Essence Drain
DSTDarksteel/#43/2004Common
Colour IDMV 5
Current paper retail
Card Kingdom$0.35
Cardmarket€0.03
ManaPool$0.15
TCGplayer$0.08
MTGO (Cardhoarder)
retail$0.04 tix
Paper retail history (USD)
3 providers
Latest $0.35High $0.35Low $0.35▲ 0.0%
Market and collecting
Market overview
$0.08TCGplayer, USD, retail, nonfoil
Latest observation: 2026-11-10
7d▼ 27.3%30d▼ 33.3%90d▲ 14.3%
90d high
$0.14
90d low
$0.07
Paper printings priced
4
Currently 3rd
Cheapest paper printing
$0.07
Magic 2013
- Down 33.3% over the last 30 days on TCGplayer.
- Currently 43% below its 90 day high of $0.14.
- This printing is the 3rd cheapest paper printing currently priced (4 priced in total).
- Foil copies of this printing carry a 513% premium over nonfoil.
Find this printing on eBayView on TCGplayerAffiliate. MTGPrices may earn from qualifying eBay and TCGplayer purchases.
Collect
Play
Compare printings (4 priced)
Gameplay and rules
Sorcery
Essence Drain deals 3 damage to any target and you gain 3 life.
Card capabilities
Life gainSorcery
Derived deterministically from card types, Oracle text and keywords. Not a strategic evaluation.
Format legality
Primary formats
Eternal formats
Digital formats
Rulings (1)
wotc1 Jul 2012
If the target permanent or player is an illegal target when Essence Drain tries to resolve, it won’t resolve and none of its effects will happen. You won’t gain 3 life.
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Ranked by shared capabilities, colour identity, mana value and type. Never by strategic judgement.
Shares Life gain, SorcerySame colour identity
Shares Life gain, SorcerySame colour identity
Shares Life gain, SorcerySame colour identity
Shares Life gain, SorcerySame colour identity
Shares Life gain, SorceryOverlapping colour identity
Shares Life gain, SorcerySame colour identity
Shares Life gain, SorcerySame colour identity
Shares Life gain, SorceryMV 6 vs 5
About this card
Essence Drain
Essence Drain is a Sorcery, with mana cost {4}{B} (mana value 5). Printed 4 times across MTG sets.
Format legality: Commander: legal, Modern: legal, Standard: not_legal, Pioneer: not_legal, Legacy: legal, Pauper: legal.
Current headline price on TCGplayer: $0.08 (down 33.3% over 30 days).
Frequently asked
Essence Drain FAQ
How much is Essence Drain worth?
The current TCGplayer USD retail price for Essence Drain is $0.08. It is down 33.3% over the last 30 days. Over 90 days it has ranged from $0.07 to $0.14.
What is the cheapest printing of Essence Drain?
The cheapest currently priced paper printing is from Magic 2013 at $0.07 on TCGplayer.
What is the most expensive printing of Essence Drain?
The most expensive currently priced paper printing is from Duels of the Planeswalkers at $0.10 on TCGplayer.
How many printings of Essence Drain are there?
Essence Drain has been printed 4 times in English paper sets that MTGPrices tracks.
What set was Essence Drain first printed in?
The earliest English paper printing that MTGPrices tracks is from DST #43, released 2004-02-06.
What is the newest printing of Essence Drain?
The most recent English paper printing that MTGPrices tracks is from M13 #93, released 2012-07-13.
Is there a foil version of Essence Drain?
Yes. On this printing, foil copies trade at $0.49 versus $0.08 for nonfoil, which is 513% more expensive on TCGplayer.
Is Essence Drain legal in Commander?
Yes, Essence Drain is currently legal in Commander per Scryfall's legality feed.