Urborg Drake MTG Card
2000-10-02 - Number 283
2018-06-08 - Number 231
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Drake |
| Abilities | Flying |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 3 |
Text of card
Flying Urborg Drake attacks each turn if able.
Relentless as the sea, remorseless as death.
Cards like Urborg Drake
Urborg Drake is an intriguing creature in the realm of flying creatures in Magic: The Gathering. When we look at flying creatures like Wind Drake, we see a direct comparison. Both cards have the same flying ability and power/toughness ratio of 2/2, but Urborg Drake has a unique twist. What sets it apart is the echo cost, which requires the player to pay the creature’s casting cost at the beginning of their next upkeep or sacrifice it.
Another creature in the same space is Welkin Tern. This card also boasts flying and deals with constraints, as it can only block creatures with flying. Costing one less mana than Urborg Drake, it offers flexibility in deck building. Despite the lower cost, Welkin Tern’s restriction in blocking emphasizes Urborg Drake’s balanced attributes.
In an overall analysis, Urborg Drake finds itself in a comfortable middle ground within the selection of 2/2 flying creatures. Its respectable stats and its echo cost may appear to be a drawback, but they can be leveraged in decks that benefit from temporary creatures or graveyard synergies.
Cards similar to Urborg Drake by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Urborg Drake presents an opportunity for strategic deck cycling, serving as an efficient mechanism to possibly eke out an advantage against an opponent by paving the way for more formidable creatures or spells in subsequent turns.
Resource Acceleration: As a flying creature, Urborg Drake could potentially bypass ground-based defenses, allowing for more direct attacks and a quicker depletion of the opponent’s resources. This creates a form of tempo acceleration, as your opponent may be forced to deal with the aerial threat sooner than they’d like.
Instant Speed: While Urborg Drake is not an instant itself, its presence in a deck can encourage a playstyle that leaves mana open for instant-speed responses. Deploying the drake during your main phase can be a signal that you have other instant-speed interactions ready, keeping your opponent guessing.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Urborg Drake necessitates discarding another card which can be quite a setback when your hand is already running low. This can lead to difficult decisions about resource management during critical moments of gameplay.
Specific Mana Cost: Requiring both black and blue mana for summoning, Urborg Drake might not slot into every deck easily, particularly those that aren’t built around a mana base to support these colors.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost that could be perceived as steep for its stats and abilities, there are alternative creatures that might bring more value or versatility to the battlefield for the same or lower investment.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Urborg Drake offers a unique blend as a flying creature with notable swiftness. It has the strength to be incorporated into various deck archetypes, fitting well in strategies that capitalize on aggressive flying creatures.
Combo Potential: The Drake’s return-to-hand feature when it becomes blocked provides opportunities for combos with cards that benefit from casting creatures multiple times or evading potential removal threats from your opponents.
Meta-Relevance: With an evolving competitive scene, Urborg Drake’s attributes could become significantly advantageous if aerial attacks and tactical creature repositioning play a bigger role in prevailing deck builds.
How to Beat Urborg Drake
The Urborg Drake is an interesting creature card in the realm of MTG. It flies swiftly into play with notable aggressive stats for its cost, making it a threat that needs to be addressed swiftly. To effectively counter Urborg Drake, consider employing removal spells that bypass its flying ability. Cards like Doom Blade or Murder are perfect examples of direct and straightforward solutions to remove this creature from the battlefield.
Another efficient strategy is utilizing creatures with reach or any form of flying blockers. These not only neutralize the Drake’s flying advantage but can also potentially lead to favorable exchanges for you. Moreover, if your deck supports it, enchantments that pacify creatures or strip them of abilities also offer an answer to the dominating presence of Urborg Drake.
Overall, while Urborg Drake can be quite the fearsome card to go up against due to its evasion and speed, incorporating versatile removal, blockers, or ability-restricting effects in your deck strategy can ensure you’re prepared to face and beat it during a match.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Urborg Drake MTG card by a specific set like Invasion and Battlebond, 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 Urborg 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 Urborg Drake Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2000-10-02 and 2018-06-08. Illustrated by Sam Wood.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2000-10-02 | Invasion | INV | 283 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Sam Wood | |
| 2 | 2018-06-08 | Battlebond | BBD | 231 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Sam Wood |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Urborg Drake has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |