Slaughter Drone MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Eldrazi Drone
Abilities	Devoid
Released	2016-01-22
Set symbol
Set name	Oath of the Gatewatch
Set code	OGW
Power	2
Toughness	2
Number	79
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Dan Scott

Key Takeaways

Slaughter Drone’s instant-speed Deathtouch activation adds a layer of combat complexity and bluffing potential.
Cost synergies and flexibility make it a tactical choice for decks utilizing colorless mana.
Its dependency on specific mana and discard can be a drawback but is balanced by its combat utility.

Text of card

Devoid (This card has no color.) : Slaughter Drone gains deathtouch until end of turn. (Any amount of damage it deals to a creature is enough to destroy it. represents colorless mana.)

It kills what is, making way for what should not be.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Slaughter Drone can be a subtle contributor to card advantage in combat. As it forces your opponent to decide whether to risk their creatures or let you chip away at their life total, each correct prediction or bluff with Slaughter Drone’s ability can indirectly affect the number of cards your opponent feels compelled to play.

Resource Acceleration: While Slaughter Drone itself doesn’t provide direct resource acceleration in the traditional sense of providing extra mana, its Devoid ability means it can benefit from effects that reduce the cost of colorless spells, potentially accelerating your overall game plan when synergized correctly.

Instant Speed: The real strength of Slaughter Drone lies in its activated ability which can be used at instant speed. Being able to activate Deathtouch at any time provides flexibility, allowing you to surprise an opponent in combat or deter attacks by making Slaughter Drone a potentially lethal blocker on demand.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Slaughter Drone’s ability to gain Deathtouch requires the discard of an Eldrazi Scion, which could be a significant resource trade-off during a critical moment in the game.

Specific Mana Cost: Slaughter Drone demands a specific colorless mana to activate its ability. This can be restrictive as it necessitates the inclusion of colorless mana sources in your deck, potentially affecting its consistency.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of two mana for a 2/2 creature, Slaughter Drone may not provide the best value, especially when compared to other two-mana creatures with inherent abilities or higher power and toughness.

Reasons to Include Slaughter Drone in Your Collection

Versatility: Slaughter Drone is a flexible addition, fitting seamlessly into Eldrazi decks or those leveraging colorless mana. Its Devoid ability makes it immune to certain color-targeting removals and spells.

Combo Potential: Its ability to gain Deathtouch when colorless mana is spent can be a keystone in synergistic strategies, making it lethal in combat and a great defender.

Meta-Relevance: For a meta that’s heavy with creature-based strategies, Slaughter Drone offers an inexpensive way to deter attackers and can alter the flow of a game when combined with other colorless mana synergies.

How to beat

Slaughter Drone presents an intriguing challenge in the realm of MTG creature combat. Its potential for deathtouch activation, which allows it to destroy any creature it deals damage to, makes it a creature to handle with care. To counter this, one effective strategy is to manage your removal spells wisely, saving them for when Slaughter Drone gains deathtouch. Cards such as Shock or Fatal Push can dispatch the Drone before it becomes a larger threat on the board.

Another tactic involves using creatures with first strike to neutralize the Drone in combat without giving it a chance to deal its lethal blow. Alternatively, evasive creatures can ignore the Drone altogether, focusing on chipping away at your opponent’s life total. It’s also beneficial to force the Drone’s controller to spend mana activating deathtouch when it’s not advantageous for them, creating openings for you to exploit.

In essence, while Slaughter Drone can be a menace on the battlefield, a combination of strategic removal, prioritizing combat tricks, and employing creatures with advantageous abilities can ensure that this creature’s presence doesn’t tip the scales against you. Thus, while Slaughter Drone demands attention, it can be overcome with thoughtful play.

Cards like Slaughter Drone

Slaughter Drone brings a unique flavor to the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering. This creature shares similarities with other two-mana cost creature cards, but its distinct ability to gain Deathtouch for a single colorless mana sets it apart. Notably, it compares to the likes of Heirs of Stromkirk, which also have a mana cost of two but instead grant Intimidate when they land a hit on a player.

However, Heirs of Stromkirk lack the flexibility that Slaughter Drone offers. Then, looking at Vampire Nighthawk, a card well known for its intrinsic Deathtouch and Lifelink abilities. While Vampire Nighthawk doesn’t require additional mana to activate its abilities unlike Slaughter Drone, it does come with a higher mana investment upfront. This potentially slower play makes Slaughter Drone an attractive alternative for rapid deployment strategies.

Moreover, comparing it with the likes of the thrill-seeker Ruthless Ripper, which also has Deathtouch, Slaughter Drone emerges with a slight edge due to its colorless ability activation, making it a versatile choice in decks that can generate the necessary mana.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Slaughter 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 Slaughter Drone and other MTG cards: