Drake Hatchling MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Drake |
| Abilities | Flying |
| Released | 1999-10-04 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Mercadian Masques |
| Set code | MMQ |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 3 |
| Number | 76 |
| Frame | 1997 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Bradley Williams |
Text of card
Flying oo U Drake Hatchling gets +1/+0 until end of turn. Play this ability only once each turn.
There is beauty in the space between learning to fly and taking it for granted.
Cards like Drake Hatchling
Drake Hatchling carves a niche in the world of flying creatures within Magic: The Gathering. It can be contrasted with other flyers like Faerie Seer for its early game presence. What makes Drake Hatchling stand out is its balanced stats that offer a viable defensive option. Conversely, Faerie Seer provides an immediate Scry effect upon entering the battlefield but lacks the same staying power as the Hatchling.
Delving deeper, we can examine Mistral Charger, another flyer boasting a similar mana cost and power. While Mistral Charger is straightforward with no frills, Drake Hatchling’s potential lies in its ability to outlast and provide a consistent aerial threat. The nuanced differences in their abilities can influence deck strategy and effectiveness on the battlefield.
Evaluating Drake Hatchling against its counterparts enables players to see its capabilities as a resilient defender and a strategic inclusion especially in decks that aim to control the skies. It may not have the additional abilities of some other cards, but its unassuming power often proves to be a reliable asset in gameplay.
Cards similar to Drake Hatchling by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Drake Hatchling offers players a strategic upper hand by potentially drawing a card each time you cast a spell with flying. This can quickly stack up, furnishing your hand with additional resources and giving you more options as the match progresses.
Resource Acceleration: This card can be an asset in strategies geared towards ramping up your mana sources. While not directly providing mana or treasure tokens, it acts as a low-mana flyer that can help reduce the cost of your future spells with affinity for fliers or similar mechanics, effectively accelerating your overall resource availability.
Instant Speed: The value of Drake Hatchling can be significantly increased when used in conjunction with instant speed spells. Its flying ability enables full utilization of cards that may have flash or effects that trigger on casting instant spells. This synergy ensures that your game plan stays versatile and responsive to the dynamic nature of MTG matches.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The gameplay with Drake Hatchling can be hindered by its discard requirement, which may force players to lose out on potentially valuable cards in their hand, creating a scenario where the cost sometimes outweighs the benefit, especially in situations where hand advantage is crucial.
Specific Mana Cost: Tailored to fit in decks that can generate blue mana, Drake Hatchling’s mana cost can be restrictive, often limiting the card’s versatility and preventing it from being an auto-include in all types of decks that could otherwise benefit from a flying creature.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Drake Hatchling enters the battlefield with a mana value that’s on the higher side for its stats and abilities. In an environment where efficiency is key, there are alternatives that might provide better value or lower-cost creatures that can be played sooner to establish board presence.
Reasons to Include Drake Hatchling in Your Collection
Versatility: Drake Hatchling can easily be slotted into various blue-based strategies, adapting well to aggressive fliers decks or being a defensive early-drop in control setups.
Combo Potential: This creature’s flying trait makes it a prime candidate for synergies with cards that exploit the presence of flying creatures or those that buff fliers for a formidable aerial offense.
Meta-Relevance: Due to its efficient cost-to-power ratio and flying ability, Drake Hatchling remains relevant in metas dominated by ground-based aggressors, providing a reliable blocker and a consistent aerial threat.
How to beat
Drake Hatchling is a strategically designed card in Magic: The Gathering that adds layers of complexity to any game with its presence. To outmaneuver this flying threat, players must prioritize removal spells that can specifically target creatures with flying or those that sidestep Drake Hatchling’s potential evasion abilities. Instant speed removals such as Shock or Lightning Bolt are invaluable, allowing players to react swiftly and eliminate the Hatchling during the opponent’s turn before it becomes a larger threat.
Moreover, spells that can counter creature spells also prove efficient against Drake Hatchling; Essence Scatter or Negate, for instance, serve as preemptive measures in keeping the Hatchling from entering the battlefield in the first place. It’s essential to manage your mana carefully, keeping enough resources open to interrupt your opponent’s plans before they unfold.
In the scenario where Drake Hatchling has already landed on the board and become buffed, board wipe spells like Wrath of God or Blasphemous Act can reset the playing field, although these require precise timing and resource management. Understanding and employing these tactics can help ensure that Drake Hatchling does not tip the scales in favor of your adversary.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Drake Hatchling MTG card by a specific set like Mercadian Masques, 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 Drake Hatchling 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
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Drake Hatchling has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |