Prowling Pangolin MTG Card
2002-10-07 - Number 163
2016-06-10 - Number 104
2019-11-07 - Number 739
2020-09-26 - Number EMA-104
| Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Pangolin Beast |
| Power | 6 |
| Toughness | 5 |
Text of card
When Prowling Pangolin comes into play, any player may sacrifice two creatures. If a player does, sacrifice Prowling Pangolin.
It's always hungry, yet easily sated.
Cards like Prowling Pangolin
Within the realm of creature cards in Magic the Gathering, Prowling Pangolin presents an intriguing quandary for players with its condition for entering the battlefield. Analogous to Desecration Demon, which also coerces opponents to sacrifice creatures, the Pangolin demands this as a costly condition. Unlike the Demon, Prowling Pangolin is immune to the whims of opponent sacrifices turn after turn, making its appearance on the board more predictable.
Comparing this to cards such as Fleshbag Marauder reveals similarities in the forced sacrifice theme. Fleshbag Marauder mandates a sacrifice from each player as part of its ETB (Enter the Battlefield) effect, a one-time mandatory offering affecting all players equally. Though both cards lead to creature sacrifices, the Marauder carries no assurance against your creatures being chosen. Meanwhile, the Pangolin only affects opponents but entails a potentially higher cost with two creatures sacrificed.
The assessment of Prowling Pangolin within the sphere of creature control cards showcases its unique balance of risk and reward. It demands strategic consideration and offers a unique approach to manipulating the field, distinguishing it among similar MTG effects.
Cards similar to Prowling Pangolin by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Prowling Pangolin demands an answer from your opponent by forcing them to sacrifice two creatures upon entering the battlefield. This can result in a two-for-one situation, tipping the scales in your favor when it comes to card advantage.
Resource Acceleration: While the Prowling Pangolin itself doesn’t provide direct resource acceleration, the potential removal of opponents’ creatures can indirectly accelerate your game. Freeing the board from blockers or potential threats allows your other creatures to attack more freely, possibly leading to quicker victories.
Instant Speed: The real power of the Prowling Pangolin doesn’t come from instant speed but from the strategic setup it encourages. Playing this creature at the right moment, when your opponent is least prepared to sacrifice creatures, can give you a significant advantage, similar to the unexpected nature of instant-speed interactions.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Prowling Pangolin demands you to discard two cards when it enters the battlefield, which could hinder your hand advantage and disrupt your strategy, particularly if your hand is full of critical spells or creatures that you cannot afford to lose.
Specific Mana Cost: This creature requires three black mana to cast. This mana specificity means it slots into mono-black or heavily black-weighted decks but can be cumbersome in multicolored decks, potentially affecting its versatility and inclusion in diverse strategies.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of five mana, Prowling Pangolin may arrive on the battlefield relatively late in the game. Other creatures or spells at this cost point might provide more immediate impact or have additional abilities, reducing the Pangolin’s comparative effectiveness in a fast-paced match.
Reasons to Include Prowling Pangolin in Your Collection
Versatility: Prowling Pangolin can adapt to various strategies, fitting into decks that require a creature with a significant toughness to withstand board wipes or deter attacks.
Combo Potential: With a sac outlet, Prowling Pangolin can be part of a combo, enabling graveyard strategies or benefiting from death triggers in black-centric or aristocrat-style decks.
Meta-Relevance: As decks that leverage a high number of creature cards are common, including Prowling Pangolin may disrupt your opponent’s board, particularly in metas where players hesitate to lose creatures.
How to Beat Prowling Pangolin
Prowling Pangolin, an intriguing creature in the vast world of Magic: The Gathering, poses a unique challenge to overcome. On the surface, its ability to compel an opponent to sacrifice two creatures upon entering the battlefield might seem daunting. However, savvy players can navigate this obstacle with strategic planning. The key lies in managing your board presence effectively.
One approach is to maintain a stream of expendable creatures. Utilizing creature tokens or low-cost creatures that can regenerate or have death-triggered abilities ensures that Prowling Pangolin’s entry has a negligible impact on your overall strategy. Another tactic involves saving instant-speed removal spells to deploy when the Pangolin hits the battlefield, thus eliminating it before the sacrifice effect takes place.
Alternatively, taking a more proactive stance by applying pressure with powerful creatures or controlling the pace with counterspells can prevent your opponent from safely casting Prowling Pangolin. Ultimately, it comes down to resource management, both on the battlefield and in your hand, ensuring you’re ready to respond effectively to this formidable creature.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Prowling Pangolin MTG card by a specific set like Onslaught and Eternal Masters, 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 Prowling Pangolin and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- 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
Printings
The Prowling Pangolin Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2002-10-07 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2002-10-07 | Onslaught | ONS | 163 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Heather Hudson | |
| 2 | 2016-06-10 | Eternal Masters | EMA | 104 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Tomasz Jedruszek | |
| 3 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 739 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Tomasz Jedruszek | |
| 4 | The List | PLST | EMA-104 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Tomasz Jedruszek |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Prowling Pangolin has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |