Lagonna-Band Trailblazer MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Centaur Scout |
| Abilities | Heroic |
| Released | 2014-05-02 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Journey into Nyx |
| Set code | JOU |
| Power | 0 |
| Toughness | 4 |
| Number | 14 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | James Zapata |
Key Takeaways
- Offers value and defense with a single white mana and grows through its heroic ability.
- Instant speed spells enhance its power unpredictably, creating substantial combat surprises.
- Exacting white mana requirement and initial 0/4 stats demand strategic deck design.
Text of card
Heroic — Whenever you cast a spell that targets Lagonna-Band Trailblazer, put a +1/+1 counter on Lagonna-Band Trailblazer.
Go forth with honor, return with glory.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Lagonna-Band Trailblazer doesn’t directly draw you cards, but its heroic ability can create significant value. Each time you target it with a spell, you gain a +1/+1 counter, potentially outclassing your opponent’s creatures without having to spend additional cards.
Resource Acceleration: While this card doesn’t generate mana or treasure tokens, its low casting cost helps you maintain a fast pace in the early game. Efficiently costing just one white mana, it allows you to deploy more threats or keep mana open for protective spells.
Instant Speed: The Trailblazer’s potential becomes greater when you pair it with instants. Casting spells at instant speed to target it during combat or at the end of your opponent’s turn can result in unexpected buffs, catching opponents off guard and shifting the momentum in your favor.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: This point does not apply to Lagonna-Band Trailblazer as it does not have an inherent discard requirement as part of its casting or ability costs. Players should verify this detail to avoid any gameplay confusion.
Specific Mana Cost: Lagonna-Band Trailblazer requires a single white mana to cast. For decks that aren’t heavily focused on white or run on a very tight mana base, this card could potentially be a less flexible option compared to creatures that are either colorless or have a hybrid mana cost.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Though Lagonna-Band Trailblazer is cost-effective at only one white mana, its starting stats are a mere 0/4. While the Heroic ability can make it larger, investing additional spells solely to boost its power might result in a higher overall mana expenditure to make it a threatening presence on the battlefield. In comparison, other one-drop creatures may offer immediate offensive capabilities or other value without additional investment.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Lagonna-Band Trailblazer is a flexible card that can slide into various deck builds, particularly those favoring Heroic mechanics. Its low-cost and solid defensive stats make it an excellent early-game presence.
Combo Potential: Thanks to its Heroic ability, this card synergizes well with spells that target creatures, allowing you to fortify your defenses while building a potent board presence. It’s a great fit for strategies that want to capitalize on counters and buffs.
Meta-Relevance: In environments where aggressive decks prevail, Lagonna-Band Trailblazer stands as a resilient line of defense. Its ability to grow out of burn spell range and deter early aggression makes it a card worth considering for your sideboard or main deck to counter prevailing strategies.
How to Beat Lagonna-Band Trailblazer
Lagonna-Band Trailblazer commands attention as a unique heroic creature in Magic: The Gathering. With its resilience to damage due to its high toughness, it becomes a formidable wall for early attackers. The key to overpowering this steadfast blocker is through tactics that bypass its defensive prowess. Removal spells that don’t deal damage but rather exile, such as Path to Exile, or force a sacrifice, like Diabolic Edict, render its toughness irrelevant.
Alternatively, evasion abilities can outmaneuver the Trailblazer. Creatures with flying or trample can soar over or crash through, negating the need to confront it directly. Enchantments that diminish its blocking ability, such as Claustrophobia, can also effectively neutralize it without entering combat. If you’re facing a deck that capitalizes on heroic triggers, countering the enabler spells with cards like Negate ensures that Lagonna-Band Trailblazer remains a mere speed bump on your path to victory.
Understanding your opponent’s strategy and keeping an arsenal of versatile answers is crucial. Tailoring your deck to include a mix of direct removal and combat evasion will prepare you to face not only Lagonna-Band Trailblazer but a wide array of threats on the battlefield.
Cards like Lagonna-Band Trailblazer
Lagonna-Band Trailblazer is a noteworthy creature card for players who appreciate resistance and resilience in their decks. It’s akin to other low-cost creatures like Hopeful Eidolon, which also has the heroic ability, triggering benefits whenever you cast a spell that targets it. However, Lagonna-Band Trailblazer stands out with its base toughness, starting as a stalwart blocker against early aggressive plays from opponents.
In the same category, we can consider Akroan Skyguard. Much like our Trailblazer, the Skyguard gains strength when targeted by spells, yet it brings the added advantage of flying, providing a more offensive tactic to the game. On the other end, we have Satyr Hoplite, another creature with the heroic mechanic. It’s more aggressive in nature, gaining power rather than toughness, which caters to a different strategy than the defensive orientation of Lagonna-Band Trailblazer.
In essence, while there are several creatures in the MTG universe that share the heroic trait, Lagonna-Band Trailblazer offers a unique blend of early game defense and potential for growth, making it a card that can quickly become a formidable force on the battlefield. Its defensive prowess combined with the ability to scale up makes it an interesting option for players focusing on long-term strategies.
Cards similar to Lagonna-Band Trailblazer by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Lagonna-Band Trailblazer MTG card by a specific set like Journey into Nyx, 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 Lagonna-Band Trailblazer and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Lagonna-Band Trailblazer has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Lagonna-Band Trailblazer card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2014-04-26 | Heroic abilities will resolve before the spell that caused them to trigger. |
| 2014-04-26 | Heroic abilities will trigger only once per spell, even if that spell targets the creature with the heroic ability multiple times. |
| 2014-04-26 | Heroic abilities won't trigger when a copy of a spell is created on the stack or when a spell's targets are changed to include a creature with a heroic ability. |
