Cloudheath Drake MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	5
Rarity	Common
Type	Artifact Creature — Drake
Abilities	Flying
Released	2008-10-03
Set symbol
Set name	Shards of Alara
Set code	ALA
Power	3
Toughness	3
Number	35
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Izzy

Key Takeaways

Cloudheath Drake offers card resilience, making it a recurring threat that can dominate prolonged matches.
Its affinity for artifacts and instant speed ability provide strategic flexibility and resource acceleration.
Despite its strengths, Cloudheath Drake’s specific mana needs and higher cost can limit its integration.

Guide to Vigilance card ability

In the strategic universe of Magic: The Gathering (MTG), the vigilance ability stands out as a powerful tool for players. This potent keyword allows creatures to attack without tapping, keeping them ready and alert to defend against incoming threats. It represents a perfect balance between aggression and defense, offering a dynamic approach to gameplay. Lets dive deeper into how vigilance shapes the battlefield.

Text of card

Flying : Cloudheath Drake gains vigilance until end of turn.

A permanent storm rages over the plain of Cloudheath, and drakes ride its currents—two reminders that some elements of Esper will not be controlled.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Cloudheath Drake’s ability to return to your hand offers a recurring presence on the battlefield, essentially giving you access to the card multiple turns. This resilience translates to sustained board state impact, especially in longer matches where maintaining card presence is key.

Resource Acceleration: With its affinity for artifacts, Cloudheath Drake’s casting cost can be reduced in the right deck. Effectively, it can be a cheaper aerial threat that fits seamlessly into artifact-centric strategies, potentially allowing for more efficient deployment of other spells or creatures within the same turn.

Instant Speed: Cloudheath Drake’s activated ability, which can be used at instant speed, offers tactical flexibility. This means that during any player’s turn, if you have the mana open, you can lift Cloudheath Drake to your hand and potentially dodge removal spells or unfavorable blocks, freeing up mana for other instant-speed interactions.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Linked to a cycle ability, Cloudheath Drake necessitates disposing of another card to gain extra abilities, which could deplete hand advantage in crucial moments of play.

Specific Mana Cost: Costing both blue and colorless mana makes this card slightly less flexible, requiring a commitment to at least part of your mana base in the blue spectrum, which may not synergize with all deck types.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Running at five total mana, Cloudheath Drake competes with numerous other creatures and spells that may provide higher impact or more versatile effects on the battlefield, potentially overshadowing this drake’s utility in a tightly curated deck.

Reasons to Include Cloudheath Drake in Your Collection

Versatility: Cloudheath Drake has the agility to slot into various deck archetypes, particularly those requiring a flying threat or a mana sink. Its ability to gain flying offers an evasive tactic for players to maneuver over ground-based defenses.

Combo Potential: This creature can play a pivotal role in combos, utilizing its flying ability to stay clear of combat while setting up the board. Its {2}{W}: Gain flying until end of turn offers repeated flexible interactions with cards that synergize with activated abilities or airborne creatures.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta filled with grounded creature strategies, Cloudheath Drake can potentially provide consistent air superiority. While not a staple in every format, its presence can challenge opponents to find an answer to persistent aerial attacks, giving it a situational edge in certain matchups.

How to beat

Cloudheath Drake is a versatile creature card that often finds its way into many aerial-focused decks in Magic: The Gathering. With its flying ability, it can easily bypass ground forces, making it a persistent threat in the skies. Its secondary ability to prevent all damage to it for a turn by returning a land you control to its owner’s hand further bolsters its defense, making it hard to remove using conventional damage-based removal spells.

Overcoming a Cloudheath Drake requires a multi-pronged approach. Utilization of unconditional removal spells that can bypass its damage prevention ability is key. Cards like Path to Exile or Doom Blade offer a direct solution to the Drake. Other tactics include increasing the cost of its defensive ability by deploying land destruction or utilizing creatures with reach to block and defeat the Drake in combat.

Given its proclivity for evasion, it’s essential for players to prioritize flexible removal options or ensure a lineup of creatures capable of reaching the Cloudheath Drake’s aerial domain. In this regard, coming prepared with the right countermeasures can turn a game around, even against a card as resilient as Cloudheath Drake.

Cards like Cloudheath Drake

Cloudheath Drake is an intriguing creature card in Magic: The Gathering, fitting neatly into decks that capitalize on flying abilities and energy counters. It reminds seasoned players of other cards such as Aven Surveyor, which also offers a flying trait but comes with a bounce ability to disrupt opponents. The Drake, however, forgoes this in favor of energy synergy that can be pivotal in specific MTG decks.

Looking towards Wind Drake, both are blue and showcase the affinity for aerial combat, yet Cloudheath Drake edges ahead with its energy-related ability that may yield long-term benefits in the energy counter mechanics. Conversely, Snapping Drake stands out with a more straightforward approach, boasting no additional abilities but providing a reliable body in the sky for a similar mana cost.

In evaluating these flying creatures, Cloudheath Drake holds its ground with the unique angle it brings to MTG strategies involving energy manipulation. Its adaptable energy ability might just tip the scales in its favor for players building around such themes.

Cards similar to Cloudheath Drake by color, type and mana cost

Master's Guide-Mural // Master's Manufactory - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Cloudheath Drake 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 Cloudheath Drake and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Cloudheath Drake has restrictions

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

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Cloudheath Drake 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	The only difference between a colored artifact and a colorless artifact is, obviously, its color. Unlike most artifacts, a colored artifact requires colored mana to cast. Also unlike most artifacts, a colored artifact has a color in all zones. It will interact with cards that care about color. Other than that, a colored artifact behaves just like any other artifact. It will interact as normal with any card that cares about artifacts, such as Shatter or Arcbound Ravager.