Laboratory Drudge MTG Card
2020-11-20 - Number 78
2020-11-20 - Number 636
2002-06-24 - Number 86018
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Zombie Horror |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 4 |
Text of card
At the beginning of each end step, draw a card if you've cast a spell from a graveyard or activated an ability of a card in a graveyard this turn.
"Many hands make light work." —Ludevic, necro-alchemist
Cards like Laboratory Drudge
Laboratory Drudge from Magic: The Gathering presents a unique angle on recurring card advantage. With a trigger that encourages players to draw cards on each of their turns, it has a resemblance to cards like Psychosis Crawler, which also rewards players for drawing cards with direct life point damage to opponents. However, Laboratory Drudge offers the advantage of being more predictable in its card draw effect, not reliant on the number of cards in a player’s hand.
Another card that draws a parallel is River Kelpie, which sees play in decks that focus on casting spells from the graveyard. Both River Kelpie and Laboratory Drudge capitalize on triggering conditions for card draw. Although River Kelpie can potentially draw more cards depending on the number of spells cast from the graveyard, Laboratory Drudge guarantees a steady draw, as long as players maximize the trigger condition once each round.
Considering their utility and conditions, Laboratory Drudge holds a firm standing among cards that facilitate consistent card advantage. It offers a reliable draw mechanism that can be cleverly exploited in the right deck, maintaining the flow of options for the player turn after turn.
Cards similar to Laboratory Drudge by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Laboratory Drudge enables consistent card draw every turn by triggering whenever you activate a card’s ability involving a graveyard. Leveraging graveyard strategies enhances your ability to stay ahead in resources.
Resource Acceleration: By converting graveyard actions into card draw, Laboratory Drudge indirectly accelerates your resource access, granting you more options and fueling your game plan rapidly.
Instant Speed: Taking advantage of instant-speed interactions breaks the limitation of sorcery speed plays. Having Laboratory Drudge on the battlefield allows you to utilize your graveyard during any turn, thus keeping pressure on your opponents while refilling your hand.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Laboratory Drudge necessitates the discard of a card, which can be detrimental when your hand is already sparse. In the dynamic flow of the game, having to lose card advantage can be quite a setback, especially if you’re unable to capitalize on the triggered effect consistently.
Specific Mana Cost: This creature card requires both blue and black mana to cast, making it somewhat restrictive. Players running decks without these specific colors will be unable to utilize Laboratory Drudge, and even within blue-black decks, the rigid casting cost can complicate mana bases that are also trying to accommodate other color requirements.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of four mana, this card occupies a slot where players expect significant impact. In a game where tempo is key, the cost-to-effect ratio of Laboratory Drudge can be inefficient compared to other available options that either cost less or provide a larger immediate benefit upon hitting the battlefield.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Laboratory Drudge offers unique flexibility, finding its place in decks that harness graveyard strategies or generate a high volume of tokens. Its ability to consistently draw cards each turn makes it an asset in any build that progresses its game plan through incremental development.
Combo Potential: This card has excellent synergies with self-mill strategies, interactively enabling you to draw more cards as you fill the graveyard. Laboratory Drudge can be a cornerstone in decks that aim to assemble powerful combos through continuous card advantage.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta that indulges in graveyard tactics or where incremental card advantage is key, Laboratory Drudge consistently performs. Its presence in your collection means you’re equipped to adapt to various environments and maintain edge through its draw mechanism.
How to beat
Laboratory Drudge stands out in MTG as a formidable utility creature that thrives on your regular use of instant or sorcery spells with graveyard interactions. Each time you cast from your graveyard, this card rewards you with a card draw. To tilt the match in your favor against an opponent relying on Laboratory Drudge, a straightforward strategy would be to limit their graveyard access. Utilizing cards that exile or shuffle an opponent’s graveyard back into their library would disrupt their game plan, as it denies them consistent draw opportunities.
Subsequently, threat removal spells can be highly effective. Exile-based removal such as Path to Exile ensures that Laboratory Drudge doesn’t come back easily. Moreover, as Laboratory Drudge thrives on the repeated use of instant and sorcery cards from the graveyard, graveyard hate cards like Rest in Peace or Leyline of the Void can turn off the card advantage engine Laboratory Drudge requires to be effective.
In essence, cutting off the synergy Laboratory Drudge offers in a deck focused on graveyard mechanics negates its value and could provide the upper hand you need. As with any card, understanding the deck’s objectives that feature Laboratory Drudge is crucial to devising a game plan to counter it effectively.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Laboratory Drudge MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Commander Legends, 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 Laboratory Drudge 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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Printings
The Laboratory Drudge Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2020-11-20 and 2020-11-20. Illustrated by Milivoj Ćeran.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 86018 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Milivoj Ćeran | ||
| 2 | 2020-11-20 | Commander Legends | CMR | 78 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Milivoj Ćeran | |
| 3 | 2020-11-20 | Commander Legends | CMR | 636 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Milivoj Ćeran |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Laboratory Drudge has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Laboratory Drudge card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2020-11-10 | It doesn't matter where the card is during your end step, as long as it was in a graveyard when you cast it or activated one of its abilities. |
| 2020-11-10 | Laboratory Drudge's ability will trigger at the beginning of each end step whether you've cast a spell from a graveyard or activated an ability of a card in a graveyard that turn or not. You can respond to that ability and do one (or both) of the things to draw a card. |