Velican Dragon MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	7
Rarity	Rare
Type	Creature — Dragon
Abilities	Flying
Released	2001-06-28
Set symbol
Set name	Sega Dreamcast Cards
Set code	PSDG
Power	5
Toughness	5
Number	10
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	White
Illustred by	Daren Bader

Key Takeaways

The dragon provides card draw on combat damage, ensuring a sustained hand size for strategic plays.
Mana acceleration from the dragon promotes bigger plays early, providing an edge over opponents.
Instant-speed abilities offer strategic flexibility, allowing for surprise plays and reactive strategies.

Text of card

Flying Whenever Velican Dragon attacks or blocks, it gets +X/+0 until end of turn, where X is a number from 0 to 5 chosen at random.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Velican Dragon’s ability to potentially draw cards upon dealing combat damage grants you an upper hand, keeping your hand stocked with options.

Resource Acceleration: With the capacity to add mana of any color to your mana pool, this dragon aids in ramping up your resources, enabling larger plays much faster.

Instant Speed: The powerhouse play comes from the dragon’s ability to act at instant speed, allowing you reactive flexibility to adapt to the unfolding game and surprise opponents during critical moments.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Prominent in the playability of Velican Dragon is the mechanic that forces players to discard a card. This can be notably disadvantageous during game states where maintaining hand size is crucial for strategic depth and versatility.

Specific Mana Cost: The card demands a precise mana assembly to cast, which is predominantly red. Decks that run multiple colors might struggle with consistently acquiring the necessary mana combination, thus impacting the card’s inclusion and play rate.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana value that could be deemed steep for its effects, Velican Dragon may fall behind in a competition where curve efficiency and early board presence are key. In many situations, equivalent or less-costly creatures could provide similar or better impact on the game without the weighty mana investment.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Velican Dragon is a dynamic choice for many deck types, given its potential to serve as both a formidable creature and a game-changing flyer. It effortlessly fits into strategies focused on aerial power or dragon synergies.

Combo Potential: With its inherent abilities, Velican Dragon can act as a catalyst in numerous combos, particularly in decks that capitalize on damaging effects or those that incentivize attacking with powerful creatures.

Meta-Relevance: As the landscape of gameplay often shifts, including strong, flying threats like Velican Dragon can be crucial in decks to counter popular control or ground-centric builds, making it a tactical addition to stay competitive.

How to beat

The Velican Dragon is a mighty presence on the battlefield, catching many players off guard with its formidable power. To effectively counteract this creature, attention to detail and strategic play are crucial. One effective tactic is ensuring you have removal spells at the ready. Instant-speed removals like Path to Exile or Fatal Push can be game-changers when timing is crucial. Consider also utilizing versatile cards that can manage a range of threats, like Abrupt Decay, which can’t be countered and deals with creatures of moderate mana cost.

Board wipes such as Damnation or Wrath of God can reset the state of play, nullifying the advantage a Velican Dragon might provide. For a more pinpoint approach, utilizing cards that force your opponent to sacrifice creatures can circumvent the dragon’s strengths, such as Liliana of the Veil’s edict effect. Control decks may find counterspells like Counterspell or Mana Leak valuable to prevent the dragon from ever entering the battlefield. Flexibility in your deck to adapt and choose the right moment to strike or disrupt is key to outmaneuvering a player reliant on the Velican Dragon’s power.

Keeping your cool and making the most of your available resources can tilt the match in your favor, even when facing a creature as daunting as the Velican Dragon.

Cards like Velican Dragon

The Velican Dragon offers a unique twist in the world of flying creatures in Magic: The Gathering. Taking to the skies much like the iconic Shivan Dragon, the Velican Dragon allows players to increase its power through mana investment. However, the Velican Dragon has the distinct benefit of flexibility, allowing you to pump mana into it at any time you could cast an instant, setting it apart from the Shivan Dragon that requires mana during your turn.

Another comparable creature is the Dragon Hatchling. Both creatures start with smaller power and toughness, relying on invested mana to become formidable. But, while Dragon Hatchling is lower cost and affordable to play early on, the Velican Dragon brings a larger late-game presence, with the potential for a devastating impact if left unchecked.

Lastly, the Furnace Whelp shares the fire-breathing ability but has a static mana cost for incremental power boosts. Velican Dragon’s flexibility in mana investment can quickly turn the tides during combat, making it a versatile threat on the battlefield. In terms of strategic advantage and board influence, the Velican Dragon presents a powerful option for players seeking to pilot a dynamic and reactive air force.

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

Yidaro, Wandering Monster - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Velican Dragon MTG card by a specific set like Sega Dreamcast Cards, 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 Velican Dragon and other MTG cards: