Ichor Drinker MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Phyrexian Vampire |
| Abilities | Incubate,Lifelink,Transform |
| Released | 2023-04-21 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | March of the Machine |
| Set code | MOM |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 1 |
| Number | 111 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Aurore Folny |
Text of card
Lifelink , Exile Ichor Drinker from your graveyard: Incubate 2. Activate only as a sorcery. (Create an Incubator token with two +1/+1 counters on it and ": Transform this artifact." It transforms into a 0/0 Phyrexian artifact creature.)
Cards like Ichor Drinker
Ichor Drinker introduces a unique spin on life-draining creatures in Magic: The Gathering. Echoing the mechanics of well-known creatures such as Vampire Nighthawk, Ichor Drinker offers a blend of abilities that could give it an edge in certain decks. Vampire Nighthawk comes with flying and deathtouch, making it a formidable threat in the air; whereas Ichor Drinker, while missing the aerial advantage, compensates with potentially unlimited growth through its life-drain ability.
Another card worth comparing is Blood Artist, which saps life from opponents whenever a creature dies and channels it back to the player. While Blood Artist is subtle and revolves around other creatures’ demise, Ichor Drinker is more direct, engaging in combat and growing stronger with each encounter. Lastly, we see similarities with Exquisite Blood, an enchantment that has a broader life-draining effect, triggering off any life loss by the opponent. Ichor Drinker is more narrowly focused but can become a towering presence if left unchecked.
The precision with which Ichor Drinker targets life totals, coupled with its synergy in life-gain strategies, solidifies its place among MTG cards that focus on draining life to overpower opponents.
Cards similar to Ichor Drinker by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Ichor Drinker. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | WBG | Pauper | Pauper League 2024-04-23 | |
 | BG | Standard | Traditional Standard Ranked Decklists: April 22, 2024 | |
 | Dimir Midrange | Standard | Dimir Midrange | Traditional Standard Ranked Decklists: April 22, 2024 |
 | Abzan Aggro | Standard | Abzan Insidious Roots | MTG SEA Championships Thailand Open Season 2 Round 3 |
 | Golgari Tokens | Standard | Sultai Insidious Roots | The Pizza Box Open: Standard |
 | Rakdos Sacrifice | Standard | Rakdos Sacrifice | The Pizza Box Open: Standard |
 | Rakdos Epiphany | Standard | Rakdos Sacrifice | ~~ Izzet Explosive Experiment Event |
 | Rakdos Vampires | Standard | Rakdos Vampires | 2023Players Convention Aichi 2023 Standard Open |
 | Abzan Vampires | Pioneer | Abzan Vampires | Pioneer League 2023-12-09 |
| BRG | Pauper | Pauper Challenge 64 2023-12-03 (1) |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Ichor Drinker comes with the potential to give you a constant flow of cards. Each time it deals combat damage to a player, you may get to draw additional cards, ensuring you never run low on options.
Resource Acceleration: This creature can also serve as a form of resource acceleration. By allowing you to siphon off resources from your opponent with its special abilities, you can potentially ramp up your own plays, staying ahead of the curve.
Instant Speed: While Ichor Drinker itself isn’t an instant, it can have great synergy with instant speed spells in your arsenal. Responding to your opponents’ moves, then swinging in with Ichor Drinker for card draws can dramatically change the tide of the match.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One of the main drawbacks of Ichor Drinker is its requirement for you to discard a card to engage its abilities. This makes it less ideal when your hand size is already dwindling, forcing you into difficult decisions about resource management.
Specific Mana Cost: Ichor Drinker demands black mana in its casting cost, which can restrict its inclusion to decks that can produce this specific type of mana reliably. This limits its versatility and can be challenging for multicolored decks that may not have the mana flexibility.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a requirement of several mana to get Ichor Drinker on the battlefield, it often comes into play later than other creatures. This mana investment might not align with the tempo of faster-paced decks, especially considering other creatures at a similar cost could provide more immediate board presence or value.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Ichor Drinker can seamlessly adapt to various deck builds, particularly those that revolve around life gain and life total manipulation, making it a versatile addition to your collection.
Combo Potential: This card holds the potential to create powerful synergies with proliferate mechanics or any strategy aimed at manipulating +1/+1 counters, enhancing your deck’s combo capabilities.
Meta-Relevance: Should the current competitive scene favor decks that capitalize on incremental advantages or specific types of counters, Ichor Drinker’s unique abilities could prove essential in gaining a competitive edge.
How to beat
Ichor Drinker is an intriguing creature card in Magic: The Gathering, which can be a real threat if not addressed quickly by players. It often benefits from its proliferate ability, allowing it to amplify its strength by increasing the number of +1/+1 counters on it each time it deals damage to a player or planeswalker. To combat this card, focus on removal spells that can target Ichor Drinker before it escalates out of control. Spells such as Swords to Plowshares or Path to Exile are highly effective due to their ability to exile the creature, thus preventing any recursion strategies that might bring it back from the graveyard.
Another tactic is to utilize counter spells to intercept Ichor Drinker before it even hits the battlefield. Counterspell or Mana Leak are prime examples of this strategy, helping you to maintain the tempo and keep the playing field clear. In the event that Ichor Drinker does resolve, employing deathtouch creatures or those that can block and destroy it without taking damage, like those with indestructible, can ensure a one-for-one trade, mitigating the long-term threat it poses.
Awareness of when to play spells and creatures is key to keeping Ichor Drinker at bay. Thus, it is crucial for players to have their removal or counter spells handy, or to set up a board that can efficiently deal with such looming threats. This strategic anticipation helps preserve game state balance against formidable cards like Ichor Drinker.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Ichor Drinker MTG card by a specific set like March of the Machine, 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 Ichor Drinker 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 Ichor Drinker has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Alchemy | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |