Drain Power MTG Card
Card sets | Released in 14 setsSee all |
Mana cost | |
Converted mana cost | 2 |
Rarity | Rare |
Type | Sorcery |
Text of card
Tap all opponent's lands, taking all this mana and all mana in opponent's mana pool into your mana pool. You can't tap fewer than all opponent's lands.
Cards like Drain Power
Drain Power is a unique spell in the Magic: The Gathering universe, standing out in the mana manipulation category. In terms of function, it can be contrasted with Mana Short, which also taps all lands an opponent controls, but unlike Drain Power, Mana Short doesn’t transfer the unused mana to the caster. Instead, it simply strips the opponent of their resources for the turn without the potential benefit of a mana boost for the caster.
Considering Mana Drain, the strategic value of mana disruption comes with a distinct advantage – counter a spell while gaining the mana that would have been spent on it during your next main phase. While Drain Power requires your opponent to have untapped lands and does not counter any spells, the mana acquired can be immediately used during your current main phase, offering a different type of tactical edge.
Therefore, although these spells share the theme of controlling mana, Drain Power offers an aggressive approach in directly fuelling your own spells on the same turn. Thus, it finds its place among those specialized in denying opponents resources while accelerating your own game plan.
Cards similar to Drain Power by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Drain Power is unique in that it can give you a massive swing in card advantage. By sapping your opponent’s mana, you effectively limit their potential actions, allowing you to dictate the pace of the game. This can lead to a situation where you have more options and resources than your opponent, which is always a key path to victory in MTG.
Resource Acceleration: One of the standout features of Drain Power is its ability to accelerate your resources substantially. It drains the mana from your opponent’s mana pool, transferring that potential energy to your side of the battlefield. This spike in available mana can allow you to pull off powerful plays much earlier than normally possible, giving you a significant edge.
Instant Speed: Operating at instant speed adds a dynamic layer of strategy when using Drain Power. You have the flexibility to disrupt your opponent’s plans during their turn, just as they’re gearing up for a significant play. By waiting for the optimal moment to cast Drain Power, you can ensure maximum impact, throwing off your opponent’s strategy and gaining a tactical advantage.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Drain Power commands a steep price, not in cards, but in the nuanced timing it demands; you must harness this power exactly when your adversary’s mana pool brims, yet before they channel it into a spell.
Specific Mana Cost: With a mana cost that includes two blue, integrating Drain Power into your strategy may narrow the scope of decks where it’s viable, especially if your mana base can’t consistently provide the necessary blue sources.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Allocating two mana towards potentially disrupting an opponent’s resources can feel onerous when compared to other spells at the same threshold that directly answer threats or advance your board state.
Reasons to Include Drain Power in Your Collection
Versatility: Drain Power offers a unique approach to resource management, allowing you to disrupt your opponent’s rhythm by sapping their available mana. This functionality ensures it can be included in control decks seeking an edge in mana superiority.
Combo Potential: This card has significant synergy with spells and abilities requiring a substantial mana investment in a single turn. It can pave the way for high-impact plays, making it a linchpin for combos that can turn the game’s tide.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where mana efficiency and timing are crucial, Drain Power can act as a potent tool. It interrupts opponents’ plans and grants a window for counterplay or setting up your board unhindered, making it a card of strategic importance.
How to beat
Drain Power is a unique spell that siphons mana away from opponents and can disrupt their strategy in Magic: The Gathering. It requires a keen understanding of timing to effectively counter. When facing Drain Power, prioritize holding instant-speed responses or mana abilities that don’t require tapping lands to ensure you aren’t completely deprived of mana. A smart play is to use mana in response to the casting of Drain Power to weaken its impact. This could involve casting creatures or other spells, or activating abilities that benefit your board state before Drain Power resolves.
Keep your mana curve flexible. By including low-cost spells in your deck, you ensure that you are never choked for resources, even if Drain Power saps your lands for a turn. Furthermore, cards that untap lands, such as Voyaging Satyr or Arbor Elf, can help you recover quickly. Lastly, having counter magic like Negate or Mana Leak can prevent Drain Power from affecting you at all. Playing wisely around your opponent’s Drain Power will keep you in control and help maintain your tempo in the game.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Drain Power MTG card by a specific set like Limited Edition Alpha and Limited Edition Beta, 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 Drain Power 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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Printings
The Drain Power Magic the Gathering card was released in 13 different sets between 1993-08-05 and 2022-11-28. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
# | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1993-08-05 | Limited Edition Alpha | LEA | 56 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Douglas Shuler | |
2 | 1993-10-04 | Limited Edition Beta | LEB | 57 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Douglas Shuler | |
3 | 1993-12-01 | Unlimited Edition | 2ED | 57 | 1993 | Normal | White | Douglas Shuler | |
4 | 1993-12-10 | Intl. Collectors' Edition | CEI | 57 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Douglas Shuler | |
5 | 1993-12-10 | Collectors' Edition | CED | 57 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Douglas Shuler | |
6 | 1994-04-01 | Foreign Black Border | FBB | 56 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Douglas Shuler | |
7 | 1994-04-01 | Revised Edition | 3ED | 56 | 1993 | Normal | White | Douglas Shuler | |
8 | 1994-06-21 | Summer Magic / Edgar | SUM | 56 | 1993 | Normal | White | Douglas Shuler | |
9 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition | 4ED | 67 | 1993 | Normal | White | Douglas Shuler | |
10 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border | 4BB | 67 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Douglas Shuler | |
11 | 1997-03-24 | Fifth Edition | 5ED | 82 | 1997 | Normal | White | Jerry Tiritilli | |
12 | 2011-01-10 | Masters Edition IV | ME4 | 46 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Douglas Shuler | |
13 | 2022-11-28 | 30th Anniversary Edition | 30A | 56 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Douglas Shuler | |
14 | 2022-11-28 | 30th Anniversary Edition | 30A | 353 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Douglas Shuler |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Drain Power has restrictions
Format | Legality |
---|---|
Oldschool | Legal |
Commander | Legal |
Legacy | Legal |
Oathbreaker | Legal |
Premodern | Legal |
Vintage | Legal |
Duel | Legal |
Predh | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Drain Power card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
Date | Text |
---|---|
2004-10-04 | If a land can draw a variable amount of mana, the target player (not the player of this spell) chooses how much to draw. |
2004-10-04 | This card forces the target player to draw mana from lands if they are untapped, but that player can choose how to draw the mana if a land they control has multiple mana abilities, or mana abilities with choices. |
2004-10-04 | Your opponent may use instants and abilities of permanents in response to this spell before you get the mana from their mana pool and lands. |
2013-04-15 | A mana ability is an ability that (1) isn’t a loyalty ability, (2) doesn’t target, and (3) could put mana into a player’s mana pool when it resolves. |