Timid Drake MTG Card
1997-06-09 - Number 54
1999-10-04 - Number 111
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Drake |
| Abilities | Flying |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 3 |
Text of card
Flying If any other creature comes into play, return Timid Drake to owner's hand.
"I sneezed, and it bolted." —Gerrard of the *Weatherlight*
Cards like Timid Drake
The Timid Drake card presents an intriguing dynamic in Magic: The Gathering’s array of creatures, bringing a unique escape mechanism to the table. This card is reminiscent of the likes of Escape Artist, sharing the ability to dodge threats by returning to the owner’s hand. Both creatures can evade removal spells and potential combat losses, but Timid Drake requires no mana to do so, activating upon a condition met during the game state: the arrival of another creature.
Considering Crowded Crypt, we see another way to manipulate creature presence. While not as direct in safeguarding specific creatures, it creates token creatures upon death. This provides a different strategic angle, one that Timid Drake might indirectly benefit from as the board state change can trigger its escape ability.
In juxtaposition, Faerie Impostor offers a similar return-to-hand effect upon entry, although it requires you to bounce another creature you control. This self-imposed limitation contrasts with Timid Drake’s more opponent-responsive mechanism. When comparing these cards, Timid Drake grants a continuous, potentially repeatable self-preservation that can consistently respond to the evolving battlefield.
Cards similar to Timid Drake by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Timid Drake’s ability to bounce back to your hand ensures you consistently have a creature card to play, contributing to maintaining a solid presence on the board without losing card value. This becomes particularly advantageous when you pair it with cards that trigger upon casting or entering the battlefield.
Resource Acceleration: While Timid Drake itself does not directly generate additional resources, its synergy with blink or untap effects can indirectly lead to resource acceleration. By continuously replaying the Drake, you have the potential to reap additional benefits from other cards that might produce mana or untap lands each time a creature enters the battlefield.
Instant Speed: The defensive aspect of Timid Drake can be exploited at instant speed due to its return-to-hand mechanic. If an opponent targets it, you can respond by playing an instant that changes the game state, such as a spell that counters or redirects the target, and Timid Drake will still bounce back to your hand, ready to be redeployed.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One noticeable downside to Timid Drake is its requirement for you to discard a card in order to trigger its ability. This condition can be particularly challenging when your hand is already depleted, forcing you to make potentially undesirable trade-offs.
Specific Mana Cost: The casting cost for Timid Drake is not just any mana, but demands a special variety. This specificity can affect the flexibility of your deck, making it harder to fit Timid Drake into a multi-color deck that may not always have the right mana readily available.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: For the abilities it offers, Timid Drake comes with a relatively steep mana cost. In the landscape of MTG, where efficiency can be the name of the game, investing significant resources for a creature like Timid Drake might not always align with a winning strategy, given the other options available at similar or lower cost points.
Reasons to Include Timid Drake in Your Collection
Versatility: Timid Drake offers a unique dynamic to blue flying decks due its ability to return to a player’s hand whenever another creature comes into play. This can be advantageous in stratagems built around bounce effects or spells that capitalize on casting creatures multiple times.
Combo Potential: The Drake’s return to hand ability can be paired with cards that trigger on entering or leaving the battlefield, cementing its role in combo decks that look to exploit such synergies for gain or control.
Meta-Relevance: With its evasive flying trait and potential for repeated play, Timid Drake becomes a utility player in environments rich with ETB (enter the battlefield) effects, providing consistent value each time it’s played.
How to beat
Timid Drake is an intriguing creature card offering a unique challenge and requiring a distinctive strategy to overcome in MTG play. With the ability to dodge opponents’ creatures by returning to its owner’s hand whenever another creature comes into play, Timid Drake can be evasive and difficult to remove through traditional combat. Tackling this aerial threat asks for a proactive approach given its potential to escape battlefield encounters.
To effectively counter Timid Drake, players should consider using spells that can target creatures without necessitating the casting of more creatures which can inadvertently trigger Timid Drake’s ability. Removal spells like Murder or Doom Blade that can bypass the battlefield can be key. Aiming for a moment when the owner’s hand is full ensures that when Timid Drake returns, it would be discarded due to hand size limits. Additionally, applying pressure through non-creature strategies such as planeswalker abilities, enchantments, or sorceries can maintain board control while circumventing the drake’s evasion mechanism.
Navigating around Timid Drake’s ability ultimately enhances strategic depth. Recognizing and disrupting your opponent’s tactical plays while shielding yourself from this elusive creature demonstrates a higher level of MTG mastery.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Timid Drake MTG card by a specific set like Weatherlight and Mercadian Masques, 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 Timid 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
See MTG Products
Printings
The Timid Drake Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1997-06-09 and 1999-10-04. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1997-06-09 | Weatherlight | WTH | 54 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Mike Dringenberg | |
| 2 | 1999-10-04 | Mercadian Masques | MMQ | 111 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Edward P. Beard, Jr. |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Timid Drake has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |