Darkslick Drake MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Phyrexian Drake |
| Abilities | Flying |
| Released | 2010-10-01 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Scars of Mirrodin |
| Set code | SOM |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 4 |
| Number | 30 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Chippy |
Text of card
Flying When Darkslick Drake is put into a graveyard from the battlefield, draw a card.
At the edge of the Mephidross, Phyrexia's influence seeps into life and land.
Cards like Darkslick Drake
Darkslick Drake offers players of Magic: The Gathering a unique blend of aerial defense and card draw potential. It finds parallels with other creatures like Jeskai Sage, which also allows for card draw upon death. Unlike Jeskai Sage, the Drake requires more mana investment but provides a sturdier flyer in return. Moreover, Darkslick Drake’s ability triggers upon death, not needing the prowess mechanic to be effective.
Another similar creature is Pilgrim’s Eye, a card that ensures land consistency by fetching a basic land upon entering the battlefield. While it doesn’t draw a card like Darkslick Drake, it supports mana fixing, a crucial aspect in the game. Then there’s Azure Mage, which presents an ongoing threat with its repeatable card draw ability. Playing it requires a strategic approach since investing mana in drawing cards means less mana for other spells. However, this aligns with longer games where Darkslick Drake might have less impact.
Assessing the value that Darkslick Drake and its counterparts offer, it’s clear that the Drake fits well in decks seeking to capitalize on creature synergy and incremental card advantage, making it a versatile choice for players looking to balance defense with a touch of utility.
Cards similar to Darkslick Drake by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Darkslick Drake’s ability to draw a card upon death ensures that your deck keeps its momentum, sustaining a flow of resources even in the face of adversity.
Resource Acceleration: This creature can be a handy asset in strategies looking to ramp up their mana, as sacrificing it can pave the way for mana-generating spells and effects you may have at the ready.
Instant Speed: The Drake’s flash capability gives you the upper hand by allowing you to play it at any time, catching opponents off-guard and maximizing strategic plays on their turn.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Darkslick Drake obliges players to discard a card to activate its ability, which can deplete hand resources—a significant setback when playing a tight strategic game.
Specific Mana Cost: With a cost that requires both blue and black mana, Darkslick Drake targets a specific deck archetype, potentially limiting its adaptability across various deck builds.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that might be deemed steep for its stat line and abilities, Darkslick Drake faces strong competition from other creatures offering more board impact or utility for a similar, if not lower, investment.
Reasons to Include Darkslick Drake in Your Collection
Versatility: Darkslick Drake offers a flexible role in blue-based decks. Its flying ability makes it a reliable blocker against other creatures with flying and a consistent source of damage. Beyond that, its death-triggered ability to draw a card ensures that it contributes to your hand even after leaving the battlefield.
Combo Potential: In decks that focus on cycling or utilize graveyard strategies, Darkslick Drake can serve as an integral part of combos. It fits well with strategies that take advantage of creatures dying or being sacrificed, potentially leading to powerful draw mechanics or being recurred for additional value.
Meta-Relevance: Currently, with the prominence of creature-based aggro decks, Darkslick Drake can be a strategic inclusion. It can hold the line in the air while providing card advantage that keeps you equipped to respond to the evolving threats on the board.
How to beat
Darkslick Drake presents itself as a formidable flying creature in MTG with an enticing ability that allows its controller to draw a card upon its death. This blue creature can be a thorn in the side of many players, sustaining card advantage even when meeting its demise. To navigate this obstacle, players need to strategize around its annoying death-triggered ability.
To successfully overcome the challenge of Darkslick Drake, consider employing removal spells that exile it, such as Path to Exile or Silkwrap – these tools deny the opponent the benefit of drawing a card. Additionally, employing instant speed spells during your opponent’s turn restricts their ability to immediately use the extra card drawn. Tactics such as pressuring the player’s life total swiftly or rendering the card draw effect inconsequential with strategies that outpace or outvalue it can also prove effective. It can be less about handling the Drake directly and more about tailoring your strategy to mitigate the impact of its card draw capability or using graveyard hate cards to remove this creature card from play entirely.
Ultimately, countering Darkslick Drake comes down to smart play choices and maintaining a robust presence on the board. By hindering your opponent’s ability to capitalize on the Drake’s effect, you can deftly navigate around the potential card advantage it could provide them.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Darkslick Drake MTG card by a specific set like Scars of Mirrodin, 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 Darkslick 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 Darkslick Drake has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |