Dragon's Disciple MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Human Monk |
| Released | 2021-07-23 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Adventures in the Forgotten Realms |
| Set code | AFR |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 3 |
| Number | 13 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Lucas Graciano |
Text of card
As Dragon's Disciple enters the battlefield, you may reveal a Dragon card from your hand. If you do or if you control a Dragon, Dragon's Disciple enters the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter on it. Dragons you control have ward . (Whenever a Dragon you control becomes the target of a spell or ability an opponent controls, counter it unless that player pays .)
Cards like Dragon's Disciple
Dragon’s Disciple shines in the realm of creature cards in Magic: The Gathering, offering a unique blend of defensive utility and tribal synergy. When compared to cards like Dragonkin Berserker, it may lack the powerful boast abilities that the Berserker provides, but it compensates by bolstering the defense of its controller with an additional life point for each Dragon entering the battlefield under their control. This makes it a valuable card in Dragon tribal decks looking for sustainability.
Another parallel can be drawn with Dragonmaster Outcast, a card that can produce a 5/5 Dragon creature token at the beginning of every upkeep once its controller reaches a threshold of six or more lands. While the Outcast has a potential for a more aggressive strategy and is able to create multiple token creatures, Dragon’s Disciple serves as an early game defense and scales in value as more dragons are played, unlike the Outcast which requires a land-heavy setup to trigger its ability.
In essence, Dragon’s Disciple is tailored to benefit decks that are heavily invested in Dragon creatures, and while there are other cards that either grow stronger or create tokens — such as Lathliss, Dragon Queen — the Disciple’s engaging protective qualities and tribal synergy make it a card worth considering in Dragon themed MTG decks.
Cards similar to Dragon's Disciple by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Dragon’s Disciple shines by offering card advantage. Drawing a card when it enters the battlefield ensures that you’re replenishing your hand, keeping resources at the ready as the game progresses. This can be particularly impactful in formats where maintaining card advantage is crucial for outpacing your opponents.
Resource Acceleration: This creature card excels in accelerating your resources. By possibly reducing the cost of Dragon spells you cast, it makes it easier to deploy your high-impact Dragons sooner than usual. The benefit of getting your airborne threats on the board swiftly cannot be overstated, as it allows you to pressure opponents and establish a commanding presence.
Instant Speed: While Dragon’s Disciple isn’t an instant itself, it interacts favorably with cards that are. By helping get Dragons out earlier, you can keep mana open to respond with instant speed spells, thus enhancing your tactical flexibility. This level of interplay lets you adapt to the ever-changing battlefield, making it possible to answer threats effectively while continuing to develop your own game plan.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Dragon’s Disciple demands that you discard another card to utilize its full potential. This can deplete your hand quickly, leaving you vulnerable to running out of options, especially in tight situations where every card counts.
Specific Mana Cost: This card has a mana cost that necessitates red and additional colors, making it tricky to fit into multicolor decks that may not focus on red mana or might require a more flexible mana base.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a demanding mana cost, Dragon’s Disciple could be considered inefficient compared to other options within the same mana range. In the ever-evolving MTG meta, the balance between cost and impact is critical, and there may be alternatives that offer more board presence or immediate effects for the same or lower cost.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Dragon’s Disciple enhances multiple deck archetypes as it boosts both Dragon spells and creature-based strategies, offering a solid addition to red or multicolored setups.
Combo Potential: This card’s ability to protect Dragon creatures and its synergy with Dragon-themed spells can unlock potent combinations, weaving a web of interactions that strengthen your board presence.
Meta-Relevance: In an environment teeming with aggressive strategies, Dragon’s Disciple offers crucial early-game defense, making it a staple in decks designed to survive and thrive in such a meta.
How to beat
Dragon’s Disciple shines as a defensive cornerstone for any deck that values Dragon synergy in Magic: The Gathering. This exceptional creature not only buffs your Dragons but also grants you precious life points when you cast a Dragon spell. Its functionality resembles cards like Dragon’s Hoard, which fuels your hand and mana pool with each Dragon spell cast. Yet, the Disciple offers a different form of resource in life gain, a vital component for outlasting opponents in a drawn-out match.
To counter Dragon’s Disciple’s strengths, consider employing removal spells that can bypass its defenses. Spells like Murderous Rider or Doom Blade can swiftly dispatch the Disciple before its life-gain ability becomes relevant. Additionally, deploying counter spells such as Negate when the creature is cast hinders the strategy right from the get-go. Other strategies include utilizing board wipes like Wrath of God to reset the field and mitigate any advantage the Disciple might provide before its effects accumulate.
Successfully overcoming Dragon’s Disciple requires a blend of timely removal and disruptive plays. Neutralizing this creature early can stifle your adversary’s game plan and keep the scales tipped in your favor, hindering their pathway to Dragon-fueled dominance.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Dragon's Disciple MTG card by a specific set like Adventures in the Forgotten Realms, 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's Disciple 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
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Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Dragon's Disciple has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Dragon's Disciple card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2021-07-23 | A Dragon card is a card with the creature type Dragon in its type line. Similarly, a creature on the battlefield is a Dragon if it has the Dragon creature type. A card that has “Dragon” in the name (such as Dragon's Disciple) isn't a Dragon card unless it also has the Dragon creature type. |
| 2021-07-23 | If a player casts a spell that targets multiple permanents their opponent controls with ward, each of those ward abilities will trigger. If that player doesn't pay for all of them, the spell will be countered. |
| 2021-07-23 | If you choose to reveal a Dragon card from your hand and also control a Dragon, Dragon's Disciple still only gets a single +1/+1 counter. |
| 2021-07-23 | Players can respond to Dragon's Disciple while it is on the stack, but they cannot respond to the choice of whether or not to reveal a Dragon as it enters the battlefield. Notably, that means they can't remove your Dragon from play to prevent Dragon's Disciple from getting the counter once you've decided not to reveal a Dragon card. |
| 2021-07-23 | Revealing a Dragon card happens as Dragon's Disciple resolves. It is not an additional cost for casting the spell. |