Flowstone Wyvern MTG Card
1997-10-14 - Number 176
2015-05-06 - Number 134
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Drake |
| Abilities | Flying |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 3 |
Text of card
Flying o R: Flowstone Wyvern gets +2/-2 until end of turn.
"Where I come from, stone stays on the ground." —Tahngarth of the *Weatherlight*
Cards like Flowstone Wyvern
Flowstone Wyvern is a unique creature card in Magic: The Gathering that shares some mechanical similarities with other cards featuring the “flowstone” attribute. Notably, the creature boasts the ability to increase its power at the cost of reduced toughness, much like its cousin, the Flowstone Shambler. While the Shambler requires one mana for its pump ability, the Wyvern has the edge of flying, granting it better evasion in combat.
Another card with a similar theme is the Flowstone Sculpture, which follows the same concept of trading toughness for power. However, the Sculpture demands a more considerable mana investment to convert into a significant threat on the board. In contrast, the Wyvern requires less mana to activate its ability and can quickly become a formidable flyer. Additionally, creatures like the Spikeshot Goblin echo this mechanic through their ability to deal damage equivalent to their power, although in a less directly aggressive manner as opposed to the immediate combat potential of Flowstone Wyvern.
In essence, Flowstone Wyvern stands out in the field of flexible power boost creatures. Its lower activation cost paired with an intrinsic flying trait positions it advantageously among its peers. For any MTG player looking to capitalize on adaptable offense within their deck, the Flowstone Wyvern is an intriguing choice.
Cards similar to Flowstone Wyvern by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: While the Flowstone Wyvern itself doesn’t directly allow you to pull more cards from your deck, it does present itself as a multifaceted threat that necessitates an answer from your opponent. The potential to use the card’s abilities to overcome opposing creatures can indirectly lead to gaining card advantage through better board control.
Resource Acceleration: The Flowstone Wyvern isn’t a direct source of resource acceleration like some other spells. However, its presence can streamline your strategy since your mana can then be devoted to powering up the Wyvern or developing your board presence with other creatures and spells. The efficiency of this creature can make it a pseudo-resource acceleration tool.
Instant Speed: Although the Wyvern itself is played at sorcery speed, the agility comes in its activated ability, which can pump its power at instant speed. This ability not only allows you to adjust your strategy flexibly during combat but also react to unexpected threats at a moment’s notice. This reactive capability can significantly impact the pace and outcome of a game.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One of the limitations of the Flowstone Wyvern is the necessity to discard a card to activate its ability. This could potentially deplete your hand, making it a challenging choice when your card resources are running thin.
Specific Mana Cost: Being a card with a requirement for red mana to both cast and utilize its ability, Flowstone Wyvern could be restrictive in decks that do not have a heavy red mana base. This could limit its inclusion to only certain types of decks, detracting from its versatility.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that includes two generic and two red mana, Flowstone Wyvern is viewed as having a relatively steep mana investment. In a game where tempo and resource efficiency are critical, there may be other creatures that provide more impact on the board for the same or lesser mana expenditure.
Reasons to Include Flowstone Wyvern in Your Collection
Versatility: The ability of Flowstone Wyvern to gain flying at a moment’s notice gives it an edge in both offensive and defensive scenarios, ensuring it plays well in a variety of deck builds focused on adaptability.
Combo Potential: This wyvern works well in strategies that capitalize on creatures with power adjustments, potentially working well with mechanics that rely on creatures’ power increases, like fling effects or cards that benefit from high-powered creatures.
Meta-Relevance: In a game environment where evasion is key, Flowstone Wyvern’s flight capability allows it to circumvent many ground-based defenses, making it a shrewd choice for any player looking to overcome a creature-heavy meta.
How to beat
Flowstone Wyvern presents a unique challenge on the battlefield with its ability to gain flying until end of turn. To tackle this creature, it’s essential to understand the nuances of its abilities. For instance, removal spells that can target creatures irrespective of flying status, such as Doom Blade or Murder, can handle the Wyvern effectively without much fuss. It’s critical to keep instant-speed removal handy to respond swiftly to the creature’s flight activation.
Another strategy involves minimizing the mana your opponent has available to activate the Wyvern’s ability. Land destruction or mana disruption cards could impede their resources, rendering the Wyvern’s abilities moot. Moreover, engaging in combat with creatures that have reach or any form of flying blockers can dissuade an opponent from investing mana into giving the Wyvern flying, instead keeping it grounded for more favorable confrontations.
Ultimately, staying mindful of the Wyvern’s potential and keeping control of the board state with targeted removals, blockers, or resource denial can secure a winning position against this formidable card.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Flowstone Wyvern MTG card by a specific set like Tempest and Tempest Remastered, 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 Flowstone Wyvern 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
See MTG Products
Printings
The Flowstone Wyvern Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1997-10-14 and 2015-05-06. Illustrated by Stephen Daniele.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1997-10-14 | Tempest | TMP | 176 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Stephen Daniele | |
| 2 | 2015-05-06 | Tempest Remastered | TPR | 134 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Stephen Daniele |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Flowstone Wyvern has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |