Dragon Hatchling MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Dragon
Abilities Flying
Power 0
Toughness 1

Key Takeaways

  1. Dragon Hatchling’s growth potential forces opponents to shift focus, possibly disadvantaging their strategy.
  2. Instant speed activation allows for surprise tactics and advantageous combat outcomes.
  3. Demands red mana, which may limit deck diversity but emphasizes strategic deck building.

Text of card

Flying : Dragon Hatchling gets +1/+0 until end of turn.

"Those dragons grow fast. For a while they feed on squirrels and goblins and then suddenly you're missing a mammoth." —Hurdek, Mazar mammoth trainer


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Dragon Hatchling isn’t your typical source for card advantage; however, it offers an alternative route by threatening to become a more substantial board presence if left unchecked. Opponents must address it, potentially diverting attention and resources from your other crucial plays.

Resource Acceleration: While the Dragon Hatchling itself may not provide direct resource acceleration, it synergizes well with decks that offer mana boosts. Its fire-breathing ability allows you to pump any excess mana into it, transforming spare resources into increased damage output.

Instant Speed: The Hatchling’s fire-breathing ability can be activated at instant speed, offering flexibility. You can catch an opponent off-guard during combat, increase its power during the declare blockers step, or even after they’ve calculated combat damage to be dealt, leading to potentially advantageous plays.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Dragon Hatchling requires a strategic hand management, as it may compel players to discard valuable cards to amplify its abilities, which could set back their game progress if not managed cautiously.

Specific Mana Cost: This card demands red mana for both casting and its activation abilities. This can restrain its inclusion in decks that run a broader color spectrum and might not always have the necessary red mana sources available.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: When considering the Dragon Hatchling’s initial impact on the board, its casting cost might seem steep. There are alternative creatures that could offer more immediate board presence or utility for the same or lower mana investment.


Reasons to Include Dragon Hatchling in Your Collection

Versatility: Dragon Hatchling is a flexible card that can be added to a variety of decks. It’s an excellent early defender in red strategies, and its flying ability lets it evade many common blockers, providing a reliable path to chip away at your opponent’s life total.

Combo Potential: This card shines in decks built around dragon synergies or those leveraging the firebreathing ability. With the right setup, Dragon Hatchling’s power can be scaled to become a formidable threat or an unexpected finisher during the late game.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where skies are less defended, Dragon Hatchling proves to be a persistent nuisance. It’s a low-cost creature that can adapt to various situations, either acting as a blocker or contributing to the aerial offense throughout different stages of the game.


How to beat

When facing off against the Dragon Hatchling card in Magic: The Gathering, the strategy shifts to managing a creature that can potentially strengthen over time. The Hatchling itself starts small, but the fire-breathing ability it possesses allows it to grow momentarily stronger with each mana invested. It’s a card that demands an immediate answer or a way to ensure your opponent can’t make the most of its fire-breathing potential.

Direct removal spells are a dependable way to deal with this creature, such as Shock or Fatal Push, which can dispatch the Hatchling before it soars out of control. Counterspells can also nip the problem in the bud by preventing the Dragon Hatchling from entering the battlefield in the first place. Should the creature slip through, keeping the opponent’s mana tapped out with cards like Frost Breath can hinder their ability to power up the Hatchling.

Effectively countering Dragon Hatchling hinges on timing and resource denial. Understanding when to deploy your removal or disruption spells is key. Recognizing the threat before it’s able to claw its way to a potent force can turn what would be a towering dragon back into a harmless egg.


Cards like Dragon Hatchling

Dragon Hatchling is an enticing creature card for those who play with fire in Magic: The Gathering. It shares the dragon lineage with other beginner-friendly dragons like Furnace Whelp, which also gains flying and prowess through an investment of mana. Where Dragon Hatchling shines is in its affordability and the immediate impact it can have with its firebreathing ability, enabling power boosts at any time.

In comparison, Sparktongue Dragon offers a different take, bringing a direct damage ability upon entering the battlefield. While this dragon comes at a higher mana cost, the immediate damage can be a game-changer. Though, unlike Dragon Hatchling, it lacks the ability to scale its power based on available mana.

Fire-Belly Changeling also deserves a nod here, resonating with those who appreciate a versatile creature with changeling and firebreathing features. However, it fails to deliver the aerial advantage that the Dragon Hatchling provides. While each of these cards embodies the essence of dragon creatures in their own unique way, Dragon Hatchling stands out for its low-cost flexibility and classic MTG dragon feel, enhancing red-based decks with a scalable threat that can be difficult to ignore.

Furnace Whelp - MTG Card versions
Sparktongue Dragon - MTG Card versions
Fire-Belly Changeling - MTG Card versions
Furnace Whelp - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
Sparktongue Dragon - Core Set 2019 (M19)
Fire-Belly Changeling - Lorwyn (LRW)

Cards similar to Dragon Hatchling by color, type and mana cost

Rock Hydra - MTG Card versions
Ironclaw Orcs - MTG Card versions
Dwarven Weaponsmith - MTG Card versions
Goblin Rock Sled - MTG Card versions
Dwarven Lieutenant - MTG Card versions
Goblin Recruiter - MTG Card versions
Heart Sliver - MTG Card versions
Mogg Flunkies - MTG Card versions
Goblin Elite Infantry - MTG Card versions
Fireslinger - MTG Card versions
Skittish Kavu - MTG Card versions
Rage Weaver - MTG Card versions
Minotaur Explorer - MTG Card versions
Sparksmith - MTG Card versions
Goblin Lookout - MTG Card versions
Skirk Marauder - MTG Card versions
Goblin Raider - MTG Card versions
Hellspark Elemental - MTG Card versions
Utvara Scalper - MTG Card versions
Storm Entity - MTG Card versions
Rock Hydra - Intl. Collectors' Edition (CEI)
Ironclaw Orcs - Introductory Two-Player Set (ITP)
Dwarven Weaponsmith - Foreign Black Border (FBB)
Goblin Rock Sled - The Dark (DRK)
Dwarven Lieutenant - Fallen Empires (FEM)
Goblin Recruiter - Visions (VIS)
Heart Sliver - Tempest (TMP)
Mogg Flunkies - Stronghold (STH)
Goblin Elite Infantry - Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)
Fireslinger - Duel Decks Anthology: Jace vs. Chandra (JVC)
Skittish Kavu - Invasion (INV)
Rage Weaver - Invasion (INV)
Minotaur Explorer - Odyssey (ODY)
Sparksmith - Onslaught (ONS)
Goblin Lookout - Legions (LGN)
Skirk Marauder - Legions (LGN)
Goblin Raider - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Hellspark Elemental - DCI Promos (PDCI)
Utvara Scalper - Dissension (DIS)
Storm Entity - Future Sight (FUT)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Dragon Hatchling MTG card by a specific set like Magic 2013 and Magic 2014, 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 Dragon Hatchling and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Dragon Hatchling Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2012-07-13 and 2022-10-14. Illustrated by David Palumbo.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12012-07-13Magic 2013M13 1282003normalblackDavid Palumbo
22013-07-19Magic 2014M14 1382003normalblackDavid Palumbo
32018-06-08BattlebondBBD 1732015normalblackDavid Palumbo
42020-07-17JumpstartJMP 3102015normalblackDavid Palumbo
52022-10-14Game Night: Free-for-AllGN3 722015normalblackDavid Palumbo

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Dragon Hatchling has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

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