Mindeye Drake MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Drake |
| Abilities | Flying,Mill |
| Released | 2013-02-01 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Gatecrash |
| Set code | GTC |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 5 |
| Number | 43 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Lars Grant-West |
Text of card
Flying When Mindeye Drake dies, target player puts the top five cards of his or her library into his or her graveyard.
They can map both the cityscape and the minds of its architects.
Cards like Mindeye Drake
Mindeye Drake from Magic: The Gathering introduces unique mechanics to the flying creature subset. In the realm of flying creatures, it shares some similarities with cards like Wind Drake, which also features a flying trait and comparable power and toughness. Yet, Mindeye Drake offers an additional layer with its ability to mill cards from a player’s deck upon dying, adding an element of graveyard manipulation. This differentiates it from, say, the straightforward approach of Wind Drake.
Comparing it to Jeskai Windscout, Mindeye Drake doesn’t carry the prowess ability which can boost its power and toughness, but it aligns more with a strategic long-game with its milling capability. Another peer in the skies is the Scrapskin Drake, which boasts an identical mana cost and flying trait. However, Scrapskin Drake restricts its controller to only casting blue spells which clearly puts Mindeye Drake in a more flexible position during gameplay.
When exploring options for aerial dominance, Mindeye Drake presents a compelling choice. Its potential to disrupt an opponent’s strategy post-mortem through milling offers a tactical edge. This nuanced blend of aggression and control typifies Mindeye Drake’s role in a well-rounded Magic: The Gathering deck.
Cards similar to Mindeye Drake by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Mindeye Drake provides an inherent advantage by potentially milling cards. This not only fills up your graveyard for strategies revolving around delve or flashback but can sometimes disrupt your opponent’s strategy if they rely on specific cards in their deck.
Resource Acceleration: If certain conditions are met or with the right deck synergy, Mindeye Drake can help accelerate your resources. This might come from graveyard interactions, where the cards it milled can be recurred or utilized for an advantage, effectively expanding your resource pool.
Instant Speed: Despite Mindeye Drake itself not being an instant, it can synergize with instant-speed spells. Its Flying ability allows it to stay untapped to block incoming threats or benefit from flash mechanics, potentially engaging in combat on your terms and times that are most strategically advantageous to you.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Engaging with the abilities of Mindeye Drake involves a discard mechanic that might prove cumbersome when you’re already grappling with a tight hand size. This downside means potentially sacrificing critical cards just to utilize the drake’s full potential.
Specific Mana Cost: Mindeye Drake requires two blue mana for casting, necessitating a solid base in blue resources within your deck. This not only narrows the scope of decks it fits into but also challenges mana flexibility during play.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With several alternative creatures in the vast pool of cards, Mindeye Drake’s casting cost may seem steep for its stat line and effect. Savvy players often seek to maximize value per mana spent, and Mindeye Drake might fall short when pitted against other options.
Reasons to Include Mindeye Drake in Your Collection
Versatility: Mindeye Drake serves as a flexible piece in any blue-based deck, providing a flying body that can apply pressure or act as a defensive blocker. Its ability to manipulate graveyards by exiling cards can be useful across various formats and strategies.
Combo Potential: Utilize Mindeye Drake’s unique ability to synergize with cards that capitalize on graveyard interaction or benefit from creatures with flying. Its potential to disrupt opponent strategies by exiling key cards also makes it a valuable combo enabler.
Meta-Relevance: In an environment where graveyard mechanics are prevalent or if reanimation decks are popular, Mindeye Drake’s targeted exile effect can be a significant tactical asset. By including Mindeye Drake in your lineup, you gain an edge in such metas, anticipating and countering popular trends effectively.
How to beat
Mindeye Drake presents a unique challenge in Magic: The Gathering thanks to its peculiar gameplay dynamics. Possessing the power to counteract graveyard strategies by exiling cards from opponents’ graveyards when it dies, it can be a substantial thorn in the side of decks that rely on such tactics. This aspect alone makes Mindeye Drake a card to watch out for when planning your battlefield strategies.
To triumph over Mindeye Drake, it’s crucial to minimize its impact on your game plan. Employing exile effects preemptively ensures that Mindeye Drake never gets its ability off the ground. Moreover, instant-speed removal allows players to dispose of the Drake before the end of the turn, circumventing its pesky death trigger. Another approach involves adjusting your deck to depend less on the graveyard, diluting the effectiveness of the Drake’s ability. Utilizing cards that shuffle your graveyard back into your library can also mitigate the loss produced by the Drake’s departure.
Awareness and preparedness are key in maintaining the upper hand against Mindeye Drake. By incorporating these strategies and keeping a close eye on your own graveyard, you can avoid being outmaneuvered by this elusive blue creature’s cunning abilities in Magic: The Gathering.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Mindeye Drake MTG card by a specific set like Gatecrash, 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 Mindeye Drake 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
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Mindeye Drake has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |