Dromad Purebred MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Camel Beast |
| Released | 2005-10-07 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Ravnica: City of Guilds |
| Set code | RAV |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 5 |
| Number | 15 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Carl Critchlow |
Text of card
Whenever Dromad Purebred is dealt damage, you gain 1 life.
"I have seen much from the back of my dromad, most of it terribly wrong. The more I see, the more I am convinced of the rightness of my path." —Heruj, Selesnya initiate
Cards like Dromad Purebred
Dromad Purebred stands out in the pantheon of lifegain creatures within the Magic: The Gathering universe. While it shares the lifegain trait with cards like Nyx-Fleece Ram, what sets the Purebred apart is its incremental nature. Each time Dromad Purebred is dealt damage, you gain that amount of life, making it a reliable source of health in protracted battles.
Analogous in function, we encounter the Ajani’s Pridemate. Although the Pridemate doesn’t directly provide life, it grows stronger with each instance of life gain. This differs from the Purebred’s setup as Dromad does not change in power or toughness. Then there is Wall of Reverence, which at the end of your turn, allows you to gain life equal to the power of the creature you control with the greatest power, potentially offering a larger, single instance of life gain compared to the consistent, but smaller, increments from Dromad Purebred.
To encapsulate the comparison, Dromad Purebred may not be the most potent creature at a glance. Yet, it holds a unique space in lifegain strategies, aligning well with cards that thrive on repeated instances of life gain rather than single, large increments.
Cards similar to Dromad Purebred by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Dromad Purebred boasts an intrinsic ability to offensively manage the battlefield while defending its owner’s life total. The cycling capability of Dromad Purebred offers flexible card filtering to help dig for more impactful cards when the situation demands it, providing a subtle but critical advantage.
Resource Acceleration: Despite not directly accelerating resources in the traditional sense of ramping mana, Dromad Purebred’s lifelink characteristic can be seen as a form of indirect resource gain. By providing a steady stream of life, it allows players more comfort in utilizing their life total as a resource to draw additional cards or activate abilities that cost life.
Instant Speed: While Dromad Purebred itself cannot be cast at instant speed, its cycling ability can be used at the end of an opponent’s turn or in response to an action. This functionality ensures that resources aren’t unnecessarily tied up during your own turn and adds a layer of strategic depth to the gameplay.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Dromad Purebred demands a player to discard another card to activate its ability. This can be a tactical setback when your hand is already stretched thin and can potentially deprive you of crucial resources.
Specific Mana Cost: Casting this creature requires a concrete combination of mana, including white mana. This could constrain its inclusion to specific types of decks that can reliably generate the necessary colors, potentially limiting its versatility across various deck archetypes.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a demanding mana cost for its body and ability, Dromad Purebred may fall short when measured against other creatures in the same mana range. This can impact your game’s tempo, especially in environments where efficiency and speed are crucial.
Reasons to Include Dromad Purebred in Your Collection
Versatility: Dromad Purebred offers adaptability across multiple deck types, especially those looking for robust blockers that can gain life consistently. Its presence on the battlefield strengthens your defenses while contributing to your life total.
Combo Potential: This card can serve as an important piece in combinations that revolve around life gain or creature abilities being triggered. It is capable of synergizing with strategies that exploit its repeated life gain feature for various beneficial effects.
Meta-Relevance: In game environments where aggro decks are prevalent, Dromad Purebred stands out as a deterrent, bolstering your life and impeding opponents’ strategies that rely on dealing quick damage to secure victory. Having this card can shift the balance in such metas to your advantage.
How to beat
Dromad Purebred brings a level of resilience to the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering with its unique lifegain ability whenever it’s blocked. This can create setbacks for opponents who might be leveraging strategies centered around combat damage. To effectively counter this sturdy beast, consider bypassing its lifegain by utilizing flying creatures that can soar over it or direct damage spells to eliminate it without engaging in combat.
Another strategy lies in exploiting its lack of evasion. Since Dromad Purebred has no inherent protection against spells or abilities, removal cards are highly effective. Look toward spells like Doom Blade or Path to Exile to handle this camel efficiently. Moreover, to prevent the lifegain altogether, a card with the ability to give creatures -1/-1 for the turn could be pivotal when it attempts to block, thus nullifying its ability and clearing the path for your attacks.
Understanding when to attack and what resources to manage can define the outcome of facing Dromad Purebred. With a carefully planned tactic, you can ensure your match-up against this creature will be in your favor while mitigating any lifegain advantage it could impart to your opponent.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Dromad Purebred MTG card by a specific set like Ravnica: City of Guilds, 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 Dromad Purebred 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
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Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Dromad Purebred has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Dromad Purebred card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2005-10-01 | Each time Dromad Purebred is dealt damage, including from multiple sources at once, you gain 1 life. You don’t gain life equal to the damage dealt. |