Drannith Stinger MTG Card


Drannith Stinger excels in cycling decks by incrementally dealing damage while digging through your deck. Flexibility with instant speed cycling offers strategic depth and advantageous resource management. Standard mana cost and cycling dependency may challenge deck integration, despite its utility.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Human Wizard
Abilities Cycling
Power 2
Toughness 2

Text of card

Whenever you cycle another card, Drannith Stinger deals 1 damage to each opponent. Cycling (, Discard this card: Draw a card.)

The first line of defense, and the last person you want to anger.


Cards like Drannith Stinger

Drannith Stinger has cemented its place in Magic: The Gathering as a solid cycling card that provides incremental damage to the opponent. Cycling cards are not uncommon, and when comparing Drannith Stinger to peers like Flourishing Fox, we see how each card caters to a different strategy within the cycling archetype. Flourishing Fox does not deal direct damage, yet it grows stronger with each cycle, becoming a sizeable threat on the board.

Moving towards Imposing Vantasaur, another creature with cycling, we observe a tactical difference. While it offers a larger body for defense and lacks the direct damage mechanic of Drannith Stinger, it holds an edge in stamina and presence. Then there’s Valiant Rescuer, which aligns closely with Drannith Stinger by benefiting from cycling. Unlike the Stinger’s burn ability, Valiant Rescuer generates a 1/1 human soldier token with each cycle, promoting a wider board state.

In sum, Drannith Stinger stands out in the world of MTG cycling cards, offering a unique blend of direct damage synergy. Each card within the cycling family plays a distinct role, and Drannith Stinger is particularly valuable for players looking to whittle down their opponent’s life total while efficiently sifting through their deck.

Flourishing Fox - MTG Card versions
Imposing Vantasaur - MTG Card versions
Valiant Rescuer - MTG Card versions
Flourishing Fox - MTG Card versions
Imposing Vantasaur - MTG Card versions
Valiant Rescuer - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

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

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Cycle StormCycle Storm PauperCycle StormPauper Challenge 32 2024-04-05

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Drannith Stinger doesn’t directly let you draw cards, it adds value by allowing you to cycle through your deck more efficiently. Each time you cycle another card, it deals 1 damage to each opponent, helping chip away at their life total while you search for key pieces of your strategy or just find your next land drop.

Resource Acceleration: Drannith Stinger fits well into decks that capitalize on cycling or discarding cards. Although it may not produce mana or treasure tokens, it accelerates your game plan by acting as a repeatable source of direct damage. This can put the pressure on opponents early and often, especially in decks that focus on cycling numerous cards in a single turn.

Instant Speed: The cycling ability Drannith Stinger possesses can be activated at instant speed. This adds a layer of flexibility to your game allowing you to wait for the perfect moment to cycle it away, potentially responding to an opponent’s action or simply at the end of their turn to maintain optimum resource usage and strategic advantage.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Drannith Stinger requires cycling to trigger its effect, potentially forcing players to discard cards they would prefer to keep in-hand for strategic purposes.

Specific Mana Cost: This card’s activation is bound by its red mana requirement, which could hinder its inclusion in multicolored decks not heavily skewed towards red mana production.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost of two, including one red, Drannith Stinger’s initial damage output might not measure up to other options available at a similar or lower cost bracket, posing a budgeting concern during deck building.


Reasons to Include Drannith Stinger in Your Collection

Versatility: Drannith Stinger is a multi-faceted card that supports a range of decks, particularly those looking to exploit its cycling ability. Whether in a dedicated cycling deck or as a versatile piece in red aggro builds, this card finds a place.

Combo Potential: Every time you cycle another card, Drannith Stinger deals 1 damage to each opponent, which can add up quickly in cycling-heavy strategies. It can seamlessly integrate into combo engines that aim to cycle through the deck rapidly.

Meta-Relevance: With its low casting cost and inherent synergy with cycling mechanics, Drannith Stinger stays relevant, as cycling decks often remain competitive in various metas. It can apply constant pressure in slower-paced matches and offer an alternate win condition.


How to beat

Understanding how to tackle Drannith Stinger is essential for players looking to prevail in MTG matches. This common creature poses a threat with its ability to deal damage each time you cycle another card, potentially draining life points steadily over the course of the game. To counter this and similar threats, removing such creatures quickly proves effective. Cards such as Shock or Heartless Act can deal with Drannith Stinger efficiently before its damage output becomes significant. Alternatively, enhancing your life total through cards like Revitalize helps mitigate the direct damage strategy that Drannith Stinger capitalizes on.

Aside from direct removal, players can utilize enchantments like Pacifism or power-reducing effects to render the Stinger harmless without having to spend removal spells. Additionally, considering Drannith Stinger depends on cycling cards to be effective, targeting the player’s hand with discard effects limits their ability to cycle and stifles the Stinger’s damaging capability. Always remember, timing is key; observing when your opponent is poised to cycle heavily can guide you on when to play your disruption for maximum effect.

Ultimately, each game presents unique challenges and knowing your deck’s tools to handle creatures like Drannith Stinger is vital. A strategic balance of removal, life gain, and hand disruption can neutralize the threat, setting you on the path to victory.


BurnMana Recommendations

Discovering the best ways to integrate Drannith Stinger into your MTG deck can significantly improve your gameplay. This card offers more than just direct damage; it enhances your ability to sift through your deck for those key plays. By examining its pros and cons, understanding its place alongside similar cards, and developing strategies to counteract it, you’re well on your way to mastering its use. Whether you’re a seasoned player or new to the game, there’s a place for this versatile creature in your repertoire. Join us as we dive deeper into MTG strategies and explore how Drannith Stinger can ignite your path to victory.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Drannith Stinger MTG card by a specific set like Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths and Jumpstart 2022, 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 Drannith Stinger and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Drannith Stinger Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2020-04-24 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12020-04-24Ikoria: Lair of BehemothsIKO 1132015NormalBlackDenman Rooke
22022-12-02Jumpstart 2022J22 782015NormalBlackDaisuke Tatsuma

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Drannith Stinger has restrictions

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

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2020-04-17 In a Two-Headed Giant game, Drannith Stinger’s first ability causes the opposing team to lose 2 life.
2020-04-17 Some cards with cycling have an ability that triggers when you cycle them, and some cards have an ability that triggers whenever you cycle any card. These triggered abilities resolve before you draw from the cycling ability.
2020-04-17 Triggered abilities from cycling a card and the cycling ability itself aren’t spells. Effects that interact with spells (such as that of Cancel) won’t affect them.
2020-04-17 You can cycle a card even if it has a triggered ability from cycling that won’t have a legal target. This is because the cycling ability and the triggered ability are separate. This also means that if either ability is countered (with Disallow, for example), the other ability will still resolve.