Angler Drake MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost6
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Drake
Abilities Flying
Power 4
Toughness 4

Key Takeaways

  1. Angler Drake disrupts opponents by bouncing creatures and enabling strategic plays with its entry effect.
  2. Its mana cost and specific requirements can challenge deck building, demanding a balanced mana base.
  3. Despite its cost, Angler Drake’s versatility makes it a powerful addition to any blue-focused collection.

Text of card

Flying When Angler Drake enters the battlefield, you may return target creature to its owner's hand.

From the time they are hatchlings, river drakes are taught to pull the largest prey from the Luxa.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Angler Drake comes into play with a powerful effect that returns target creature to its owner’s hand. This form of removal can be just as beneficial as drawing a card, since it disrupts your opponent’s board presence, setting them back while you maintain or even grow your own board state.

Resource Acceleration: Although Angler Drake doesn’t directly produce resources, its 4/4 flying body represents significant aerial power. By clearing the path for itself or other creatures, the Drake can help secure combat victories that lead to winning the game more quickly.

Instant Speed: While Angler Drake isn’t an instant, its ability to return creatures to hand on entry can be a pseudo-instant speed effect when played strategically. It can disrupt opponents’ plans during their most vulnerable stages, like just after they cast a creature spell that you return to their hand, effectively wasting their turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Although Angler Drake does not have a discard requirement itself, it is important for players to consider the opportunity cost of playing any six-mana creature. Every card played is one less in hand, so the decision to bring Angler Drake to the battlefield must be weighed against maintaining a hand with adequate responses and resources.

Specific Mana Cost: Angler Drake requires a specific mana investment of two blue and four colorless mana, which may not always be readily available. Decks without a solid mana base or the specific blue mana may struggle to cast this spell on time, or at all, limiting its versatility across various deck types.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of six mana, Angler Drake comes in at a higher investment than other creatures with similar or better effects. The mana cost makes it a potentially slow choice compared to lower-cost creatures that fly or offer control abilities, putting the player at a distinct tempo disadvantage, especially in faster-paced games or against more aggressive deck archetypes.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Angler Drake brings utility to any blue-focused deck owing to its ability to return a target creature to its owner’s hand upon entering the battlefield. This allows for repeated use of enter-the-battlefield effects, or simply to clear a path for attack.

Combo Potential: With its flying ability, Angler Drake serves as a formidable aerial threat. It can work in tandem with cards that capitalize on bouncing opponent’s creatures, paving the way for instant disruption or long-term tempo strategies.

Meta-Relevance: In game environments where creature-based strategies dominate, having a reliable way to deal with opponents’ threats is crucial. Angler Drake fits well in such scenarios, providing a body in the air as well as a method for managing opposing boards.


How to beat

Angler Drake presents itself as a powerful presence in the game of Magic: The Gathering. With its ability to return a target creature to its owner’s hand upon entering the battlefield, this card offers both aerial dominance and control over the pacing of the game. To effectively counteract the advantages Angler Drake brings to the table, one must consider strategic plays and card choices that can minimize its impact or remove it from the board entirely.

Employing removal spells that can target creatures regardless of their size, such as Doom Blade or Path to Exile, is a straightforward method for taking Angler Drake out of the equation. Instant-speed interaction is key, ensuring that you can react to its casting before the bounce effect takes place. In addition, putting pressure on your opponent by rapidly developing your board presence may force them to use their mana defensively, possibly hindering their ability to cast Angler Drake at a pivotal moment. Always remain vigilant for the right opportunity to strike and use your removal when it can disrupt your opponent’s plans the most effectively.

Finally, including creatures with strong enter-the-battlefield effects of your own can turn the tide in your favor. By doing so, even if Angler Drake returns one of your creatures to your hand, you can replay it for additional value, thus mitigating the tempo loss and maintaining the competitive edge.


Cards like Angler Drake

Angler Drake is a blue creature card that brings a blend of power and utility to the table in MTG. With similarities to cards like Aether Adept, both creatures provide a flying body coupled with a bounce effect upon entering the battlefield. Angler Drake, however, offers a larger flying presence and affects any target creature, whereas Aether Adept is limited to targeting creatures your opponents control but comes with a lower casting cost.

Moving towards cards like Frost Lynx and Man-o’-War, we find a common thread in the creature control department. Frost Lynx has a similar “freeze” effect by tapping down a creature upon entry, while Man-o’-War returns a creature to its owner’s hand. Although these cards come with smaller bodies and at a lesser converted mana cost, Angler Drake gives you a more persistent board presence and the potential for larger impact swings in the late game.

To sum it up, while there are several creatures in MTG that manipulate opponents’ boards on entry, Angler Drake combines a formidable flying threat with a versatile bounce ability, making it a unique and valuable card in the right deck context.

Aether Adept - MTG Card versions
Frost Lynx - MTG Card versions
Man-o'-War - MTG Card versions
Aether Adept - Magic 2011 (M11)
Frost Lynx - Magic 2015 (M15)
Man-o'-War - Visions (VIS)

Cards similar to Angler Drake by color, type and mana cost

Sea Serpent - MTG Card versions
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Drifting Djinn - MTG Card versions
King Crab - MTG Card versions
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Mahamoti Djinn - MTG Card versions
Deepfathom Skulker - MTG Card versions
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Vedalken Dismisser - MTG Card versions
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Draining Whelk - MTG Card versions
Arcanis the Omnipotent - MTG Card versions
Quicksilver Dragon - MTG Card versions
Frost Titan - MTG Card versions
Deadeye Navigator - MTG Card versions
Sea Serpent - Masters Edition IV (ME4)
Sibilant Spirit - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Drifting Djinn - Urza's Saga (USG)
King Crab - Urza's Legacy (ULG)
Sea Monster - Tenth Edition (10E)
Sun Quan, Lord of Wu - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)
Sliptide Serpent - Nemesis (NEM)
Zanam Djinn - Invasion (INV)
Mahamoti Djinn - Mystery Booster (MB1)
Deepfathom Skulker - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Sakashima's Protege - Commander Legends (CMR)
Shoreline Ranger - Scourge (SCG)
Vedalken Dismisser - Modern Masters (MMA)
Novijen Sages - Dissension (DIS)
Storm Elemental - Coldsnap Theme Decks (CST)
Draining Whelk - Time Spiral (TSP)
Arcanis the Omnipotent - Commander 2017 (C17)
Quicksilver Dragon - Duel Decks: Jace vs. Chandra (DD2)
Frost Titan - Magic 2012 (M12)
Deadeye Navigator - Avacyn Restored (AVR)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Angler Drake MTG card by a specific set like Amonkhet and Game Night: Free-for-All, 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 Angler Drake and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Angler Drake Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2017-04-28 and 2022-10-14. Illustrated by Svetlin Velinov.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12017-04-28AmonkhetAKH 412015normalblackSvetlin Velinov
22022-10-14Game Night: Free-for-AllGN3 222015normalblackSvetlin Velinov

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Angler Drake has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal

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