s mana cost includes two blue mana, necessitating a dedicated blue mana base. This narrows its inclusion to decks that can reliably produce enough blue mana, potentially excluding it from more diverse mana base deck strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that’s one generic and two blue mana for a mere 2/2 flyer, it can be a costly investment. Considering alternative blue creatures in MTG offer more substantial effects or stats for a similar, if not lower, mana investment, Spindrift Drake becomes less appealing in competitive environments.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Spindrift Drake’s low mana cost and flying ability allow it to be a flexible addition to any deck looking for an early aerial threat or a defensive blocker with reach.

Combo Potential: This card’s ability can synergize with effects that manipulate the number of islands you control, enabling potential combos in ‘land matters’ decks or alongside cards that benefit from creatures entering or leaving the battlefield.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where efficient flying creatures are impactful, Spindrift Drake can serve as a cost-effective solution to establish early board presence or as a deterrent against other evasive threats.


How to beat

Spindrift Drake brings an interesting dynamic to the skies in MTG, offering a flying creature that can be a thorn in your opponent’s side. This blue flying creature not only provides a solid presence in the air but also requires an alternative cost, which can be advantageous early in the game. However, overcoming this card demands a strategic response.

To counter Spindrift Drake, prioritize removal spells that can target creatures regardless of their flying ability. Options such as Fatal Push or Path to Exile can efficiently handle Spindrift Drake before its alternative cost becomes a recurring advantage. Prioritizing cards that can remove, pacify, or neutralize Spindrift Drake is key to maintaining control of the game.

Moreover, employing strategies that limit the abilities of flying creatures can also be immensely effective. Ensnaring creatures with enchantments like Waterknot or Claustrophobia can suppress Spindrift Drake without removing it from the battlefield, hindering your opponent’s air offense and buying you valuable time to strengthen your position on the ground.

In essence, successfully taking on Spindrift Drake in MTG requires a good mix of removal and control elements. Once you manage to remove or neutralize this card, you regain aerial control and tilt the game’s momentum in your favor.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Spindrift Drake MTG card by a specific set like Stronghold, 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 Spindrift Drake and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Spindrift Drake has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal