Trawler Drake MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Phyrexian Drake |
| Abilities | Flying |
| Released | 2023-02-03 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Phyrexia: All Will Be One |
| Set code | ONE |
| Power | 0 |
| Toughness | 0 |
| Number | 74 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Daniel Ljunggren |
Text of card
Flying Trawler Drake enters the battlefield with an oil counter on it. Trawler Drake gets +1/+1 for each oil counter on it. Whenever you cast a noncreature spell, put an oil counter on Trawler Drake.
Cards like Trawler Drake
Trawler Drake has become a talked-about entry in the Magic: The Gathering universe for its ability to control the skies. If you closely compare it with Winged Words, you’ll notice that while Winged Words is a spell focusing on card draw, Trawler Drake offers a physical presence, with its flying capability serving as an asset to impose aerial dominance. Both cards value the power of flight, but the Drake brings the added advantage of a creature card.
The Drake also invites comparison to Azure Drake. Trawler Drake enters the battlefield for one less mana, an essential edge in games where mana efficiency dictates the tempo. While they both share the flying trait, Azure Drake’s lack of any other innovative abilities makes the Trawler Drake more appealing for its flexible and tactical engagement during combat phases.
When evaluating the Drake’s place among its peers, we recognize its utility not just as a flying threat, but also for its subtle synergy with graveyard strategies. Whereas Winged Words and Azure Drake have their strengths, Trawler Drake’s balanced cost and multifaceted role on the battlefield offer a dynamic that can be pivotal in many MTG decks.
Cards similar to Trawler Drake by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Trawler Drake is designed to provide an edge by returning another target creature you control to its owner’s hand. This can be beneficial when reusing enter-the-battlefield abilities or dodging removal, ultimately leading to a better hand and stronger board presence.
Resource Acceleration: With Trawler Drake, you can optimize your gameplay by bouncing creatures with powerful enter-the-battlefield effects to your hand. Replaying these creatures can offer you a pseudo ramp effect by leveraging additional value and functionality from the same cards.
Instant Speed: The ability to activate Trawler Drake’s return effect at instant speed gives a player the flexibility to adjust their strategy mid-game. This can protect key creatures from opponents’ spells or create surprise blockers, providing a strategic advantage when timing is critical.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Trawler Drake necessitates discarding another card to activate its ability. This can put players at a resource disadvantage, especially in game states where maintaining card advantage is crucial.
Specific Mana Cost: The card requires a distinct set of mana, including blue, to cast. This may not fit seamlessly into decks that don’t have a base or splash of blue, potentially restricting its inclusion to specific archetypes.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Trawler Drake’s mana cost is on the higher side for its stats and abilities. Given that the competitive game landscape includes lower-cost creatures with impactful effects, it might not stand out as a first choice for many strategies.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Trawler Drake offers a flexible role in decks that are designed to control the board and make use of flying creatures. This card can be a reliable blocker or an aggressive attacker in the skies.
Combo Potential: Trawler Drake has the ability to return another target creature you control to its owner’s hand when it enters the battlefield. This can be strategically used to reuse enter-the-battlefield effects or save valuable creatures from removal.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where flying creatures are prominent, Trawler Drake can easily find its place as both an offensive and defensive asset. Its return-to-hand ability can also disrupt opponent’s strategies, making it a smart addition against decks that lack reach or flying blockers.
How to beat
Trawler Drake is a crafty airborne threat that has been making waves in the MTG arena. Its ability to control the battlefield by manipulating both players’ graveyards sets it apart from your average flyer. Understanding its strengths is key to developing a strategy to effectively counter it. Consider employing cards that can either neutralize flying creatures or remove cards from graveyards to mitigate the Trawler Drake’s advantages. Utilizing instants or spells that can exile or bounce a creature to its owner’s hand during combat can be a reliable method to keep Trawler Drake at bay.
Diving deeper, cards with flash can be particularly effective, allowing you to surprise an opponent who is unprepared for an instant-speed response. Graveyard hate cards also serve a dual purpose: they can disrupt the synergy Trawler Drake relies on while also crippling any additional graveyard-focused strategies your opponent may be running. In essence, incorporate removals late-game interactions, and graveyard control within your deck to secure an upper hand against this flying adversary.
In summary, employing instant-speed interaction and specific graveyard-control cards provides a proven formula for clipping the wings of Trawler Drake, safeguarding your life total, and maintaining tempo in an MTG face-off where every card counts.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Trawler Drake MTG card by a specific set like Phyrexia: All Will Be One, 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 Trawler 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
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Trawler Drake has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Alchemy | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |