Alaborn Cavalier MTG Card

Alaborn Cavalier’s ability disrupts opponents and offers card advantage without direct cost. It requires careful deck construction to work around its mana and combo demands. Alaborn Cavalier’s high mana cost and color specificity limit its deck versatility.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Human Knight
Power 2
Toughness 2

Text of card

If Alaborn Cavalier attacks, you may choose to tap any one creature. (Tapped creatures can't block.)

"Course he ran! *I* wouldn't want to stare down that barrel, either!" —Alaborn soldier

Cards like Alaborn Cavalier

Alaborn Cavalier holds a unique niche among creature cards within Magic: The Gathering. It shares similarities in mechanics with cards like Heavy Cavalry, which also provides a combat advantage by tapping an opponent’s creature upon entering the battlefield. However, Alaborn Cavalier takes a more aggressive approach with its ability to automatically tap a target creature whenever it attacks, offering an ongoing tactical edge throughout the game.

Stepping into the realm of knightly valor, we find another comrade in tactics, the renowned Knight of the White Orchid. This card doesn’t tap opposing forces but offers a land advantage under certain conditions, reflecting a different strategic path. It’s critical to recognize that while both cards champion the knight’s archetype, they contribute distinctly to the board state and overall gameplay strategy.

Considering the mix of aggressive gameplay and board control, the Alaborn Cavalier carves out its standing amid MTG’s diverse array of knights and combat enablers. Its continuous ability to control combat dynamics by tapping opposing creatures gives players a significant advantage during their onslaught, thereby cementing its place in decks that value both offensive strikes and tactical maneuvers.

Knight of the White Orchid - MTG Card versions
Knight of the White Orchid - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Whenever Alaborn Cavalier attacks, you may tap target creature. This efficient combat interaction can systematically disrupt your opponent’s board, maintaining your edge during the battle phase without losing card resources.

Resource Acceleration: While the Alaborn Cavalier doesn’t directly generate mana or treasure, its ability to control the battlefield allows you to preserve your crucial mana resources for other strategic spells or creature deployment, effectively advancing your board state.

Instant Speed: Although the Alaborn Cavalier itself is not an instant, its ability engages at instant speed during the combat phase. This makes it a formidable tool for surprise tactics, enabling you to tap potential blockers or attackers right as combat unfolds, disrupting your opponent’s strategies on the fly.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Alaborn Cavalier is part of intricate combo structures that often seem at odds with typical deck compositions. The need to coordinate with other cards for optimal use could leave you struggling if you’re short on the right companions for the Cavalier, which could lead to inevitable discards that diminish your hand.

Specific Mana Cost: The Cavalier comes with a mana cost that is specifically weighted with white mana symbols. This leans heavily into white mana deck constructions, potentially restricting its inclusion into multi-colored or color-flexible decks where mana diversity is key to their strategy.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that might set you back in the early game, Alaborn Cavalier may not be as competitive as lower-cost creatures with similar abilities. While it does bring a decent blend of attack and defense to the table, the initial mana investment might not align with the tempo of faster-paced decks, particularly when there are a plethora of other options available that might provide greater immediate value or versatility for the same or lower mana cost.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Alaborn Cavalier’s ability to immediately attack again after a successful hit makes it a flexible addition to decks aiming to exert consistent pressure. Its adaptability shines in both aggressive strategies and those requiring swift removal of blockers through combat.

Combo Potential: This knight synergizes well with effects that benefit from attacking creatures, such as those that trigger on combat damage or when a creature becomes tapped. It can also enable powerful combos with cards that buff attacking creatures or provide secondary effects when they attack multiple times in a turn.

Meta-Relevance: With a metagame that shifts and accommodates various combat tricks and aggressive tactics, Alaborn Cavalier’s capability to engage in combat twice can be a game-changer, disrupting opponent’s plans and paving the path for an early victory.

How to beat

The Alaborn Cavalier can be quite a challenge when it hits the board in a game of Magic. Its vigilance ability enables it to be a consistent attacker while still being available to block, making it a flexible threat. To overcome this versatile knight, consider using spells that can bypass its vigilance by locking it down or removing it from the battlefield without relying on combat.

Options such as Pacifism render the Cavalier harmless, as it’s unable to attack or block without a fight. Enchantment removal spells can also eliminate any buffs or equipments that may be enhancing the Cavalier’s capabilities. Moreover, strategies that outpace the four mana cost of this card by ramping up to more powerful creatures or spells that outclass the Cavalier in combat can put you at an advantage. Always have a plan to address threats like the Alaborn Cavalier swiftly and efficiently to maintain control of the game.

Remember, creatures with flying or abilities that prevent blocking can often outmaneuver vigilance, providing a clear path to victory against the stoic Alaborn Cavalier. By combining smart play and strategic card choices, you can ensure this card doesn’t become an insurmountable obstacle.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Alaborn Cavalier MTG card by a specific set like Portal Second Age 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 Alaborn Cavalier and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Alaborn Cavalier Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1998-06-24 and 2011-04-01. Illustrated by Kev Walker.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11998-06-24Portal Second AgeP02 11997NormalBlackKev Walker
22011-04-01Duel Decks: Knights vs. DragonsDDG 182003NormalBlackKev Walker

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Alaborn Cavalier has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal