Archwing Dragon MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Rare
Type	Creature — Dragon
Abilities	Flying,Haste
Released	2012-05-04
Set symbol
Set name	Avacyn Restored
Set code	AVR
Power	4
Toughness	4
Number	126
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Daarken

Key Takeaways

Its evasive hit-and-run style makes Archwing Dragon a recurrent battlefield presence hard for opponents to remove.
Strategic casting can maximize the dragon’s synergy with prowess and instant-speed spells in red decks.
Despite its mana cost, its tactical flexibility in aggressive decks justifies including it in your MTG collection.

Text of card

Flying, haste At the beginning of the end step, return Archwing Dragon to its owner's hand.

Swifter than an angel, crueler than a demon, and relentless as a ghoul.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Archwing Dragon may not directly offer card draw, but it presents a recurring threat that must be answered every turn. By returning to your hand in the end phase of every turn, Archwing Dragon evades many sorcery-speed removal spells, effectively preserving your card advantage by forcing opponents to use more resources to deal with it.

Resource Acceleration: While Archwing Dragon does not provide traditional mana acceleration, it synergizes well with cards that capitalize on casting creatures or red spells. Its repeated casting can trigger prowess and other abilities that reward you for playing multiple spells, indirectly accelerating your resource impact on the game.

Instant Speed: Although Archwing Dragon is a creature, its ability to bounce back to your hand at the end of each turn gives you the flexibility similar to instant-speed interaction. You can deploy the dragon on your turn for offensive pressure and still maintain mana for other instant-speed options during your opponent’s turn, without fearing about your dragon being removed beforehand.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Unlike some creatures that offer additional benefits upon entering the battlefield, the Archwing Dragon necessitates a return to your hand at the end of combat, effectively discarding the opportunity for any beneficial blockers or continuous abilities during your opponents’ turns.

Specific Mana Cost: Archwing Dragon’s casting cost is heavily red-dependent, requiring two red mana out of four. This makes it less flexible for multicolor decks which may struggle to produce the required mana at crucial times, limiting its utility across various deck builds.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Carrying a casting cost of four mana, the Archwing Dragon can be considered costly, especially when evaluated against other four-mana creatures. Players might find alternative dragons or creatures that provide more strategic value or versatility for the same, or even lower, mana investment.

Reasons to Include Archwing Dragon in Your Collection

Versatility: Archwing Dragon boasts the rare combination of haste and evasion, making it a flexible addition to any aggressive red deck. Its ability to fly back to your hand at the end of a turn allows you to dodge sorcery-speed removal, ensuring its longevity in the fray against control decks.

Combo Potential: This creature’s return-to-hand mechanism can be leveraged with cards that trigger on casting or entering the battlefield effects. Linking Archwing Dragon with synergistic enablers can amplify its impact each time it swoops into the battlefield.

Meta-Relevance: Speed is a critical factor in many MTG formats, and Archwing Dragon can quickly adapt to various meta scenarios. Whether it’s pressuring life totals in a race or bypassing a cluttered battlefield, its recurring attack capability remains a consistent threat that opponents can’t ignore.

How to beat

Archwing Dragon is a formidable card renowned for its hit-and-run tactics in Magic: The Gathering. This card enters the battlefield swiftly and returns to its owner’s hand at the end of their turn, making it elusive and resistant to sorcery-speed removal. The key to overcoming this flying threat lies in instant-speed interaction. Efficient removal spells, such as Path to Exile or Rapid Hybridization, can effectively nullify the Archwing Dragon’s impact before it rebounds to its owner’s hand.

Another strategy involves utilizing counter spells when the dragon is cast, disrupting the opponent’s tempo and preventing the Archwing Dragon from dodging removal spells. Cards such as Negate or Essence Scatter are perfect tools to keep this flying menace at bay while you establish your own board presence. Defending against the Archwing Dragon also calls for strategic planning; anticipating its return on your opponent’s turn will help you hold up the necessary mana and cards to deal with it promptly.

In essence, staying one step ahead is crucial. Predict the dragon’s flight pattern, be ready with the right response, and the Archwing Dragon’s roar will be silenced on your battlefield.

Cards like Archwing Dragon

Archwing Dragon holds a distinctive place in the pantheon of creature cards within Magic: The Gathering. It shares space with other formidable flying creatures but stands out with its hit-and-run playstyle. For instance, Lightning Shrieker offers a similar fleeting battlefield presence, returning to the deck instead of the hand at the end of turn, but lacks the flexibility of repeated use that Archwing Dragon offers.

Looking at Thundermaw Hellkite, we notice a tough competitor. While it doesn’t boast the same return-to-hand mechanic, its one-time impact hitting the board with a potential clear path for damage is noteworthy. The lack of return makes it a commitment play, as opposed to the tactical reusability of Archwing Dragon.

Concluding our comparisons, each card offers strategic merits unique to different playstyles. Archwing Dragon’s ability to evade sorcery-speed removal and preserve card advantage by bouncing back to your hand makes it a persistent threat. Its aerial agility positions it well among red flying creatures in MTG, catering to players who appreciate tactical flexibility and pressure.

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

Krark-Clan Engineers - MTG Card versions

Shimatsu the Bloodcloaked - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

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

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Archwing Dragon has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

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