Goldspan Dragon MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 8 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityMythic
TypeCreature — Dragon
Abilities Flying,Haste,Treasure
Power 4
Toughness 4

Key Takeaways

  1. Generates Treasure tokens for card advantage and mana acceleration when attacking or targeted.
  2. Demands red mana and a suitable strategy to leverage its full potential in a match.
  3. Versatility and meta relevance make it a compelling addition to any MTG collection.

Text of card

Flying, haste Whenever Goldspan Dragon attacks or becomes the target of a spell, create a Treasure token. Treasures you control have ", Sacrifice this artifact: Add two mana of any one color."


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Goldspan Dragon creates a dynamic shift in card utility by generating Treasure tokens whenever it attacks or becomes the target of a spell. This not only pressures opponents but effectively turns any interaction into potential card advantage, as those Treasures can be sacrificed for drawing cards if you have the right synergies in play.

Resource Acceleration: Beyond creating Treasures, Goldspan Dragon amplifies their value, doubling the mana they can produce. This acceleration is crucial, enabling you to deploy threats or answers significantly earlier than expected, dramatically swinging the game in your favor.

Instant Speed: The synergistic nature of Goldspan Dragon with instant-speed spells cannot be overstated. The ability to interact on your opponent’s turn, while holding back a potential aerial threat that can generate additional resources, makes Goldspan Dragon an unpredictable and valuable asset in many game situations.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Goldspan Dragon doesn’t directly ask players to discard cards, building a strategy around it may necessitate discarding tactics to facilitate its optimal use. This can be counterproductive if you don’t have enough card advantage or you’re playing against decks that exploit discard penalties.

Specific Mana Cost: Goldspan Dragon’s casting cost is particularly color-intensive, requiring three generic and two red mana. This can be restrictive as it demands a significant red mana base, potentially hindering deck diversity and ability to splash other colors.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Despite its powerful abilities, Goldspan Dragon comes with a relatively steep mana cost of five. For this mana investment, some players might expect a more immediate impact on the game state as other cards with lower casting costs could offer comparable advantages without the wait.


Reasons to Include Goldspan Dragon in Your Collection

Versatility: Goldspan Dragon is a dynamic card that can be a game-changer in a wide array of deck styles. Its flying and haste abilities allow for immediate impact on the game, providing both offense and defense options as the situation demands.

Combo Potential: With its ability to generate an additional Treasure Token whenever it attacks or becomes the target of a spell, Goldspan Dragon can catalyze numerous combos. It meshes well with decks looking to exploit artifacts and mana acceleration.

Meta-Relevance: Despite shifting metagames, Goldspan Dragon remains a formidable presence. Its role in enabling big plays and its resilience against common removal spells make it a staple in competitive play, adaptable to both aggressive and tempo-focused strategies.


How to beat

The Goldspan Dragon is a powerful force in the Magic: The Gathering arena, known for its ability to generate an abundance of Treasure tokens which can be a real game-changer. To effectively counter this card, players need to adopt specific strategies that mitigate its impact.

One approach is to use removal spells before the Dragon has the chance to attack and create those valuable Treasure tokens. Instant-speed removal like Heartless Act or Bloodchief’s Thirst can be particularly effective. Additionally, keeping in mind that the Goldspan Dragon has haste, it’s crucial to leave mana open to respond to its entry onto the battlefield promptly.

Counter spells also work well against the Goldspan Dragon, especially those that can deal with creatures regardless of their size. For instance, counters like Drown in the Loch not only negate the creature but can also handle other threats at the same time given enough cards in the opponent’s graveyard. By disrupting the Dragon’s flight path, players can maintain control and prevent their opponent from capitalizing on a potential economic advantage.

Ultimately, timing and choice of removal or counter measures are key to reigning in the Goldspan Dragon’s dominance on the board and keeping the treasure hoards out of your opponent’s reach.


Cards like Goldspan Dragon

Goldspan Dragon has emerged as a powerhouse in Magic: The Gathering, particularly among red creature cards. It draws an interesting parallel to Glorybringer, another formidable dragon that offers player value with an exert ability to deal damage to creatures. While Glorybringer’s ability to exert for direct damage is strong, Goldspan Dragon’s ability to produce double the Treasure tokens when it becomes the target of a spell is far more versatile, offering players additional mana to play with.

Considering Goldspan Dragon’s impact on mana acceleration, it’s worth comparing to Stormwing Entity which, although not directly producing mana, has prowess and costs less if you cast an instant or sorcery spell that turn. Unlike the Dragon, Stormwing Entity offers a tempo play, with scrying options but without the same raw mana advantage.

Taking stock of Goldspan Dragon’s attributes, it’s clear that its unique combination of aggressive stats, flying, haste, and economic abilities place it at a high echelon within red creatures in Magic: The Gathering, delivering both immediate board impact and potential for explosive turns with surplus mana.

Glorybringer - MTG Card versions
Stormwing Entity - MTG Card versions
Glorybringer - Amonkhet (AKH)
Stormwing Entity - Core Set 2021 (M21)

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

Fire Elemental - MTG Card versions
Earth Elemental - MTG Card versions
Eron the Relentless - MTG Card versions
Balduvian War-Makers - MTG Card versions
Hivis of the Scale - MTG Card versions
Hulking Cyclops - MTG Card versions
Flame Spirit - MTG Card versions
Flowstone Salamander - MTG Card versions
Ma Chao, Western Warrior - MTG Card versions
Covetous Dragon - MTG Card versions
Dwarven Strike Force - MTG Card versions
Volatile Arsonist // Dire-Strain Anarchist - MTG Card versions
Tephraderm - MTG Card versions
Avarax - MTG Card versions
Bonethorn Valesk - MTG Card versions
Frost Ogre - MTG Card versions
Heartless Hidetsugu - MTG Card versions
Shard Phoenix - MTG Card versions
Soul of Magma - MTG Card versions
Hunted Dragon - MTG Card versions
Fire Elemental - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Earth Elemental - Salvat 2011 (PS11)
Eron the Relentless - Pro Tour Collector Set (PTC)
Balduvian War-Makers - Alliances (ALL)
Hivis of the Scale - Mirage (MIR)
Hulking Cyclops - Visions (VIS)
Flame Spirit - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Flowstone Salamander - Tempest (TMP)
Ma Chao, Western Warrior - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)
Covetous Dragon - World Championship Decks 1999 (WC99)
Dwarven Strike Force - Odyssey (ODY)
Volatile Arsonist // Dire-Strain Anarchist - Innistrad: Crimson Vow (VOW)
Tephraderm - Onslaught (ONS)
Avarax - Dominaria Remastered (DMR)
Bonethorn Valesk - Scourge (SCG)
Frost Ogre - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Heartless Hidetsugu - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Shard Phoenix - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Soul of Magma - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Hunted Dragon - The List (PLST)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Goldspan Dragon MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and The List, 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 Goldspan Dragon and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Goldspan Dragon Magic the Gathering card was released in 6 different sets between 2021-02-05 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by Andrew Mar.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 882982015normalblackAndrew Mar
22020-09-26The ListPLST KHM-1392015normalblackAndrew Mar
32021-02-05KaldheimKHM 3582015normalblackAndrew Mar
42021-02-05KaldheimKHM 1392015normalblackAndrew Mar
52021-02-06Kaldheim PromosPKHM 139p2015normalblackAndrew Mar
62021-02-06Kaldheim Art SeriesAKHM 352015art_seriesborderlessAndrew Mar
72021-02-06Kaldheim PromosPKHM 139s2015normalblackAndrew Mar
82022-12-02Jumpstart 2022J22 5502015normalblackAndrew Mar

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Goldspan Dragon has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
GladiatorLegal
BrawlLegal
PioneerLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2021-02-05 An ability that triggers when a creature becomes the target of a spell resolves before the spell that caused it to trigger. Such an ability resolves even if that spell is countered.
2021-02-05 If a spell targets Goldspan Dragon more than once, the triggered ability will trigger only once.
2021-02-05 Players can cast spells and activate abilities after the triggered ability resolves but before the spell that caused it to trigger does.

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