There has only been one 16 mana cost card in the history of Magic: The Gathering, dating all the way back to 2001.
Throughout the history of Magic there have been very few cards with a mana cost above ten. As of 2026, there have been just under 32,000 unique cards printed, while only 31 have had a ten or more mana. This averages out to about one per every thousand, and very roughly about once every year or two.
And the list doesn't even include some of the more well known high-mana cards. Progenitus, first seen in Conflux in 2009, is often named by players as the high mana-card they can most likely name, and yet this was only a 10 mana card.
Ghalta, Primal Hunger is another thanks to a huge surge in reprints in recent years, but even this is a 12 mana cost.
So what is the highest mana card? Not counting Un-series cards like Gleemax that is.
Well, it came out in Planeshift in 2001, a set known for having a lot of low value cards. And, because of what the card does, it is still a popular option in tournaments when paired with Erratic Explosion or Kaboom! for those playing the long game. The card, of course, is Draco:
While it costs a whopping 16 mana, this can be somewhat mitigated. As the text of the card says, "
Domain — This spell costs 2 less to cast for each basic land type among lands you control.
Flying
Domain — At the beginning of your upkeep, sacrifice this creature unless you pay 10. This cost is reduced by 2 for each basic land type among lands you control."
To date, it is only legal in Legacy, Vintage, Commander, and Oathbreaker, along with the usual just-for-fun and homebrew play types. Draco has proved to be such a powerhouse when used effectively that, despite coming out 25 years, no card has matched 16 mana since. There have been a few 15 manas here and there, but that is about it.
Nonetheless, many players still use it effectively today, and is a favorite for those focusing on high mana, high power, and dragon decks. The high cost does work against it though too - cards in good condition still only go for three or four dollars. It is only at rare level, even at recent reprintings.
Draco shows what many Magic players know: just because it is high mana, it doesn't mean that you can win with it. And as for future high mana cards, Draco is likely to remain the high mana record holder for some time.
