Skyknight Legionnaire MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 7 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Human Knight
Abilities Flying,Haste
Power 2
Toughness 2

Key Takeaways

  1. Skyknight Legionnaire’s flying and haste enable pressure and potential board control despite no direct card advantage.
  2. Its haste offers tempo acceleration, establishing battlefield presence and immediate pressure on opponents.
  3. Despite the swift impact, its requirement for red and white mana can limit deck flexibility and consistency.

Text of card

Flying, haste

"I do not know which gives me more pride: the legions of soldiers marching in thunderous lockstep, or the cry of the skyknights riding their rocs like jagged lightning overhead." —Razia


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Skyknight Legionnaire may not directly draw cards, but its evasion capability through flying and haste often ensures it deals damage, effectively pressuring the opponent and drawing resources away from their strategic plays. Its presence on the board can influence the opponent’s decisions, potentially leading to advantageous situations for the player.

Resource Acceleration: While the Skyknight Legionnaire itself doesn’t affect your mana pool or ramp, its ability to quickly join the battlefield due to haste can be seen as a form of tempo acceleration. It allows you to establish a presence and apply pressure without the typical waiting period, which indirectly accelerates your game plan.

Instant Speed: Even though Skyknight Legionnaire isn’t an instant, its haste ability mimics an instant-like impact on the game. It can be played during your first main phase, immediately ready to contribute to combat, catching opponents off guard and potentially turning the tide of battle swiftly in your favor.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One aspect of Skyknight Legionnaire that some players find limiting is the inability to stay resource-positive in hand. It demands constant battlefield presence to justify its slot in your deck over cards that might provide card advantage.

Specific Mana Cost: Skyknight Legionnaire requires both red and white mana (boros), making it less flexible outside of its specific two-color decks. This can be problematic when you’re trying to maintain a consistent mana base, particularly in formats that favor multicolored decks with more than two colors.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana, including both colored mana requirements, some MTG players might feel that Skyknight Legionnaire is a bit costly for its stats and effects. In competitive play, there are creatures of similar or lower cost that provide additional abilities or have a greater impact on the game state.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Skyknight Legionnaire is a well-rounded card capable of fitting into a variety of Red and White decks, thanks to its ability to fly and haste, ensuring it makes an impact the moment it enters the battlefield.

Combo Potential: Its dual attributes make it an excellent candidate for synergizing with cards that reward you for controlling creatures with flying or for attacking with multiple creatures each turn.

Meta-Relevance: Given the pace of many current MTG games, having a card that can immediately swing in and apply pressure can shift the momentum in your favor, making Skyknight Legionnaire a solid choice against slower, developing boards.


How to Beat Skyknight Legionnaire

Skyknight Legionnaire has been a notable card in MTG, recognized for its immediate board impact with flying and haste. When facing this card, it’s key to be well-prepared for its aerial assault. Effectively countering Skyknight Legionnaire often involves having removal options that are both quick and versatile. Cards like Fatal Push or Lightning Bolt can dispatch this flying threat before it has the chance to deal damage.

Deploying creatures with reach or having spells that can summon flying blockers can also serve as an effective defense against Skyknight Legionnaire. Meanwhile, enchantments that limit the capabilities of flying creatures could hinder its effectiveness. Ensnaring creatures with spells that force them to tap and skip their combat phase or using mass removal options such as Wrath of God can also serve as hard resets against decks utilizing Skyknight Legionnaire.

Overall, while the card can present a challenging threat on the battlefield, a strategy that includes a solid defensive setup with instant-speed interactions can nullify the advantage Skyknight Legionnaire aims to bring to the game.


BurnMana Recommendations

As we’ve seen, Skyknight Legionnaire holds a place in MTG for good reason. Its ability to deliver immediate pressure from the sky makes it a valuable asset in Red and White decks. Its swift entry and evasive attacks can shape the battlefield in your favor. Whether you’re bolstering your collection or refining your strategy, this card offers a mix of power and speed that can amplify your deck’s performance. For those eager to explore further synergies and strategies that include the Legionnaire or want to discover alternatives that could also suit your playstyle, we’re here to guide your journey. Join us for deeper insights and strategies to optimize your MTG experience.


Cards like Skyknight Legionnaire

Skyknight Legionnaire has been a consistent player favorite in the Magic: The Gathering universe, known for its immediate impact on the game with both flying and haste abilities. Looking for counterparts, we find some intriguing options such as Stormfront Pegasus and Mardu Scout. Stormfront Pegasus also offers the gift of flight for a lower mana cost but doesn’t come with the handy haste ability, making Skyknight Legionnaire a more potent threat as it can attack the turn it is played.

On the other hand, Mardu Scout does share the haste attribute and can be dashed onto the battlefield, giving it a surprise element. However, it lacks the flying capability, meaning it’s more susceptible to ground blocks. This feature alone elevates the Legionnaire by allowing it to soar over defenses unhindered. Finally, there’s Boltwing Marauder, which brings an imposing presence and a power boost for other flying creatures whenever you cast another creature spell. Although it demands more mana, this dragon’s synergistic possibilities make it a strong comparative to our Skyknight.

In assessing these options, Skyknight Legionnaire stands out for its balanced blend of agility and evasion, making it a solid choice within the aggro deck strategies of Magic: The Gathering.

Stormfront Pegasus - MTG Card versions
Mardu Scout - MTG Card versions
Boltwing Marauder - MTG Card versions
Stormfront Pegasus - Magic 2010 (M10)
Mardu Scout - Fate Reforged (FRF)
Boltwing Marauder - Dragons of Tarkir (DTK)

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Skyknight Legionnaire MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Arena League 2005, 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 Skyknight Legionnaire and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Skyknight Legionnaire Magic the Gathering card was released in 7 different sets between 2005-01-01 and 2024-01-12. Illustrated by 3 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 362962003normalblackJim Murray
22005-01-01Arena League 2005PAL05 82003normalblackJim Murray
32005-10-07Ravnica: City of GuildsRAV 2322003normalblackJim Murray
42013-02-01GatecrashGTC 1972003normalblackAnthony Palumbo
52017-03-17Modern Masters 2017MM3 1842015normalblackJim Murray
62018-10-05Guilds of RavnicaGRN 1982015normalblackChase Stone
72024-01-12Ravnica RemasteredRVR 2252015normalblackJim Murray

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Skyknight Legionnaire has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

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