Windstorm Drake MTG Card

Increases power of flying creatures, enhancing aerial combat and board presence without extra resources. Has specific mana requirements, potentially limiting its adaptability in multi-colored decks. Drake’s static ability influences the game at all times, offering defensive and offensive advantages.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Drake
Abilities Flying
Power 3
Toughness 3

Text of card

Flying Other creatures you control with flying get +1/+0.

Drakes become especially voracious as they prepare for their autumn migration, hunting the city's thoroughfares from dawn to dusk.

Cards like Windstorm Drake

Windstorm Drake presents an intriguing choice for deck-builders focusing on flying creatures in Magic: The Gathering. It bears resemblance to other cards that support flying strategies, like Thunderclap Wyvern. Both cards give a boost to flying creatures, but Windstorm Drake stands out due to its affordable mana cost and its ability to consistently provide a power increase to your aerial arsenal without requiring a flash capability.

Empyrean Eagle is another card that showcases similarities with our drake, offering a static bonus to flying creatures. However, the Eagle spans across all colors that include white and blue, thereby widening the scope for deck synergy. The drake is limited to blue, making it a more focused but less versatile option in multicolored decks.

Addressing utility and flexibility within flying-centric decks, Windstorm Drake offers a balance between cost and function. Its ongoing effect of bolstering the power of flyers can be a game-changer in the right context, though it may not provide the color flexibility or the instant-speed advantage of some counterparts. Nevertheless, its potential impact on the board state should not be underestimated by any MTG player dedicated to soaring over their opponents.

Thunderclap Wyvern - MTG Card versions
Empyrean Eagle - MTG Card versions
Thunderclap Wyvern - MTG Card versions
Empyrean Eagle - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Windstorm Drake’s ability to give other flying creatures you control +1/+0 can turn each of your flying creatures into a more significant threat. This synergistic buff potentially translates to drawing into less combat tricks or creature buffs while still applying pressure on your opponent, maintaining card advantage.

Resource Acceleration: While Windstorm Drake itself doesn’t directly accelerate resources, its presence reinforces your aerial board state, letting you dedicate resources to developing your mana base or casting spells that will protect your drake and other key flyers.

Instant Speed: Although Windstorm Drake is a creature that is cast at sorcery speed, its static ability applies at all times, including your opponent’s turn. This continuous boost can deter attacks and bolster your defense, allowing you flexibility with your instant-speed interactions without needing to commit additional resources to enhance your flyers.

Card Cons

Specific Mana Cost: Windstorm Drake demands a precise mix of mana to play, with a color requirement that could restrict its integration into multicolored decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While boasting decent abilities, its casting cost is somewhat steep, which may represent a significant investment of resources, potentially affecting the pace of gameplay.

Discard Requirement: In environments where players must manage limited resources, the absence of an additional discard requirement with Windstorm Drake might lead to missed opportunities for synergy with other cards that exploit discarding mechanics for beneficial effects.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Windstorm Drake is an adaptable addition to any blue flyer-focused deck. Its ability to give other flying creatures you control +1/+0 provides a consistent board presence that enhances aerial strategies in various formats.

Combo Potential: In synergistic decks, this drake can be the linchpin for lethal air attacks. Pairing it with proliferate mechanics or any spell that multiplies +1/+0 buffs can swiftly escalate the threat level of your winged warriors.

Meta-Relevance: With flying creatures frequently part of the competitive landscape, Windstorm Drake can be a formidable force. As it boosts other flyers, it’s especially valuable during metas dominated by non-flying creature decks, giving you a clear skies advantage.

How to beat

Windstorm Drake is a creature card that often takes to the skies with authority in Magic: The Gathering. Its presence is especially felt in limited formats like Draft or Sealed, where its ability to boost the power of other flying creatures can quickly become a significant threat. Despite its solid stats and powerful abilities, there are effective strategies to ground this drake and minimize its impact on the game.

One of the key tactics is to prioritize removal spells that can handle creatures with flying. Cards like Murder, which can destroy any creature at instant speed, or Lava Coil, which deals four damage and exiles the creature if it would die, are perfect tools to take Windstorm Drake out of the equation. Cards that specifically target flyers, such as Plummet, can also provide a mana-efficient answer to this winged menace. Controlling the board with sweepers like Wrath of God or Damnation can clear multiple threats including the Drake, giving a player breathing room and a reset on the opponent’s creature-based strategy.

It’s also wise to consider building a board presence with creatures that can block flyers or using enchantments that restrict the abilities of flying creatures, ensuring Windstorm Drake’s effect is negated. In essence, maintaining access to versatile removal and being preemptive in controlling the board state are critical elements in suppressing the advantage Windstorm Drake offers in MTG matches.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Windstorm Drake MTG card by a specific set like Ravnica Allegiance and Jumpstart, 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 Windstorm Drake and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Windstorm Drake Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2019-01-25 and 2020-08-13. Illustrated by Daarken.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12019-01-25Ravnica AllegianceRNA 602015NormalBlackDaarken
22020-07-17JumpstartJMP 1952015NormalBlackDaarken
32020-08-13Arena Beginner SetANB 422015NormalBlackDaarken

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Windstorm Drake has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
AlchemyLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal