Astral Dragon MTG Card
Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
Mana cost | |
Converted mana cost | 8 |
Rarity | Rare |
Type | Creature — Dragon |
Abilities | Flying,Project Image |
Power | 4 |
Toughness | 4 |
Text of card
Flying Project Image — When Astral Dragon enters the battlefield, create two tokens that are copies of target noncreature permanent, except they're 3/3 Dragon creatures in addition to their other types, and they have flying.
Cards like Astral Dragon
Astral Dragon offers a unique twist in the realm of creature spells within MTG. It draws comparison to other noteworthy dragons, such as the revered Stormbreath Dragon or the highly versatile Thunderbreak Regent. Both of these cards have made their mark in MTG history. Astral Dragon stands out by providing a singular attribute – apart from its flying ability, it grants you a glimpse into the future by allowing you to play with the top card of your library revealed and cast certain spells from it, emphasizing strategic deck manipulation.
Akin to Astral Dragon’s capabilities, the iconic Oracle of Mul Daya from the Zendikar expansion also allows players to play with the top card of their library revealed, giving them added control over their plays. Although it doesn’t share the aerial might of dragons, Oracle of Mul Daya compensates with a distinct advantage in land management. Furthermore, if we consider versatility, creatures like Dragon Mage sculpt player strategies around their ability to reshuffle and redraw their hand when they deal combat damage, aligning with the theme of deck and hand manipulation exemplified by Astral Dragon.
Evaluating these comparisons, Astral Dragon holds a distinct position among MTG’s creature-based strategies. Its combination of aerial presence and library synergy makes it a potentially powerful choice for players seeking an edge through foresight and flexible mana usage.
Cards similar to Astral Dragon by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Astral Dragon offers a unique edge in Magic the Gathering matches by allowing its controller to venture into the dungeon upon entering the battlefield or attacking. This ability is pivotal for players to progress through dungeons and unlock value, such as drawing additional cards, thus bolstering their position.
Resource Acceleration: Through its dungeon-venturing capabilities, Astral Dragon can also lead to resource acceleration. Specific dungeon rooms grant the opportunity to add mana of any color or create Treasure tokens, potentially accelerating your game plan and enabling the casting of impactful spells sooner than usual.
Instant Speed: The significance of instant speed interaction cannot be overstated in gameplay. Astral Dragon, with its flash ability, allows players to deploy a formidable threat at an unexpected moment, keeping opponents on their toes and providing strategic flexibility whether to counter a spell, make surprise blocks, or simply flash in a threat at the end of the opponent’s turn.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Astral Dragon’s setup necessitates discarding a card, potentially depleting your hand when you could be needing those resources to respond to your opponent’s threats or to develop your own board presence.
Specific Mana Cost: Summoning the Astral Dragon requires a precise blend of mana colors, which could impose restrictions on deck-building by compelling you to work within a color combination that can sometimes result in a less consistent mana base, particularly in formats where mana fixing is more challenging.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The cost to cast Astral Dragon is on the higher end, and in games where tempo plays a crucial role, it might set you behind your opponents who may be utilizing their mana to affect the board state or establish defenses more effectively.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Astral Dragon can adapt to various playstyles as it can be a key component in decks that focus on triggering abilities from casting spells. Its presence on the battlefield can amplify the effects of other spells, making it a valuable addition to control and midrange decks alike.
Combo Potential: This dragon’s ability to cast a spell with an astral counter without paying its mana cost opens up a myriad of combo opportunities. This can immensely boost strategies that aim to optimize spellcasting or abuse enter-the-battlefield effects, particularly in Eternal formats.
Meta-Relevance: With its ability to influence the game the moment it enters the battlefield, Astral Dragon can be particularly potent if the competitive scene is dominated by slow-paced games or decks that struggle against spell-heavy strategies.
How to beat
The Astral Dragon is a mythical force that inspires awe among MTG players. As a towering presence on the battlefield, this creature card is not only a source of advantage but also a considerable challenge to overcome. Outstripping it requires strategic play and a deep understanding of MTG’s intricate ecosystems.
If you find yourself up against the Astral Dragon, keep in mind that control decks are your best ally. Utilize counter spells to prevent it from entering the battlefield in the first place. Should it manage to make an appearance, have removal spells ready to dispatch it swiftly before its abilities can impact the game. Alternatively, you can mitigate the power it draws from the constellation of stars – that is, the influence of other creatures and enchantments. By keeping the board clear, the dragon’s nascent abilities remain dormant. Remember, the key lies in anticipation and preparation. A well-timed removal or a controlled board can mean the difference between subjugation under its celestial wings or triumph over the astral behemoth.
Strategically, confronting the Astral Dragon requires a blend of foresight and decisive action. Whether employing Essence Scatter to stop its summoning or casting a Doom Blade post-landing, the correct response is crucial to secure victory against this formidable adversary.
BurnMana Recommendations
Dive deeper into the MTG realm with Astral Dragon, a card that promises to revolutionize your gameplay with its dungeon-delving adventures and flash-based surprise tactics. While its discard requirement and color-specific mana cost present deck-building challenges, the potential rewards of spell synergy and combo possibilities make it a worthy addition to your collection. Explore strategic moves to harness its abilities, and understand when to deploy this celestial creature for maximum effect. For those seeking to claim victory against this powerful dragon, wield control spells wisely. Ready for a comprehensive guide on utilizing Astral Dragon to its full potential? Immerse yourself in our expert insights and advanced strategies to emerge victorious in your MTG confrontations.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Astral Dragon MTG card by a specific set like Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate and Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate, 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 Astral 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
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Printings
The Astral Dragon Magic the Gathering card was released in 1 different sets between 2022-06-10 and 2022-06-10. Illustrated by Anastasia Ovchinnikova.
# | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2022-06-10 | Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate | CLB | 613 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Anastasia Ovchinnikova | |
2 | 2022-06-10 | Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate | CLB | 664 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Anastasia Ovchinnikova |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Astral Dragon has restrictions
Format | Legality |
---|---|
Commander | Legal |
Legacy | Legal |
Oathbreaker | Legal |
Vintage | Legal |
Duel | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Astral Dragon card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
Date | Text |
---|---|
2022-06-10 | Any enters-the-battlefield abilities of the copied permanent will trigger when the token enters the battlefield. Any “as -his permanent] enters the battlefield” or “ -his permanent] enters the battlefield with” abilities of the chosen permanent will also work. |
2022-06-10 | Except for power, toughness, types, and the flying ability, the token copies exactly what was printed on the original permanent and nothing else (unless that permanent is copying something else or is a token; see below). It doesn't copy whether that permanent is tapped or untapped, whether it has any counters on it or Auras and Equipment attached to it, and so on. |
2022-06-10 | If the copied permanent has in its mana cost, X is considered to be 0. |
2022-06-10 | If the copied permanent is a token, the new token that's created copies the original characteristics of that token, with the exceptions noted above. |
2022-06-10 | If the copied permanent is copying something else, then the token enters the battlefield as whatever that permanent copied, with the exceptions noted above. |
2022-06-10 | If you target an Aura with Astral Dragon's ability, no tokens will be created. |
2022-06-10 | Since the tokens are creatures, they can't attack or until your next turn if they don't have haste. |