Drain Power MTG Card


Drain Power can swing the game by restricting opponent actions and granting card advantage. Instant speed allows for dynamic play and disruption of the opponent’s strategies. Mana acceleration from Drain Power could lead to early execution of significant plays.
Card setsReleased in 14 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityRare
TypeSorcery

Text of card

Tap all opponent's lands, taking all this mana and all mana in opponent's mana pool into your mana pool. You can't tap fewer than all opponent's lands.


Cards like Drain Power

Drain Power is a unique spell in the Magic: The Gathering universe, standing out in the mana manipulation category. In terms of function, it can be contrasted with Mana Short, which also taps all lands an opponent controls, but unlike Drain Power, Mana Short doesn’t transfer the unused mana to the caster. Instead, it simply strips the opponent of their resources for the turn without the potential benefit of a mana boost for the caster.

Considering Mana Drain, the strategic value of mana disruption comes with a distinct advantage – counter a spell while gaining the mana that would have been spent on it during your next main phase. While Drain Power requires your opponent to have untapped lands and does not counter any spells, the mana acquired can be immediately used during your current main phase, offering a different type of tactical edge.

Therefore, although these spells share the theme of controlling mana, Drain Power offers an aggressive approach in directly fuelling your own spells on the same turn. Thus, it finds its place among those specialized in denying opponents resources while accelerating your own game plan.

Mana Short - MTG Card versions
Mana Drain - MTG Card versions
Mana Short - MTG Card versions
Mana Drain - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Drain Power by color, type and mana cost

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Eye of Nowhere - MTG Card versions
Time Walk - MTG Card versions
Braingeyser - MTG Card versions
Transmute Artifact - MTG Card versions
Forget - MTG Card versions
Foresight - MTG Card versions
Paradigm Shift - MTG Card versions
Piracy - MTG Card versions
Strategic Planning - MTG Card versions
Wind Sail - MTG Card versions
Mana Vapors - MTG Card versions
Turbulent Dreams - MTG Card versions
Quiet Speculation - MTG Card versions
Muse Vortex - MTG Card versions
See the Truth - MTG Card versions
Fae of Wishes // Granted - MTG Card versions
Maddening Cacophony - MTG Card versions
Silver Scrutiny - MTG Card versions
Treasure Hunt - MTG Card versions
Reshape - MTG Card versions
Eye of Nowhere - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Drain Power is unique in that it can give you a massive swing in card advantage. By sapping your opponent’s mana, you effectively limit their potential actions, allowing you to dictate the pace of the game. This can lead to a situation where you have more options and resources than your opponent, which is always a key path to victory in MTG.

Resource Acceleration: One of the standout features of Drain Power is its ability to accelerate your resources substantially. It drains the mana from your opponent’s mana pool, transferring that potential energy to your side of the battlefield. This spike in available mana can allow you to pull off powerful plays much earlier than normally possible, giving you a significant edge.

Instant Speed: Operating at instant speed adds a dynamic layer of strategy when using Drain Power. You have the flexibility to disrupt your opponent’s plans during their turn, just as they’re gearing up for a significant play. By waiting for the optimal moment to cast Drain Power, you can ensure maximum impact, throwing off your opponent’s strategy and gaining a tactical advantage.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Drain Power commands a steep price, not in cards, but in the nuanced timing it demands; you must harness this power exactly when your adversary’s mana pool brims, yet before they channel it into a spell.

Specific Mana Cost: With a mana cost that includes two blue, integrating Drain Power into your strategy may narrow the scope of decks where it’s viable, especially if your mana base can’t consistently provide the necessary blue sources.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Allocating two mana towards potentially disrupting an opponent’s resources can feel onerous when compared to other spells at the same threshold that directly answer threats or advance your board state.


Reasons to Include Drain Power in Your Collection

Versatility: Drain Power offers a unique approach to resource management, allowing you to disrupt your opponent’s rhythm by sapping their available mana. This functionality ensures it can be included in control decks seeking an edge in mana superiority.

Combo Potential: This card has significant synergy with spells and abilities requiring a substantial mana investment in a single turn. It can pave the way for high-impact plays, making it a linchpin for combos that can turn the game’s tide.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where mana efficiency and timing are crucial, Drain Power can act as a potent tool. It interrupts opponents’ plans and grants a window for counterplay or setting up your board unhindered, making it a card of strategic importance.


How to beat

Drain Power is a unique spell that siphons mana away from opponents and can disrupt their strategy in Magic: The Gathering. It requires a keen understanding of timing to effectively counter. When facing Drain Power, prioritize holding instant-speed responses or mana abilities that don’t require tapping lands to ensure you aren’t completely deprived of mana. A smart play is to use mana in response to the casting of Drain Power to weaken its impact. This could involve casting creatures or other spells, or activating abilities that benefit your board state before Drain Power resolves.

Keep your mana curve flexible. By including low-cost spells in your deck, you ensure that you are never choked for resources, even if Drain Power saps your lands for a turn. Furthermore, cards that untap lands, such as Voyaging Satyr or Arbor Elf, can help you recover quickly. Lastly, having counter magic like Negate or Mana Leak can prevent Drain Power from affecting you at all. Playing wisely around your opponent’s Drain Power will keep you in control and help maintain your tempo in the game.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Drain Power MTG card by a specific set like Limited Edition Alpha and Limited Edition Beta, 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 Drain Power and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Drain Power Magic the Gathering card was released in 13 different sets between 1993-08-05 and 2022-11-28. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11993-08-05Limited Edition AlphaLEA 561993NormalBlackDouglas Shuler
21993-10-04Limited Edition BetaLEB 571993NormalBlackDouglas Shuler
31993-12-01Unlimited Edition2ED 571993NormalWhiteDouglas Shuler
41993-12-10Intl. Collectors' EditionCEI 571993NormalBlackDouglas Shuler
51993-12-10Collectors' EditionCED 571993NormalBlackDouglas Shuler
61994-04-01Foreign Black BorderFBB 561993NormalBlackDouglas Shuler
71994-04-01Revised Edition3ED 561993NormalWhiteDouglas Shuler
81994-06-21Summer Magic / EdgarSUM 561993NormalWhiteDouglas Shuler
91995-04-01Fourth Edition4ED 671993NormalWhiteDouglas Shuler
101995-04-01Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border4BB 671993NormalBlackDouglas Shuler
111997-03-24Fifth Edition5ED 821997NormalWhiteJerry Tiritilli
122011-01-10Masters Edition IVME4 461997NormalBlackDouglas Shuler
132022-11-2830th Anniversary Edition30A 562015NormalBlackDouglas Shuler
142022-11-2830th Anniversary Edition30A 3531997NormalBlackDouglas Shuler

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Drain Power has restrictions

FormatLegality
OldschoolLegal
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Drain Power 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 If a land can draw a variable amount of mana, the target player (not the player of this spell) chooses how much to draw.
2004-10-04 This card forces the target player to draw mana from lands if they are untapped, but that player can choose how to draw the mana if a land they control has multiple mana abilities, or mana abilities with choices.
2004-10-04 Your opponent may use instants and abilities of permanents in response to this spell before you get the mana from their mana pool and lands.
2013-04-15 A mana ability is an ability that (1) isn’t a loyalty ability, (2) doesn’t target, and (3) could put mana into a player’s mana pool when it resolves.