Champion's Drake MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Drake |
| Abilities | Flying |
| Released | 2010-04-23 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Rise of the Eldrazi |
| Set code | ROE |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 1 |
| Number | 56 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Lars Grant-West |
Text of card
Flying Champion's Drake gets +3/+3 as long as you control a creature with three or more level counters on it.
"'Fraid of heights? Ride a horse. 'Fraid of missing out? Rein up a drake." —Trinda, Hada spy patrol
Cards like Champion's Drake
Champion’s Drake presents a unique dynamic among creatures in Magic: The Gathering. It finds its niche in decks that capitalize on Level Up mechanics, enhancing its power alongside other creatures that grow over time. A notable parallel is found with Skywatcher Adept, which evolves with Level Up investments, although it focuses on gaining flying rather than boosting power.
Another creature sharing a similar progression concept is Enclave Cryptologist, which levels up to enhance its looting ability rather than attacking prowess. While Champion’s Drake bolsters your offensive line once leveled up, Enclave Cryptologist’s utility lies in card advantage and selection. Conversely, Transcendent Master stands out as a Level Up creature that transforms into a formidable threat with lifelink and indestructible, offering a higher defensive return than Champion’s Drake’s aggressive bent.
Assessing these creatures, Champion’s Drake holds a competitive spot for players looking to pressure opponents with an increasingly threatening aerial force, projecting a clear path for those who strategize around Level Up synergies.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Improves air superiority by offering a potent flying threat that can grow, enabling dominate exchanges in the aerial zone of combat.
Resource Acceleration: Ties in seamlessly with other cards that feature the level up ability, potentially ramping up the power of Champion’s Drake at a rapid pace for a low-cost investment.
Instant Speed: While Champion’s Drake doesn’t function at instant speed itself, it synergizes well with instant-speed level up cards and other interactions, enabling surprise strategic advantages against opponents.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Champion’s Drake demands that you consistently control another creature with a +1/+1 counter to harness its full potential, which can prove challenging if your board presence is weak or in the wake of a board wipe.
Specific Mana Cost: The blue mana cost of Champion’s Drake restricts its immediate inclusion to blue-centric or compatible multicolored decks, potentially excluding it from broader deck archetypes.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With other creature options available at lower mana investments, Champion’s Drake’s three mana cost for the base 1/1 stats might not always represent the best value, especially if its ability to grow isn’t properly supported within the deck.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Champion’s Drake brings a flexible approach to any deck. With its ability to become more powerful alongside other creatures with flying, it can adapt well in both aggressive and defensive strategies. Its low casting cost also makes it an easy fit in multicolored decks.
Combo Potential: This card thrives in synergy with other cards that multiply flying creatures or have +1/+1 counter mechanics. Pair it with proliferate strategies or cards that consistently generate +1/+1 counters to unlock dramatic board presence and an escalating threat your opponents can’t ignore.
Meta-Relevance: As the meta shifts, flyers regularly find their niche. Champion’s Drake slips into this slot perfectly, especially in formats where air superiority can dominate the battlefield. Its potential to swiftly become a sizeable creature makes it a pertinent pick for those seeking to outmaneuver ground-based decks.
How to beat Champion’s Drake
Champion’s Drake deserves attention for its unique level-up dynamic that can become a game-changing threat in MTG. This card, with its base flying ability, quickly scales when paired with creatures that have level-up abilities. To effectively neutralize this threat, controlling or removing creatures with level-up becomes crucial. Actions such as timely spot removals, like Path to Exile or Fatal Push, can keep the Drake in check, preventing it from growing out of control.
Another strategy involves employing counter-magic when Champion’s Drake is on the stack, such as using Mana Leak or Negate. This preemptive approach can be decisive. If Champion’s Drake has already leveled up, using board wipes like Wrath of God can reset the playing field. A more nuanced tactic would be to outpace the level-up mechanic with aggressive strategies, thereby pressuring your opponent and steering the game’s direction away from the Drake’s strengths.
Ultimately, addressing the support system that allows Champion’s Drake to thrive is the key to dominating the matchup. By disrupting your opponent’s board and carefully timing your removal and counters, you can maintain the upper hand and mitigate the potential impact of this flying creature.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Champion's Drake MTG card by a specific set like Rise of the Eldrazi, 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 Champion's Drake 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
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Champion's Drake has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |