Dragon Engine MTG Card


Dragon Engine’s ability to gain power makes it flexible and adaptable, offering an advantage in evolving game situations. A versatile card for decks, Dragon Engine can utilize excess mana for resource acceleration and power boosts. Strategic increases in power in response to threats allow Dragon Engine to provide an unpredictable element during play.
Card setsReleased in 11 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeArtifact Creature — Construct
Power 1
Toughness 3

Text of card

: +1/+0 until end of turn.

Those who believed the city of Kroog would never fall to Mishra's forces severely underestimated the might of his war machines.


Cards like Dragon Engine

Dragon Engine is a distinguished creature artifact card in Magic: The Gathering that boasts its fair share of comparable cards. Looking at similarities, we can draw parallels to the likes of Clockwork Beast and Arcbound Reclaimer. Clockwork Beast, just as the Dragon Engine, falls within the realm of artifact creatures and shares a same mana cost of seven. Yet, Dragon Engine shines with its ability to be pumped up with additional +1/+0 until end of turn for each additional cost of two mana. An attribute Clockwork Beast does not possess.

Another sibling in the artifact creature realm is Arcbound Reclaimer which brings into play modular abilities, a remarkable feat not seen in Dragon Engine. Though on a mana efficient standpoint, Arcbound Reclaimer is more expensive and the deck needs to play around counter activities, making Dragon Engine more straightforward to play.

In essence, an evaluation of Dragon Engine and other similar cards holds it high within its class. It presents as a cost-efficient artifact creature card, with a straightforward utility and less dependency on other game factors. A significant strength in the fast-paced world of Magic: The Gathering.

Clockwork Beast - MTG Card versions
Arcbound Reclaimer - MTG Card versions
Clockwork Beast - MTG Card versions
Arcbound Reclaimer - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Dragon Engine MTG offers an edge on card advantage due to its ability to receive +1/+0 until the end of the turn. This pump-able feature offers flexibility and allows you to adapt to the dynamic nature of the game.

Resource Acceleration: Dragon Engine MTG is a powerful card for resource acceleration. With a variable mana cost, it can be brought into play at any stage of the game. This fits it into any strategy where you are ramping mana and need a conduit for excess resources.

Instant Speed: While Dragon Engine MTG doesn’t have instant speed, its ability to be pumped in response to threats offers a similar level of control and versatility. You’re able to strategically increase your creature’s power at key moments, presenting an unpredictable challenge to your opponents.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Dragon Engine, despite its awe-inspiring name, comes with a not-so-impressive drawback; you need extra mana to enhance its capabilities. This implies that you need to part ways with your resources, making it a potentially disadvantageous choice when you’re in a tight spot.

Specific Mana Cost: Dragon Engine doesn’t require a specific colored mana for casting, but the colorless mana required for activating its ability might restrict its usability. While its casting cost of three generic mana may seem tempting, remember that not all decks can easily generate colorless mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Even though Dragon Engine might seem efficient on paper with its three mana casting cost, the dependency on additional colorless mana to get the +1/+0 until end of turn makes its efficiency debatable. Other cards in the magic universe can provide more value while preserving asset quality, making Dragon Engine’s high mana cost a potential downside to its usage.


Reasons to Include Dragon Engine in Your Collection

Versatility: Dragon Engine is a card that can adapt to various decks given its artifact creature type and its power-up ability which can fit in any combination of colors and strategies.

Combo Potential: Dragon Engine possesses a unique capacity of becoming stronger with the simple addition of mana, making it an excellent card to combine with numerous mana ramp strategies that could significantly enhance your gameplay.

Meta-Relevance: With a metagame featuring artifact-centric and mana ramp strategies, this card’s values increase significantly. Its power boosting ability offers key value for match-ups, promising an effective disruption against your opponent’s plans.


How to beat

In the realm of artifact creatures in Magic: The Gathering (MTG), stands the Dragon Engine. This adaptable card demands creative strategies to undermine. The power of Dragon Engine lies in its constant adaptability – allowing you to spend mana to boost its power. So how do we overcome this metal behemoth?

One potential counter is to use artifact destruction cards like Naturalize. These can remove the Dragon Engine from play entirely, before it gets too powerful. Alternatively, cards that force your opponent to sacrifice a creature can be invaluable given that Dragon Engine’s toughness is only three. Cards such as Diabolic Edict would work perfectly against it.

Another viable approach is using counterspell cards. Countering the moment your opponent tries to deploy the Dragon Engine keeps it from hitting the table. Hence, countering cards like Negate can be game-changing.

Finally, remember that Dragon Engine’s power hinges on the amount of mana your opponent possesses. Mana disruption strategies can limit the Dragon Engine’s power, leaving it less threatening. Cards like Winter Orb can help achieve this. Indeed, managing Dragon Engine isn’t a matter of brute force, but strategic play and deck construction. The right strategies and cards can certainly grant you victory.


BurnMana Recommendations

With the Dragon Engine MTG, you gain a flexible ally for your deck. Its ability to turn excess mana into immediate power makes it a formidable card in the right circumstances. If you’re intrigued by its potential or looking to enhance your collection with versatile artifacts, the Dragon Engine offers a unique blend of adaptability and strength. For those who revel in complex strategies and mana ramp decks, this card could be the perfect addition. Dive deeper into Dragon Engine’s capabilities and discover strategies to maximize its effectiveness in your gameplay. Join us for a comprehensive guide on harnessing the full power of this mechanical beast.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Dragon Engine MTG card by a specific set like Antiquities and Revised Edition, 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 Dragon Engine and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Dragon Engine Magic the Gathering card was released in 11 different sets between 1994-03-04 and 2023-01-13. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11994-03-04AntiquitiesATQ 491993NormalBlackAnson Maddocks
21994-04-01Revised Edition3ED 2461993NormalWhiteAnson Maddocks
31994-04-01Foreign Black BorderFBB 2461993NormalBlackAnson Maddocks
41994-06-21Summer Magic / EdgarSUM 2461993NormalWhiteAnson Maddocks
51995-04-01Fourth Edition4ED 3171993NormalWhiteAnson Maddocks
61995-04-01Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border4BB 3171993NormalBlackAnson Maddocks
71997-03-24Fifth Edition5ED 3661997NormalWhiteAnson Maddocks
81999-04-21Classic Sixth Edition6ED 2821997NormalWhiteAnson Maddocks
92007-09-10Masters EditionME1 1561997NormalBlackAnson Maddocks
102011-01-10Masters Edition IVME4 1971997NormalBlackAnson Maddocks
112023-01-13Dominaria RemasteredDMR 2222015NormalBlackJohann Bodin

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Dragon Engine has restrictions

FormatLegality
OldschoolLegal
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal