Wind Drake MTG Card
1997-05-01 - Number 77
1997-10-14 - Number 105
1999-04-21 - Number 106
1999-07-01 - Number 61
1999-11-12 - Number 98
2001-04-11 - Number 114★
2001-04-11 - Number 114
2003-07-28 - Number 114★
2003-07-28 - Number 114
2005-07-29 - Number 112
2005-07-29 - Number 112★
2009-07-17 - Number 81
2012-07-13 - Number 80
2013-05-03 - Number 20
2015-05-06 - Number 81
2016-09-30 - Number 70
2016-09-30 - Number 70†
2019-11-07 - Number 549
2020-09-26 - Number KLD-70
| Card sets | Released in 19 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Drake |
| Abilities | Flying |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Text of card
Flying
"No bird soars too high, if he soars with his own wings." —William Blake, *The Marriage of Heaven and Hell*
Cards like Wind Drake
Wind Drake stands as a fundamental creature choice for many blue decks in Magic the Gathering. It shares many traits with other creatures like Snapping Drake, which also boasts the flying ability and presents similar stats. Yet, Wind Drake comes with a mana cost that’s color-specific, giving it an edge in mono-blue strategies.
Exploring further parallels, we encounter Skysnatcher, another card with flying but with a lesser power. It compensates with a lower mana requirement, making it easier to play earlier in the game. Then there’s Spire Monitor, a creature that adds flash to the mix, allowing for surprise defense or an opportunistic attack, although it demands more mana investment than Wind Drake.
In the realm of aerial creatures, Wind Drake may not overwhelm with raw power but it offers a reliable and cost-effective choice for players. It strikes a balance between affordability and tactical advantage, essentially shaping its role in deck-building strategies that favor agility and mana curve efficiency.
Cards similar to Wind Drake by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Wind Drake’s ability to consistently provide a flying body on the battlefield aids in maintaining air superiority, thus keeping the pressure on your opponent while deterring their airborne attacks.
Resource Acceleration: While Wind Drake doesn’t directly accelerate resources, its efficiency in terms of converted mana cost to power and toughness ratio offers a reliable presence on the board without a heavy resource investment.
Instant Speed: Even though Wind Drake itself isn’t an instant, it complements decks that operate at instant speed by providing a steady threat that opponents must address, freeing up your instant-speed interactions for more opportune moments.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While the Wind Drake does not inherently require a discard to play, it does not protect against this potential effect from other cards in play. This interaction could force you to shelve more valuable cards from your hand.
Specific Mana Cost: Requiring two Islands to cast, the Wind Drake’s blue mana cost can restrict deck-building options, barring it from mono-colored decks that are not blue or multicolor decks with insufficient mana fixing.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: At a total of three mana, this creature’s stats and abilities might be evaluated as costly compared to other creatures at this casting cost. There are creatures within the same mana range offering greater power, toughness, or more impactful abilities.
Reasons to Include Wind Drake in Your Collection
Versatility: Wind Drake’s simplicity as a flying creature allows it to fit smoothly into various decks. Especially for those needing to establish a presence in the air early in the game, Wind Drake serves as a reliable three-drop with evasion.
Combo Potential: This basic creature can be an effective component in combinations with cards that benefit from having flyers or a certain number of creatures under your control. Its presence can easily enhance such synergies.
Meta-Relevance: In environments where smaller ground creatures dominate, Wind Drake can offer consistent damage that bypasses common defensive lines. It’s particularly useful when the battlefield becomes cluttered, ensuring you maintain pressure on your opponent.
How to beat
Wind Drake presents itself as a classic flying creature in the vast universe of Magic: The Gathering. Its ability to soar over ground-bound creatures makes it a reliable choice for maintaining aerial control. Players recognize the advantage of a 2/2 flying creature for three mana, offering a balanced mix of cost and power for blue decks, much like other flying creatures such as Cloudkin Seer or Welkin Tern.
However, when facing Wind Drake, the goal is to stifle its influence on the battlefield. Removal spells are the most direct approach. Options like Shock and Lightning Strike effectively dispatch it, as they deal damage sufficient to eliminate a creature with its toughness. Additionally, countering Wind Drake before it hits the board with a spell like Essence Scatter ensures it never gets the chance to take to the skies. For those who rely on creatures, ones with reach or those that can block flying creatures, like Mammoth Spider or the classic Serra Angel, stand as sturdy defenses against the serpentine threats.
Employing these strategies can nullify the Drake’s impact, allowing players to maintain control. Recognizing the weaknesses of flyer-centric strategies is key to overcoming the challenges posed by cards like Wind Drake and maintaining an upper hand during gameplay.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Wind Drake MTG card by a specific set like Portal and Tempest, 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 Wind 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 Wind Drake Magic the Gathering card was released in 15 different sets between 1997-05-01 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by 6 different artists.
Show/hide all sets| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1997-05-01 | Portal | POR | 77 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Zina Saunders | |
| 2 | 1997-10-14 | Tempest | TMP | 105 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Greg Simanson | |
| 3 | 1999-04-21 | Classic Sixth Edition | 6ED | 106 | 1997 | Normal | White | Zina Saunders | |
| 4 | 1999-07-01 | Starter 1999 | S99 | 61 | 1997 | Normal | White | Zina Saunders | |
| 5 | 1999-11-12 | Battle Royale Box Set | BRB | 98 | 1997 | Normal | White | Zina Saunders | |
| 6 | 2001-04-11 | Seventh Edition | 7ED | 114★ | 1997 | Normal | Black | Tom Wänerstrand | |
| 7 | 2001-04-11 | Seventh Edition | 7ED | 114 | 1997 | Normal | White | Tom Wänerstrand | |
| 8 | 2003-07-28 | Eighth Edition | 8ED | 114★ | 2003 | Normal | Black | Tom Wänerstrand | |
| 9 | 2003-07-28 | Eighth Edition | 8ED | 114 | 2003 | Normal | White | Tom Wänerstrand | |
| 10 | 2005-07-29 | Ninth Edition | 9ED | 112 | 2003 | Normal | White | Tom Wänerstrand | |
| 11 | 2005-07-29 | Ninth Edition | 9ED | 112★ | 2003 | Normal | Black | Tom Wänerstrand | |
| 12 | 2009-07-17 | Magic 2010 | M10 | 81 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Steve Prescott | |
| 13 | 2012-07-13 | Magic 2013 | M13 | 80 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Steve Prescott | |
| 14 | 2013-05-03 | Dragon's Maze | DGM | 20 | 2003 | Normal | Black | John Severin Brassell | |
| 15 | 2015-05-06 | Tempest Remastered | TPR | 81 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Greg Simanson | |
| 16 | 2016-09-30 | Kaladesh | KLD | 70 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Todd Lockwood | |
| 17 | 2016-09-30 | Kaladesh | KLD | 70† | 2015 | Normal | Black | Todd Lockwood | |
| 18 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 549 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Todd Lockwood | |
| 19 | The List | PLST | KLD-70 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Todd Lockwood |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Wind Drake has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |