Fledgling Dragon MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Rare
Type	Creature — Dragon
Abilities	Flying,Threshold
Released	2002-05-27
Set symbol
Set name	Judgment
Set code	JUD
Power	2
Toughness	2
Number	90
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Greg Staples

Key Takeaways

Fledgling Dragon promotes card advantage and resource acceleration, powering up through graveyard interaction.
Though powerful, it requires a dedicated strategy to overcome early game and mana curve hurdles.
Its threshold ability and versatile roles make it a competitive choice in various MTG decks.

Text of card

Flying Threshold Fledgling Dragon gets +3/+3 and has "o R: Fledgling Dragon gets +1/+0 until end of turn." (You have threshold as long as seven or more cards are in your graveyard.)

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Fledgling Dragon aids in card advantage by incentivizing you to fill your graveyard with cards, which can subsequently empower this dragon or other graveyard-dependent cards.

Resource Acceleration: As a creature that benefits from having seven or more cards in your graveyard, Fledgling Dragon encourages a faster play style, often leading to resource acceleration to quickly reach the threshold state.

Instant Speed: While not an instant itself, Fledgling Dragon can benefit from instant speed spells that fill your graveyard, allowing it to grow and achieve its threshold bonus unpredictably during the course of the game.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Fledgling Dragon necessitates a significant number of cards in the graveyard to activate its abilities. This can be a hurdle, particularly in early game scenarios or decks that don’t focus on self-mill strategies.

Specific Mana Cost: This creature card requires specifically red mana in its casting cost, which may not always align seamlessly with multi-colored decks. This can create challenges in mana curve management and limit the dragon’s inclusion to predominantly red decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost demanding four mana, including two red, the Fledgling Dragon can be a hefty investment. When considering its dependency on graveyard resources to fully benefit from its potential, alternative creatures at lower mana costs might offer more immediate board presence and impact.

Reasons to Include Fledgling Dragon in Your Collection

Versatility: Fledgling Dragon brings flexibility to the table, comfortably fitting into a variety of red-centric or multicolor decks. Its initial lower cost makes it a solid early play, while its threshold ability offers a substantial power boost, making it a valuable card throughout different stages of the game.

Combo Potential: With the threshold ability turning Fledgling Dragon into a potent 5/5 flyer with firebreathing, it pairs well with strategies aimed at filling the graveyard quickly. This synergy unlocks powerful combinations with cards designed to dump cards into the graveyard or with mechanics like madness and flashback.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where flying creatures are prevalent, Fledgling Dragon can stand out as both an offensive and defensive asset. Moreover, as players devise strategies that utilize their graveyard, this card’s relevance is heightened by being both a threat and a combo enabler.

How to beat

Fledgling Dragon is a unique creature card in Magic: The Gathering that grows stronger as you stockpile cards in your graveyard. To effectively counter this formidable threat, players should focus on removing its source of power. Utilizing graveyard exile effects can disrupt its threshold ability, preventing it from becoming the powerhouse it’s designed to be. Cards like Relic of Progenitus or Rest in Peace can be essential tools in your arsenal.

Another strategy is to deal with the Fledgling Dragon swiftly through removal spells before it fulfills its threshold condition. Instant speed removals such as Path to Exile or Murderous Rider can deal with the creature efficiently, keeping the board under control. It’s crucial to manage threats like Fledgling Dragon early on to prevent opponents from snowballing to victory.

Lastly, counter magic also proves to be a significant hindrance for players relying on Fledgling Dragon. Countering the creature upon casting ensures that it never even touches the board, averting any potential issues before they arise. Spells like Counterspell or Mana Leak can provide this preventative control effectively, rounding off the repertoire of measures to stifle Fledgling Dragon’s impact on the game.

Cards like Fledgling Dragon

Fledgling Dragon is a unique creature card that takes its rightful place among Magic: The Gathering’s varied beaters. When we look at cards like Quirion Dryad, there’s a notable parallel in the potential for growth. Both cards thrive on the cast of noncreature spells, allowing them to become significantly powerful over time. However, Fledgling Dragon offers an additional advantage with its threshold ability, granting it not only +1/+1 but also the flying and firebreathing capabilities once threshold is achieved.

Enigma Drake is another card that shares a relationship with Fledgling Dragon, owing to its power being dependent on spells in the graveyard. While Enigma Drake counts instant and sorcery cards exclusively, Fledgling Dragon’s potential is unleashed by having seven or more cards in the graveyard, of any type. Finally, Spellheart Chimera stands as a contender, working in a similar vein to Enigma Drake, with the added benefit of trample. Yet, Spellheart Chimera’s toughness is fixed, a limitation Fledgling Dragon does not share.

Taken together, while there are cards with growth factors dependent on spell casting, Fledgling Dragon positions itself with the added versatility and resilience that can surprise opponents with sudden power spikes and formidable battlefield presence within MTG’s dragon-themed arsenal.

Cards similar to Fledgling Dragon by color, type and mana cost

Krark-Clan Engineers - MTG Card versions

Shimatsu the Bloodcloaked - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Fledgling Dragon MTG card by a specific set like Judgment, 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 Fledgling Dragon and other MTG cards: