Rakdos Drake MTG Card
2013-05-03 - Number 28
2017-11-17 - Number 103
2019-11-07 - Number 743
2020-09-26 - Number IMA-103
| Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Drake |
| Abilities | Flying,Unleash |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Text of card
Flying Unleash (You may have this creature enter the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter on it. It can't block as long as it has a +1/+1 counter on it.)
Rakdos rioters paint their faces to resemble the drakes' bloodied muzzles.
Cards like Rakdos Drake
The Rakdos Drake, a notable entry in the pantheon of flying creatures within Magic: The Gathering, invites comparison with its counterparts. Not unlike the Bloodhunter Bat, the Rakdos Drake provides aggression from the air, but the bat adds value by draining life upon entering the battlefield. Contrasting this, the Drake doesn’t grant immediate impact but comes in with a more cost-efficient summoning requirement.
Another creature that often comes into discussion is the War-wing Siren. Both flyers can impose a ticking clock on opponents, yet the Siren boasts heroic abilities that can be fine-tuned with spells to become a formidable threat, something the Drake lacks. Then there’s the Skyknight Legionnaire, offering immediate offense with its haste attribute. While the Drake takes a turn to rev up, the Legionnaire can swing in for damage right away, potentially changing the pace of the match in your favor.
Despite fierce competition in the skies, Rakdos Drake holds its own as a versatile flyer with the unblockable potential under the right conditions, a trait that can turn the tide in a game of Magic: The Gathering. Its balance of cost and power makes it a card worth considering for the aerial strategy in your deck.
Cards similar to Rakdos Drake by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Rakdos Drake provides a strategic upper hand by allowing players to gain access to additional cards. This is fundamental in matches where maintaining a rich hand can pivot the game in your favor.
Resource Acceleration: As a flying creature, Rakdos Drake can enhance your board presence quickly, potentially escalating your threats on the battlefield in a short span of time. Its deployment can be a catalyst for amplifying your offensive resources more rapidly than some other creatures.
Instant Speed: Flexibility in casting is an attractive feature of this card. The option to unleash the Rakdos Drake at instant speed means players can adapt to the flow of the game, preserve mana for counterspells or removal until the moment is right, and surprise opponents with a sudden flying blocker or attacker.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The Rakdos Drake card comes with a discard requirement to engage its full potential. This can be especially challenging during late game scenarios when your hand is depleted, potentially forcing you to part with critical cards to summon or activate abilities.
Specific Mana Cost: This card demands a strict mana cost combining both black and red mana. For players running multicolor decks that don’t prioritize these colors, it can be difficult to summon Rakdos Drake efficiently or at all in some strategic setups.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost that’s substantial for what the creature offers, Rakdos Drake might not always provide the value expected for such an investment. Players might find that other cards at a similar or lower mana cost bracket might yield greater utility or board presence, making Rakdos Drake a tough sell in competitive play where mana efficiency is key.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Rakdos Drake offers a dual mode of attack and defense options. In its unleashed form, it serves as an aggressive flyer, whereas without unleashing, it stands as a reliable blocker, adaptable to various deck strategies and game situations.
Combo Potential: This card has an inherent combo potential with cards that reward you for dealing damage with flying creatures or for sacrificing creatures for greater effects, expanding a player’s tactical edge during gameplay.
Meta-Relevance: In a game environment where flying creatures are less contested and aggressive strategies are key, Rakdos Drake’s capability to swiftly chip away at an opponent’s life total makes it a pertinent choice for inclusion in your arsenal.
How to beat
Rakdos Drake is a notable flyer in the vast array of creatures present in MTG. Its uniqueness comes from Unleash, a mechanic that can make it a challenging adversary if not kept in check. Dealing with Rakdos Drake requires strategic planning and the right cards to mitigate its impact. To beat it, prioritize removal spells that can target creatures in the air. Cards like Murder or Doom Blade work well, being both cost-effective and able to bypass Unleash’s buff.
Control decks can manage Rakdos Drake by countering it before it hits the battlefield. Spell Pierce or Negate are excellent choices, offering you a way to preemptively tackle threats while maintaining card advantage. If you’re piloting an aggro deck, outpacing Rakdos Drake is key. Utilize swift ground creatures to pressure your opponent and reduce the relevance of their air superiority. Remember, getting the upper hand against Rakdos Drake hinges on early disruption and presenting threats that demand immediate answers.
Ultimately, to outmaneuver Rakdos Drake, maintain a balance between offense and defense, adjusting your strategy to the dynamic of the game. Having versatile answers handy can shift the odds in your favor, ensuring that this daunting flyer doesn’t tip the scales against you.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Rakdos Drake MTG card by a specific set like Dragon's Maze and Iconic Masters, 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 Rakdos Drake and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- 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 MTG Products
Printings
The Rakdos Drake Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2013-05-03 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by Karl Kopinski.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2013-05-03 | Dragon's Maze | DGM | 28 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Karl Kopinski | |
| 2 | 2017-11-17 | Iconic Masters | IMA | 103 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Karl Kopinski | |
| 3 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 743 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Karl Kopinski | |
| 4 | The List | PLST | IMA-103 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Karl Kopinski |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Rakdos Drake has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Rakdos Drake card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2013-04-15 | A creature with unleash can’t block if it has any +1/+1 counter on it, not just one put on it by the unleash ability. |
| 2013-04-15 | Putting a +1/+1 counter on a creature with unleash that’s already blocking won’t remove it from combat. It will continue to block. |
| 2013-04-15 | The unleash ability applies no matter where the creature is entering the battlefield from. |
| 2013-04-15 | You make the choice to have the creature with unleash enter the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter or not as it’s entering the battlefield. At that point, it’s too late for a player to respond to the creature spell by trying to counter it, for example. |