Ancestor Dragon MTG Card
2016-11-16 - Number 70829
2018-06-22 - Number 12
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 6 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Dragon |
| Abilities | Flying |
| Power | 5 |
| Toughness | 6 |
Text of card
Flying Whenever one or more creatures you control attack, you gain 1 life for each attacking creature.
It is said that Yinglong gave birth to the qilin and the phoenix, and after them, all the hairy and winged beings in the world. Thus it is known as the Ancestor Dragon.
Cards like Ancestor Dragon
Ancestor Dragon adds a unique flavor to the realm of dragon creatures in MTG. Its presence in your deck is often akin to the mighty power of dragons such as Yosei, the Morning Star. Both have the characteristic of manipulating the battlefield, although Ancestor Dragon’s focus is on bolstering your life total with each attacking creature, unlike Yosei’s disruptive abilities upon leaving the field.
Exploring further, Scalelord Reckoner also shares the dragon mantle, granting protection to your other dragons as you maintain board control. What sets Ancestor Dragon apart is its capacity to sustain your life points, essential in outlasting an opponent. Meanwhile, Sunscorch Regent, not only fills a similar life-gaining role but also grows stronger with every spell opponents cast, making it a double threat.
Ancestor Dragon may not have the immediate impact of some of its peers but can be a cornerstone in a life-gain strategy, securing your dominance in prolonged games. It’s a card that, when wielded wisely, turns the tides of MTG gameplay, demonstrating the endurance and ferocity dragons are celebrated for.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Ancestor Dragon offers a significant boost to card advantage with its ability to procure additional cards each turn. This consistent influx provides the edge needed to outperform opponents by sheer volume of resources.
Resource Acceleration: The Ancestor Dragon serves as a powerful catalyst for resource acceleration. Upon enforcing its mighty presence on the battlefield, it generates mana in abundance, propelling your strategy forward and enabling the deployment of further threats ahead of schedule.
Instant Speed: Although Ancestor Dragon itself may not be cast at instant speed, its synergy with instant-speed spells should not be underestimated. With the acceleration it provides, you gain the flexibility to respond to opponents’ actions while expanding your board state, fostering a dynamic game where adaptability could be your key to victory.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Playing Ancestor Dragon requires you to discard cards, presenting a challenge when your hand is light on resources. This stipulation can make it difficult to maintain card advantage, particularly against decks that can deplete your hand quickly.
Specific Mana Cost: Ancestor Dragon’s casting cost is narrowly defined, demanding a specific combination of mana colors. This can restrict the card’s inclusion to decks that can reliably produce the exact mana required, potentially limiting its versatility across various archetypes.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The summoning cost for Ancestor Dragon is on the higher side, making it a late-game option. In matches where speed is of the essence, this cost can hinder your ability to establish early board presence, giving faster-paced decks an advantage over the potential power this dragon might offer later in the game.
Reasons to Include Ancestor Dragon in Your Collection
Versatility: Ancestor Dragon brings a level of adaptability to various deck archetypes. It functions well in Dragon-focused builds but also supports life-gain and flying-creature strategies, affording it a place in numerous deck lists.
Combo Potential: This dragon card opens up a realm of combo possibilities. Its ability to gain you life whenever creatures you control attack can synergize with cards that trigger on life gain or creature attacks, giving you an edge during gameplay.
Meta-Relevance: Considering its utility in the current meta, Ancestor Dragon could be a strategic addition to combat decks that struggle with lifelink or against aggressive decks. Its inclusion can offer a significant swing in life totals, making it a card to consider in an ever-shifting competitive environment.
How to beat
Ancestor Dragon presents a unique challenge on the battlefield, given its potential for life gain and board impact in Magic: The Gathering. To maneuver past this formidable creature, it’s crucial to restrict its life-gain ability, which can often change the tide of the game. Addressing Ancestor Dragon directly through removal spells is a reliable strategy. Opting for spells like Doom Blade or Murder that can take out creatures regardless of their size can circumvent its might.
Another tactic involves countering Ancestor Dragon before it even hits the field. Blue players can keep cards like Counterspell or Negate at the ready, ensuring that the creature doesn’t get a chance to influence the game. In addition, combat tricks that offer temporary boosts in power, such as Giant Growth, can help smaller creatures overcome Ancestor Dragon in battle, especially if it’s caught without any blockers.
Employing these methods not only neutralizes Ancestor Dragon’s advantage but also conserves resources on your side of the field, keeping you in a more dominant position throughout the match. Hence, staying prepared with removal, counters, and combat tricks is critical in claiming victory against this powerhouse card.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Ancestor Dragon MTG card by a specific set like Treasure Chest and Global Series Jiang Yanggu & Mu Yanling, 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 Ancestor Dragon and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- 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 Ancestor Dragon Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2016-11-16 and 2018-06-22. Illustrated by Shinchuen Chen.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2016-11-16 | Treasure Chest | PZ2 | 70829 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Shinchuen Chen | |
| 2 | 2018-06-22 | Global Series Jiang Yanggu & Mu Yanling | GS1 | 12 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Shinchuen Chen |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Ancestor Dragon has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |