Trained Condor MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Bird
Abilities	Flying
Released	2013-07-19
Set symbol
Set name	Magic 2014
Set code	M14
Power	2
Toughness	1
Number	76
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Alex Horley-Orlandelli

Key Takeaways

Trained Condor offers tactical plays by giving key creatures temporary flight, aiding in evasion and aggressive strategies.
Despite its potential, the creature’s specific mana cost and stats could be seen as drawbacks in some deck builds.
Considering its ability to transform ground threats into aerial menaces, it’s a situational yet valuable card for certain MTG metas.

Text of card

Flying Whenever Trained Condor attacks, another target creature you control gains flying until end of turn.

"They're smart enough to understand that war means lots of carrion." —Griv, condor rider

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Trained Condor does not directly contribute to card advantage in the traditional sense, but it can open up strategic plays. When you have creatures that benefit from flying, this card helps them evade ground blockers and possibly draw out beneficial trades or deal direct damage to your opponent.

Resource Acceleration: While not a resource accelerator itself, Trained Condor’s ability to give another creature flying can expedite your aggressive strategies. By allowing a high-power creature to bypass potential blockers, it can accelerate the pace at which you deplete your opponent’s life total.

Instant Speed: The Condor does not operate at instant speed; it’s a creature with a static ability. However, giving another creature flying at the right moment—such as after attackers and blockers are declared—can be a game-changing play. The flexibility it provides in combat can mirror some of the benefits that instants give, turning the tide in your favor unexpectedly.

Card Cons

Specific Mana Cost: Trained Condor’s casting requirement of two generic and one blue mana could potentially be a drawback in multicolored decks, especially those that face mana-fixing issues.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: When evaluating the board impact versus investment, the three mana needed for a 2/1 flyer can seem steep, considering that other creatures in similar cost brackets might provide more resilience or powerful abilities.

Discard Requirement: While Trained Condor does not have a direct discard requirement, its inclusion in a deck can indirectly force players to discard cards due to hand size limits after drawing multiple cards in blue’s draw-heavy strategies or when the Condor’s ability is less impactful on the current state of the game.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Trained Condor’s ability to grant flying to another creature makes it a valuable addition to any lineup. It can fit well in decks that aim to make key creatures unblockable for critical turns, which is fundamental in both aggressive and evasion-based strategies.

Combo Potential: With its capability to give a crucial creature flying, this card can easily become part of a combo, ensuring damage gets through or synergizing with other abilities triggered when creatures attack or deal combat damage.

Meta-Relevance: Depending on the environment, having flyer enablers can be crucial. In a meta where ground stalls are common, Trained Condor can provide the edge needed by turning ground creatures into potent aerial threats.

How to beat

The Trained Condor is a unique creature card in Magic: The Gathering, granting flying to another target creature you control whenever it attacks. This aerial advantage can be pivotal in bypassing ground blockers and connecting with an opponent’s life total. But let’s delve into the counterplay strategies.

Countering this creature’s ability can be as simple as removing it from the battlefield. Spells that destroy or exile creatures, such as Murder or Path to Exile, can effectively neutralize the threat. Alternatively, employing cards like Windstorm or Spidersilk Armor can deter flying creatures and blunt the offensive push that Trained Condor tries to enable. Ensuring you have creatures with reach or flying available can also thwart its attempts to enable unblockable attacks.

Remember, focus on mitigating the Condor’s effect or removing it from play altogether. With the right strategy and responses, you can keep the skies clear and maintain control over the course of the duel. Taking preemptive steps to contain flying threats maintains a strong defense and offsets the advantages that Trained Condor aims to create.

Cards like Trained Condor

Trained Condor is an intriguing card in the realms of creature spells within Magic: The Gathering. When looking at creatures with flying utility, Trained Condor provides a tactical advantage by granting another creature flying until end of turn when it attacks. This trait is somewhat mirrored in cards like Kitesail Corsair, which also has flying but only under the condition that you’re attacking with a creature.

Considering cards that modify combat abilities, Leonin Skyhunter stands out as a creature that perpetually has flying, albeit without the dynamic utility of Trained Condor. Conversely, Gustcloak Savior is a card that not only has flying but allows you to remove attacking creatures from combat, offering a more defensive mechanism that can alter combat outcomes significantly, and yet does not directly make other creatures fly.

Thus, while there are several creatures within Magic: The Gathering that carry the flying ability, Trained Condor distinctively impacts the board by enabling tactical plays and influencing the aerial dynamics of battle. Its capacity to elevate another creature’s capabilities, in a literal sense, adds a layer of strategic depth and adaptability to gameplay.

Cards similar to Trained Condor by color, type and mana cost

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Trained Condor MTG card by a specific set like Magic 2014, 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 Trained Condor and other MTG cards: