Predator Dragon MTG Card

Predator Dragon’s devour mechanic enables significant card advantage and board presence. It demands certain mana types, which may limit deck inclusion without a solid base. Instant speed interactions can drastically increase Predator Dragon’s impact.

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	6
Rarity	Rare
Type	Creature — Dragon
Abilities	Devour,Flying,Haste
Released	2008-10-03
Set symbol
Set name	Shards of Alara
Set code	ALA
Power	4
Toughness	4
Number	109
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Raymond Swanland

Text of card

Flying, haste Devour 2 (As this comes into play, you may sacrifice any number of creatures. This creature comes into play with twice that many +1/+1 counters on it.)

Dragons make for spiteful gods.

Cards like Predator Dragon

The Predator Dragon card boasts aggressive power in the MTG lineup, bearing resemblance to other formidable flying creatures like Thundermaw Hellkite. Both dragons blaze through with haste, but Predator Dragon has the unique devour ability, allowing it to gain strength from other creatures on the battlefield. Unlike Thundermaw Hellkite, which comes with a built-in mechanism to tap potential blockers, Predator Dragon needs careful timing to maximize its impact.

Examining other similar cards, Bogardan Hellkite flares into the fray with flash and a damage-dealing entrance. While it doesn’t grow like Predator Dragon, it offers immediate board interaction. Moltensteel Dragon, another relevant comparison, flexes with its Phyrexian mana-powered fire-breathing ability, giving players a way to increase its power at the expense of life points as opposed to sacrificing creatures.

Ultimately, in the realm of powerful red dragons within MTG, Predator Dragon has a credible place. Its ability to rapidly escalate in power gives it a distinctive edge, especially in decks designed to capitalize on the devour mechanic, making it a potentially game-ending threat when timed perfectly with your strategic plays.

Cards similar to Predator Dragon by color, type and mana cost

Ryusei, the Falling Star - MTG Card versions

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Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Predator Dragon card holds the potential to significantly expand your hand by granting the ability to devour creatures as it enters the battlefield. This unique mechanic not only bolsters your board presence but also replenishes your hand when synergized with cards that generate advantage when creatures leave play.

Resource Acceleration: With its devour ability, Predator Dragon can effectively act as a form of resource acceleration. By consuming smaller creatures, it grows larger, rapidly escalating the threat level without the need for additional mana investment and readying you for powerful late-game plays.

Instant Speed: Although Predator Dragon itself isn’t an instant, it benefits greatly from instant-speed interactions. Casting creatures with flash before your turn then devouring them can catch opponents off-guard, turning it into an unexpected heavy hitter capable of decisive plays.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One downside of Predator Dragon is that when hatched, you may have to sacrifice creatures to fuel its power. This requirement can deplete your board presence, leaving you vulnerable if you don’t have expendable creatures at your disposal.

Specific Mana Cost: Predator Dragon demands a precise mana setup to cast effectively. With a casting cost that requires both red and green mana, it can be challenging to include in decks without a solid mana base, potentially restricting the dragon’s inclusion to specific two-color or multi-color decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Sporting a mana value that leans on the higher side, Predator Dragon can be a late game play. This can be cumbersome when up against decks that aim to win quickly or that can establish control before you’re able to summon your Dragon, thereby overshadowing the benefits with its steep investment cost.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Predator Dragon offers a level of flexibility that allows it to adapt to various gameplay styles. Its ability to devour other creatures to enhance its power makes it a formidable addition to any red deck or dragon-themed collection.

Combo Potential: Leveraging its devour mechanic, Predator Dragon pairs well with strategies that involve token generation, unlocking powerful synergies. Embrace the potential to rapidly increase board presence, all while powered by a single, impactful play.

Meta-Relevance: With the constant evolution of the MTG landscape, Predator Dragon retains a niche in metagames that favor aggressive playstyles. Its quick impact on the board and potential for an immediate shift in game state make it a valuable asset against slower, developing boards.

How to beat

Predator Dragon is a formidable creature in MTG that can swoop in and turn the tide of a game with its devour ability. Taking down this high-powered card requires strategic planning. It’s critical to have removal spells ready, such as Path to Exile or Doom Blade, to dispatch the beast before it becomes too large to handle. Alternatively, control decks can preempt the threat with counterspells like Cancel or Mana Leak, nipping the dragon’s menace in the bud.

Another method is to limit the number of creatures on your side of the field, reducing the dragon’s power as it relies on devouring your creatures for strength. Enchantment-based removals, such as Pacifism, can neutralize Predator Dragon without having to kill it directly, which is handy should the dragon manage to get out of control.

Facing Predator Dragon requires vigilance and the right timing to execute your removals or counters. If you can keep the board clear and disable the dragon swiftly, you preserve your chances of securing victory despite this card’s potential for overwhelming power.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Predator Dragon MTG card by a specific set like Shards of Alara, 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 Predator Dragon and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Predator Dragon has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Predator Dragon card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date	Text
2008-10-01	If multiple creatures with devour are entering the battlefield under your control at the same time, you may use each one’s devour ability. A creature you already control can be devoured by only one of them, however. (In other words, you can’t sacrifice the same creature to satisfy multiple devour abilities.) All creatures devoured this way are sacrificed at the same time.
2008-10-01	If you cast this as a spell, you choose how many and which creatures to devour as part of the resolution of that spell. (It can’t be countered at this point.) The same is true of a spell or ability that lets you put a creature with devour onto the battlefield.
2008-10-01	You may choose not to sacrifice any creatures for the Devour ability.
2008-10-01	You may sacrifice only creatures that are already on the battlefield. If a creature with devour and another creature are entering the battlefield under your control at the same time, the creature with devour can’t devour that other creature. The creature with devour also can’t devour itself.