Dragonloft Idol MTG Card
2015-03-27 - Number 237
2017-11-17 - Number 215
2020-07-17 - Number 463
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Artifact Creature — Gargoyle |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 3 |
Text of card
As long as you control a Dragon, Dragonloft Idol gets +1/+1 and has flying and trample.
The idols were forged during the time of the Khanfall, when the dragons came to rule Tarkir and its people aligned themselves with the five dragonlords.
Cards like Dragonloft Idol
Dragonloft Idol is an intriguing creature card within Magic: The Gathering, reminiscent of cards that offer conditional boosts. For example, Golem’s Heart shares a synergy with spells, providing incremental life gain whenever a player casts one. Although it does not directly enhance power or toughness, its cumulative effect on health over time can be significant.
Another card that echoes the conditional boost ability is Thundering Djinn, which leverages the landfall mechanic. Each time a land enters the battlefield, it becomes more of a threat, akin to Dragonloft Idol’s bolstering during the casting of a noncreature spell. However, Thundering Djinn offers immediate damage potential to opponents while Dragonloft Idol requires combat to capitalize on its temporary power increase.
The stat enhancement of Dragonloft Idol also brings to mind Taurean Mauler. The Mauler thrives on the number of spells opponents play, indefinitely adding +1/+1 counters. While Mauler’s strength grows without the specific need for noncreature spells, it also doesn’t have the flight ability granted to Dragonloft Idol when a spell is played, showcasing the versatile defensive and offensive capabilities present in Dragonloft Idol’s design.
Cards similar to Dragonloft Idol by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Dragonloft Idol has the potential to provide a significant power boost to your side of the field without sacrificing card resources from your hand. This means you maintain your card count while developing a threat on the board.
Resource Acceleration: When a Dragon enters the battlefield under your control, Dragonloft Idol becomes a more powerful creature without any additional mana investment, effectively speeding up your game plan and pressuring your opponent earlier than expected.
Instant Speed: While Dragonloft Idol itself doesn’t operate at instant speed, it synergizes well with cards that can bring Dragons into play at any time. This means you can unexpectedly enhance its power and toughness potentially during combat on your opponent’s turn, creating opportunities for advantageous blocks or surprise attacks.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Dragonloft Idol demands a discard from your hand to activate certain abilities, potentially stripping you of valuable cards or depleting your hand when you might need it most.
Specific Mana Cost: This artifact creature requires a red and green mana investment. This specific mana cost can limit deck flexibility, as it fits primarily into Gruul decks or those that can accommodate the color requirement.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that sits at four mana, Dragonloft Idol enters a competitive slot where other creatures or spells may provide more immediate impact on the battlefield for the same or lower cost.
Reasons to Include Dragonloft Idol in Your Collection
Versatility: Dragonloft Idol is a chameleon in many deck builds, proving useful in both aggressive and controlling strategies. Its ability to become a formidable flying attacker fits seamlessly into various scenarios, adapting to the ever-changing battlefield conditions.
Combo Potential: When looking at synergies, Dragonloft Idol shines in decks that manipulate the number of dragons or activate buffs based on creature types. Its inherent transformation under specific game states can trigger beneficial interactions, enhancing both offensive and defensive game plans.
Meta-Relevance: Scalability is vital in current metas, and Dragonloft Idol’s reactive buff when a dragon spell is cast provides that crucial flexibility. This can make it an essential piece against decks that struggle to deal with adaptable threats, making it a metagame contender worth considering.
How to beat
Dragonloft Idol presents a unique challenge on the MTG battlefield. This artifact creature becomes a force to be reckoned with once you have a Mountain or Plains in your control, transforming into a formidable flyer. The trick to taking it down is to manage its triggered ability effectively.
The key strategy against Dragonloft Idol lies in timing. Board control spells such as Doom Blade or Path to Exile are highly effective before your opponent enters the combat phase, preventing the activation of its flying and power boosting abilities. Alternatively, counter spells like Negate can target the spells that could enable its transformation, maintaining board advantage. A smart approach would also be to limit the number of mountains and plains your opponent controls, reducing the Idol’s chances of becoming airborne and more potent.
Remember, effective deck building that includes removal or control elements can preempt the potential threat posed by the Idol. Recognized harmoniously in the art of playing MTG, preparation coupled with on-the-fly tactical decisions paves the road to victory against formidable foes like the Dragonloft Idol.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Dragonloft Idol MTG card by a specific set like Dragons of Tarkir and Iconic Masters, 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 Dragonloft Idol 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
Printings
The Dragonloft Idol Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2015-03-27 and 2020-07-17. Illustrated by Jung Park.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2015-03-27 | Dragons of Tarkir | DTK | 237 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jung Park | |
| 2 | 2017-11-17 | Iconic Masters | IMA | 215 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jung Park | |
| 3 | 2020-07-17 | Jumpstart | JMP | 463 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jung Park |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Dragonloft Idol has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |