Nephalia Moondrakes MTG Card
2016-04-08 - Number 75
2016-04-08 - Number 75s
2016-04-08 - Number 75
2002-06-24 - Number 60458
| Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 7 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Drake |
| Abilities | Flying |
| Power | 5 |
| Toughness | 5 |
Key Takeaways
- Leverages card advantage through creature retrieval, bolstering hand resources and providing game adaptability.
- Enables aggressive aerial strategies with flying and resource acceleration, turning grounded threats into sky dominators.
- Offers strategic versatility with instant-speed play, disrupting opponent’s turns and maintaining momentum.
Text of card
Flying When Nephalia Moondrakes enters the battlefield, target creature gains flying until end of turn. , Exile Nephalia Moondrakes from your graveyard: Creatures you control gain flying until end of turn.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Exploiting a late-game scenario, Nephalia Moondrakes is especially powerful in leveraging card advantage. When it enters the battlefield, you’re allowed to return up to two target creatures from your graveyard to your hand. This not only recovers key pieces that may have been removed earlier but also ensures your hand stays equipped with threats or answers, ready to adapt to the board’s demands.
Resource Acceleration: A lesser-known aspect of Nephalia Moondrakes is its resource acceleration potential. While not directly ramping you in terms of mana, the drakes’ flying ability provides an aggressive resource in the form of consistent aerial damage, accelerating the path to your victory. Furthermore, the ability to give other creatures flying can turn previously grounded threats into unexpected air forces, often catching an opponent unprepared.
Instant Speed: The true strategic depth of Nephalia Moondrakes lies in its flash ability, allowing you to cast it at instant speed. This means you can wait until the end of your opponent’s turn to deploy your drakes, keeping mana available for counterplay or other instant-speed interactions, which can crucially swing the momentum in your favor. It adds a layer of surprise and versatility to your gameplay, making it a potent addition to any deck that can accommodate it.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Nephalia Moondrakes demands that you discard two cards as part of its effect to grant creatures flying until end of turn, which can sometimes deplete your hand more than you’d like, especially in a tight game where every card counts.
Specific Mana Cost: This creature card has a specific mana cost that requires both blue and other colors, making it less flexible for decks that aren’t heavily invested in blue mana or that operate on a strict color base.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a seven mana cost, Nephalia Moondrakes comes in on the pricy side. This can make it challenging to play this card early or mid-game when you may need to establish board presence or answer threats more efficiently.
Reasons to Include Nephalia Moondrakes in Your Collection
Versatility: Nephalia Moondrakes offers flexible gameplay with its flying capability and the ability to grant it to other creatures. Ideal for blue-based decks that prioritize aerial dominance and defense.
Combo Potential: This card boasts built-in synergies, such as reusing its graveyard ability to bring relentless pressure or combining with cards that benefit from creatures entering the battlefield or spells being cast from the graveyard.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where late-game impact is decisive, Nephalia Moondrakes shines by providing both a strong finisher and utility through its abilities, reinforcing control deck arsenals against a variety of competitive scenarios.
How to beat
Nephalia Moondrakes is a powerful flying creature that can often swing games in Magic: The Gathering by granting other creatures flying until end of turn. To triumph over this formidable card, you’ll want to keep removal spells at the ready. Instant-speed removal like Swords to Plowshares or Path to Exile deal with the Moondrakes before they can attack or use their ability, preventing your opponent from gaining an aerial advantage.
Another strategy is to use counterspells such as Counterspell or Mana Leak to stop Nephalia Moondrakes from hitting the battlefield in the first place. This proactive approach requires you to keep mana open and anticipate your opponent’s plays. Alternatively, board wipes like Supreme Verdict or Damnation offer a clean reset once Nephalia Moondrakes has been deployed, essentially neutralizing the threat along with the rest of the creatures on the board.
A proactive and aware strategy can be the key to winning against Nephalia Moondrakes. Keeping either instant removal or counterspells ready, or resetting the board with a well-timed wipe, ensures you stay a step ahead of your opponent and maintain control of the game state.
Cards like Nephalia Moondrakes
Nephalia Moondrakes adds a unique twist to the roster of creature cards in MTG that focus on graveyard interaction and flying abilities. It’s reminiscent of cards like Belltower Sphinx, which also offer flying and a sizeable body to control the sky. However, Nephalia Moondrakes takes an extra leap with its ability to give other creatures flying until the end of turn, promoting a more aggressive and tactical air strike.
Towards utility, Stitchwing Skaab presents a relative comparison, boasting graveyard retrieval power similar to Nephalia Moondrakes but at a reduced cost and without the bulk or added turn-based agility. While Nephalia Moondrakes is adept at sealing late-game victory through its formidable reanimation from the graveyard, its higher mana investment positions it as a powerhouse optimally played in the late game.
Lastly, consider Archon of Redemption, which thrives in a life-gain strategic build. Unlike the offensive utility of Nephalia Moondrakes, the Archon rewards players for fielding creatures with flying, thus underlining the diverse strategic options within MTG creature cards. When evaluating play style, mana curves, and deck synergy, Nephalia Moondrakes displays considerable strength and adaptability in decks that favor aerial dominance and graveyard play.
Cards similar to Nephalia Moondrakes by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Nephalia Moondrakes MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Shadows over Innistrad Promos, 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 Nephalia Moondrakes and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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 Nephalia Moondrakes Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2016-04-08 and 2016-04-08. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 60458 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Chris Rahn | ||
| 2 | 2016-04-08 | Shadows over Innistrad Promos | PSOI | 75 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Chris Rahn | |
| 3 | 2016-04-08 | Shadows over Innistrad Promos | PSOI | 75s | 2015 | Normal | Black | Tianhua X | |
| 4 | 2016-04-08 | Shadows over Innistrad | SOI | 75 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Tianhua X |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Nephalia Moondrakes has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
