Pendrell Drake is one of those cards players keep asking about. Here is, in plain words, what its official text says, the rulings published by Wizards of the Coast, and the combos players actually run.
Official card text
Flying Cycling(
Complete guide
Pendrell Drake is a versatile blue creature that offers both airborne pressure and the flexibility to refresh your hand. Whether you need a four-mana flyer to contest the board or a new card to find an answer, this Drake has you covered. Its Cycling ability ensures it is never a dead card in your hand during the early or late game.
Dual Functionality
On the battlefield, Pendrell Drake is a 2/3 creature with Flying, making it an effective blocker against small ground units or a consistent source of evasive damage. However, its most important feature is Cycling {2}. This is an activated ability that functions only while the card is in your hand. By paying two generic mana and discarding the Drake, you draw a new card from your library.
How Cycling Resolves
To cycle Pendrell Drake, you first announce the ability and pay the {2} mana cost. Next, you discard Pendrell Drake as part of the cost. The ability then goes on the stack. Unlike casting a creature spell, cycling cannot be countered by spells that target creatures, such as Essence Scatter. Once the ability resolves, you draw one card. If an opponent uses an effect to counter activated abilities, the draw is prevented and the Drake remains in the graveyard.
Strategic Considerations
A common mistake is forgetting that Cycling is not a spell. Because you are activating an ability rather than casting a spell, you do not trigger effects that occur when a spell is cast. Additionally, because the discard is a cost, your opponent cannot stop you from discarding the card by removing your hand in response to the activation; the card is already in the graveyard by the time they can act.
Interaction examples
Solemn SimulacrumIf you have Solemn Simulacrum on the battlefield but lack the blue mana to cast Pendrell Drake, you can pay {2} to cycle the Drake. This helps you dig through your library to find the Island you need. Later, if the Simulacrum dies, you draw another card, effectively seeing three cards deep into your deck to find your win condition.
Roaming ThroneIf you name 'Drake' with Roaming Throne, it will not affect Pendrell Drake's Cycling ability. This is because Cycling is an activated ability, and Roaming Throne specifically interacts with triggered abilities. However, if you cast the Drake, Roaming Throne provides a formidable 4/4 body to protect your life total while the Drake attacks safely in the air.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Pendrell Drake
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
Cycling is an activated ability. Effects that interact with activated abilities (such as Stifle or Rings of Brighthearth) will interact with cycling. Effects that interact with spells (such as Remove Soul or Faerie Tauntings) will not.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Pendrell Drake
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.