Spitting Drake MTG Card

Provides board control and pressure with its flying and power-boosting abilities. Demands careful resource management due to its activation cost and mana requirements. Has potential combo uses and can influence metagame dynamics as a flexible threat.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Drake
Abilities Flying
Power 2
Toughness 2

Text of card

Flying oo R +1/+0 until end of turn. You cannot spend more than o R in this way each turn.

It prefers its meals cooked.

Cards like Spitting Drake

Spitting Drake arrives on the stage of Magic: The Gathering as a creature imbued with both strengths and weaknesses that can be evaluated against its draconic counterparts. Resembling cards like Zephyr Falcon, Spitting Drake brings the gift of flight to the battlefield, a characteristic treasured for bypassing ground-based defenses. Unlike the Falcon, the Drake requires a greater mana investment for its activation, making it potentially more cumbersome in fast-paced encounters.

When considering cards such as Dragon Hatchling, comparisons are inevitable. Both creatures boast the ability to temporarily boost their offense at a cost. The Hatchling, with a lower initial casting cost and a similar mana sink ability for increasing power, might seem more flexible in a mana-tight situation. Additionally, Furnace Whelp shares a lineage with our featured Drake, with an identical mana ability to bolster its power. Here, the Whelp edges out slightly with its inherent ability to grow stronger without demanding additional resources each turn.

By weighing aspects like mana curve impact and potential for power scaling, Spitting Drake offers a unique blend of challenge and opportunity, carving out its niche among its kin in the dragon family of Magic: The Gathering cards.

Zephyr Falcon - MTG Card versions
Dragon Hatchling - MTG Card versions
Furnace Whelp - MTG Card versions
Zephyr Falcon - MTG Card versions
Dragon Hatchling - MTG Card versions
Furnace Whelp - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Spitting Drake may not directly allow you to draw more cards, but its flying ability makes it more likely to stay on the battlefield longer. Continuously attacking from the air can pressure an opponent, indirectly leading to card advantage by forcing them to deal with the recurring threat.

Resource Acceleration: Spitting Drake’s unique ability to gain +1/+0 until end of turn for each {R} spent means you can adjust its power dynamically, potentially saving mana for other spells or using excess mana to strengthen your board position.

Instant Speed: Spitting Drake itself is a creature card, but its ability to adjust power at instant speed gives you flexibility during the combat phase. This can influence the way your opponent defends or chooses to use their own instant speed removal, potentially offering you an advantage during the exchange.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Spitting Drake necessitates you to part with a card to activate its ability. This feature might put you at a resource disadvantage, especially in crucial stages of the game where every card in hand could turn the tides in your favor.

Specific Mana Cost: Being a Red creature, Spitting Drake has a mana cost requiring both generic and Red mana. This could restrict its seamless integration into multicolor decks that struggle with accessing the right mana combination without the appropriate mana-fixing elements in place.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that might be considered heavy on the mana curve, Spitting Drake challenges deck builders to weigh its utility against other creatures in the same range. For its effects, other creature options may provide more impact or versatility at a lower mana investment, making them more appealing choices for competitive play.

Reasons to Include Spitting Drake in Your Collection

Versatility: Spitting Drake offers a dynamic presence in decks that aim to capitalize on evasive flying creatures. Its ability to boost its own power helps it adapt to various board states, making it a flexible addition to red or multi-colored decks.

Combo Potential: This card has untapped potential in combos, particularly in strategies that revolve around manipulating the number of counters or leveraging the power of creatures. Spitting Drake’s power-boosting ability could be a cog in a machine that turns the tide of a game.

Meta-Relevance: As metagames evolve, it’s essential to have cards that interact effectively with popular decks. Spitting Drake can offer an edge in a meta where flying creatures have a clear pathway to deal damage, thereby asserting pressure on opponents and shaping the pace of play.

How to beat

Spitting Drake presents an interesting challenge on the battleground. This flying creature can adapt to various board states with its ability to boost its power at a moment’s notice. To outmaneuver this threat, players should consider employing tactics that restrict the Drake’s potential before it becomes too formidable to handle. One of the most effective strategies is to remove it quickly from the battlefield before your opponent has the chance to accumulate enough mana to enhance its power.

Utilizing instant-speed removal spells that can target creatures irrespective of their power level is key. Cards like Murder or Doom Blade are perfect for dispatching Spitting Drake before it spirals out of control. Additionally, countering the spell as it’s cast can also ensure that the Drake never gets a chance to take flight. Employing counterspells such as Counterspell or Mana Leak can be crucial in maintaining the upper hand against opponents who rely on creatures with variable power mechanics like Spitting Drake.

Ultimately, the ability to anticipate and react to threats swiftly is what defines a skilled MTG player. Keeping a keen eye on your opponent’s mana and a hand ready with answers will ensure that Spitting Drake remains a minor nuisance rather than a game-ending problem.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Spitting Drake MTG card by a specific set like Visions and Classic Sixth Edition, 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 Spitting Drake and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Spitting Drake Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1997-02-03 and 1999-04-21. Illustrated by 3 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11997-02-03VisionsVIS 951997NormalBlackGeofrey Darrow & I. Rabarot
21999-04-21Classic Sixth Edition6ED 2071997NormalWhiteGeofrey Darrow & I. Rabarot

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Spitting Drake has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal