Drana, Liberator of Malakir MTG Card


Drana enhances your creatures, providing lasting board advantage with each successful attack she makes. Her specifics in mana cost may limit her to certain decks, thus affecting her versatility. Her unique countering ability can transform the tide of a game, synergizing with aggressive playstyles.
Card setsReleased in 6 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityMythic
TypeLegendary Creature — Vampire Ally
Abilities First strike,Flying
Power 2
Toughness 3

Text of card

Flying, first strike Whenever Drana, Liberator of Malakir deals combat damage to a player, put a +1/+1 counter on each attacking creature you control.

"I will not live as a slave. If you would be free, then fight alongside me."


Cards like Drana, Liberator of Malakir

In the world of MTG, Drana, Liberator of Malakir holds a unique position as an aggressive flying Vampire ally. Comparable to other impactful creatures like Vampire Nighthawk, Drana adds a layer of complexity to combat scenarios. Unlike the Nighthawk, which focuses on life gain and deathtouch, Drana’s ability to give attacking creatures a +1/+1 counter before damage can stack the odds in your favor significantly during battle.

When considering cards with similar abilities, Blood Artist stands out for its aristocrat playstyle, triggering whenever a creature dies. While not directly buffing creatures like Drana, the Artist instead offers a different kind of strategic advantage in the form of direct life adjustments. Another comparison is to Murderous Redcap; it also provides value through persist and direct damage. However, Drana’s role is less about singular impact and more about consistent, board-wide enhancement.

Ultimately, Drana, Liberator of Malakir shines in decks oriented around synergistic attacks and boosting multiple creatures, setting her apart in versatility and the ability to swing a game with her unique effect on the battlefield.

Vampire Nighthawk - MTG Card versions
Blood Artist - MTG Card versions
Murderous Redcap - MTG Card versions
Vampire Nighthawk - MTG Card versions
Blood Artist - MTG Card versions
Murderous Redcap - MTG Card versions

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Frozen Shade - MTG Card versions
Scathe Zombies - MTG Card versions
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Wall of Bone - MTG Card versions
Lost Soul - MTG Card versions
Mindstab Thrull - MTG Card versions
Mischievous Poltergeist - MTG Card versions
Strongarm Thug - MTG Card versions
Razortooth Rats - MTG Card versions
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Decks using this card

MTG decks using Drana, Liberator of Malakir. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Mono-Black AggroMono-Black Aggro GladiatorGladiator Team Unified League
Orzhov AggroOrzhov Aggro GladiatorGladiator Proving Grounds: Week 06 2024
Rakdos VampiresRakdos Vampires PioneerRakdos VampiresPeasant Pioneer Showdown - A Josh and Pat's MTG Bazaar Sponsored Event
Golgari AggroGolgari Aggro GladiatorGladiator Team Unified League

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Drana, Liberator of Malakir ensures a consistent advantage on the board by empowering your creatures. Each time she attacks, every attacking creature you control gets a +1/+1 counter if she deals combat damage to a player. These counters stack over time, vastly enhancing your army and applying pressure on your opponent without needing additional cards.

Resource Acceleration: While Drana herself doesn’t provide direct mana acceleration, the growth of your creature’s power and toughness acts as a form of resource acceleration. As your creatures become stronger, they can deal damage more efficiently, requiring fewer resources in terms of cards and mana to defeat your opponents.

Instant Speed: Drana may not have instant speed herself, but her influence demands instant-speed responses from your opponent. Her ability can rapidly tilt the board in your favor with each swing, forcing opponents to deal with her immediately or risk falling to an overwhelming force of enhanced creatures.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Drana, Liberator of Malakir doesn’t have a discard requirement herself, it’s important to remember that using her effectively often requires a strategy that can lead to a lower hand size. Ensuring you have the right balance of cards to play along with her can present a challenge if your resources are already stretched thin.

Specific Mana Cost: Drana’s casting cost of one colorless, and two black mana means she’s best suited for mono-black or black-heavy decks. This specific mana cost can restrict her inclusion in more diverse or color-balanced deck builds, potentially limiting her playability across different deck types.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While her mana cost of three is not exorbitant, it is essential to consider that she competes with other three-drops in your deck. In some cases, there’s the possibility that other cards could offer more immediate impact or have abilities that are less conditional than her own. Balancing her in your deck’s curve is therefore crucial.


Reasons to Include Drana, Liberator of Malakir in Your Collection

Versatility: Drana, Liberator of Malakir stands out with her ability to seamlessly integrate into various deck types, particularly those centered around aggro strategies. Her flying and first strike attributes allow her to fit well in both vampire tribal decks and any black-based offensive lineup.

Combo Potential: This legendary vampire offers significant combo potential, given her unique ability to add a +1/+1 counter to each attacking creature you control whenever she deals combat damage to a player. This can quickly escalate the potency of your assault and synergize with cards that thrive on powering up through counters.

Meta-Relevance: In metagames where swarming the board remains a strong tactic, Drana’s role becomes crucial. Her capability to boost your entire attacking force addresses the collective strength aspect, a useful trait against the prevalent board wipe strategies and creature-based matchups.


How to Beat

Drana, Liberator of Malakir is a daunting adversary to face in the realm of Magic: The Gathering. What sets her apart is her ability to give your other creatures +1/+1 counters whenever she deals combat damage to a player. Tackling her effectively often requires a preemptive approach. Firstly, prioritize removal spells that can target her before she attacks. Cards like Fatal Push, Path to Exile, or Defining Silence can efficiently deal with her at a relatively low cost.

Control strategies shine against cards like Drana. Look for ways to keep her off the battlefield or prevent her attack triggers. Counterspells are always a good answer to creature threats when cast. However, if she’s already on the field, ensnaring her in a Pacifism or a similar enchantment can neutralize the threat she poses. Board wipes can also reset the battlefield, sweeping Drana away in the process. In summary, quick removal, control elements, and utilizing board-wide solutions prove effective against Drana, Liberator of Malakir. Being proactive and responsive to her presence is key to keeping her at bay and maintaining dominance over the game’s flow.


BurnMana Recommendations

If your MTG strategy hinges on assembling an indomitable force with swift and relentless attacks, Drana, Liberator of Malakir deserves a spot in your deck. Her unique attribute of empowering other attacking creatures encourages a combat-focused approach, fitting seamlessly into vampire tribal or aggro setups. Embrace the challenge and consider her potential to turn the tide of battle in your favor. In the diverse world of MTG, it’s the clever utilization of each card’s strengths that defines the path to victory. In your pursuit of such mastery, we welcome you to delve deeper into strategies and card synergies that will bolster your game. Engage with us for insights to sharpen your skills and command the board like never before.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Drana, Liberator of Malakir MTG card by a specific set like Battle for Zendikar Promos and Battle for Zendikar, 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 Drana, Liberator of Malakir and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Drana, Liberator of Malakir Magic the Gathering card was released in 6 different sets between 2015-10-02 and 2023-11-17. Illustrated by Mike Bierek.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12015-10-02Battle for Zendikar PromosPBFZ 109s2015NormalBlackMike Bierek
22015-10-02Battle for ZendikarBFZ 1092015NormalBlackMike Bierek
32020-07-17JumpstartJMP 2252015NormalBlackMike Bierek
42022-04-29New Capenna CommanderNCC 2482015NormalBlackMike Bierek
52022-09-09Dominaria United CommanderDMC 1112015NormalBlackMike Bierek
62023-11-17The Lost Caverns of Ixalan CommanderLCC 1932015NormalBlackMike Bierek

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Drana, Liberator of Malakir has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2015-08-25 Drana's last ability triggers after combat damage has been dealt, so only attacking creatures that survive the combat damage step in which Drana deals combat damage will have +1/+1 counters put on them.
2015-08-25 The +1/+1 counter won't change how much damage Drana or any other attacking creature with first strike or double strike deals during that combat damage step. However, the +1/+1 counters that are put on attacking creatures without first strike will affect the damage those creatures deal during the regular combat damage step.