Black Knight MTG Card
1993-08-05 - Number 94
1993-10-04 - Number 95
1993-12-01 - Number 95
1993-12-10 - Number 95
1993-12-10 - Number 95
1994-04-01 - Number 95
1994-04-01 - Number 95
1994-06-21 - Number 95
1995-04-01 - Number 121
1995-04-01 - Number 121
1997-03-24 - Number 143
1997-08-13 - Number js143
2007-09-10 - Number 60
2009-07-17 - Number 85
2010-07-16 - Number 83
2011-01-10 - Number 71
2019-11-07 - Number 574
2022-11-28 - Number 391
2022-11-28 - Number 94
2002-06-24 - Number 35922
2020-09-26 - Number M10-85
| Card sets | Released in 21 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Human Knight |
| Abilities | First strike,Protection |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Text of card
Protection from white, first strike
Battle doesn't need a purpose; the battle is its own purpose. You don't ask why a plague spreads or a field burns. Don't ask why I fight.
Cards like Black Knight
The Black Knight card is a storied presence in the MTG world, akin to the celebrated White Knight. Both knights boast a 2/2 statistic line, but what distinguishes Black Knight is its intrinsic resistance to spells and abilities—thanks to its keyword “protection from white.” White Knight, its mirror card, conversely has protection from black, making them counterparts on the battlefield.
Comparing Black Knight with more recent cards, we find Gifted Aetherborn, another two-drop creature with deathtouch and lifelink, offering a dynamic interplay with its added abilities. Though lacking the color protection, Gifted Aetherborn brings its own advantages with a diverse set of defensive and offensive options. Another similar card is Knight of Malice, hailing from Dominaria. It shares the same mana cost but includes hexproof from white. Knight of Malice also gains an attack bonus if you have another white or black permanent, showing the evolution of MTG’s design ethos over the years.
Black Knight remains a classic example of an efficient creature with specific protection, a valuable asset in decks looking to negate white-based strategies, showcasing its importance in Magic: The Gathering’s array of cards.
Cards similar to Black Knight by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Black Knight. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Deadguy Ale | Premodern | Eternal Weekend Europe 2023 Premodern Mainevent |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Black Knight offers a repetitive edge in the form of reliable board presence. As a creature that’s tough to remove due to its built-in protection, it consistently threatens your opponent and demands an answer, allowing you to maintain pressure and card advantage on the battlefield.
Resource Acceleration: While not a direct source of resource acceleration, the Black Knight’s low mana cost and resilience make it a cost-effective play. It often requires more resources from your opponent to handle it than it took for you to deploy, indirectly accelerating your resource efficiency over the course of a match.
Instant Speed: The Black Knight itself may not operate at instant speed, but its inherent protection from white gives it an excellent standing in formats where combat tricks and removal often dictate the pace. This resilience allows you more confidence during your turns, freeing up mana that would otherwise be spent on less predictable creatures, and allowing you to leverage instant-speed spells in your arsenal with greater effect.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Black Knight does not inherently involve discarding cards, but any card requiring swamps is more susceptible to land-focused discard effects or deck disruption, potentially leaving you in a pinch if you’re planning your strategy around the knight.
Specific Mana Cost: Black Knight requires two black mana to cast, making it a less flexible option for multicolor decks that might not always have the necessary swamps readily available to satisfy its casting cost.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although Black Knight’s cost might appear reasonable, in a game that evolves constantly with new sets and power creeps, there could be alternatives that offer more bang for your buck. More recent creatures might bring additional abilities or greater power/toughness to the table at a similar or even lower mana cost.
Reasons to Include Black Knight in Your Collection
Versatility: Black Knight is a classic card that seamlessly integrates into various mono-black or multicolored strategies. Its first strike ability allows it to excel in combat, while its protection from white gives it a solid defense against one of the most common removal colors.
Combo Potential: This card shines when combined with equipment and auras that boost its attack power. Since it is difficult to remove due to its protection, Black Knight serves as a reliable recipient for power-ups, enabling it to become a formidable threat on the board.
Meta-Relevance: Black Knight maintains its relevance in a meta teeming with white spells and permanents. It can be a steadfast guardian against decks that heavily rely on white for control or creature-based strategies, making it a pragmatic choice for your arsenal.
How to beat
The Black Knight is a stalwart presence on the battlefield, synonymous with resilience and evasion in the MTG realm. With its inherent abilities of first strike and protection from white, this fearsome creature can fend off an array of white creatures, making it troublesome to face in combat. But like any card in MTG, there are strategies to outmaneuver it.
To successfully counter the Black Knight, a strategic approach involves using spells that don’t specifically target it or creatures that aren’t white. Global effects that reduce toughness, such as sweepers and -X/-X effects, can bypass its protection. Creatures with higher toughness or those that can deal damage without entering combat are excellent counters. Moreover, colorless removal tools, like artifacts or creature abilities that don’t target, can neutralize the Black Knight without conflict.
Navigating around the Black Knight’s strengths requires a keen understanding of game mechanics and a diverse deck. Incorporating versatile removal spells and investing in a multipronged defense are key to claiming victory over this iconic MTG adversary. Thus, the Black Knight, while formidable, is not insurmountable with the right strategy and tools at your disposal.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Black Knight MTG card by a specific set like Limited Edition Alpha and Limited Edition Beta, 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 Black Knight and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Printings
The Black Knight Magic the Gathering card was released in 20 different sets between 1993-08-05 and 2022-11-28. Illustrated by 3 different artists.
Show/hide all sets| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1993-08-05 | Limited Edition Alpha | LEA | 94 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Jeff A. Menges | |
| 2 | 1993-10-04 | Limited Edition Beta | LEB | 95 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Jeff A. Menges | |
| 3 | 1993-12-01 | Unlimited Edition | 2ED | 95 | 1993 | Normal | White | Jeff A. Menges | |
| 4 | 1993-12-10 | Collectors' Edition | CED | 95 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Jeff A. Menges | |
| 5 | 1993-12-10 | Intl. Collectors' Edition | CEI | 95 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Jeff A. Menges | |
| 6 | 1994-04-01 | Revised Edition | 3ED | 95 | 1993 | Normal | White | Jeff A. Menges | |
| 7 | 1994-04-01 | Foreign Black Border | FBB | 95 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Jeff A. Menges | |
| 8 | 1994-06-21 | Summer Magic / Edgar | SUM | 95 | 1993 | Normal | White | Jeff A. Menges | |
| 9 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition | 4ED | 121 | 1993 | Normal | White | Jeff A. Menges | |
| 10 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border | 4BB | 121 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Jeff A. Menges | |
| 11 | 1997-03-24 | Fifth Edition | 5ED | 143 | 1997 | Normal | White | Adrian Smith | |
| 12 | 1997-08-13 | World Championship Decks 1997 | WC97 | js143 | 1997 | Normal | Gold | Adrian Smith | |
| 13 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 35922 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Jeff A. Menges | ||
| 14 | 2007-09-10 | Masters Edition | ME1 | 60 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Jeff A. Menges | |
| 15 | 2009-07-17 | Magic 2010 | M10 | 85 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Christopher Moeller | |
| 16 | 2010-07-16 | Magic 2011 | M11 | 83 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Christopher Moeller | |
| 17 | 2011-01-10 | Masters Edition IV | ME4 | 71 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Jeff A. Menges | |
| 18 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 574 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Christopher Moeller | |
| 19 | The List | PLST | M10-85 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Christopher Moeller | ||
| 20 | 2022-11-28 | 30th Anniversary Edition | 30A | 391 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Jeff A. Menges | |
| 21 | 2022-11-28 | 30th Anniversary Edition | 30A | 94 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jeff A. Menges |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Black Knight has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Oldschool | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |