Stormwing Dragon MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	6
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Dragon
Abilities	First strike,Flying,Megamorph
Released	2015-03-27
Set symbol
Set name	Dragons of Tarkir
Set code	DTK
Power	3
Toughness	3
Number	159
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Svetlin Velinov

Key Takeaways

The scry ability offers strategic advantage and improved card selection, which can be crucial in tight matches.
Instant speed summoning with flash ability allows flexibility and surprise, enhancing your tactical options significantly.
Resource pressure can tilt opponent’s plays, making Stormwing Dragon a powerful presence in many game scenarios.

Text of card

Flying, first strike Megamorph (You may cast this card face down as a 2/2 creature for . Turn it face up any time for its megamorph cost and put a +1/+1 counter on it.) When Stormwing Dragon is turned face up, put a +1/+1 counter on each other Dragon creature you control.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Stormwing Dragon shines by enabling a form of card advantage through its scry ability upon entering the battlefield. This allows you to set up your subsequent draws and increase the quality of your card selection, which can give you a leg up against the competition.

Resource Acceleration: While Stormwing Dragon itself doesn’t directly accelerate resources, it adds significant pressure on the board, which can indirectly speed up your game plan by forcing opponents to respond to the threat it poses, potentially leading to inefficient plays on their part.

Instant Speed: The flying juggernaut may not be an instant, but its flash ability simulates the same strategic advantages. The capacity to summon Stormwing Dragon at instant speed allows you to be flexible with your mana, react to your opponent’s actions, and preserve the element of surprise, essentially broadening your tactical plays during critical phases of the game.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: To cast Stormwing Dragon, players must discard a card from their hand, which can be particularly taxing when hand size is critical. This additional cost can potentially set you back in the game, especially when faced with an unexpected need to hold onto key spells or creatures.

Specific Mana Cost: Stormwing Dragon demands a precise combination of mana, including at least two red. This can restrict the card’s integration into multi-color decks and can be a stumbling block for mana fixing, particularly in formats where color consistency is paramount.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its demanding mana cost, Stormwing Dragon competes with other impactful four-mana creatures and spells in your deck. Players must weigh the benefits of summoning this card against others that might offer swifter tempo plays or more flexible casting conditions—considerations that are critical in formats that reward speed and efficiency.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Stormwing Dragon adds a unique twist to any deck focused on flying creatures or dragon synergies. Its ability to dominate the skies makes it a powerful addition to both aggressive and midrange decks.

Combo Potential: With its prowess-like ability, it can exponentially increase in power with every noncreature spell cast, making it a formidable partner to decks that cast spells frequently. This opens up possibilities for combo plays that can turn the tides in a game.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta that values tempo and flying threats, Stormwing Dragon excels. It can be a game-changer in matchups where blocking flyers is scarce and speed is of the essence. Its impact in both Standard and Pioneer formats is why many players consider it a must-have.

How to beat

The Stormwing Dragon is a formidable flyer in Magic: The Gathering, often catching players off guard with its swift aerial attacks. Overcoming this dragon requires strategic plays and the right counters. Firstly, consider using removal spells like Murder or Doom Blade that can target creatures regardless of their flying ability. These spells are cost-effective ways to remove the threat from the board entirely.

Another line of defense against the Stormwing Dragon involves tapping into spells like Pacifism or Claustrophobia to neutralize it without actually removing it from the battlefield. This can bypass hexproof or indestructible shields that may be protecting the creature. Don’t forget that the dragon’s strengths flourish in the skies; if you can enable reach or summon creatures with flying, they’ll be able to block and potentially defeat it during combat.

Finally, combating the Stormwing Dragon can also mean outpacing your opponent before the dragon becomes a significant threat. Aggressive decks that accelerate early in the game or decks that can build a considerable presence on board quickly can sometimes overrun a strategy relying on a single formidable creature, thus nullifying its impact. Remember, knowing when to remove or mitigate threats is key to success in any MTG game.

Cards like Stormwing Dragon

Stormwing Dragon adds an intriguing option to the pool of flying creatures in Magic: The Gathering, akin to other powerhouses in aerial combat. Its comparison can be drawn with Thunderbreak Regent, which also takes pride in a robust flying presence and a damage dealing ability when targeted. However, Stormwing Dragon stands out with its kicker cost mechanism that provides flexibility in summoning conditions and potential board impact upon entering the battlefield.

Conversely, we look to creatures like Sprite Dragon, bearing the flying trait too, but it focuses on building power with every non-creature spell cast, offering a dynamic that rewards spell-slinging strategies different from Stormwing Dragon’s one-time power boost. Demanding a varied approach, the Sprite Dragon can snowball into a formidable threat over time.

Then there’s the inclusion of Skarrgan Hellkite, offering both flying and an activated ability that underscores its potential for board control, though at a notably higher mana cost. Yet each of these dragons carries its unique strategic advantage, whether it be in cost efficiency, board presence, or scalability. Given these elements, Stormwing Dragon asserts its status as a flexible and valuable combatant in the skies of Magic: The Gathering.

Cards similar to Stormwing Dragon by color, type and mana cost

Ryusei, the Falling Star - MTG Card versions

Lu Bu, Master-at-Arms - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Stormwing Dragon MTG card by a specific set like Dragons of Tarkir, 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 Stormwing Dragon and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Stormwing Dragon has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Restricted
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Stormwing Dragon card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date	Text
2015-02-25	If a face-down creature with megamorph is turned face up some other way (for example, if you manifest a card with megamorph and then pay its mana cost to turn it face up), you won’t put a +1/+1 counter on it.
2015-02-25	Megamorph is a variant of the morph ability. You can find more information on morph on cards with morph from the Khans of Tarkir set.
2015-02-25	Turning a face-down creature with megamorph face up and putting a +1/+1 counter on it is a special action. It doesn’t use the stack and can’t be responded to.