Draconic Roar MTG Card


Provides card advantage through direct damage and board control with potential creature elimination. Flexibility and disruption capabilities enhance gameplay, especially when utilized at instant speed. Revealing a dragon card activates additional damage, pairing well with dragon-centric strategies.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityUncommon
TypeInstant

Text of card

As an additional cost to cast Draconic Roar, you may reveal a Dragon card from your hand. Draconic Roar deals 3 damage to target creature. If you revealed a Dragon card or controlled a Dragon as you cast Draconic Roar, Draconic Roar deals 3 damage to that creature's controller.


Cards like Draconic Roar

Draconic Roar stands out in the arsenal of direct damage spells within Magic: The Gathering. Its poignant comparison is with Lightning Strike, another spell that delivers 3 points of damage to a target creature or player. Where Draconic Roar gains an edge is in its ability to additionally deal damage to a controller of a creature if you reveal a dragon from your hand, all for the same two mana cost.

Moving towards a more conditional but powerful spell, we encounter Flames of the Raze-Boar. This spell can potentially deal even more damage based on the number of creatures you control with power 4 or greater, yet it’s limited by a higher mana cost and the requirement of a board presence. Conversely, Draconic Roar offers a more immediate and reliable effect, especially in a dragon-centric deck.

Assessing impact and flexibility, Draconic Roar proves to be a valuable card. It toes the line between straightforward damage-dealing cards and those that require specific conditions to unlock their full potential. With its dragon-revealing twist, it certainly ignites a particular niche of strategic play in Magic: The Gathering.

Lightning Strike - MTG Card versions
Flames of the Raze-Boar - MTG Card versions
Lightning Strike - MTG Card versions
Flames of the Raze-Boar - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Draconic Roar by color, type and mana cost

Shatter - MTG Card versions
Word of Blasting - MTG Card versions
Incinerate - MTG Card versions
Guerrilla Tactics - MTG Card versions
Aleatory - MTG Card versions
Orcish Catapult - MTG Card versions
Blood Frenzy - MTG Card versions
Fling - MTG Card versions
Falter - MTG Card versions
Shattering Pulse - MTG Card versions
Flowstone Strike - MTG Card versions
Shrapnel Blast - MTG Card versions
Glacial Ray - MTG Card versions
Starstorm - MTG Card versions
First Volley - MTG Card versions
Blazing Shoal - MTG Card versions
Surging Flame - MTG Card versions
Psychotic Fury - MTG Card versions
Sudden Shock - MTG Card versions
Fists of the Anvil - MTG Card versions
Shatter - MTG Card versions
Word of Blasting - MTG Card versions
Incinerate - MTG Card versions
Guerrilla Tactics - MTG Card versions
Aleatory - MTG Card versions
Orcish Catapult - MTG Card versions
Blood Frenzy - MTG Card versions
Fling - MTG Card versions
Falter - MTG Card versions
Shattering Pulse - MTG Card versions
Flowstone Strike - MTG Card versions
Shrapnel Blast - MTG Card versions
Glacial Ray - MTG Card versions
Starstorm - MTG Card versions
First Volley - MTG Card versions
Blazing Shoal - MTG Card versions
Surging Flame - MTG Card versions
Psychotic Fury - MTG Card versions
Sudden Shock - MTG Card versions
Fists of the Anvil - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Draconic Roar. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
RR ModernModern Preliminary 2024-03-27 (1)
Rakdos MidrangeRakdos Midrange PioneerRakdos MidrangePioneer Preliminary 2024-01-02 (1)

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Draconic Roar allows for potential card advantage by dealing direct damage to an opponent’s creature as well as the opponent themselves if a Dragon is revealed or in hand. This could eliminate an opposing threat while retaining card parity.

Resource Acceleration: While Draconic Roar doesn’t directly generate mana or Treasure, efficiently removing an opponent’s creature can indirectly accelerate your resources by keeping your creatures on the board to attack or defend, ultimately advancing your board state.

Instant Speed: The instant nature of Draconic Roar provides the flexibility to utilize mana efficiently, waiting until the most opportune moment during an opponent’s turn. It can disrupt their plays, swing combat in your favor, or simply serve as a surprise element that can turn the tide of the game.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Draconic Roar demands that you reveal a Dragon card from your hand or sacrifice the additional impact, which can be a hindrance when your hand lacks the required Dragons.

Specific Mana Cost: Sporting a mana cost that includes red, Draconic Roar may not fit into multicolored decks that can’t reliably produce that hue of mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: As a two-cost instant with a relatively narrow effect, there are alternative spells that might provide more flexibility or lower cost damage output.


Reasons to Include Draconic Roar in Your Collection

Versatility: Draconic Roar serves as an efficient removal spell that has the rare benefit of potentially causing direct damage to an opponent. It’s a strong addition to any deck focusing on dragons or those requiring a quick response to threats.

Combo Potential: By revealing a dragon as you cast it, Draconic Roar triggers its additional effect, dealing damage to the targeted creature and a player. This can be paired with cards that capitalize on damage dealt, like those with the ‘lifelink’ or ‘whenever you deal damage’ mechanics.

Meta-Relevance: Given the presence of creature-heavy decks in the current meta, having Draconic Roar in your arsenal allows for both board control and an aggressive gameplay stance, making it a valuable tool for tipping the scales in your favor.


How to Beat

Draconic Roar is a potent instant spell creating a challenge for players navigating the battlefield of Magic: The Gathering. This red spell offers not just damage to a creature but potentially a direct hit to an opponent as well. Yet, like every card in the game, there are strategies to counteract its effects.

Understanding the conditions necessary for maximizing Draconic Roar’s potential is key in crafting a defense. Since its additional damage to a player hinges on revealing a Dragon from one’s hand, minimizing this reveal is a straightforward approach. Hand disruption spells could force the discard of Dragon cards, which in turn blunts the roar’s secondary effect. Moreover, employing spells or abilities to grant hexproof or indestructibility to your creatures protects them from being targeted and taking damage. Also, spells that counter other spells, particularly at instant speed, can negate Draconic Roar before it ever takes effect.

Adapting to the presence of Draconic Roar means being proactive and reactively planning your maneuvers. Effective responses not only neutralize the threat but can shift the momentum of the game in your favor, putting you one step closer to victory.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Draconic Roar MTG card by a specific set like Dragons of Tarkir and Iconic Masters, 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 Draconic Roar and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Draconic Roar Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2015-03-27 and 2020-07-17. Illustrated by Kev Walker.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12015-03-27Dragons of TarkirDTK 1342015NormalBlackKev Walker
22017-11-17Iconic MastersIMA 1232015NormalBlackKev Walker
32020-07-17JumpstartJMP 3082015NormalBlackKev Walker

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Draconic Roar has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2015-02-25 Draconic Roar targets only the creature, not its controller. If that creature becomes an illegal target before Draconic Roar resolves, the spell doesn’t resolve and none of its effects will occur. No damage is dealt.
2015-02-25 If one of these spells is copied, the controller of the copy will get the “Dragon bonus” only if a Dragon card was revealed as an additional cost. The copy wasn’t cast, so whether you controlled a Dragon won’t matter.
2015-02-25 If you don’t reveal a Dragon card from your hand, you must control a Dragon as you are finished casting the spell to get the bonus. For example, if you lose control of your only Dragon while casting the spell (because, for example, you sacrificed it to activate a mana ability), you won’t get the bonus.
2015-02-25 You can’t reveal more than one Dragon card to multiply the bonus. There is also no additional benefit for both revealing a Dragon card as an additional cost and controlling a Dragon as you cast the spell.