Dralnu's Pet MTG Card

Kicker ability provides repeatable card advantage, essential for controlling the game momentum. Demands dual-color commitment, potentially limiting deck-building flexibility and adaptability. Versatile and potent in spell-synergistic decks, offering escalating threat potential.

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Rare
Type	Creature — Shapeshifter
Abilities	Kicker
Released	2001-02-05
Set symbol
Set name	Planeshift
Set code	PLS
Power	2
Toughness	2
Number	23
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Glen Angus

Text of card

Kicker—o B, Discard a creature card from your hand. (You may pay o B and discard a creature card from your hand in addition to any other costs as you play this spell.) If you paid the kicker cost, Dralnu's Pet has flying and comes into play with X +1/+1 counters on it, where X is the discarded card's converted mana cost.

Cards like Dralnu's Pet

Dralnu’s Pet might not be a household name yet among MTG player circles, but it shares qualities with some intriguing peers. Notably, the card aligns itself with other cards that bolster your spells, like Goblin Electromancer, which reduces the cost of your instants and sorceries. Both cards offer a cost reduction strategy, though Dralnu’s Pet requires kicker to unlock its full potential, making it slightly less accessible than the always-on effect of Goblin Electromancer.

In the realm of kicker interactions, there’s also Hallar, the Firefletcher, which triggers upon the casting of a kicked spell. While Hallar rewards you with direct damage to each opponent, Dralnu’s Pet leans more towards enhancing a spell’s potency or impact. Despite the difference in approach, players who value the kicker mechanic can find creative uses for both in a strategic deck build.

As players look for ways to optimize their spellcasting, Dralnu’s Pet holds its own by potentially transforming an ordinary spell into a formidable threat. Recognizing the comparisons and contrasts to cards with synergistic playstyles helps to appreciate where Dralnu’s Pet fits in the broader MTG strategy landscape.

Goblin Electromancer - MTG Card versions

Hallar, the Firefletcher - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Dralnu's Pet by color, type and mana cost

Phyrexian Infiltrator - MTG Card versions

Shadowmage Infiltrator - MTG Card versions

Siren of the Silent Song - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Dralnu’s Pet boasts a powerful kicker ability that, when activated, gives it the potential to be a recurring threat. This mechanic can result in consistent card advantage as the spell comes back to your hand for another round, providing more value with every cast.

Resource Acceleration: Notably, this card can help you leverage your available blue mana sources more efficiently. When you pay the kicker cost, you’re effectively investing in a repeatable asset, which can accelerate your game plan by giving you more opportunities to use your cards.

Instant Speed: The instant-speed nature of Dralnu’s Pet’s kicker allows for strategic playmaking. You can opt to activate the ability during your opponent’s turn, making it a versatile card that adapts to the evolving game state, catching opponents off-guard and optimally utilizing your mana each turn.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Dralnu’s Pet demands that a card be pitched from your hand, which could deplete crucial hand resources, particularly detrimental when hand size is already diminished.

Specific Mana Cost: Dralnu’s Pet requires both blue and black mana, necessitating a dual-color deck commitment and potentially restricting its integration into a variety of deck archetypes.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The activation cost of Dralnu’s Pet is substantial relative to its capabilities, potentially handicapping tempo when faster, lower-cost spells could advance your board state with equal or greater efficiency.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Dralnu’s Pet offers a dynamic choice for blue-black decks, adapting well to strategies that favor spell-based synergies. Its kicker ability makes it flexible for different stages of the game, becoming a more potent threat when you have the mana to invest.

Combo Potential: As a creature that grows with each instance of mana spent on spells, Dralnu’s Pet thrives in environments rich with cheap instants and sorceries. This allows for build-ups of devastating turns where the creature can become unexpectedly lethal.

Meta-Relevance: Within the right meta, especially one that caters to spell-slinger decks, Dralnu’s Pet can become an under-the-radar powerhouse. Its initial low cost integrates seamlessly with control or tempo strategies, making it a valuable addition against various competitive decks.

How to Beat Dralnu’s Pet

Dralnu’s Pet may appear as a formidable card in your opponent’s arsenal, with its capacity to grow stronger every time a blue spell is cast. It evokes memories of other prowess creatures that swell in power with each spell, demanding a uniquely strategic approach to overcome.

To successfully deal with Dralnu’s Pet, it’s essential to limit its potential to snowball out of control. Use removal spells efficiently; timing them right after it becomes a target of a spell but before the spell resolves can be key. Cards that can exile Dralnu’s Pet, such as Swords to Plowshares or Path to Exile, offer a clean and irreversible solution to the escalating threat.

Moreover, strategies that involve creature counters, like Essence Scatter, or ones that prevent the opponent from casting spells during your turn, such as Teferi, Time Raveler, can significantly inhibit the effectiveness of Dralnu’s Pet. Denying your opponent the opportunity to cast instant-speed spells during your turn dismantles the synergy Dralnu’s Pet thrives on and keeps it manageable. By implementing these tactics, players can neutralize Dralnu’s Pet and maintain dominance on the battlefield.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Dralnu's Pet MTG card by a specific set like Planeshift, 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 Dralnu's Pet and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Dralnu's Pet has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Premodern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2009-10-01	If the Dralnu’s Pet is kicked, Dralnu’s Pet will have flying from the moment it enters the battlefield. This will trigger abilities that look for a creature with flying entering the battlefield.