Weapons Trainer MTG Card

Weapons Trainer enhances creatures’ power in artifact-rich decks, creating formidable board presence. Specific mana costs and deck-building constraints can deter its inclusion in diverse MTG decks. Combo potential and meta-relevance make Weapons Trainer a strategic pick in certain MTG environments.
Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Human Soldier Ally
Power 3
Toughness 2

Text of card

Other creatures you control get +1/+0 as long as you control an Equipment.

"When I'm done training you, anything will be a deadly weapon."

Cards like Weapons Trainer

Weapons Trainer offers a unique boon to Magic: The Gathering enthusiasts who favor creature heavy decks. It shares similarities with Chief of the Edge in boosting other warriors, yet Weapons Trainer has an edge—literally—providing an attack bonus to all creatures you control as long as you have an artifact. Chief of the Edge limits its buff solely to warrior-type creatures, lacking the artifact synergy that Weapons Trainer harnesses.

Another comparable card is Goblin Gaveleer that, much like our Weapons Trainer, thrives on artifact presence. However, the Gaveleer only boosts itself based on the number of equipment attached to it, not supporting other creatures like Weapons Trainer does. Then we have Honor of the Pure, which uniformly increases the strength of white creatures, regardless of the presence of artifacts or creature types; a more streamlined strategy compared to the conditional enhancement Weapons Trainer provides.

All things considered, Weapons Trainer holds its ground in MTG as a versatile card that encourages artifact inclusion and a wide creature support, marking it as a valuable card for certain deck builds focused on combative synergy and artifact interaction.

Chief of the Edge - MTG Card versions
Goblin Gaveleer - MTG Card versions
Honor of the Pure - MTG Card versions
Chief of the Edge - MTG Card versions
Goblin Gaveleer - MTG Card versions
Honor of the Pure - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Weapons Trainer itself doesn’t directly allow you to draw cards, its presence can be a deterrent that forces opponents to deal with it, potentially leading to a 2-for-1 scenario. Also, the boost it provides can help you get more value from your creatures, therefore indirectly contributing to card advantage.

Resource Acceleration: Although Weapons Trainer doesn’t create mana or treasure tokens, the cost-efficiency of this creature allows you to deploy other threats alongside it quicker. This orchestrates an environment for formidable board presence due to the synergy it has with equipment and auras, ramping up your attack without the need for heavy mana investments.

Instant Speed: Weapons Trainer operates at sorcery speed, but where it shines in instant interaction is when it’s paired with equipment that can be attached at instant speed. This can unexpectedly enhance the power of your creatures during combat or in response to an opponent’s actions, giving you a strategic upper hand.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Strategic disadvantages arise when you’re pressed to discard cards in order to capitalize on Weapons Trainer’s abilities. Such requirements can lead to a depletion of your hand, leaving you with fewer options to respond to your opponent’s moves or to adapt to an evolving game state.

Specific Mana Cost: Weapons Trainer demands a precise mana composition for casting – one red and one white. This specific mana cost can constrain deck building, as it requires a commitment to at least two colors. Players dedicating their mana base to these colors may find themselves unable to include other powerful spells outside the Boros spectrum.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of two mana, Weapons Trainer’s impact on the game needs to be considered against other cards in the same mana range. In competitive play, maximizing value for mana spent is crucial, and there are alternatives that may provide more immediate or versatile benefits, making the inclusion of Weapons Trainer in your deck a careful balancing act.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Weapons Trainer is a dynamic addition to any deck that appreciates an aggressive edge. It shines in decks heavy on artifacts, boosting the attack power of your creatures substantially. This utility makes it a worthy inclusion for a variety of red and white decks, from aggro to artifact-focused builds.

Combo Potential: Its ability to give other artifact-wielding creatures you control a power boost means it pairs exceptionally well with equipment cards. When combined with cheap artifacts or efficient equipment, Weapons Trainer can turn even the most basic creatures into significant threats, enhancing your board presence and combat strategy profoundly.

Meta-Relevance: In metas where Equipment or Artifact based decks are prevalent, Weapons Trainer can be a powerful choice. Its low casting cost fits perfectly into decks looking to curve out quickly and apply pressure. As metas shift towards creature-based strategies, having a reliable, inexpensive creature that scales with your artifacts is immensely beneficial.

How to beat Weapons Trainer

Defeating a card like Weapons Trainer relies on understanding its dynamics within the scope of Magic: The Gathering. This ally creature shines in decks that accommodate a considerable array of equipment. By boosting other creatures with its static ability while equipped itself, it can turn an average board into a threatening field, especially in decks that synergize around the equipment theme.

One effective strategy against Weapons Trainer is to manage your opponent’s artifacts. Cards like Abrade or Shatterstorm can dismantle the equipment synergy, thereby neutralizing the strength given to other creatures. Additionally, players can utilize creature removals such as Fatal Push or Path to Exile to directly remove Weapons Trainer from the battlefield before its impact can be fully realized. Timing is crucial; so consider disrupting the equipment combo during your opponent’s turn, before they have the opportunity to benefit from the power buffs on their turn.

In essence, quick removal, artifact disruption, and preemptive actions are your best allies in stripping Weapons Trainer of its strategic advantage. Deny your opponent the setup, and you reduce the card’s influence on the game, guiding you to a well-managed victory in MTG matches.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Weapons Trainer MTG card by a specific set like Oath of the Gatewatch and Mystery Booster, 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 Weapons Trainer and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Weapons Trainer Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2016-01-22 and 2020-08-07. Illustrated by Greg Opalinski.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12016-01-22Oath of the GatewatchOGW 1602015NormalBlackGreg Opalinski
22019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 15102015NormalBlackGreg Opalinski
32020-08-07Double Masters2XM 2282015NormalBlackGreg Opalinski
42020-09-26The ListPLST OGW-1602015NormalBlackGreg Opalinski

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Weapons Trainer has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2020-08-07 Weapons Trainer's ability applies even if the Equipment you control isn't attached to any creature.
2020-08-07 Weapons Trainer's ability gives just +1/+0, no matter how many Equipment you control beyond the first.