Covetous Dragon MTG Card
1999-06-07 - Number 80
1999-08-04 - Number kb80
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Dragon |
| Abilities | Flying |
| Power | 6 |
| Toughness | 5 |
Key Takeaways
- Offers strategic advantage as a high-powered, cost-efficient flier in artifact-based decks.
- Demands specific mana and artifact presence, which may limit deck compatibility and versatility.
- Despite constraints, remains a powerful meta choice for its aggressive potential and synergy.
Text of card
Flying When you control no artifacts, sacrifice Covetous Dragon.
Gatha survived as long as he did by giving all Keld's predators exactly what they wanted.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Covetous Dragon’s presence on the battlefield naturally offers a card advantage as it provides an imposing threat that must be dealt with. Having a five-power flyer for just five mana is an excellent trade-off that can apply pressure and potentially dominate the board if left unchecked.
Resource Acceleration: Running the Covetous Dragon in a deck focused on artifacts can lead to substantial board development. Since it requires you to control an artifact to remain in play, it synergizes well in environments where artifacts are plentiful, turning your resource acceleration into a formidable aerial presence.
Instant Speed: While Covetous Dragon doesn’t act at instant speed itself, it promotes a game state that benefits instant speed interactions. With Covetous Dragon on the field, you can maintain mana open under the guise of threatening its activation to dissuade opponents from attacking or committing resources, thereby enhancing your reactive playstyle and strategic depth.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Covetous Dragon requires you to part ways with this creature when you no longer control any artifacts. This dependency on another card type can put you at a stark disadvantage, especially in matchups that target or tax your artifacts, leaving you without your formidable Dragon when you need it most.
Specific Mana Cost: Covetous Dragon demands a substantial amount of red mana, five in total with four of them needing to be red. This specific mana limitation means the card can be challenging to cast outside mono-red or heavily red-leaning decks, potentially restricting its versatility and appeal across various deck types.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Furthermore, its full cost of five mana is quite steep, especially when you consider the burden of maintaining artifact control. In situations where mana efficiency is key, there are alternative dragons or creatures that could provide more impact with less stringent requirements, enhancing your board presence without the precarious condition that Covetous Dragon imposes.
Reasons to Include Covetous Dragon in Your Collection
Versatility: Covetous Dragon offers a powerful presence in decks that capitalize on having artifacts in play. It’s a formidable creature for artifact-heavy strategies, fitting seamlessly into red-based artifact decks or those looking to leverage large creatures.
Combo Potential: This card thrives in combination with artifact synergies. Its ability to hit the battlefield quickly when you control an artifact can accelerate your game plan. It’s particularly potent in decks designed to assemble a critical mass of artifacts, unlocking explosive plays.
Meta-Relevance: As the game evolves, having a quick and hefty flier like Covetous Dragon can give you an edge. It’s especially relevant in metas that are saturated with slower, more controlling decks, allowing you to apply pressure early on and take control of the game before opponents can establish their defenses.
How to beat
The Covetous Dragon emerges as a formidable force on the battlefield, a challenge for any Magic: The Gathering player due to its substantial size and the quick tempo it can set when artifacts dictate its presence. To efficiently handle this winged behemoth, one must think strategically and employ effective removal spells. Shatter or Naturalize are prime examples that can directly target and eliminate the artifacts this dragon depends on, thus causing it to sacrifice itself.
Control decks that maintain a steady stream of countermeasures also stand a good chance at subduing the dragon’s impact. Having a Counterspell ready for when your opponent casts Covetous Dragon or shortly after, with a rapid response like Disenchant to remove an artifact, can ensure that this dragon won’t have the chance to soar. Board wipes such as Wrath of God or Damnation also prove to be a clean sweep against this mighty creature should it land on the field.
Remember, the Covetous Dragon thrives in an environment rich with artifacts. Strip that away with targeted artifact removal or wide-reaching board control, and the dragon’s dominance will dwindle, leaving the skies clear for you to claim victory.
Cards like Covetous Dragon
Exploring the terrain of creature cards within Magic: The Gathering uncovers numerous treasures, but few as unique as Covetous Dragon. A relative comparison could be drawn with Dragon Tyrant, a potent flying creature that demands a substantial mana investment but brings a formidable presence to the battlefield. Unlike Covetous Dragon, which patrols the skies with an ability tied to artifacts in play, Dragon Tyrant boasts double strike and the capability to increase its attack power, albeit with a costly upkeep.
Thundermaw Hellkite is another familiar face among dragon-kind, crashing into play with an impact on the game state by tapping potential blockers. While it does not require the artifact dependency like Covetous Dragon, its immediate board-effect comes at the cost of one additional mana and lacks the recurring potential that an artifact-heavy deck enables with Covetous Dragon in play.
When pitting dragons against dragons in Magic: The Gathering, Covetous Dragon stands out in decks where artifacts are abundant. Its quintessential five mana cost for a 6/5 flying juggernaut can be a game-changer, especially when artifacts can help ensure its presence on the field, a nuance that its counterparts do not offer.
Cards similar to Covetous Dragon by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Covetous Dragon MTG card by a specific set like Urza's Destiny and World Championship Decks 1999, 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 Covetous Dragon and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Printings
The Covetous Dragon Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1999-06-07 and 1999-08-04. Illustrated by rk post.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1999-06-07 | Urza's Destiny | UDS | 80 | 1997 | Normal | Black | rk post | |
| 2 | 1999-08-04 | World Championship Decks 1999 | WC99 | kb80 | 1997 | Normal | Gold | rk post |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Covetous Dragon has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Covetous Dragon card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2004-10-04 | The ability only checks if you control no artifacts at the time it triggers. It does not check again on resolution. So gaining control of an artifact before then will not save the Dragon. |
| 2004-10-04 | The ability will trigger if you don’t control an artifact, even for a brief moment during the resolution of another spell or ability. |
