Image courtesy of Scryfall.com
Dragonbroods' Relic and the Creative Leverage of Player Agency
Magic: The Gathering has always rewarded players who lean into agency—those moments when a single decision opens up a cascade of possibilities. Dragonbroods' Relic, a green-aligned artifact from the Tarkir: Dragonstorm set, stands as a celebration of that very principle. Its presence in a deck isn't just about getting mana or spawning a big dragon; it's about choosing how to steer the game, what color identity to forge on the fly, and which threats to empower into a living, breathing plan. 🧙🔥💎
At a glance, Dragonbroods' Relic looks like a modest two-mana artifact with a signature green tint. Its first line—{T}, Tap an untapped creature you control: Add one mana of any color—reads as a familiar mana-fixer's handshake. But the true heart of the card beats in the second, more ambitious line: a five-color, color-sacrificing engine that births a dragon-token empire. When you commit the relic to your strategy, you’re not just casting spells; you’re authoring color-conscious, tempo-filled narratives on the battlefield. ⚔️
Two paths, one philosophy: fixing and flourishing
- Color fixing with a twist: The mana ability lets you conjure mana of any color by tapping a creature you control. In practice, that means you can pivot into five-color strategies mid-game, or shore up crucial color gaps during a storm turn. In a format where multicolor decks often struggle with mana balance, this is a tool for precise color access—enabling bold plays that would otherwise be risky. 🧩
- Tempo and value combined: The relic doesn’t just color-fix; it also keeps tempo by trading one creature for a flexible mana fix. When used thoughtfully, you’re not wasting resources; you’re shaping the color wheel of your next two or three turns. The art of the play becomes a dance of timing, where you decide whether to deploy the mana now for a key spell, or hold it for a future power spike. 🎲
Then comes the dramatic payoff, a moment many MTG players live for: sacrificing the relic to summon a powersome dragon token—Reliquary Dragon—that’s all colors. This token isn’t just a pretty face; it’s a 4/4 flier with lifelink and a potent twist: when it enters, it deals 3 damage to any target. And yes, it’s all colors, echoing the five-color identity you’ve just cultivated with the relic’s fixed mana. It’s a victory lap that turns a long, patient color-sprawl into a decisive, board-sweeping threat. 🐉⚡
Play patterns that invite personal invention
Dragonbroods' Relic shines brightest in decks that prize adaptability and player-driven narrative. Here are a few archetypes and how the card nudges them toward creative solutions:
- Five-color ramp with a dragon pays off: Build around a broad mana base, then unleash the Reliquary Dragon for a game-wide impact. The token’s all-colors identity makes it resilient to color-specific removal and enhances synergy with multicolored themes. Ambition converges with opportunity—you plan to reach a critical mass and then pivot into a dragon-dominated board presence. 🧙🔥
- Combo-friendly but player-first: The relic’s generic mana ability can accelerate a host of color-intensive combos. You control the pacing—sac the relic to pay for a decisive finisher or hold onto it to weather a counterspell-laden stretch. The sorcery-capped second ability ensures you commit to the big payoff with intention rather than improvisation. 🧠
- Creature-centric forgiveness: The mana from the relic can fuel spells that interact with your suite of creatures, especially those that scale with color or haste. The Reliquary Dragon token adds a resilient body that can close out games when backed by a flight of other threats—each color in play becoming a tool in your arsenal. 🎯
For commanders and casual players alike, the card provides a clutch choice: do you spend the relic early to fix your color lanes, or do you keep it until a marquee moment? The answer hinges on your environment, your deck’s philosophy, and the way you want your games to feel—epic, colorful, and a touch theatrical. Agency is the stage,” and Dragonbroods' Relic hands you the spotlight. 🎨
“The thrill isn’t just in what the card does, but in what you decide it can do for your game.”
Flavor, lore, and design—why it resonates
Tarkir’s Dragonstorm motif already invites stories of ancestral hatcheries, dragonlords, and relic-bound destinies. Dragonbroods' Relic taps into that lore by presenting a relic that literally broods a dragon that embodies every color. The token’s name—Reliquary Dragon—reads as a ceremonial guardian, a relic come to life, carrying both the weight of history and the spark of a five-color future. The design team’s decision to couple a colorless-fixing tap with a heavy, all-colors payoff echoes the balancing act in Tarkir’s dragonstorm ethos: a realm where ancient power and modern strategy collide in glittering color. The visual art by RACRufi complements this mood with a sense of relic-laden grandeur that MTG fans instantly recognize as emblematic of dragon lore and artifact-driven play. 🎨
In practical terms, the card nudges players to think in color, not in a single hue. It’s a reminder that in MTG, agency isn’t just about choosing a card; it’s about choosing a path through the color wheel and finding joy in the journey as much as the destination. The relic makes that journey tangible: you can feel the pull of every color, the temptation to go big, and the satisfaction of a well-timed, color-rich board state. ⚔️
Practical takeaways for your next game night
- Plan around color access: Use the relic to smooth colors you need for key spells. Don’t waste the ability—align it with a critical two- or three-turn window. 🧭
- Protect your tempo: Remember the big payoff requires a sacrifice. Timing is everything; you want to maximize value before you commit. 🕰️
- Leverage the Reliquary Dragon tap: Its 4/4 body with flying and lifelink can swing races or stabilize a fragile board. The entered-3-damage clause is a reliable finisher when you’ve stacked your colors. 🐲
- Commander-friendly, casual-friendly: The card fits well in five-color builds, but also shines in niche, color-intensive decks where you want to maximize color identity’s leverage. In any case, you’re telling a story with multiples—colors, dragons, and a relic that breathes life into your plans. 🎲
If you’re building toward that Dragonstorm-inspired vibe in your playgroup, you’ll appreciate how Dragonbroods' Relic marries elegant design with flexible play. It’s a card that rewards thoughtful sequencing, not just big turns. And if you enjoy collecting and celebrating MTG aesthetics in everyday life, a token that’s all colors is a perfect metaphor for how you approach the multiverse—bold, colorful, and a little mischievous. 🧙♂️
Curious minds may also enjoy keeping a few real-world accessories on hand that echo this dragonstorm energy. For fans who want to blend MTG culture with everyday tech gear, this product offers a sleek, modern nod to dragons and relics alike. The pairing isn’t accidental: great card design and stylish accessories both thrive on attention to detail and personal expression. 🎲
Whether you’re piloting a bustling five-color deck or testing the waters with a clever mana-base shuffle, Dragonbroods' Relic invites you to lean into your own creative vision. It’s a reminder that in MTG, you are the author—one color choice, one sacrifice, and one dragon token away from a memory you’ll tell at the next kitchen-table gathering. 🧙♀️💎