Cerulean Wyvern MTG Card


Cerulean Wyvern - Mirage
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Drake
Abilities Flying,Protection
Released1996-10-08
Set symbol
Set nameMirage
Set codeMIR
Power 3
Toughness 3
Number57
Frame1997
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byGerry Grace

Key Takeaways

  1. Advantages include card filtering upon attack, accelerating resources, and complementing instant-speed play.
  2. Challenges are the discard requirement, specific mana need, and a higher casting cost compared to alternatives.
  3. Offers versatility, combo potential, and relevance in metagames that use targeted removal strategies extensively.

Text of card

Flying, protection from green

"Once, a Quirion asked why I was so cautious when the day was clear. I told him of the sky-blue hide of the cerluean wyvern, and he offered me double if I could conjure a strong tailwind!" —Sisay, Captain of the *Weatherlight*


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Cerulean Wyvern gives you the upper hand by offering a consistent source of card filtering each time it attacks. This capability lets you sift through your deck, getting to the spells and strategies you need faster and more efficiently, which can tip the scales in your favor over the course of a game.

Resource Acceleration: Not only does this mystical creature help in filtering your draws, but it can also be a form of resource acceleration. Depending on its synergies with other cards on the battlefield that benefit from flying creatures, it could potentially unlock additional plays or boost your mana pool indirectly, propelling your game plan forward swiftly.

Instant Speed: In the world of MTG, the ability to react at instant speed can be a game-changer, and Cerulean Wyvern is no exception. Though not an instant itself, it pairs well with cards that operate at instant speed. Having a formidable flyer ready to attack can force your opponent to leave mana untapped defensively, which can lead to advantageous scenarios for you if you’re ready with instant-speed tricks up your sleeve.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: When playing Cerulean Wyvern, you may find yourself at a disadvantage due to its requirement to discard another card. This can be especially taxing when your hand is running low, effectively diminishing your strategic options.

Specific Mana Cost: Cerulean Wyvern’s casting cost includes blue mana, which necessitates the incorporation of Islands or other sources of blue mana into your deck. This can potentially limit the card’s inclusion to blue-centric or multicolored decks only.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that is on the higher end of the spectrum, Cerulean Wyvern might not be as mana-efficient as other options in your deck. This can be particularly noticeable when facing aggressive decks that demand a faster response.


Reasons to Include Cerulean Wyvern in Your Collection

Versatility: The Cerulean Wyvern offers a flexible role in blue-focused decks, adept at fitting into flying-themed strategies or as a defensive creature with its ward ability to deter targeted spells or abilities from your opponents.

Combo Potential: Players can exploit the Wyvern’s ability to protect other creatures, setting up powerful interactions with cards that benefit from the cover of its ward ability, ensuring that your key creatures survive to enable combos.

Meta-Relevance: Given that the current MTG metagame includes decks that heavily rely on targeted removal, the Cerulean Wyvern’s presence is essential for maintaining board presence and protecting your investments against control strategies.


How to Beat Cerulean Wyvern

The Cerulean Wyvern represents a unique creature card that can pose a challenge on the battlefield with its flying ability and potential to disrupt opponent strategies in the game. This creature makes it essential to prepare a defense strategy tailored to contain its impact. A solid strategy would involve the use of cards that can neutralize flying creatures or remove them from play effectively.

Consider utilizing spells that cause creatures to lose flying or bypass this ability entirely. Ground-based deterrents or creatures with ‘reach’ can block flying types, negating the Wyvern’s advantages. Spells that destroy or exile creatures regardless of their abilities can be key in countering it. Additionally, leveraging enchantments that restrict the Wyvern’s ability to attack or block can be instrumental in turning the tide of the game.

In essence, adapting to manage the threat posed by the Cerulean Wyvern calls for a mix of preemptive control measures and reactive strategies. Having the right mix of cards in your deck to deal with such threats will ensure you remain competitive, even against challenging creature cards like the Cerulean Wyvern.


Cards like Cerulean Wyvern

Cerulean Wyvern is another intriguing creature in the pantheon of flying threats in the game. It has a strong resemblance to cards like Welkin Tern, which also boasts the flying attribute, offering a significant advantage in evading ground-based defenses. Cerulean Wyvern distinguishes itself with an additional layer of protection—it can’t be blocked except by creatures with flying or reach, much like Welkin Tern.

In comparison to other creatures of its ilk, such as Mistral Charger, Cerulean Wyvern demands a higher mana investment but compensates with superior toughness. This makes it a more durable option in aerial combat. Moreover, Azure Drake is a card that bears similarity in its capability to take to the skies, though it comes with a slightly higher power at the cost of an additional mana, emphasizing the strategic choice between power and cost efficiency.

Assessing the attributes and strategic benefits of Cerulean Wyvern relative to these similar cards, it’s clear that its combination of evasion capabilities and resilience adds depth to any deck that leverages the skies to claim victory.

Welkin Tern - MTG Card versions
Mistral Charger - MTG Card versions
Azure Drake - MTG Card versions
Welkin Tern - Zendikar (ZEN)
Mistral Charger - Dissension (DIS)
Azure Drake - Legends (LEG)

Cards similar to Cerulean Wyvern by color, type and mana cost

Vesuvan Doppelganger - MTG Card versions
Water Elemental - MTG Card versions
Air Elemental - MTG Card versions
Sandbar Crocodile - MTG Card versions
Pirate Ship - MTG Card versions
Segovian Leviathan - MTG Card versions
Sun Ce, Young Conquerer - MTG Card versions
Mawcor - MTG Card versions
Timin, Youthful Geist - MTG Card versions
Geology Enthusiast - MTG Card versions
Coastal Hornclaw - MTG Card versions
Meloku the Clouded Mirror - MTG Card versions
Azami, Lady of Scrolls - MTG Card versions
Cloudhoof Kirin - MTG Card versions
Drelnoch - MTG Card versions
Adarkar Windform - MTG Card versions
Infiltrator il-Kor - MTG Card versions
Mulldrifter - MTG Card versions
Chasm Drake - MTG Card versions
Belltower Sphinx - MTG Card versions
Vesuvan Doppelganger - Foreign Black Border (FBB)
Water Elemental - Collectors' Edition (CED)
Air Elemental - Core Set 2020 (M20)
Sandbar Crocodile - Media Inserts (PMEI)
Pirate Ship - Fourth Edition (4ED)
Segovian Leviathan - Fourth Edition (4ED)
Sun Ce, Young Conquerer - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)
Mawcor - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Timin, Youthful Geist - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Geology Enthusiast - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Coastal Hornclaw - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Meloku the Clouded Mirror - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)
Azami, Lady of Scrolls - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)
Cloudhoof Kirin - Saviors of Kamigawa (SOK)
Drelnoch - Coldsnap (CSP)
Adarkar Windform - Coldsnap (CSP)
Infiltrator il-Kor - Future Sight (FUT)
Mulldrifter - The List (PLST)
Chasm Drake - Magic 2012 (M12)
Belltower Sphinx - Magic 2012 (M12)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Cerulean Wyvern MTG card by a specific set like Mirage, 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 Cerulean Wyvern and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Cerulean Wyvern has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

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