Cerulean Drake MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Drake
Abilities	Flying,Protection
Released	2019-07-12
Set symbol
Set name	Core Set 2020
Set code	M20
Power	1
Toughness	1
Number	53
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Daniel Ljunggren

Key Takeaways

Provides defensive utility and conserves cards, tipping the balance in critical moments.
Instant speed sacrifice for surprising countermagic secures an edge in duels.
Demands careful deck construction due to specific mana cost and discard requirement.

Text of card

Flying Protection from red (This creature can't be blocked, targeted, dealt damage, enchanted, or equipped by anything red.) Sacrifice Cerulean Drake: Counter target spell that targets you.

Dragons avoid the bright colors of its wings.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Cerulean Drake offers strategic flexibility, providing a significant defensive utility while potentially remaining a card resource. This can shift the momentum of the game in your favor.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly impacting mana resources, Cerulean Drake can be a cost-effective play. Its protection from red minimizes the need to expend additional cards or mana on defending key creatures or yourself against red spells and strategies, ultimately preserving your resources.

Instant Speed: The ability to sacrifice Cerulean Drake at instant speed to counter a spell that targets you can be a game-changer, offering a surprise element of defense. This quick response capability allows the player to adapt to threats immediately and efficiently, keeping the opponent on their toes.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Cerulean Drake offers protection from red, it holds a potential drawback in decks that may not want to or cannot afford the discard cost for its ability. This requirement can strain your hand, especially when facing strategies not reliant on red spells.

Specific Mana Cost: Cerulean Drake demands a precise mana arrangement with its blue-exclusive casting cost. This can restrict deck building, particularly for multicolored decks that might struggle with mana consistency to cast it on curve.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: When considering the role Cerulean Drake is designed to fulfill – protection against red spells and board presence – its mana value may be seen as steep. Players could find other creatures or spells that provide similar or broader protection at a lower cost.

Reasons to Include Cerulean Drake in Your Collection

Versatility: Cerulean Drake offers an impressive level of flexibility for blue decks. Thanks to its protection from red, it excels in matchups against red-heavy strategies, while also providing a reliable blocker and a two-mana evasive threat.

Combo Potential: Its ability to be sacrificed to counter a spell that targets you makes it a strategic asset in combos, particularly in scenarios where you need to proactively protect key pieces on your board without spending additional mana.

Meta-Relevance: With an ever-present influx of red spells and abilities in many competitive scenes, Cerulean Drake remains relevant. It can effortlessly shift the tide of red-dominated games, making it a prudent choice for anyone looking to strengthen their defense against one of the perennial colors in MTG.

How to beat

Cerulean Drake presents itself as a protective player’s dream in the dynamic battlegrounds of Magic: The Gathering. This flying creature shines with its ability to shrug off spells or abilities an opponent might target it with, making it relatively impervious to most red spells. But every card has a counter, and Cerulean Drake is no exception. Overcoming this blue ally involves creativity and strategic planning.

To outsmart this elusive drake, consider switching tactics from direct damage to less conventional methods. Utilizing spells that do not specifically target creatures, like board wipes or those that change the rules of engagement, such as enchantments that restrict flying capabilities, can circumvent the Drake’s defenses. Another route is to apply pressure through overwhelming creature strategies or leveraging control elements like hand disruption to ensure the Drake never takes flight.

Remember, while Cerulean Drake can be a formidable foil to particular strategies, a well-rounded approach that includes non-targeting removal, board control, or adaptable creatures can provide the upper hand. Adaptation is key in MTG, and a breadth of tactics will often lead to victory against even the most stubborn of obstacles.

Cards like Cerulean Drake

Cerulean Drake is a unique card within Magic: The Gathering, occupying a very niche segment of blue creature spells. Just like Cerulean Drake, the card Spectral Sailor serves as a formidable player in the realm of flying creatures. However, Spectral Sailor shines with its low casting cost and the added benefit of drawing cards at a player’s disposal, although it lacks the explicit protection against red spells that Cerulean Drake offers.

Another card that echoes traits with Cerulean Drake is Mizzium Tank. While not a creature, Mizzium Tank also boasts immunity to damage from non-combat sources and converts itself into a creature under certain conditions. Even though it offers a different type of utility, like being able to attack the same turn it’s transformed, Mizzium Tank does not provide the persistent defensive presence on the board like the Cerulean Drake.

The comparison isn’t complete without mentioning Aether Gust, a card that also interacts favorably with red spells by temporarily getting rid of them or giving the player a choice to put them on top of their library. While Aether Gust is not a creature, it does give blue players an alternative approach in handling threats that Cerulean Drake could withstand. Thus, Cerulean Drake holds its place in decks that value resilience and a defensive posture against red spells and strategies.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Cerulean Drake MTG card by a specific set like Core Set 2020, 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 Cerulean Drake and other MTG cards:

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Cerulean Drake has restrictions

Format	Legality
Historicbrawl	Legal
Historic	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Restricted
Oathbreaker	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Commander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Explorer	Legal
Timeless	Legal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Cerulean Drake card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.