Dragon Hunter MTG Card


Dragon Hunter - Dragons of Tarkir
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Human Warrior
Abilities Protection
Released2015-03-27
Set symbol
Set nameDragons of Tarkir
Set codeDTK
Power 2
Toughness 1
Number10
Frame2015
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byJohannes Voss

Key Takeaways

  1. Dragon Hunter offers board advantage by potentially removing powerful dragons, shifting game dynamics in your favor.
  2. Early game playability due to low mana cost accelerates your board development, complementing your strategic plays.
  3. The innate dragon protection can surprise opponents, compelling them to alter their combat strategies mid-game.

Text of card

Protection from Dragons Dragon Hunter can block Dragons as though it had reach.

"Dromoka has taught me the secrets of her kind, that I might use them in her service."


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Dragon Hunter not only poses a threat on the board but having the ability to potentially remove colossal Dragon creatures from your opponents can disrupt their game plan. This maneuver can leave you better positioned with more creatures on the field compared to your adversary.

Resource Acceleration: As a low mana cost creature, Dragon Hunter can be played early in the game. This facilitates a faster buildup on the board, allowing you to leverage other elements of your deck that might require a more established presence to optimize their effects.

Instant Speed: Although the Dragon Hunter itself doesn’t operate at instant speed, its innate protection from Dragon spells can catch opponents off-guard, particularly during combat phases where Dragons are predominantly powerful. This creates a tactical advantage as it may force opponents to reconsider their strategy, essentially acting as a deterrence and potentially freeing up your mana for other instant-speed interactions.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Dragon Hunter card requires players to pitch another card from their hand, posing a strategic dilemma especially when operating with a dwindling hand size. This can be a significant drawback if you’re unable to maintain card advantage.

Specific Mana Cost: Dragon Hunter’s mana cost is color-intensive, necessitating a solid commitment to the colors in its casting cost. This specificity can complicate deck building, as it demands a heavy presence of those particular colors in your mana base, potentially reducing the card’s flexibility and inclusivity across various deck archetypes.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The casting cost of the Dragon Hunter card is on the higher side when contrasting its abilities and impact on the game state with other creatures or spells in the same mana range. This can lead to a decreased play rate, as players often seek more cost-effective options within their strategies.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Dragon Hunter can slide into a variety of deck archetypes, serving as an efficient one-drop creature with a specific role in mind. Its ability to protect against Dragons makes it a strategic choice in situations where these mighty creatures dominate the board.

Combo Potential: This nifty card has synergy with Warrior and Human tribal decks, offering opportunities to build around it for increased deck functionality. Additionally, its protection from Dragons can enable some interesting interactions and combos in a meta where Dragons are prevalent.

Meta-Relevance: Given the high impact Dragons have in certain game environments, Dragon Hunter can serve as a solid tech choice. It’s especially useful in sideboards for tournaments where you anticipate facing Dragon-heavy decks, adapting swiftly to the demands of the ever-changing MTG landscape.


How to beat

Dragon Hunter is a unique and specialized card in the realm of MTG, tailored to counteract the might of dragon foes on the battlefield. With its innate protection from dragons and the ability to block these colossal creatures regardless of their size, it can be a thorn in the side of any deck that heavily relies on dragon power. To outmaneuver Dragon Hunter, one effective strategy might be to reduce reliance on dragon creatures. Instead, diversify the threats with a variety of creature types to circumvent the Hunter’s specializations.

Removal spells that don’t target creatures, such as board wipes or damage-based effects that don’t distinguish between creature types, can efficiently deal with the Dragon Hunter. Be sure to have a mix of such spells at your disposal. Spells like Wrath of God or Damnation can level the playing field regardless of creatures’ specific abilities or protections. As an MTG player seeking to reign supreme over foes like Dragon Hunter, embracing adaptability and versatile card choices is key to ensuring victory in the ever-evolving landscape of the game.


Cards like Dragon Hunter

Dragon Hunter is an intriguing option for players looking to thwart flying threats in Magic: The Gathering. This card is often compared to other anti-flyer cards, such as Aerial Volley. While Aerial Volley can potentially take down multiple flying creatures at once, Dragon Hunter has the additional benefit of protection from Dragons, ensuring its survival against these formidable foes.

Another card worthy of comparison is Ordeal of Heliod. Though not directly similar, both cards are valued for their low-cost and capability to influence the game early on. Ordeal of Heliod doesn’t provide protection against specific creature types but compensates with its ability to bolster a creature and provide a life-gain once fulfilled.

When it comes to specialized roles, Dragon Hunter’s protection and potential to block and eliminate dragons without sustaining damage positions it strategically within the MTG realm. Especially suited for a metagame abundant with dragon spells, its precise effectiveness makes it a distinct and calculated choice for players assembling a deck with dragon countermeasures.

Aerial Volley - MTG Card versions
Ordeal of Heliod - MTG Card versions
Aerial Volley - Magic Origins (ORI)
Ordeal of Heliod - Theros (THS)

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

Savannah Lions - MTG Card versions
Benalish Hero - MTG Card versions
Icatian Infantry - MTG Card versions
Icatian Scout - MTG Card versions
Icatian Javelineers - MTG Card versions
Kjeldoran Warrior - MTG Card versions
Trade Caravan - MTG Card versions
Vigilant Martyr - MTG Card versions
Honor Guard - MTG Card versions
Volunteer Militia - MTG Card versions
Nomads en-Kor - MTG Card versions
Soul Warden - MTG Card versions
Resistance Fighter - MTG Card versions
Cho-Arrim Alchemist - MTG Card versions
Honorable Scout - MTG Card versions
Devoted Caretaker - MTG Card versions
Faerie Guidemother // Gift of the Fae - MTG Card versions
Kor Duelist - MTG Card versions
Yoshimaru, Ever Faithful - MTG Card versions
Mother of Runes - MTG Card versions
Savannah Lions - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Benalish Hero - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Icatian Infantry - Fallen Empires (FEM)
Icatian Scout - Fallen Empires (FEM)
Icatian Javelineers - Masters Edition II (ME2)
Kjeldoran Warrior - Ice Age (ICE)
Trade Caravan - Homelands (HML)
Vigilant Martyr - Mirage (MIR)
Honor Guard - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Volunteer Militia - Portal Second Age (P02)
Nomads en-Kor - World Championship Decks 1998 (WC98)
Soul Warden - Historic Anthology 1 (HA1)
Resistance Fighter - Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)
Cho-Arrim Alchemist - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Honorable Scout - Planeshift (PLS)
Devoted Caretaker - Odyssey (ODY)
Faerie Guidemother // Gift of the Fae - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Kor Duelist - Wizards Play Network 2009 (PWP09)
Yoshimaru, Ever Faithful - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Mother of Runes - The List (PLST)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Dragon Hunter MTG card by a specific set like Dragons of Tarkir, 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 Hunter and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Dragon Hunter has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal

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