Knight of the White Orchid MTG Card


On entry, fetches a Plains if lands are fewer than an opponent’s, boosting your mana base. Instantly impacting gameplay, the Knight can swing the tide of a match in your favor. Strategize against it with land control and removal to reduce its effectiveness in a duel.
Card setsReleased in 10 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Human Knight
Abilities First strike
Power 2
Toughness 2

Text of card

First strike When Knight of the White Orchid comes into play, if an opponent controls more lands than you, you may search your library for a Plains card, put it into play, then shuffle your library.

Both guide and guard on open plain.


Cards like Knight of the White Orchid

Exploring Magic: The Gathering’s vast array of creature cards, Knight of the White Orchid stands out for its ability to empower your land base. When compared to similar creatures such as Oreskos Explorer and Weathered Wayfarer, this knight has its unique advantages. Oreskos Explorer allows you to search for Plains cards if an opponent controls more lands than you, but it does not place them onto the battlefield as the Knight does. The Knight’s ability is a vital tempo play, putting you ahead without missing a land drop.

Weathered Wayfarer, another comparable card, offers a recurring land search feature, but it doesn’t automatically place lands onto the battlefield and relies on you having less land than an opponent to activate. The Knight’s quick impact and the ability to gain an immediate advantage by putting a land into play tapped makes it particularly valuable in white aggressive or midrange decks looking to maintain momentum.

The comparison underscores the Knight’s role as a crucial component in white strategies, adept at ensuring land drops while applying pressure. Unlike its counterparts, Knight of the White Orchid doesn’t just ensure land parity, but actively helps in seizing the lead in a game.

Oreskos Explorer - MTG Card versions
Weathered Wayfarer - MTG Card versions
Oreskos Explorer - MTG Card versions
Weathered Wayfarer - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Knight of the White Orchid by color, type and mana cost

White Knight - MTG Card versions
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Cloudreach Cavalry - MTG Card versions
Samite Healer - MTG Card versions
Kor Firewalker - MTG Card versions
White Knight - MTG Card versions
Soul Shepherd - MTG Card versions
Soltari Monk - MTG Card versions
Talon Sliver - MTG Card versions
Keeper of the Light - MTG Card versions
Faith Healer - MTG Card versions
Angelic Page - MTG Card versions
Avenger en-Dal - MTG Card versions
Spirit Weaver - MTG Card versions
Voice of the Blessed - MTG Card versions
Stoneforge Mystic - MTG Card versions
Drannith Magistrate - MTG Card versions
Leonin Lightscribe - MTG Card versions
Silver Knight - MTG Card versions
Longbow Archer - MTG Card versions
Silverflame Squire // On Alert - MTG Card versions
Flumph - MTG Card versions
Cloudreach Cavalry - MTG Card versions
Samite Healer - MTG Card versions
Kor Firewalker - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Knight of the White Orchid. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Mono-White MidrangeMono-White Midrange PioneerMono-White MidrangePioneer League 2024-04-28
Mono-White HumansMono-White Humans PioneerMono-White HumansSat. 9:30 AM U.S. Regional Championship - Dreamhack Atlanta 2023
Mono-White SuperfriendsMono-White Superfriends PioneerMono-White SuperfriendsPioneer Challenge 64 2023-12-08 (1)

Card Pros

Card Advantage: A formidable tool in any player’s arsenal, Knight of the White Orchid provides a unique form of card advantage. Upon entering the battlefield, if you have fewer lands than an opponent, it lets you fetch a Plains card directly onto the battlefield, not only increasing your land count but also thinning your deck to improve the quality of your future draws.

Resource Acceleration: Unlike other land search mechanisms, Knight of the White Orchid does this at no extra cost and puts the land into play untapped. This accelerates your resources, potentially enabling a powerful play a turn earlier than normally possible. It’s particularly useful in white-based decks that often lack traditional ramp options.

Instant Speed: Although it isn’t cast at instant speed, the knight’s ability has a tactical depth similar to instant-speed interactions. You can play the knight post-combat to maximize its benefit if your opponent has ramped ahead, turning a well-timed second main phase play into both an offensive and a resourceful maneuver.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While the Knight of the White Orchid doesn’t explicitly require a card to be discarded, it can indirectly lead to discard decisions. To fully utilize its land-search ability, you may sometimes keep it in hand until the opponent has more lands, which can result in discarding other valuable cards from a full hand at the end of your turn.

Specific Mana Cost: Knight of the White Orchid requires a specific mana commitment of white. This can be restrictive for multicolored decks that may struggle with producing the needed white mana early in the game to trigger its land search ability.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although a 2/2 first strike for two mana is reasonable, the real value of the card is in its land search ability. In a game where board position and speed are crucial, there might be more efficient ways to ramp or develop your mana base without relying on a conditional trigger that depends on your opponent’s land count.


Reasons to Include Knight of the White Orchid in Your Collection

Versatility: Knight of the White Orchid is not just a creature; it’s a dynamic part of any deck that thrives on maintaining a mana advantage. This card can seamlessly fit into various white decks, allowing you to keep pace or even surpass your opponent in land count.

Combo Potential: With its ability to fetch a Plains directly onto the battlefield, Knight of the White Orchid synergizes well with landfall mechanics and other effects triggered by lands coming into play, opening the door for numerous combo opportunities.

Meta-Relevance: In a game where tempo can dictate the winner, having a creature that can quickly balance the scales if you’re falling behind is invaluable. As games ebb and flow, the potential to gain an extra land puts you in a solid position to control the game’s pace, making Knight of the White Orchid a relevant choice across various metagames.


How to beat

The Knight of the White Orchid is a staple for decks emphasizing on resource acceleration in MTG. This nifty creature allows players to search for a Plains card and put it onto the battlefield when it enters the play, given they control fewer lands than an opponent. This not only provides a land advantage but also keeps your tempo in check, making it an asset in white aggressive or midrange decks.

To outmaneuver the Knight, consider playing land destruction or land bounce spells to mitigate the advantage it provides. Effective removal cards can also eliminate the Knight before its ability triggers when it enters the battlefield. It’s also beneficial to manage your land drops effectively so you trigger the Knight’s ability less often. Focus on maintaining parity or a land advantage, ensuring the Knight’s condition is harder to fulfill. Finally, instant-speed removal can be key, allowing you to wait until your opponent has committed the Knight to the board before taking action, thus avoiding undue land ramping on their side.

In essence, staying ahead in the land count, using targeted removal, and disrupting your opponent’s strategy are reliable methods to negate the benefits brought by the Knight of the White Orchid in an MTG match.


BurnMana Recommendations

The Knight of the White Orchid is an exemplar of strategic advantage in MTG, embodying both rapid acceleration and deck efficiency. Its entrance can vividly alter the battlefield, fetching valuable Plains without delay. Your deck gains momentum, be it in aggressive onslaughts or steady maneuvering. With this knight, your collection gains not just a card but a potent ally in your quest for dominance. Knights gallant and resourcefulness merge within this card, ideal for those who value tempo and versatility. Enhance your gameplay and deepen your understanding of the game’s intricate dynamics by adding the Knight of the White Orchid to your arsenal. Discover more ways to optimize your deck and stay a step ahead of the competition with us.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Knight of the White Orchid MTG card by a specific set like Shards of Alara and Duel Decks: Knights vs. Dragons, 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 Knight of the White Orchid and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Knight of the White Orchid Magic the Gathering card was released in 10 different sets between 2008-10-03 and 2023-04-21. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12008-10-03Shards of AlaraALA 162003NormalBlackMark Zug
22011-04-01Duel Decks: Knights vs. DragonsDDG 62003NormalBlackMark Zug
32015-07-17Magic Origins PromosPORI 21s2015NormalBlackMark Zug
42015-07-17Magic OriginsORI 212015NormalBlackMark Zug
52019-12-02Secret Lair DropSLD 10452015NormalBlackVictor Adame Minguez
62020-04-17Commander 2020C20 932015NormalBlackMark Zug
72021-04-23Commander 2021C21 952015NormalBlackMark Zug
82021-09-24Midnight Hunt CommanderMIC 882015NormalBlackMark Zug
92021-11-19Crimson Vow CommanderVOC 922015NormalBlackMark Zug
102023-04-21March of the Machine CommanderMOC 1932015NormalBlackMark Zug

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Knight of the White Orchid has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2008-10-01 Knight of the White Orchid's triggered ability has an “intervening ‘if' clause.” That means (1) the ability won't trigger at all unless any one of your opponents controls more lands than you, and (2) the ability will do nothing if you control at least as many lands as each of your opponents by the time it resolves.
2015-06-22 The Plains you search for doesn't have to be basic. For example, you could put a Sacred Foundry onto the battlefield.