Silver Drake MTG Card
2001-02-05 - Number 125
1995-01-02 - Number 13
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Drake |
| Abilities | Flying |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 3 |
Text of card
Flying When Silver Drake comes into play, return a white or blue creature you control to its owner's hand.
Cards like Silver Drake
The allure of Silver Drake rests in its unique coming-into-play ability, offering a glimpse into the strategic depth of Magic: The Gathering. This card echoes the game mechanics of creatures like Man-o’-War, which allows a player to return a creature to their hand when it comes into play. However, Silver Drake demands the return of a white or blue creature you control, not just any creature like Man-o’-War does.
Considering other cards with a similar bouncing strategy, we have Exclusion Mage, a card that returns a target creature an opponent controls to their hand upon entry. Even though Exclusion Mage targets opponents’ creatures, thus disrupting their play, Silver Drake’s requirement to bounce your own creatures can be turned into an advantage with the right deck composition. This synergy of self-bouncing can be cleverly exploited with creatures that have beneficial enter-the-battlefield effects.
Through skillful deck construction, Silver Drake can be seen not just as a flying creature but as a key piece in an intricate combo, elevating its potential far beyond that of a simple creature card. It underscores the importance of strategy and synergy in your deck, embodying the innovation that MTG players cherish.
Cards similar to Silver Drake by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Silver Drake provides a unique edge by potentially bouncing a creature back to your hand, offering the ability to replay it for extra enters-the-battlefield effects and furthering your in-game leverage.
Resource Acceleration: While not directly a resource accelerator, by returning a creature to your hand, Silver Drake affords a subtle tempo swing which can be exploited to outpace opponents, making it a strategic choice for decks looking to maintain momentum.
Instant Speed: The ability to deploy Silver Drake at instant speed enhances its tactical value, letting you adjust to the evolving board state or surprise an adversary during their turn, potentially disrupting their strategies while fortifying your own position.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One of the drawbacks of Silver Drake is its requirement for a player to discard a card upon casting. During tight gameplay, where each card in hand could play a crucial role, being forced to part with a potentially valuable resource might not be ideal.
Specific Mana Cost: Silver Drake demands a very specific combination of mana to hit the board—two blue and one other. This cost confines it primarily to mono-blue or blue-heavy decks, potentially limiting its flexibility in multicolored decks that might not always have the right mana available.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana including two blue, Silver Drake may seem a bit costly, especially when compared to other creatures that can be summoned for a similar mana investment. In competitive play, where efficiency is key, players might prefer creatures that offer a better cost-to-impact ratio.
Reasons to Include Silver Drake in Your Collection
Versatility: Silver Drake offers a balanced blend of power and defensive capability, an appealing choice for decks that require a reliable flying blocker or an aggressive air threat.
Combo Potential: This creature works beautifully in synergistic strategies that rely on bounce or flicker effects, allowing you to capitalize on its enter-the-battlefield ability multiple times for game-swinging advantage.
Meta-Relevance: As the gameplay environment often shifts, Silver Drake maintains its relevance by being a formidable answer to various ground-based threats, making it a tactically smart addition to your arsenal.
How to beat
Silver Drake presents a unique challenge on the battlefield in the world of Magic: The Gathering. This creature is not only evasive due to its flying ability but also offers card advantage through its bounce mechanism. Understanding the intricacies of this creature is key to formulating a strategy against it.
One approach to counter Silver Drake is by utilizing removal spells that can bypass its flying. Spells such as Fatal Push or Path to Exile can efficiently handle the creature before it can make a significant impact. Another effective tactic is employing counterspells to prevent Silver Drake from ever entering the battlefield. This preemptive measure is especially useful against decks that aim to recycle the Drake’s enter-the-battlefield effect.
Additionally, employing your own creatures with reach or flying can provide a stable defense against Silver Drake, preventing it from attacking unopposed. In instances where Silver Drake has already provided card advantage, focus on eliminating other key creatures or denying further card draw to minimize the opponent’s benefits. By maintaining board control and staying aware of your opponent’s potential plays, you can navigate around the obstacles Silver Drake poses and emerge victorious in your duels.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Silver Drake MTG card by a specific set like Media Inserts and Planeshift, 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 Silver 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
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Printings
The Silver Drake Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2001-02-05 and 2001-02-05. Illustrated by Alan Pollack.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Media Inserts | PMEI | 13 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Alan Pollack | ||
| 2 | 2001-02-05 | Planeshift | PLS | 125 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Alan Pollack |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Silver Drake has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Silver Drake card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2004-10-04 | You choose the creature to return on resolution of the triggered ability. This is not targeted. |