Catacomb Dragon MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	6
Rarity	Rare
Type	Creature — Dragon
Abilities	Flying
Released	1996-10-08
Set symbol
Set name	Mirage
Set code	MIR
Power	4
Toughness	4
Number	112
Frame	1997
Layout	normal
Border	black
Illustred by	David O'Connor

Key Takeaways

Forces strategic blocks, leveraging battle dynamics for card advantage and battlefield control.
Potentially speeds up your aggressive strategies by removing blockers and shaping combat phases.
Dictates opponents’ play, making them think twice about their instants and speed spells.

Text of card

Flying Whenever Catacomb Dragon is blocked by any nonartifact, non-Dragon creature, that creature's power is halved, rounded up, until end of turn.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Catacomb Dragon incentivizes strategic play. When it attacks, players must consider whether they will lose a creature to its power. Cunningly using this ability can result in indirect card advantage as it forces detrimental blocks, or prevents creatures from blocking altogether.

Resource Acceleration: Although not directly providing mana acceleration, the card can pave the way for more aggressive plays. By potentially clearing the battlefield of blockers, it allows other creatures to attack without hindrance, accelerating the pace at which you can pressure your opponent’s life total and resources.

Instant Speed: Catacomb Dragon doesn’t have abilities that work at instant speed, but the mere threat of its attack may affect how your opponent plays their instants and other speed spells. Your adversaries might hold back spells to deal with this dragon, altering the flow of the game and providing you with a mental edge.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Catacomb Dragon necessitates the player to discard another card to leverage some of its abilities. This can lead to a resource deficit, especially when your hand is already running low on cards. Such a condition not only reduces your available plays but might also leave you vulnerable to your opponent’s strategies.

Specific Mana Cost: Catacomb Dragon’s casting cost demands a stringent combination of black mana sources, which pigeonholes it into specific deck archetypes, mainly those that are mono-black or have a heavy black component. Decks that don’t run heavily on black mana may struggle to meet the demanding mana requirement, limiting the dragon’s versatility across various builds.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The hefty price tag of six mana to summon the Catacomb Dragon makes it a late-game play. It competes for deck space with other high-impact creatures and spells that might be more cost-effective. In accelerated formats or against decks that peak in the mid-game, the dragon’s mana cost becomes a significant drawback, as it might arrive too late to influence the game’s outcome.

Reasons to Include Catacomb Dragon in Your Collection

Versatility: Catacomb Dragon provides a dynamic presence on the battlefield that can adapt to various playstyles. As a flying creature, it serves as both an aggressive attacker and a formidable defender, capable of fitting seamlessly into different archetypes that could benefit from aerial threats.

Combo Potential: This dragon can synergize well with decks that manipulate combat damage or graveyard strategies. Its ability to weaken defending creatures creates opportunities for interesting combat phase tactics, enhancing your board state while disrupting opponents’ formations.

Meta-Relevance: In game environments where ground stalls are common, having an evasive attacker like Catacomb Dragon becomes increasingly valuable. Its potential to break standoffs and reduce the effectiveness of opposing creatures can provide a significant advantage in tightly-contested matches.

How to Beat

Catacomb Dragon, a formidable card in Magic: The Gathering, often intimidates players with its ability to diminish the power of blockers. When you face this draconian juggernaut, remember it’s all about strategy. Ensuring you have removal spells in your deck is key; options like Murder, Path to Exile, or Doom Blade can handle this threat efficiently. Moreover, it’s essential to control the board state and manage your resources wisely to prevent your opponent from casting such a high-cost creature.

In games that draw out, ensure to keep up a robust defense to ward off the Catacomb Dragon’s assault. Alternatives such as board wipes – think Day of Judgment or Wrath of God – can be your safety net in times of dire need. These spells are especially potent because they bypass the Catacomb Dragon’s ability to affect blocking creatures, clearing the way for a counter-attack. Be proactive, keep your defenses up, and maintain pressure—it’s your surest path to victory against this underworld behemoth.

Tactically speaking, remember that the Catacomb Dragon’s individual strength lies in its unique ability, so stripping that advantage can tilt the scales. Deploying cards that nullify abilities, like Turn to Frog or Humility, can neutralize this dragon effectively. Ultimately, knowing your deck and its capabilities is paramount when outmaneuvering such powerful creatures in Magic: The Gathering.

Cards like Catacomb Dragon

Catacomb Dragon is an intriguing creature card in the Magic: The Gathering universe. Its main rivals within the dragon creature subtype include cards like Thunder Dragon, both sharing an ability that impacts the board when they come into play. Catacomb Dragon reduces the power of blockers, potentially skewing combat in your favor. Thunder Dragon, in contrast, deals damage to all non-flying creatures, providing a different kind of board control.

Looking for another comparison, we encounter Ebon Dragon. While Catacomb Dragon dominates the battlefield with its unique ability, Ebon Dragon offers a control element by making an opponent discard upon entry, which can be critical at the right moment. Meanwhile, the Catacomb Dragon’s ability requires it to be declared as an attacker to be effective, adding a layer of tactical complexity. Both offer substantial power and toughness, making them formidable presences.

To sum it up, while each dragon has its pros and cons, the Catacomb Dragon is a card that shines in the right deck, strategically reducing blocker strength and influencing combat outcomes. Its unique flavor of tactical advantage gives it a distinct position among dragon-themed MTG cards.

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

Chittering Harvester - MTG Card versions

Crossway Troublemakers - MTG Card versions

Geth, Lord of the Vault - MTG Card versions

Ihsan's Shade - Pro Tour Collector Set (PTC)

Necrosavant - Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)

Wire Surgeons - Magic Online Promos (PRM)

Chittering Harvester - Magic Online Promos (PRM)

Crossway Troublemakers - Crimson Vow Commander (VOC)

Iname, Death Aspect - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)

Geth, Lord of the Vault - Scars of Mirrodin (SOM)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Catacomb Dragon MTG card by a specific set like Mirage, 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 Catacomb Dragon and other MTG cards: