Knollspine Dragon MTG Card


Knollspine Dragon can dramatically refill your hand, rewarding aggressive play with a cascade of new cards. The card shines within mono-red or damage-centric decks, enhancing strategies focused on swift, impactful strikes. It stands unique among red creatures for its potential to change game states with its card-drawing entry effect.
Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost7
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Dragon
Abilities Flying
Power 7
Toughness 5

Text of card

Flying When Knollspine Dragon comes into play, you may discard your hand and draw cards equal to the damage dealt to target opponent this turn.

It woke to find a vast world in need of a master.


Cards like Knollspine Dragon

Knollspine Dragon stands out with its ability to potentially refill a player’s hand based on the amount of damage dealt to opponents in a turn. This draw capability shares traits with the formidable Dragon Mage. Both creatures allow for a considerable number of cards to be drawn, yet Knollspine Dragon offers more control over the timing of the draw. In contrast, Dragon Mage mandates a complete hand refresh during combat, which might not always be beneficial.

Another card with a synergy in red’s draw power is Runehorn Hellkite. While it also enables a large card draw, its activation is through its graveyard ability, making it a versatile late-game option. However, Knollspine Dragon’s immediate impact on the battlefield and potential for huge card advantage without self-discard gives it a distinctive advantage.

Mindmoil and Arjun, the Shifting Flame share a similar theme, cycling through numerous cards to find the perfect hand. Yet, Knollspine Dragon’s immediate draw on entry makes it a singular powerhouse in the right circumstances. Assessing the value each card brings to a strategy, Knollspine Dragon presents a unique balance between quantity of draw and potential immediacy of effect.

Dragon Mage - MTG Card versions
Runehorn Hellkite - MTG Card versions
Mindmoil - MTG Card versions
Arjun, the Shifting Flame - MTG Card versions
Dragon Mage - MTG Card versions
Runehorn Hellkite - MTG Card versions
Mindmoil - MTG Card versions
Arjun, the Shifting Flame - MTG Card versions

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

Magma Giant - MTG Card versions
Trained Orgg - MTG Card versions
Velican Dragon - MTG Card versions
Crazed Firecat - MTG Card versions
Yidaro, Wandering Monster - MTG Card versions
Butcher Orgg - MTG Card versions
Rimescale Dragon - MTG Card versions
Boldwyr Intimidator - MTG Card versions
Shivan Hellkite - MTG Card versions
Hamletback Goliath - MTG Card versions
Thunder Dragon - MTG Card versions
Karplusan Giant - MTG Card versions
Ancient Hellkite - MTG Card versions
Tyrant of Discord - MTG Card versions
Minotaur Aggressor - MTG Card versions
Molten Primordial - MTG Card versions
Spawn of Thraxes - MTG Card versions
Dream Pillager - MTG Card versions
Tyrant of Valakut - MTG Card versions
Stalking Vengeance - MTG Card versions
Magma Giant - MTG Card versions
Trained Orgg - MTG Card versions
Velican Dragon - MTG Card versions
Crazed Firecat - MTG Card versions
Yidaro, Wandering Monster - MTG Card versions
Butcher Orgg - MTG Card versions
Rimescale Dragon - MTG Card versions
Boldwyr Intimidator - MTG Card versions
Shivan Hellkite - MTG Card versions
Hamletback Goliath - MTG Card versions
Thunder Dragon - MTG Card versions
Karplusan Giant - MTG Card versions
Ancient Hellkite - MTG Card versions
Tyrant of Discord - MTG Card versions
Minotaur Aggressor - MTG Card versions
Molten Primordial - MTG Card versions
Spawn of Thraxes - MTG Card versions
Dream Pillager - MTG Card versions
Tyrant of Valakut - MTG Card versions
Stalking Vengeance - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: When the Knollspine Dragon comes into play, the ability to draw cards equal to the total damage dealt to opponents this turn can significantly refill your hand, thus potentially tilting the game in your favor.

Resource Acceleration: Although the Knollspine Dragon itself doesn’t directly provide resource acceleration, the massive influx of cards it can potentially provide allows you to access more of your resources, contributing to your acceleration strategies.

Instant Speed: While the Knollspine Dragon isn’t an instant itself, the cards drawn could lead to instant speed tricks or responses in your subsequent turns, making it a catalyst for flexible and reactive gameplay.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: To harness Knollspine Dragon’s card-drawing ability, players must first meet a discard condition earlier in the turn, which could be a setback if they’ve already played their key cards.

Specific Mana Cost: This fiery beast demands a heavy red mana investment, meaning it primarily fits in mono-red or heavy red-oriented decks, potentially limiting its versatility across the multiverse of Magic.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a summoning cost that scales with the damage dealt to opponents, Knollspine Dragon can sometimes require a hefty amount of mana, making it less efficient compared to other card draw options available to players.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Knollspine Dragon offers a unique intersection of power and card draw, making it an asset in decks that aim to deal significant damage in a single turn. Its ability to refresh your hand based on the amount of damage dealt that turn means it has great synergy with aggressive strategies.

Combo Potential: This dragon shines in combinations with cards or effects that multiply damage, enabling you to draw numerous cards. Such potential makes it a powerful surprise play, setting you up for victory with a well-stocked hand of options.

Meta-Relevance: In metas where games tend to stretch into longer battles, Knollspine Dragon becomes a formidable threat that can recover your resources after an initial onslaught. Its beefy 7/5 stats can quickly turn the tide of a game, making it a worthy inclusion for those eyeing the late-game.


How to beat

Knollspine Dragon is one of those formidable red creatures that can pack a wallop in your MTG matchups. With its power to deal significant damage and potential for massive card draw, players are often puzzled on how to handle it efficiently. To counteract this quick-flying dragon, consider employing removal spells that can bypass its hefty mana value. Cards like Path to Exile or Assassin’s Trophy offer timely solutions by being cost-effective ways to remove the threat from the board.

Moreover, leveraging counterspells during the opponent’s casting phase can nip the problem in the bud, with options like Counterspell or Mana Leak ready to thwart the dragon’s breath. Additionally, preemptive measures such as hand disruption tactics can be quite resourceful. Thoughtseize and Inquisition of Kozilek, for instance, may extract the dragon or crucial enablers from your opponent’s hand before it gets the chance to soar.

The key lies in staying ahead and keeping the pressure with a mix of control and foresight. When playing against Knollspine Dragon, optimizing your timing and understanding the pivotal moments to react can ensure that this high-impact card doesn’t tilt the scales in your opponent’s favor.


BurnMana Recommendations

Embarking on your MTG journey with Knollspine Dragon in your roster can be a game-changer. Its power to transform damage into a hefty card advantage makes it a formidable ally. However, harnessing this dragon’s full potential does require savvy play and a solid strategy. Delve further into tactics that can maximize this creature’s impact, or explore alternative cards that offer similar benefits with different conditions. Navigate the complexities of your MTG matchups with the right information and tools. Enhance your gameplay by visiting us to uncover deeper insights and strategies that could lead to your next victorious match.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Knollspine Dragon MTG card by a specific set like Shadowmoor and Mystery Booster, 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 Knollspine Dragon and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Knollspine Dragon Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2008-05-02 and 2023-06-23. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12008-05-02ShadowmoorSHM 982003NormalBlackSteve Prescott
22019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 9942003NormalBlackSteve Prescott
32020-09-26The ListPLST SHM-982003NormalBlackSteve Prescott
42022-10-14Game Night: Free-for-AllGN3 822015NormalBlackSteve Prescott
52023-06-23Tales of Middle-earth CommanderLTC 2242015NormalBlackOlivier Bernard

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Knollspine Dragon has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2008-05-01 Knollspine Dragon's ability checks only whether damage was dealt. It doesn't care whether the player's life total also changed for other reasons (such as if the player paid life or gained life). For example, if an opponent was dealt 4 damage and gained 6 life during the turn, that player will have a higher life total than they started the turn with — but Knollspine Dragon's ability will let you discard your hand and draw four cards.
2008-05-01 This ability counts the total amount of damage (both combat and noncombat) dealt to the targeted opponent by all sources (including ones you controlled and ones you didn't) over the course of the turn. Damage that was prevented or replaced doesn't count. Damage that resolved but didn't cause loss of life (due to Worship, for example) will count.
2008-05-01 You target an opponent when the ability triggers. You don't decide whether you want to discard and draw until the ability resolves.