Thunder Drake MTG Card
2019-05-03 - Number 73
2019-11-07 - Number 524
2024-02-23 - Number 102
2020-09-26 - Number WAR-73
| Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Elemental Drake |
| Abilities | Flying |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 3 |
Key Takeaways
- Thunder Drake thrives on casting spells, promising a growing aerial threat each turn.
- Despite its power, rigid mana demands and discard synergies may pose deckbuilding challenges.
- Its versatility and combo potential make it a valuable inclusion for blue-based decks.
Text of card
Flying Whenever you cast your second spell each turn, put a +1/+1 counter on Thunder Drake.
The arrival of the Planar Bridge caused eddies in the aether, creating some entirely new species while transforming others.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Thunder Drake has the potential to become a recurring source of card advantage as it grows stronger each time you cast your second spell each turn. This ability is built-in, making it a threat if not dealt with quickly by opponents.
Resource Acceleration: Though not directly providing mana or acceleration, Thunder Drake benefits from spells that do. Its synergy with cheap cantrips or spells enables a more rapid development of your board state, indirectly facilitating resource acceleration.
Instant Speed: While Thunder Drake itself doesn’t have flash, playing spells at instant speed on your opponent’s turn allows you to boost its power right before your turn, keeping your strategy flexible. This attribute can make Thunder Drake unexpectedly large and prepare it for an aggressive attack.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Thunder Drake’s abilities don’t necessitate discarding, however, its synergies might encourage pairing with such mechanics, potentially depleting your hand faster than desired.
Specific Mana Cost: Costing one blue and three generic mana, this card might fit awkwardly into multi-colored decks, necessitating a reliable blue mana source that could complicate your mana base.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of four mana, Thunder Drake competes with other impactful four-drops in the game. To optimize its value, you’ll need to consistently cast another spell each turn, which isn’t always feasible, especially in the early game.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Thunder Drake can easily slide into various blue-based decks that favour flying creatures. Its ability to gain +1/+1 counters makes it adaptable as both an offensive force and a blocker.
Combo Potential: Utilizing spells, especially instants and sorceries that can be cast on every turn, Thunder Drake grows consistently, working well with spellslinger strategies to become a formidable threat.
Meta-Relevance: Given blue’s ubiquity in the current meta, especially in decks that aim to cast multiple spells per turn cycle, Thunder Drake holds its ground by leveraging its flying capability and scaling power in prolonged matches.
How to beat
Thunder Drake is a formidable flyer in MTG, requiring strategic moves to mitigate its power growth with each spell you cast. This card becomes stronger with each instant or sorcery spell played, presenting a stacking threat in the skies.
One approach is using instant-speed removal to handle the drake before it can swell in strength. Consider spells like Disenchant or Naturalize that can remove it before the creature’s power escalates. Another method is to use flying blockers or reach creatures, ensuring you have a defense against aerial attacks. Moreover, cards that deny counter growth, like Solemnity, prevent the drake from becoming an overwhelming force on the battlefield.
Board wipes are especially effective in resetting the drake’s accrued power. Spells like Wrath of God or Damnation can clear the field, including any enhanced Thunder Drakes, levelling the playing field. Remember, timing is crucial in managing cards like Thunder Drake, and a well-timed removal or counter can mean the difference between victory and defeat.
Cards like Thunder Drake
Thunder Drake takes to the skies in the Magic: The Gathering arena as an intriguing creature with flying that gains strength every time you cast a second spell each turn. Its kin includes other creatures such as Welkin Tern, which also boasts the ability to fly but doesn’t grow in power. Thunder Drake surpasses Welkin Tern by rewarding players’ spellcasting with additional might.
In this feathered flock, we also have Sky Theater Strix, which, similar to Thunder Drake, benefits each time you cast a noncreature spell. Unlike Thunder Drake, the Strix offers a temporary power boost solely for the turn. Cloud Drake is another relative in the flying creature family, it maintains a steady power and toughness without the potential for growth, making Thunder Drake a more dynamic option as your arsenal of spells expands.
Observing these comparisons, Thunder Drake showcases its unique flair within the airborne contingent of Magic: The Gathering by transforming players’ spellcasting frequency into a growing threat in the skies.
Cards similar to Thunder Drake by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Thunder Drake MTG card by a specific set like War of the Spark and Mystery Booster, 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 Thunder Drake and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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 Magic products
Printings
The Thunder Drake Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2019-05-03 and 2024-02-23. Illustrated by Yeong-Hao Han.
| # | Release | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2019-05-03 | War of the Spark | WAR | 73 | 2015 | normal | black | Yeong-Hao Han | |
| 2 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 524 | 2015 | normal | black | Yeong-Hao Han | |
| 3 | The List | PLST | WAR-73 | 2015 | normal | black | Yeong-Hao Han | ||
| 4 | 2024-02-23 | Ravnica: Clue Edition | CLU | 102 | 2015 | normal | black | Yeong-Hao Han |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Thunder Drake has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Thunder Drake card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2019-05-03 | Thunder Drake must be on the battlefield in order for the ability to function. Notably, the ability won’t trigger if Thunder Drake is the second spell you cast in a turn. |
| 2019-05-03 | Thunder Drake’s ability can trigger only once each turn. The ability will resolve before the second spell resolves. It doesn’t matter if the first spell you cast that turn has resolved, was countered, or is still on the stack. |
