Training Drone MTG Card

Training Drone - Mirrodin Besieged (MBS)

Mirrodin Besieged (MBS)
2011-02-04 - Number 142

The List (PLST)
2020-09-26 - Number MBS-142

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Common
Type	Artifact Creature — Drone
Power	4
Toughness	4

Key Takeaways

Training Drone can pressure opponents into unfavorable trades, indirectly providing card advantage.
Its ability to fit into artifact-focused decks makes it a versatile addition for specific strategies.
Without equipment, Training Drone’s functionality is severely limited, hindering its overall utility.

Text of card

Training Drone can't attack or block unless it's equipped.

"Vulshok flail, Viridian shield, loxodon blade . . . Tazzir, bring the Moriok hook and assemble the rookies." —Vy Covalt, Neurok agent

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Training Drone might not directly provide card draw, its potential to become a powerful asset on the board could pressure opponents into spending more cards dealing with it, maintaining a favorable card parity.

Resource Acceleration: Training Drone doesn’t inherently accelerate your resources, but coupling it with equipment can lead to significant board presence, which indirectly puts you ahead, especially if the equipment has mana-generating capabilities.

Instant Speed: Although Training Drone itself is not an instant, its mere presence on the field can deter opponents from playing valuable creatures knowing that it could be equipped and ready to block at any moment, thus leveraging its instant speed potential when combined with the right cards.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Training Drone card necessitates an equipment attachment for it to attack. Without an equipment card, it’s practically a sitting duck, which can be a substantial setback, especially during the early stages of the game when every card in hand is valuable.

Specific Mana Cost: The Training Drone has an exclusive colorless mana cost which means it cannot be cast using colored mana. This condition restricts it to specific decks, such as those built around artifacts, and could pose a problem for decks that have a diverse mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a 3 mana value, Training Drone might seem affordable, but when considering that it can’t attack on its own, the total cost to make it functional can quickly add up. Players may find other creatures or artifacts more cost-efficient for advancing their board state without the additional equipment requirement.

Reasons to Include Training Drone in Your Collection

Versatility: Training Drone’s unique status as a colorless creature allows it to easily slot into various deck builds, including those that are color-restricted or artifact-centric. Its seamless integration can lend support in limited formats or colorless commander decks.

Combo Potential: As an artifact creature, Training Drone can be a key piece in combos that revolve around artifacts. It can be used to synergize with equipment cards or abilities that involve tapping or sacrificing artifacts, potentially unlocking powerful plays on the battlefield.

Meta-Relevance: Versatile creatures such as Training Drone often find a home in evolving metas, especially if they favor artifacts or need low-cost creatures. Its ability to adapt to various strategies means it could be deployed effectively as the MTG landscape changes.

How to Beat

The Training Drone is a unique artifact creature in the vast universe of MTG, distinguished by its inability to attack or block unless equipped with an Equipment. This presents a distinct opportunity for players to counter the Drone by focusing on equipment disruption strategies. Efficient removal, such as cards that specifically target artifacts or enchantments, can render the Training Drone harmless.

Additionally, leveraging instant-speed interaction that can destroy or exile equipment in response to the equip ability being activated can leave an opponent’s Drone stranded without its necessary enhancements. Playing cards like Naturalize or Disenchant, which are staple answers in many decks, ensure that the Drone remains a non-threat. Prioritizing removal for key Equipment cards is essential, as a Training Drone without its tools is just a mechanical contraption taking up space on the battlefield.

Tapping into such strategies can skillfully neutralize a Training Drone’s potential and maintain a dominant stance in the game. By effectively managing the board and keeping your opponent’s equipment in check, the Training Drone becomes an easily surmountable obstacle as you navigate towards victory.

Cards like Training Drone

Delving into the vast assortment of artifact creatures in Magic: The Gathering, Training Drone is a unique entity with a specific condition for activation. Similar to creatures such as Rust Elemental, which also operates under a maintenance cost, Training Drone requires equipment to unlock its potential. Without equipment, the Drone is all but inert. The Rust Elemental must be fed other artifacts or it starts chipping away at its controller’s life total. Both cards offer substantial stats for their mana cost, but with attached usage conditions.

There are other comparable mechanical constructs like Sparring Construct, which, although smaller in size, positively influences the battlefield by bolstering another creature upon its destruction. This facilitates a strategic advantage, unlike Training Drone, whose strength solely relies on external equipment. In another light, the card Myr Enforcer shines in decks focused on artifacts, offering a sizable body potentially at a reduced cost, which could be seen as inherently more flexible than the Drone’s equipment dependency.

In sum, when it comes to evaluating Training Drone in the realm of artifact creatures, its reliance on synergy with other cards is notable. While it could be a powerhouse when equipped, in a vacuum, its utility is significantly less than its counterparts, which are more self-sufficient or provide benefits even in death.

Cards similar to Training Drone by color, type and mana cost

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Sword of Feast and Famine - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Training Drone MTG card by a specific set like Mirrodin Besieged and The List, 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 Training Drone and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Training Drone Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2011-02-04 and 2011-02-04. Illustrated by Matt Cavotta.

#	Released	Name	Code	Symbol	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2011-02-04	Mirrodin Besieged	MBS		142	2003	Normal	Black	Matt Cavotta
2	~~2020-09-26~~	The List	PLST		MBS-142	2003	Normal	Black	Matt Cavotta

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Training Drone has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Training Drone card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date	Text
2011-06-01	If Training Drone has been declared as an attacking or blocking creature, and it stops being equipped later in combat, it won’t stop attacking or blocking.