Black Dragon MTG Card
2021-07-23 - Number 90
2021-07-23 - Number 291
2022-07-07 - Number 144
2002-06-24 - Number 92722
| Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 7 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Dragon |
| Abilities | Flying |
| Power | 4 |
| Toughness | 4 |
Key Takeaways
- Card advantage from Black Dragons equips players with more options, crucial in prolonged duels.
- Resource acceleration from these cards can lead to casting game-changing spells much sooner.
- Instant speed capabilities offer strategic flexibility and psychological advantage during play.
Text of card
Flying Acid Breath — When Black Dragon enters the battlefield, target creature an opponent controls gets -3/-3 until end of turn.
Black dragons revel in the collapse of humanoid kingdoms.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Equipped with abilities that often allow players to draw extra cards, black dragon cards in MTG ensure you have a fuller hand to dominate the game. This edge in card quantity can be the deciding factor in long, grueling matches.
Resource Acceleration: Some black dragon cards offer mechanics to ramp up your resources. Whether it’s fetching additional lands from your deck or generating mana, these powerful creatures help you cast high-cost spells earlier than expected, paving the way to overwhelming your opponent.
Instant Speed: The sheer threat of a black dragon card can alter an opponent’s gameplay. With some black dragon-related spells being castable at instant speed, you have the flexibility to disrupt your adversary’s moves during their turn, maintaining a psychological and tactical edge.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Engaging with a Black Dragon often requires you to discard another card as part of summoning it. This can set you back, stripping valuable cards from your hand and potentially leaving you at a disadvantage.
Specific Mana Cost: Black Dragons typically command a very specific mana cost that includes black mana. This can be restrictive as it requires a dedication to swamps or other black mana sources, limiting the card’s inclusion to mostly black or two-colored decks.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: When you bring a Black Dragon onto the battlefield, you are often investing a substantial amount of mana. This can be cumbersome as there are alternatives in the card pool that may provide more immediate impact or versatility for the same or lower mana investment.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Black dragons represent a powerful presence on the battlefield and can easily adapt to various deck formats. Their ability to control the board with flying and often intimidate or deathtouch makes them ideal for defensive and offensive strategies alike.
Combo Potential: These creatures often have synergistic abilities that work well with discard, reanimation, or sacrifice-focused decks, offering dynamic interactions and creating opportunities for impactful plays.
Meta-Relevance: Given their capacity to impact games with lethal combat damage and daunting board presence, black dragons are frequently significant in a meta where control and midrange decks prevail. Thus they maintain a perpetual relevance amidst shifting dynamics.
How to beat
Overcoming a Black Dragon in Magic: The Gathering requires a combination of strategy and resource management. Known for their formidable presence, these cards often come with high mana costs, making them late-game threats. When you’re facing a Black Dragon, it’s crucial to manage your resources effectively to either prevent its deployment or efficiently deal with it once on the battlefield.
Control decks might use counterspells or hand disruption techniques such as Thoughtseize to preemptively remove the dragon from play before it can take flight. Aggressive decks, on the other hand, might not give the opponent the chance to reach the mana necessary to cast such a powerful creature. Removal spells like Murder or the ever-popular Fatal Push are efficient ways to handle the dragon after it has hit the board. In the meantime, maintaining a clock through persistent damage or threats can apply pressure to your opponent and force them to act defensively, disrupting their game plan.
With the right mix of foresight and disruption, you can navigate around the imposing nature of a Black Dragon and continue to command the pace of the game, keeping yourself in a position to claim victory.
Cards like Black Dragon
The Black Dragon is a formidable force among creature cards with its imposing presence and ability to dominate the skies in Magic: The Gathering. Among cards of similar stature, the comparison with Dragon Mage is striking. Dragon Mage, also a flyer, lacks the deathtouch that gives the Black Dragon its lethal edge. However, Dragon Mage shines by forcing each player to discard their hand and draw seven cards, significantly disrupting the game’s flow.
Looking to Terror of the Peaks, we observe that while it does not have deathtouch, it exerts its influence by dealing damage whenever another creature enters the battlefield under your control. Consequently, it can affect the battlefield immediately upon casting other creatures. Another notable dragon, Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon, shares the Black Dragon’s penchant for destruction, offering infect as well as regeneration, making it a challenge to permanently remove from the battlefield.
Ultimately, the Black Dragon stands out for its direct and defensive attributes, ensuring that any blockers will likely be annihilated. Its singular combination of flying and deathtouch presents a unique tactical advantage that enhances its value among black-aligned dragon creature cards.
Cards similar to Black Dragon by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Black Dragon MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Adventures in the Forgotten Realms, 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 Black Dragon and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Printings
The Black Dragon Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2021-07-23 and 2022-07-07. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 92722 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jason A. Engle | ||
| 2 | 2021-07-23 | Adventures in the Forgotten Realms | AFR | 90 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Mark Zug | |
| 3 | 2021-07-23 | Adventures in the Forgotten Realms | AFR | 291 | 2015 | Normal | Borderless | Jason A. Engle | |
| 4 | 2022-07-07 | Alchemy Horizons: Baldur's Gate | HBG | 144 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Mark Zug |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Black Dragon has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
