Pride Guardian MTG Card


Pride Guardian bolsters defense, deterring attacks and indirectly maintaining battlefield resources. Its casting requires white mana, which may limit versatility in non-white decks. An early play, it’s ideal in life gain tactics, stalling aggressive opponents efficiently.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Cat Monk
Abilities Defender
Power 0
Toughness 3

Text of card

Defender (This creature can't attack.) Whenever Pride Guardian blocks, you gain 3 life.

"Any hotheaded cub can raise a sword in anger."


Cards like Pride Guardian

Pride Guardian is a unique creature in MTG that offers a specific advantage in defensive play. As a 0/3 cat monk with the ability to gain you life each time it blocks, it’s similar to cards like Nyx-Fleece Ram. Both stand as exceptional defensive options; however, the ram has an added benefit of providing a consistent life boost during your upkeep, regardless of whether it blocks or not.

Another card to consider is Wall of Hope, which holds life-gain properties when it blocks, offering a similar function to Pride Guardian. The primary difference lies in their creature types and toughness. Wall of Hope has the advantage of potentially being included in a deck that favors walls, whereas Pride Guardian, as a cat monk, aligns well in feline or monk-themed strategies.

In terms of its place within MTG’s broad swath of creatures, Pride Guardian may not steal the spotlight for raw power. Nevertheless, it shines in specialized roles where stalling aggressive opponents and incrementally gaining life can tip the scales in the late game. Its defensive capability, paired with the tactical benefits it provides, makes it a card worth considering in certain deck builds that leverage its unique attributes.

Nyx-Fleece Ram - MTG Card versions
Wall of Hope - MTG Card versions
Nyx-Fleece Ram - MTG Card versions
Wall of Hope - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Pride Guardian by color, type and mana cost

Savannah Lions - MTG Card versions
Benalish Hero - MTG Card versions
Icatian Infantry - MTG Card versions
Icatian Scout - MTG Card versions
Icatian Javelineers - MTG Card versions
Kjeldoran Warrior - MTG Card versions
Trade Caravan - MTG Card versions
Vigilant Martyr - MTG Card versions
Honor Guard - MTG Card versions
Volunteer Militia - MTG Card versions
Nomads en-Kor - MTG Card versions
Soul Warden - MTG Card versions
Resistance Fighter - MTG Card versions
Honorable Scout - MTG Card versions
Devoted Caretaker - MTG Card versions
Faerie Guidemother // Gift of the Fae - MTG Card versions
Kor Duelist - MTG Card versions
Yoshimaru, Ever Faithful - MTG Card versions
Mother of Runes - MTG Card versions
Daru Mender - MTG Card versions
Savannah Lions - MTG Card versions
Benalish Hero - MTG Card versions
Icatian Infantry - MTG Card versions
Icatian Scout - MTG Card versions
Icatian Javelineers - MTG Card versions
Kjeldoran Warrior - MTG Card versions
Trade Caravan - MTG Card versions
Vigilant Martyr - MTG Card versions
Honor Guard - MTG Card versions
Volunteer Militia - MTG Card versions
Nomads en-Kor - MTG Card versions
Soul Warden - MTG Card versions
Resistance Fighter - MTG Card versions
Honorable Scout - MTG Card versions
Devoted Caretaker - MTG Card versions
Faerie Guidemother // Gift of the Fae - MTG Card versions
Kor Duelist - MTG Card versions
Yoshimaru, Ever Faithful - MTG Card versions
Mother of Runes - MTG Card versions
Daru Mender - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: When discussing the merits of Pride Guardian, card advantage comes in the unique form of defense. Although it doesn’t allow you to draw more cards, it presents a sturdy blocker that can protect your other creatures and your life total, indirectly maintaining your resources on the battlefield.

Resource Acceleration: While Pride Guardian doesn’t directly accelerate your resources, it aids in resource preservation by discouraging attacks. This one-drop cat with a significant toughness acts as a deterrent, often preserving your life total without needing to invest more mana in additional creatures for defense.

Instant Speed: The Guardian itself may not be an instant, but it complements an instant-speed strategy well. Deploying this creature strategically can be a signal to your opponent that you have other instant-speed interactions, manoeuvring them into an unfavorable combat or deterring them from attacking altogether.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Having a card in your deck like Pride Guardian that necessitates the discard of another card can be a significant setback. This holds especially true when your hand is already strained for options, leaving you to forfeit valuable assets that could turn the tide of the game.

Specific Mana Cost: Pride Guardian requires a specific mana alignment to cast—white, which narrows its compatibility. Decks that don’t heavily feature white mana might find it challenging to reliably summon this card, making it less versatile across various deck designs.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Pride Guardian’s defensive capabilities are notable, its mana cost is a point of contention. Allocating one white mana for a creature of its caliber might seem reasonable at first glance, but in the grand scheme of MTG, there are creatures that might provide a higher defense-to-cost ratio, rendering Pride Guardian a less economical choice in the competitive landscape.


Reasons to Include Pride Guardian in Your Collection

Versatility: Pride Guardian serves as an efficient defensive creature, suitable for decks that focus on life gain strategies or simply require an early blocker to deter aggressive opponents.

Combo Potential: With its ability to gain you life whenever it blocks, this card pairs well with other cards that trigger off life gain or increase the toughness of your creatures to further enhance its defensive capabilities.

Meta-Relevance: In a format where aggressive, creature-heavy decks are prevalent, Pride Guardian can be a key inclusion, effectively stalling early onslaughts while you set up for your late-game strategy.


How to beat

Pride Guardian is a unique creature card that serves as a robust defensive option for MTG players looking to shield themselves from early game aggression. This low-cost cat monk with its impressive defensive stats stands out in its ability to absorb incoming damage, and its “defender” attribute keeps it from attacking, positioning it firmly as a protective force.

Nevertheless, when facing Pride Guardian, the strategy shifts from direct confrontation to utilizing removal spells or abilities that can sidestep its high toughness. Effective spells like Murder or Path to Exile can cleanly remove it from the battlefield, bypassing its defensive stance entirely. Alternately, evasion tactics such as flying or menace can prove invaluable, as they allow attackers to circumvent the guardian entirely, pressing the offensive while the stout blocker remains unable to retaliate.

Thus, while Pride Guardian can hold the fort against a ground assault, it’s vulnerable to targeted removal and evasion strategies. Players must adapt their tactics accordingly, choosing the right moments to eliminate or bypass the guardian to maintain the momentum and pressure on their opponent.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Pride Guardian MTG card by a specific set like Magic 2012 and Conspiracy, 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 Pride Guardian and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Pride Guardian Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2011-07-15 and 2014-06-06. Illustrated by Chris Rahn.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12011-07-15Magic 2012M12 312003NormalBlackChris Rahn
22014-06-06ConspiracyCNS 772003NormalBlackChris Rahn

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Pride Guardian has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2011-09-22 If Pride Guardian gains the ability to block additional creatures and does so, you’ll still gain only 3 life.