Flayer Drone MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Eldrazi Drone
Abilities	Devoid,First strike
Released	2016-01-22
Set symbol
Set name	Oath of the Gatewatch
Set code	OGW
Power	3
Toughness	1
Number	148
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Lius Lasahido

Key Takeaways

Flayer Drone offers board control by transforming colorless creature plays into direct damage to opponents.
Resource acceleration is key in Flayer Drone’s synergy with artifact and Eldrazi-centric strategies.
Instant-speed triggered ability of Flayer Drone provides flexibility and surprise elements in gameplay.

Text of card

Devoid (This card has no color.) First strike Whenever another colorless creature enters the battlefield under your control, target opponent loses 1 life.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Flayer Drone’s ability to deal damage to an opponent whenever another colorless creature enters the battlefield under your control can indirectly lead to card advantage. As opponents lose life, they can be forced into unfavorable trades or decisions, possibly leading to a more favorable board state for you.

Resource Acceleration: In decks built around synergy with artifact or Eldrazi spawns, Flayer Drone works as a catalyst that accelerates your game plan. Each colorless creature not only presents a threat on its own but also acts to diminish your opponent’s life total, pushing you closer to a win.

Instant Speed: Though Flayer Drone itself is not an instant-speed spell, its triggered ability operates at instant speed. This means that any colorless creature you might flash onto the battlefield during an opponent’s turn will cause Flayer Drone to trigger, keeping your adversaries always on their toes and susceptible to unexpected life loss.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Flayer Drone doesn’t necessitate discarding as part of its activation or presence on the battlefield, it’s important in deck building to be mindful of the card synergy within your deck. Ensuring you have sufficient card advantage mechanisms is critical to maximize the value of cards like Flayer Drone, which thrive in a well-oiled Eldrazi or colorless deck.

Specific Mana Cost: Flayer Drone requires a precise mana combination of one colorless, one black, and one red mana to cast. This means it’s primarily suitable for Devoid or Eldrazi-themed decks that can readily produce such a mana mix. It may not fit easily into multi-colored decks without a reliable mana base to support these requirements.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana, Flayer Drone can be considered a bit pricey for its 3/1 stats. There are other three-cost creatures that may offer better survivability or immediate board impact without the dependency on other colorless creatures to activate its ingest ability. Players may prefer other options that can provide a stronger standalone presence or require less specific board states to be effective.

Reasons to Include Flayer Drone in Your Collection

Versatility: Flayer Drone offers a solid addition to any Eldrazi or colorless deck, fitting well with aggressive strategies while also providing a consistent source of damage through its colorless creature synergy.

Combo Potential: Thanks to its ability to ping opponents whenever another colorless creature enters the battlefield, Flayer Drone excels in decks that frequently cast creatures, enabling a steady flow of incremental damage that can quickly add up.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where small creature strategies are prevalent, Flayer Drone shines by discouraging opponents from blocking or by finishing off weakened creatures, making it a strategic choice for dealing with certain decks within the meta.

How to beat

Flayer Drone presents a unique challenge in the Eldrazi-themed decks of Magic: The Gathering. This card stands out with its ability to whittle down an opponent’s life total by exploiting colorless creatures entering the battlefield. As a player facing this threat, it’s essential to disrupt the synergy it creates. Control the board by removing Flayer Drone as quickly as possible – targeted removal spells like Fatal Push can be highly effective.

Hand disruption is also an excellent tactic against the Flayer Drone. By using cards like Thoughtseize or Inquisition of Kozilek, you can preemptively remove this creature from your opponent’s hand before it becomes an issue. Counterspells serve a double purpose, negating the Drone’s casting and hindering the opponent’s development. Additionally, minimizing the number of colorless creatures your opponent has will curb Flayer Drone’s impact, as its intrinsic ability hinges on their presence.

Tackling the challenge Flayer Drone represents in your matches requires strategic planning and understanding of the card’s dynamics within its deck. By efficiently managing the board and employing the right disruptions at critical moments, you can neutralize this threat and enhance your position in the game.

Cards like Flayer Drone

Flayer Drone is a distinctive piece in the pantheon of damage-dealing creatures within Magic: The Gathering. This card finds its kinship with the likes of Pia Nalaar, another creature that provides incremental damage advantages and synergizes with artifact creatures. What sets Flayer Drone apart is its explicit interaction with colorless creatures, particularly boosting the potency of Eldrazi spawn strategies in decks.

Another analogous card is Reckless Fireweaver which, like Flayer Drone, capitalizes on artifacts entering the battlefield to deal damage. Where Flayer Drone requires the creatures to be colorless, Reckless Fireweaver casts a wider net, affecting any artifact you play. Then there’s Impact Tremors, a broadly effective card that shares this synergy with creatures entering the battlefield, however, it is not restricted by color or type.

In summarizing the strengths of Flayer Drone against its counterparts, its niche effect in an Eldrazi-focused strategy underlines its unique position. While there are other cards that allow players to exploit similar damage-triggering events, Flayer Drone stands out as a specialized tool for enhancing the colorless creature archetype in MTG decks.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Flayer Drone MTG card by a specific set like Oath of the Gatewatch, 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 Flayer Drone and other MTG cards: