Dread Drone MTG Card

Grants card advantage by generating two spawn tokens, enhancing gameplay through strategic flexibility. Sacrificing tokens for mana at instant speed allows players to adapt to opponents’ moves swiftly. While useful, Dread Drone’s specific mana cost and high casting cost could limit its playability.

Rise of the Eldrazi (ROE)
2010-04-23 - Number 108

Modern Masters 2015 (MM2)
2015-05-22 - Number 80

Mystery Booster (MB1)
2019-11-07 - Number 635

Commander Masters (CMM)
2023-08-04 - Number 152

The List (PLST)
2020-09-26 - Number MM2-80

Card sets	Released in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	5
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Eldrazi Drone
Power	4
Toughness	1

Text of card

When Dread Drone enters the battlefield, put two 0/1 colorless Eldrazi Spawn creature tokens onto the battlefield. They have "Sacrifice this creature: Add to your mana pool."

Each Eldrazi ancient spawned a lineage of horrors in unfathomable shapes.

Cards like Dread Drone

Dread Drone is an intriguing creature within the expansive arsenal of MTG. As a comparison, Endless One from the Battle for Zendikar set also offers versatility in creature size. Unlike Dread Drone, Endless One doesn’t automatically generate additional bodies, but its variable power and toughness lets it fit any curve.

When assessing Eldrazi Spawn creators like Brood Monitor, we must acknowledge the difference in mana cost and output. Brood Monitor yields three spawns compared to the two from Dread Drone, yet it demands a steeper six mana investment. Pawn of Ulamog stands as another familiar, providing spawn tokens; however, it necessitates the death of another creature.

Considering efficiency, Sifter of Skulls provides passive spawn creation, but is limited to non-token creature deaths. Dread Drone is distinct in its immediate and guaranteed spawn generation, offering a strategic advantage in decks that capitalize on creature presence or sacrifice mechanics.

In the realm of spawn-toting creatures, Dread Drone provides a reliable and immediate benefit upon casting, presenting a valuable inclusion for players looking to multiply their forces or ramp up mana swiftly in their MTG endeavors.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Dread Drone enters the battlefield with two 0/1 colorless Eldrazi Spawn creature tokens that can be sacrificed for mana. This allows Dread Drone to potentially provide card superiority by offering additional creatures that can be used for various strategic advantages or sacrifices.

Resource Acceleration: The Eldrazi Spawn tokens that Dread Drone creates can be sacrificed for a quick boost in mana resources. This can accelerate your gameplay by allowing you to cast higher-cost spells sooner than you normally could, providing a significant advantage over your opponent.

Instant Speed: While Dread Drone itself may not be an instant, the action of sacrificing its spawn tokens for mana can be done at instant speed. This provides the flexibility to react to your opponent’s moves or to unleash powerful spells during their turn without the need for mana saved from your previous turn.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Dread Drone card doesn’t demand a discard, but it’s vital to consider what parting with a card can do to your hand in other scenarios. Always be prepared for the cost of playing creatures with similar mechanics.

Specific Mana Cost: Dread Drone’s casting cost of one colorless and four black mana could be a challenge in multicolored decks that could utilize its abilities but may struggle with the specific mana requirements.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Five mana to summon Dread Drone may seem steep when other creatures can offer similar or better utility at a lower cost. Mana efficiency is crucial in the game, and there are situations where deploying Dread Drone could be less advantageous than other choices.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Dread Drone’s ability to produce creature tokens upon entering the battlefield allows it to serve multiple roles. It can enhance your board presence, support sacrifice-based strategies, or be used as fodder for various effects that require creature expenditure. Its utility in diverse deck themes, such as Eldrazi ramp or token-based strategies, makes it a flexible addition to any collection.

Combo Potential: The spawn tokens generated by Dread Drone are particularly useful for combo enthusiasts. They provide a source of colorless mana that can be crucial for activating powerful Eldrazi abilities or enabling combos that require a surge of resources. Additionally, the tokens can synergize with effects that capitalize on creatures entering or leaving the battlefield, unlocking potential for intricate and impactful plays.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where the game is decided by overwhelming board states or where stalling until large threats can be deployed is viable, Dread Drone can hold significant value. Its capability to quickly alter the tempo of the game by providing both a sizable body and additional resources makes it relevant in a meta that favors such tactics.

How to beat

Dread Drone emerges as a compelling creature in the realm of MTG with its ability to ramp up mana by generating Eldrazi Spawn tokens. It’s a card that fits smoothly into decks that capitalize on sacrificing creatures for greater benefits. Comparable to other creatures like Carrier Thrall or Pawn of Ulamog, Dread Drone shines in its creation of multiple tokens with just one card, enhancing its utility in various strategies.

Yet, when facing Dread Drone, many players often overlook simple yet effective counters. Board wipes like Day of Judgment or spot removals such as Doom Blade serve as straightforward solutions to neutralize its token generation advantage. Additionally, graveyard hate cards, such as Relic of Progenitus, can thwart plans that involve recurring the Drone from the graveyard, thereby eliminating a potential repeat of the token generating process.

In essence, while Dread Drone presents an interesting dynamic by providing a quick path to mana acceleration and fodder for sacrificial tactics, its impact can be mitigated with the right removal spells and strategies. By anticipating its presence on the board and preparing accordingly, players can navigate around the advantages it provides and maintain control of the game state.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Dread Drone MTG card by a specific set like Rise of the Eldrazi and Modern Masters 2015, 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 Dread Drone and other MTG cards:

BUY NOW
BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Printings

The Dread Drone Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2010-04-23 and 2023-08-04. Illustrated by Raymond Swanland.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2010-04-23	Rise of the Eldrazi	ROE	108	2003	Normal	Black	Raymond Swanland
2	2015-05-22	Modern Masters 2015	MM2	80	2015	Normal	Black	Raymond Swanland
3	2019-11-07	Mystery Booster	MB1	635	2015	Normal	Black	Raymond Swanland
4	~~2020-09-26~~	The List	PLST	MM2-80	2015	Normal	Black	Raymond Swanland
5	2023-08-04	Commander Masters	CMM	152	2015	Normal	Black	Raymond Swanland

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Dread Drone has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal