Stratadon MTG Card

Stratadon offers on-board advantage with a persistent threat that depletes opponent resources. Ramp decks benefit from Stratadon’s mana cost, accelerating its battlefield entry. Instant speed deployment of Stratadon disrupts opponents, forcing adverse timings.

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	10
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Artifact Creature — Beast
Abilities	Domain,Trample
Released	2001-02-05
Set symbol
Set name	Planeshift
Set code	PLS
Power	5
Toughness	5
Number	135
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Brian Snõddy

Text of card

Stratadon costs o1 less to play for each basic land type among lands you control. Trample

Designed like the gargadons of Keld—big and brutal.

Cards like Stratadon

Stratadon is another intriguing piece in the landscape of Magic: The Gathering cost reduction creatures. It holds its own against cards like Etherium Sculptor, which also grants a reduction in mana cost for certain types of spells. Stratadon is notably broader, applying its cost reduction to artifact spells, potentially making a big impact in artifact-centric decks. While not as specialized as Etherium Sculptor, which focuses on artifact spells alone, the sheer scope of Stratadon’s effect gives it a unique advantage in decks that cast a wide array of artifacts.

Goblin Electromancer is comparable too, offering similar cost-saving benefits but tailored for instants and sorcery spells. Stratadon has a higher mana value but impacts a different set of cards, allowing for strategic diversity. The metalwork colossus is another card that shares some similarities, reducing its cost based on the total mana value of noncreature artifacts you control. Unlike Stratadon, Metalwork Colossus can also be a win condition on its own due to its massive power and toughness.

All in all, Stratadon fits nicely into the landscape of MTG’s cost reduction cards, bringing flexibility and power to the table for artifact-heavy decks. It could very well shift the rhythm of a match in your favor with its broad sweeping effect on artifact costs.

Goblin Electromancer - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Stratadon by color, type and mana cost

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Stratadon’s massive body provides an on-board advantage that, once resolved, becomes a persistent threat your opponents must answer, effectively dwindling their resources.

Resource Acceleration: As a high-cost creature, Stratadon can be leveraged in ramp decks that thrive on rapidly accumulating mana, helping accelerate the deployment of this behemoth onto the battlefield earlier than expected.

Instant Speed: Should Stratadon possess flash or you have means to cast it as though it had flash, the ability to drop it in at instant speed disrupts adversaries’ strategies, forcing them to deal with it during an inopportune time.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Stratadon requires you to discard another card to activate certain abilities. This cost can be a setback, especially if your hand is already depleted or if you’re required to give up a significant card that could be crucial later in the game.

Specific Mana Cost: Summoning Stratadon demands a particular combination of mana types. This may not always align with your deck’s mana base, potentially leading to situations where you have the card in hand but are unable to play it due to a mismatch in available mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Cassting Stratadon comes with a hefty mana investment. Its cost may impede your ability to play other spells in the same turn, limiting your flexibility and potentially giving your opponent an advantage in terms of board presence or tempo.

Reasons to Include Stratadon in Your Collection

Versatility: Stratadon offers a wide range of utility for decks. As a large creature, it can dominate the battlefield while also fitting into artifact and dinosaur strategies. Its hefty power can turn the tide in games, and its presence can often deter opponents from attacking.

Combo Potential: With its Trample ability, Stratadon can be combined with cards that increase its power or provide evasion to deal massive damage. It also can synergize with cards that reduce artifact costs, allowing it to be played sooner than expected.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta that favors big creatures and artifact synergies, Stratadon can serve as an important win condition. Its ability to break through stalemates and pressure control decks makes it a valuable asset against various popular strategies.

How to beat

Stratadon, a formidable artifact creature in Magic: The Gathering, presents a unique challenge on the battlefield. Its massive presence comes from its notable combination of power and the ability to potentially enter the game early on. Players seeking to counteract this behemoth may look toward efficient removal spells that can bypass its bulk. Direct exile spells or those with Destroy effects can be pivotal in removing Stratadon from play before it overwhelms opponents with its might.

Strategies employing countermagic also prove effective when dealing with Stratadon, especially during the spell’s casting phase. Making use of counterspells like Negate or Essence Scatter can stop Stratadon before it even lands on the field, avoiding the problem altogether. Additionally, employing bounce-effects can return Stratadon to its owner’s hand, forcing them to recast it and expend more resources, which can hinder their tempo and potential for aggression.

Taking this approach to managing heavy threats such as Stratadon requires foresight and proper mana allocation. It’s important to identify this artifact creature as a priority target and save removal or counters for it specifically. By doing so, a player can prevent Stratadon from becoming an uncontrollable force, maintaining balance and pushing towards victory.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Stratadon MTG card by a specific set like 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 Stratadon and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Stratadon has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Restricted
Oathbreaker	Legal
Premodern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Stratadon card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date	Text
2009-02-01	A number of nonbasic lands have basic land types. Domain abilities don’t count the number of lands you control — they count the number of basic land types among lands you control, even if that means checking the same land twice. For example, if you control a Tundra, an Overgrown Tomb, and a Madblind Mountain, you’ll have a Plains, Island, Swamp, Mountain, and Forest among the lands you control. Your domain abilities will be maxed out.
2009-02-01	How many lands you control of a particular basic land type is irrelevant to a domain ability, as long as that number is greater than zero. As far as domain is concerned, ten Forests is the same as one Forest.
2009-02-01	To determine the number of basic land types among lands you control, look at the lands you have on the battlefield and ask yourself whether the subtypes Plains, Island, Swamp, Mountain, and Forest appear within that group. The number of times you say yes (topping out at five) tells you how powerful your domain abilities will be.