Emerald Dragonfly MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Insect
Abilities Flying
Power 1
Toughness 1

Key Takeaways

  1. This card offers aerial advantage, slipping past ground defenses to maintain offensive pressure on opponents.
  2. It demands deck adjustments and careful hand management due to its discard requirements and mana specificity.
  3. Despite potential mana cost issues, its versatility and combo potential make it a useful addition for many players.

Text of card

Flying, o Goo G First strike until end of turn.

"Flittering, wheeling, / darting in to strike, and then / gone just as you blink." —"Dragonfly Haiku," poet unknown


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Emerald Dragonfly can grant card advantage through its flying ability, as it provides evasion to avoid blockers and keep pressure on your opponent.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly impacting resources, the sheer efficiency of Emerald Dragonfly means you can deploy other threats or support cards alongside it without taxing your mana reserves.

Instant Speed: Its instant speed interaction comes into play when buffed with flash-enabling spells or abilities, allowing you to surprise opponents by bringing it onto the battlefield unexpectedly.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Emerald Dragonfly card may be a bit demanding due to its discard requirement. Players must discard another card to utilize its abilities, which, in tight situations, could result in a loss of valuable hands.

Specific Mana Cost: Deck flexibility can be compromised since Emerald Dragonfly comes with a specific mana cost. Decks that do not mainly focus on green mana might find it challenging to integrate this card without affecting their mana curve.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With several alternatives available, the mana investment to bring Emerald Dragonfly into play may be viewed as steep. Players often weigh the mana cost against the card’s impact on the game, and in some cases, Emerald Dragonfly might not make the cut when more cost-effective creatures are available.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Emerald Dragonfly brings a unique flexibility to green decks, able to serve as an early flying blocker or an agile attacker. Its simple mana cost makes it an easy fit in multicolored decks as well.

Combo Potential: With its flying ability, this card synergizes well with enchantments and effects that enhance creatures with flying, potentially turning it into a formidable threat in the skies.

Meta-Relevance: In a game where flying creatures can often evade ground-based defenses, the Emerald Dragonfly can play an important role in matchups, especially if the current meta favors decks with limited anti-air capabilities.


How to beat

Emerald Dragonfly may not be the most formidable creature in the MTG realm, but understanding its strengths and weaknesses can be key to overcoming it. This small flier with potential for a temporary burst of speed can be a nuisance if not addressed promptly. A strategy to defeat Emerald Dragonfly involves prioritizing removal of flying creatures, as its power lies in its evasion. Cards such as Plummet or a basic Shock can efficiently handle this green insect without expending significant resources. Additionally, utilizing creatures with reach or those that can block multiple creatures can mitigate the impact of Emerald Dragonfly’s potential aggression.

Containment is also a viable approach. Ensnaring the Dragonfly with enchantments that neutralize its abilities or prevent it from attacking ensures that it’s rendered harmless on the battlefield. It’s also worth noting that the Dragonfly’s strength is not in its longevity but in its tactical surprise; therefore, keeping instant-speed removal at the ready helps ensure you won’t be caught off guard by its sudden burst of speed. By being prepared and employing these strategies, Emerald Dragonfly can be easily managed in any match.


Cards like Emerald Dragonfly

Emerald Dragonfly brings a unique twist to the lineup of flying creatures in MTG. Much like its peer, Giant Spider, it poses a threat from the air. While Giant Spider presents a solid defensive choice with efficient spider web trapping abilities, Emerald Dragonfly skirts enemy lines with potential for enhanced agility. It’s this latter trait, through its activated ability granting first strike, where the Dragonfly differentiates itself.

Moving to comparison, Thopter Spy Network is another card that rewards players for controlling artifacts with flying. It doesn’t offer the direct combat bonuses that Emerald Dragonfly does, yet it excels in providing a consistent stream of artifact creature tokens and card draw. The strategy for deploying these cards may differ, but each creates aerial challenges for opponents. Then there’s Dragon Whelp, a creature card that shares the dragonfly’s love for the skies. While it demands a higher mana investment compared to the lightweight dragonfly, it brings heftier base damage and the potential for a dramatic increase in power for a turn.

Evaluating these cards side by side, Emerald Dragonfly may not match the raw strength of some alternatives. However, its tactical versatility in early-game scenarios earns its place in decks that favor quick, evasive strikes.

Giant Spider - MTG Card versions
Thopter Spy Network - MTG Card versions
Dragon Whelp - MTG Card versions
Giant Spider - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Thopter Spy Network - Magic Origins Promos (PORI)
Dragon Whelp - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)

Cards similar to Emerald Dragonfly by color, type and mana cost

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Whirling Dervish - MTG Card versions
River Boa - MTG Card versions
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Mayor of Avabruck // Howlpack Alpha - MTG Card versions
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Wyluli Wolf - Arabian Nights (ARN)
Whirling Dervish - Pro Tour Collector Set (PTC)
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Albino Troll - World Championship Decks 1999 (WC99)
Silverglade Pathfinder - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Priest of Titania - World Championship Decks 2000 (WC00)
Quirion Elves - Duel Decks: Phyrexia vs. the Coalition (DDE)
Blurred Mongoose - Invasion (INV)
Grizzly Bears - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Llanowar Loamspeaker - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Genesis Hydra - Iconic Masters (IMA)
Jolrael, Mwonvuli Recluse - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Scavenging Ooze - Modern Masters 2017 (MM3)
Heir of the Wilds - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Mayor of Avabruck // Howlpack Alpha - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Wren's Run Vanquisher - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Muscle Sliver - Secret Lair Drop (SLD)
Utopia Tree - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Bloodline Shaman - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Sakura-Tribe Elder - Junior APAC Series (PJAS)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Emerald Dragonfly MTG card by a specific set like Legends and Chronicles, 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 Emerald Dragonfly and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Emerald Dragonfly Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1994-06-01 and 1995-07-01. Illustrated by Quinton Hoover.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11994-06-01LegendsLEG 1841993normalblackQuinton Hoover
21995-07-01ChroniclesCHR 631993normalwhiteQuinton Hoover

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Emerald Dragonfly has restrictions

FormatLegality
OldschoolLegal
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

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