Imperial Hellkite MTG Card
2003-02-03 - Number 103
2010-06-18 - Number 42
2024-02-09 - Number 155
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 7 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Dragon |
| Abilities | Flying,Morph |
| Power | 6 |
| Toughness | 6 |
Key Takeaways
- Imperial Hellkite offers deck manipulation, ensuring strategic card draw during gameplay.
- Accelerates resources, permitting rapid strategy execution with its attack triggers.
- Synergizes with instant spells, bolstering reactive plays against targeted threats.
Text of card
Flying Morph (You may play this face down as a 2/2 creature for . Turn it face up any time for its morph cost.) When Imperial Hellkite is turned face up, you may search your library for a Dragon card, reveal it, and put it into your hand. If you do, shuffle your library.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Imperial Hellkite brings a substantial advantage to the battlefield by potentially sifting through your deck. This ability to manipulate your draws ensures you have the right tools at the right time, tipping game momentum in your favor.
Resource Acceleration: Through its formidable presence, the Imperial Hellkite can quickly swing a game by accelerating your resources. With its potent attack triggers, you can dig for key cards that catalyze your strategy, effectively speeding up your game plan.
Instant Speed: While not intrinsically an instant, the card synergizes well with instant-speed spells due to its formidable power that demands an immediate answer. Being able to deploy instants in response to the threats targeted at your Imperial Hellkite enables solid, reactive play.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Imperial Hellkite’s ability necessitates discarding a card as part of its activation. This can be detrimental if your hand is already depleted or if you’re unable to spare the additional resources without hindering your game plan.
Specific Mana Cost: Utilizing the Imperial Hellkite requires a commitment to red mana. This card demands a specific color intensity, which can be restrictive and limit deck-building options, mainly if your strategy involves a multicolored approach.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Sporting a demanding mana cost, the Imperial Hellkite might strain your mana resources, particularly in the early to mid-game phases. When evaluated against other creatures within its mana range, it may fall short in terms of immediate board impact, especially if you are not able to capitalize on its flying ability right away.
Reasons to Include Imperial Hellkite in Your Collection
Versatility: Imperial Hellkite brings a dynamic edge to various deck builds with its flying ability and the power to potentially alter the state of the game on each attack. This utility makes it a valuable asset for decks looking to leverage evasive and impactful creatures.
Combo Potential: The reveal and play mechanic of Imperial Hellkite allows for strategic planning and unexpected plays, synergizing with strategies that favor cheat-into-play or top-deck manipulation, thus enhancing its combo potential within the right deck.
Meta-Relevance: Given its potential to deal with a wide range of threats and the shift towards large, game-ending creatures, having Imperial Hellkite in your arsenal means you’re well-equipped to face a variety of popular deck archetypes in the current meta.
How to Beat Imperial Hellkite
The Imperial Hellkite presents a formidable challenge on the battlefield, known for its flying ability and impactful presence in the late game. This winged behemoth can exert control over the skies and swiftly shift the tide of battle in favor of the player who summons it. Understanding how to neutralize such a powerful creature is essential for any MTG player looking to maintain an edge.
Countermeasures are varied, yet one effective strategy is to utilize removal spells that can bypass the Hellkite’s intimidating stature. Consider employing instant-speed removal such spells like “Path to Exile” or “Terminate” to efficiently handle the threat before the dragon’s impact is felt. Furthermore, employing enchantments like “Pacifism” or “Dead Weight” can render the creature ineffectual, providing a reprieve and stalling the opponent’s aggressive strategy.
In essence, while the Imperial Hellkite can dominate games, a well-prepared deck with sufficient removal and control elements can ensure that this imposing dragon is dealt with. By anticipating such threats and adapting your strategy to include various forms of creature control, you can successfully maintain board stability against even the mightiest of dragons in MTG.
Cards like Imperial Hellkite
The Imperial Hellkite brings a new twist to flying creatures in Magic: The Gathering, sharing a kinship with dragons such as Dragonlord Atarka. They both have flying and formidable power, striking from the skies with intense force. Yet, Imperial Hellkite forges its own path with its unique ability to manipulate the battlefield and carve a place in a player’s strategic arsenal.
Likewise, Stormbreath Dragon offers intriguing parallels. With a protective ability against white spells and the potential for monstrous growth, it’s a force to be reckoned with. However, Imperial Hellkite’s ability to impact the game upon attacking sets it in a class of its own. There’s also the Terror of the Peaks, which can inflict damage upon entering the battlefield or when other dragons take flight. This damage output lends a different dynamic when compared to the tactical advantage presented by the Imperial Hellkite.
While each dragon card offers unique advantages, Imperial Hellkite distinguishes itself within Magic: The Gathering by offering both a significant physical presence on the board and strategic value, making it a card worth considering for any deck looking to dominate from the skies.
Cards similar to Imperial Hellkite by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Imperial Hellkite MTG card by a specific set like Legions and Archenemy, 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 Imperial Hellkite 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 Magic products
Printings
The Imperial Hellkite Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2003-02-03 and 2024-02-09. Illustrated by Matt Cavotta.
| # | Release | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2003-02-03 | Legions | LGN | 103 | 1997 | normal | black | Matt Cavotta | |
| 2 | 2010-06-18 | Archenemy | ARC | 42 | 2003 | normal | black | Matt Cavotta | |
| 3 | 2024-02-09 | Murders at Karlov Manor Commander | MKC | 155 | 2015 | normal | black | Matt Cavotta |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Imperial Hellkite 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 Imperial Hellkite 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 trigger occurs when you use the Morph ability to turn the card face up, or when an effect turns it face up. It will not trigger on being revealed or on leaving the battlefield. |
| 2004-10-04 | You do not have to find a Dragon card if you do not want to, even if you have one in your library. |
