Skywinder Drake MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Drake
Abilities	Flying
Released	2011-07-15
Set symbol
Set name	Magic 2012
Set code	M12
Power	3
Toughness	1
Number	75
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Dan Scott

Key Takeaways

Skywinder Drake shines in aerial combat, forcing opponents to manage resources for its removal.
Efficient casting cost aids in quick strategic plays, enhancing tempo in the early game.
Its flying-only block trait curtails versatility, necessitating strategic deck construction.

Text of card

Flying Skywinder Drake can block only creatures with flying.

It's so light and fragile that it can glide where the air is thinnest.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Skywinder Drake can be a key player in strategies aimed at building card advantage. Its constant presence in the aerial zone pressures opponents to have an answer, often requiring them to expend more resources to deal with it.

Resource Acceleration: Although Skywinder Drake is not a direct source of resource acceleration, its low mana cost enables quick deployment, saving mana for other utilities and plays. Its efficiency in cost-to-power ratio aids in a swifter offensive strategy.

Instant Speed: With flying capabilities, Skywinder Drake enhances the effectiveness of instant speed spells by serving as a constant threat. Opponents must consider the potential damage from the Drake when deciding whether to leave mana untapped to respond to other instant speed interactions.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Skywinder Drake may provide some aerial advantage, its presence in your hand can become a liability if you’re forced into a situation where discarding is required for other effects or as a penalty. This can inadvertently lead to a strategic disadvantage, as you may have to part with this creature or another valuable card in your hand.

Specific Mana Cost: Skywinder Drake demands a specific mana arrangement to cast—two generic and one blue. This cost may not seem overly restrictive, but it certainly requires a commitment to blue mana resources, potentially limiting the Drake’s integration into multi-colored decks or those utilizing a wider color palette.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: As a flying creature with stats of 3/1, the three mana cost for deploying Skywinder Drake is discernibly steep when compared to other options in the game. Players might find themselves weighing the cost-benefit of using this card versus other creatures that offer similar aerial capabilities without such a mana investment.

Reasons to Include Skywinder Drake in Your Collection

Versatility: Skywinder Drake’s ability to only block creatures with flying gives it a specific but useful role in decks. It can be an efficient attacker in the sky due to its evasion, fitting well in blue-based flying-themed decks.

Combo Potential: This card works well with strategies that capitalize on flying creatures. Pairing it with cards that buff flyers or benefit from the number of creatures with flying you control can create a powerful synergy in your deck.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where the skies are less defended, Skywinder Drake can be a consistent threat. Additionally, its low casting cost makes it relevant for decks looking to maintain tempo and apply early game pressure.

How to beat

Skywinder Drake presents a unique challenge on the battlefield, soaring over defenders with its impressive flight capabilities. This blue creature distinguishes itself with its flying trait, able to evade ground forces with ease, making it an agile component in aerial assault strategies. What it brings in terms of agility, it lacks in versatility, as it can’t block creatures with flying, which is a key aspect to exploit when strategizing against it.

To overcome Skywinder Drake, players can look to cards that neutralize the flying advantage. Utilizing spells that can ground or remove flying creatures provides a solution; spells like Plummet or Silklash Spider’s ability serve well in this situation. Alternatively, ample removal spells exist in MTG to directly deal with such threats. Instant removals like Doom Blade or Essence Scatter, which counters the creature spell, can ensure that Skywinder Drake never gets the chance to dictate aerial dominance. Magic: The Gathering game dynamics also offer indirect ways to handle the Drake, such as enhancing your creatures’ flying defense or employing creatures that can deal damage regardless of flying, like those with reach or ‘pinging’ abilities.

In essence, curbing the influence of Skywinder Drake comes down to preparedness and building a deck with answers to flying menaces, thus grounding the threat and maintaining board control.

Cards like Skywinder Drake

Skywinder Drake brings its own strategic nuance to the flying creatures of Magic: The Gathering. This card is akin to other three mana cost flyers, such as Welkin Tern, which shares the same power and limitation of only being able to block creatures with flying. However, Skywinder Drake stands distinct with its additional point of toughness, providing slightly more durability against sources of damage on the battlefield.

Another card worth comparing is Mistral Charger, which has the same mana cost and the unrestricted flying ability, allowing it to block ground creatures as well. Even though Mistral Charger offers versatility, Skywinder Drake compensates with its stronger resistance in aerial combat. Then there’s Snapping Drake, a card that might seem similar at a glance due to its flying trait, but it actually requires an additional mana, which could affect your tempo in-game.

While assessing these flying creatures, it’s evident that Skywinder Drake offers a balanced mix of aggression and resilience for its mana value, making it a solid choice in decks that capitalize on the evasion flying creatures provide.

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Skywinder Drake MTG card by a specific set like Magic 2012, 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 Skywinder Drake and other MTG cards: