Downdraft MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Enchantment
Released	1997-06-09
Set symbol
Set name	Weatherlight
Set code	WTH
Number	125
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	John Matson

Key Takeaways

Downdraft’s instant speed activation enables flexible control of the aerial combat dynamic.
While powerful, its ability hinges on discarding cards, which may sap hand resources.
It serves a dual purpose by providing flying or negating enemy flyers’ abilities.

Text of card

oo G Target creature loses flying until end of turn. Sacrifice Downdraft: Downdraft deals 2 damage to each creature with flying.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Downdraft provides a unique angle on card advantage by offering you the ability to control the battlefield. With the potential to repeatedly tap flying creatures, Downdraft can diminish the effectiveness of your opponent’s aerial threats, indirectly preserving your cards on the board and preventing loss of card equity through unfavorable trades or combat damage.

Resource Acceleration: While Downdraft itself may not directly accelerate your resources in the traditional sense, it allows you to mitigate the necessity for using additional cards or mana to deal with flying creatures. This conservation of resources can be leveraged into an accelerated position by dedicating your mana and card plays to more proactive strategies or developing your board presence without the constant pressure of opposing flyers.

Instant Speed: The activation of Downdraft’s ability at instant speed gives you significant flexibility during gameplay. You can strategically choose the most opportune moments to disable enemy flyers, whether that’s during combat to surprise an opponent or at the end of their turn to ensure a clear path for your next attack. Instant speed interactions often equate to maintaining the upper hand in the tempo of the game.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Downdraft demands you relinquish a card to activate its ability. This could leave you in a bind if your hand is already stretched thin.

Specific Mana Cost: Downdraft’s requirement for green mana can make it less flexible, fitting primarily into green-centric or multicolored decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost that includes two generic and one green mana, there are alternative cards that might offer similar or better board interactions for a lower investment.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Downdraft offers players a flexible tool in their arsenal, capable of giving creatures flying or grounding fliers. This dual function allows adaptability to various in-game situations, enhancing both offensive and defensive strategies.

Combo Potential: With its ability to target multiple creatures across turns, Downdraft synergizes well with cards that profit from tapping or untapping creatures, setting up potential combos within decks that capitalize on such mechanics.

Meta-Relevance: In a game environment where flying creatures are prevalent, Downdraft becomes a valuable asset. It serves as both an enabler for your own tactical aerial assaults and a defense against opponents’ flying threats, thus maintaining its relevance in the shifting landscape of the meta.

How to beat

Downdraft is a unique card in Magic: The Gathering, known for its ability to weaken flying creatures. It offers the tactical advantage of hindering strategies reliant on aerial assaults. However, this card’s strength can be its own downfall. It requires green mana to activate and can only affect creatures with flying, limiting its scope of disruption.

To effectively counter Downdraft, prioritize creatures that can withstand or benefit from being targeted. Hexproof creatures are impervious to Downdraft’s effect, while cards with landfall may gain advantages each time a land enters the battlefield under your control. Additionally, consider incorporating spells that remove enchantments or artifacts, thus neutralizing Downdraft’s impact on the game. Cards like Naturalize or Disenchant are excellent examples of spells capable of dispatching Downdraft effortlessly.

Furthermore, fostering a deck that isn’t heavily reliant on flyers minimizes the potential disruption caused by Downdraft. In this way, you prepare your battlefield presence to be versatile and resistant to targeted enchantment strategies, ensuring that a single card like Downdraft doesn’t dictate the outcome of your matches.

Cards like Downdraft

In the world of MTG, Downdraft stands out as an intriguing option for controlling the skies. It parallels with other cards such as Gust of Wind, which also provides a way to interact with flying creatures. However, Downdraft offers a repeatable effect, allowing players to continually weaken flying threats by tapping mana and the card itself, whereas Gust of Wind is a single-use spell that also draws a card when a player has a creature with flying.

Examining cards with similar functionality, we stumble upon Windstorm. Windstorm deals damage to each creature with flying for each green mana you pay, which can clear multiple threats at once. Even though this is a one-time effect, it has the potential for a more immediate and broad impact compared to Downdraft’s targeted approach. Spiderweb, in contrast, is a more defensive enchantment, ensnaring those who fly too close, and shares the ability to impede multiple flying creatures, akin to Downdraft’s ongoing deterrent.

Each card presents unique strategic options depending on your gameplay objectives. Downdraft’s continuous influence over the aerial zone and its ability to chip away at flying creatures turn after turn mark it as a distinctive choice within this niche of MTG cards, standing strong amidst a diverse selection of air-controlling magic.

Cards similar to Downdraft by color, type and mana cost

The Dragon-Kami Reborn // Dragon-Kami's Egg - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Downdraft MTG card by a specific set like Weatherlight, 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 Downdraft and other MTG cards: