Trained Pronghorn MTG Card

Deters targeting, safeguarding your board and hand without direct card advantage. Antelope subtype may unexpectedly accelerate resource development through tribal synergies. Its instant speed discard ability gives tactical advantage and flexibility in play.

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Antelope
Released	2002-05-27
Set symbol
Set name	Judgment
Set code	JUD
Power	1
Toughness	1
Number	30
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	John Matson

Text of card

Discard a card from your hand: Prevent all damage that would be dealt to Trained Pronghorn this turn.

"The desert asked the Ancestor for children, and the antelope were born." —Nomad myth

Cards like Trained Pronghorn

Trained Pronghorn, a creature from the world of Magic: The Gathering, plays an interesting role in the realm of two-drop creatures. Found within a notably vast pool, creatures like Stoic Rebuttal or Maritime Guard present a similar low-cost commitment to your battlefield. Yet, Trained Pronghorn stands out with its ability to gain protection from enchantments, a feature neither creature possesses, giving the Pronghorn a niche advantage in enchantment-heavy environments.

Another comparison brings us to Kraul Harpooner. While Harpooner also costs two mana, it carries the added utility of reaching into the skies to tussle with flying creatures, something that Trained Pronghorn can’t boast. However, the specificity of the Harpooner’s ability can be seen as more situational compared to the Pronghorn’s broader enchantment shield.

Perusing these options in Magic: The Gathering, players can weigh the protection and defensive orientation of Trained Pronghorn against its peers. It delivers a unique safeguard against a particular set of threats, subtly edging out competitors in scenarios where enchantments are prevalent and protection is paramount.

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

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Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Trained Pronghorn doesn’t directly create card advantage but can deter opponents from targeting it, essentially protecting your hand and board position.

Resource Acceleration: While not providing traditional mana ramp, the Trained Pronghorn’s Antelope subtype may benefit from tribal synergies that could indirectly accelerate your resource development.

Instant Speed: The ability to discard Trained Pronghorn to protect another creature can be activated at instant speed, giving you a tactical edge by deciding the action in response to an opponent’s threat, thus increasing its utility.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: As players delve into the strategic depth of MTG, they’ll find that resource management is key. Trained Pronghorn comes with a necessary discard action to activate certain abilities, which might leave you stretched for options, particularly in the midst of a tight match where every card in hand counts.

Specific Mana Cost: If your deck is multicolored or if you’re facing a mana hiccup, you might struggle with Trained Pronghorn’s mana demands. Requiring specific mana color alignments makes it less versatile and potentially cumbersome when you’re trying to keep your plays swift and impactful against diverse opponents.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: In a game where efficiency could turn the tides, Trained Pronghorn’s mana cost could be considered steep relative to its impact on the game. Savvy players often look for lower-cost creatures that offer greater utility or power, making it critical to ponder whether the cost-impact ratio of the Pronghorn fits within your tactical framework.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Trained Pronghorn may appear unassuming, but its ability to grant protection from enchantments can be a game-changer. It can be a valuable addition to decks that struggle against enchantment-heavy opponents.

Combo Potential: In deck archetypes that manipulate protection abilities, Trained Pronghorn’s specific protection can be combined with auras or equipment that have negative enchantment-based effects, effectively neutralizing those downsides.

Meta-Relevance: With a meta that occasionally sees fluctuating enchantment usage, having Trained Pronghorn in your sideboard ensures that you have a situational answer ready. Its inclusion can give you an edge in matchups where enchantment protection is critical.

How to Beat Trained Pronghorn

Trained Pronghorn may not be the flashiest card in a player’s MTG arsenal, but it holds a specific role with its discard ability to gain protection from blue spells. This can protect the Pronghorn from blue-based removals or countermagic for a turn. However, overcoming the Trained Pronghorn means understanding its limitations. Since its ability is only relevant when facing blue spells, players using other colors can bypass its defense mechanism fairly easily.

Direct damage spells, board wipes, or black’s targeted removal can handle the Pronghorn with little effort. Green decks can outsize it with larger creatures, while white can employ its numerous exile-based removals. It’s also important to consider baiting the Pronghorn’s ability before casting the more critical spell you need to protect. Timing is everything—by forcing the Pronghorn to use its ability prematurely, you open a window to resolve a spell that otherwise might have been countered or to remove the creature without obstruction from blue protection.

To summarize, Trained Pronghorn offers a narrow scope of defense that, when appropriately navigated, is not a significant barrier. Whether it’s by overpowering it, removing it through non-blue means, or strategic baiting, there are ample ways to handle this creature effectively in the game.

Where to buy

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

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Trained Pronghorn has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Premodern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal