Dross Prowler MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Zombie
Abilities	Fear
Released	2003-10-02
Set symbol
Set name	Mirrodin
Set code	MRD
Power	2
Toughness	1
Number	64
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Michael Sutfin

Key Takeaways

Dross Prowler provides utility from the graveyard, saving hand resources for other tactics in the game.
Its low cost and synergy with graveyard strategies make it a rapid and flexible threat on the board.
Despite offering strategic flexibility, it has specific mana requirements and a discard cost to consider.

Text of card

Fear

"I would never have believed that on a world with four suns there could exist a place so dark." —Glissa Sunseeker

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Dross Prowler may not directly let you draw cards, but its ability to potentially be recast from the graveyard gives you continual utility. This can ensure you always have a creature to play, saving resources in your hand for other strategies.

Resource Acceleration: While Dross Prowler doesn’t provide mana or treasure tokens, its lower casting cost integrates well into decks that seek to deploy threats rapidly. Its synergy with graveyard mechanics can also fuel strategies that provide resource acceleration through other means.

Instant Speed: Despite being a creature and not having flash, Dross Prowler can be played from the graveyard during your second main phase, after attackers are declared. This offers a form of strategic flexibility that’s not commonly seen, akin to having a surprise blocker or attacker at a crucial moment in the game.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Dross Prowler card necessitates that you discard another card as part of its casting cost. This can be particularly detrimental when your hand is already depleted, or if you’re trying to maintain card advantage over your opponent.

Specific Mana Cost: Dross Prowler comes with a mana cost that includes black mana. This requirement can restrict its integration into multi-colored decks and potentially impede your overall mana flexibility, especially in formats where mana bases are pivotal.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Bearing in mind the cumulative resources needed to put Dross Prowler into play, its mana cost may be considered steep compared to other creatures with similar stats or abilities. In the ever-evolving MTG landscape, efficiency is key, and there are often cards that may provide greater value or impact for the same or less mana investment.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Dross Prowler’s flexible mana cost makes it a smooth fit for numerous deck builds, particularly in formats where a swift, aggressive approach is beneficial. As a creature that can consistently chip away at your opponent’s life total, its role in an offensive strategy is solid.

Combo Potential: Capitalizing on graveyard synergy, Dross Prowler showcases its inherent combo potential. This card particularly shines in decks that utilize cards from the graveyard, allowing you to maximize value from your other strategical plays.

Meta-Relevance: In a landscape where creatures often determine the pace of the game, having an efficient creature like Dross Prowler can be instrumental in maintaining board presence. Its relevance increases in metas where being able to quickly deploy threats and utilize the graveyard is key to success.

How to beat

Dross Prowler is an intriguing card to face off against in Magic: The Gathering. With its ability to hit the battlefield quickly due to its low mana cost, it can be a nuisance for unprepared players. This creature comes with a straightforward strategy: deal damage early and bolster your board presence while your opponent is still setting up their defenses.

To counter Dross Prowler, efficient removal spells are key. Instant speed removal like Fatal Push or Path to Exile can dispatch it before it becomes a threat. It’s also vulnerable to board wipes, which can be timed to clear out multiple threats including Dross Prowler. Additionally, because it lacks any innate protection, it can be easily blocked and taken down by creatures with a higher toughness. Considering its power level, any creature with a toughness of three or greater poses a significant obstacle to the Prowler.

Keeping your strategy adaptable and your mana open for responses will ensure Dross Prowler doesn’t tip the game in your opponent’s favor. Intercepting it early and maintaining board control are your best tactics for ensuring this aggressive creature doesn’t overrun you.

Cards like Dross Prowler

Dross Prowler is a novel addition to the pool of creatures that offer both offensive capabilities and deck-filtering options in Magic: The Gathering. This card draws comparison to Dusk Legion Zealot – both creatures present the player with an extra card. Nonetheless, Dross Prowler requires the card to be drawn at the cost of death, while Dusk Legion Zealot allows for an immediate draw with the penalty of a life point upon entering the battlefield.

Comparatively, Pilfering Hawk shares a slight resemblance as it too presents a way to filter cards in your hand. Unlike the Prowler, Pilfering Hawk, with its activated ability, calls for snow mana and does not necessitate the creature leaving the battlefield to benefit from its effect. When looking for both card advantage and a creature’s impact in the graveyard, Sultai Emissary is a potential alternative. It provides the advantage of manifesting the top card of your library when it dies, somewhat similar to the card draw upon Dross Prowler’s death.

To summarize, Dross Prowler offers a persistent threat that, when removed, compensates its owner with a new card, situating it uniquely among creatures that double as card advantage engines in Magic: The Gathering.

Cards similar to Dross Prowler by color, type and mana cost

Mischievous Poltergeist - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Dross Prowler MTG card by a specific set like Mirrodin, 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 Dross Prowler and other MTG cards: