Academy Drake MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Drake |
| Abilities | Flying,Kicker |
| Released | 2018-04-27 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Dominaria |
| Set code | DOM |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 2 |
| Number | 40 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Svetlin Velinov |
Key Takeaways
- Flexibility shines with Academy Drake’s two-faced nature, providing solid defense or a late-game offensive push.
- Kicker ability augments the Drake, transforming it from manageable to daunting with extra mana investment.
- In current meta play, Academy Drake fits snugly, contending well in various deck strategies and matches.
Text of card
Kicker (You may pay an additional as you cast this spell.) Flying If Academy Drake was kicked, it enters the battlefield with two +1/+1 counters on it.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Academy Drake’s kicker ability offers a flexible card advantage by giving players the choice to inflate it into a larger threat if the mana is available. If kicked, you’re essentially getting a two-in-one card, a manageable 2/2 flyer early in the game or a formidable 4/4 flyer later on.
Resource Acceleration: In decks focused on resource acceleration, Academy Drake fits perfectly. It can be played as an early defense at a low cost and later, when you’re flooded with mana, it can serve as a significant aerial force. This dual potential makes it a great accompaniment to strategies that aim to have a lot of mana at their disposal.
Instant Speed: While Academy Drake does not have an ability that operates at instant speed, its presence can indirectly impact your instant-speed interactions. An opponent may hesitate to play spells or attack with creatures if they suspect you might have the mana to kick Academy Drake and create a larger blocker or apply more pressure on their life total on your next turn.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Although Academy Drake doesn’t have a discard requirement itself, players often weigh this consideration when including creatures in their deck, as creature-focused strategies may require sacrificing card advantage.
Specific Mana Cost: Academy Drake demands both generic and blue mana, potentially complicating play for multi-color decks that can struggle with mana fixing.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: For three mana, Academy Drake’s base stats may not provide the optimal power and toughness ratio, particularly when decks are looking to maximize efficiency on the battlefield at every mana point.
Reasons to Include Academy Drake in Your Collection
Versatility: Academy Drake offers flexibility to any player’s deck, as it can serve either as an early blocker in its regular form or a looming threat when utilizing its kicker ability for a more impactful presence on the battlefield.
Combo Potential: This card works well in synergistic plays, fitting nicely into strategies that amplify the benefits of flying creatures or require a specific number of creatures to trigger powerful effects. Its kicker option also allows for surprise late-game advantages.
Meta-Relevance: Given the current meta that often sees a mix of aggro and control decks, Academy Drake slips comfortably into the power dynamic, capable of quickly becoming a strong airborne asset that can dodge sorcery-speed removals, making it a solid pick in many match-ups.
How to Beat Academy Drake
Academy Drake serves as a flexible creature card in MTG, with the potential to be a flying threat on the battlefield. Its kicker ability lets you morph it into a formidable 4/4 flyer, which can be tough to handle for some decks. However, countering this card is about timing and strategy.
Removal spells are a straightforward solution, with options like Cast Down or Doom Blade offering a one-shot way to dispatch the Drake before it can leverage its agility. Additionally, bounce spells such as Unsummon can reset the Drake’s kicker investment, forcing your opponent to spend more mana if they wish to kick it again. Playing flyers of your own with higher power and toughness can also serve as a natural deterrent, especially if they come with additional utility.
Lastly, if you’re able to modify the pace of play and maintain pressure, an opponent might not have the luxury to spend the extra mana for kicking Academy Drake, rendering it less effective. Understanding the scenarios when the Drake can turn the tides and preemptively managing your resources and board presence is key to triumph over it.
Cards like Academy Drake
Academy Drake stands out in the world of flying creatures within Magic: The Gathering. This card is all about flexibility, much like its cousin, Cloud Elemental. Both creatures feature the ability to soar over ground forces, but Academy Drake takes it to another level with its kicker ability, offering the potential for a much larger threat in the late game. Compared to Cloud Elemental’s strictly defined role as a flying assailant, Academy Drake can adapt to various game situations.
Skyscanner is another relative, providing value through its card-drawing ability upon entering the battlefield. While it doesn’t have the growth potential of Academy Drake, Skyscanner compensates with an immediate impact on card advantage. The Drake, in contrast, relies on the kicker to reach its zenith. Nimbus Naiad is also worth mentioning, with the boon of bestowing flying to another creature. In games that tilt on the axis of aerial dominance, Academy Drake can be a more potent standalone option, whereas Nimbus Naiad provides more tactical versatility.
When evaluating these soaring spellcasters, Academy Drake emerges as an adaptable and potentially powerful option for players who require both an early defender and a late-game powerhouse in their aerial arsenal.
Cards similar to Academy Drake by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Academy Drake MTG card by a specific set like Dominaria, 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 Academy Drake 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
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Academy Drake has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
