Candlelit Cavalry MTG Card
2021-09-24 - Number 175
2022-01-28 - Number 175
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Human Knight |
| Abilities | Coven |
| Power | 5 |
| Toughness | 5 |
Text of card
Coven — At the beginning of combat on your turn, if you control three or more creatures with different powers, Candlelit Cavalry gains trample until end of turn.
"On this night, the dark will fear us."
Cards like Candlelit Cavalry
Candlelit Cavalry carries its weight in the realm of Magic the Gathering as a heavyweight in limited formats. Falling within the scope of substantial green creatures, this card echoes the strengths of cards like Vastwood Gorger. Both share a significant toughness that makes them formidable blockers. However, Candlelit Cavalry gains an edge with its coven ability, granting it trample when conditions are met – a boon Vastwood Gorger lacks.
Surveying the broader landscape, Sentinel Spider presents a comparison. While the spider boasts vigilance and reach, making it a better defensive option against flying creatures, it doesn’t possess the sheer potential to deal trample damage that Candlelit Cavalry offers when coven is activated. The choice between these two could pivot on the specific tactical needs of a deck’s construction.
Ultimately, Candlelit Cavalry’s trample potential when compared to similar cards, enhances its tactical utility in game scenarios requiring strong offense. It stands out in its class for enabling high-impact plays when the board state aligns with its coven ability, affirming its solid position in the ecosystem of Magic the Gathering’s creature cards.
Cards similar to Candlelit Cavalry by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Candlelit Cavalry doesn’t directly offer card advantage in the traditional sense. However, it supports strategies that capitalize on having creatures with higher power, which can lead to indirect card advantage by increasing the effectiveness of cards that benefit from this attribute.
Resource Acceleration: While Candlelit Cavalry itself does not provide resource acceleration, its presence as a 5/5 creature can be an enabler for “Convoke” mechanics, allowing you to potentially cast spells by tapping creatures instead of paying their mana costs.
Instant Speed: Though Candlelit Cavalry cannot be played at instant speed, its “Coven” ability, which grants it trample until end of turn when you control three or more creatures with different powers, can be a surprise elem in combat, utilized similarly to how you’d use an instant to outmaneuver an opponent’s defenses.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One of the hurdles when incorporating Candlelit Cavalry into your deck is the lack of discard effects. Unlike some other creatures that provide strategic advantages when discarded or when they discard other cards, Candlelit Cavalry does not offer such synergies, making it a simple inclusion without the added utility of interacting with your hand.
Specific Mana Cost: Candlelit Cavalry demands a specific mana cost commitment to green. This can be a stumbling block in multicolored decks that may struggle to generate the necessary green mana consistently, potentially leaving this card stranded in your hand at critical moments.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost that is on the higher end of the spectrum, Candlelit Cavalry can be a less attractive option for players looking to maximize efficiency. Five mana for a 5/5 creature without immediate board impact or additional abilities may not hold up against other creatures or spells with greater utility or power level for the same or lower mana investment.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Candlelit Cavalry can easily slide into various green-centered decks, particularly those that take advantage of creatures with high toughness. It’s a solid addition to strategies focused on both defense and offense due to its substantial 5/5 body.
Combo Potential: With its Coven ability, Candlelit Cavalry gains trample whenever you control three or more creatures with different powers. This opens up opportunities for synergy with cards that manage creature power, boosting your chances for overwhelming combat damage.
Meta-Relevance: In a game state that praises resilient creatures, the Cavalry’s inherent heft makes it a robust option against common removal spells. Plus, its trample ability lets it stay relevant by punching through token strategies that often clog the battlefield in many games.
How to beat
Candlelit Cavalry emerges within the MTG universe as a robust creature featuring the Convoked candelabra. As a high-cost card, its formidable presence on the battlefield is predicated on the accumulating force of your creatures, allowing for a potentially earlier deployment than its mana cost might otherwise suggest. Once on the field, its sheer size makes it a significant obstacle for opponents to handle, particularly given its innate trample ability, which ensures that excess damage not absorbed by blockers will still trample through to deal direct damage.
Defeating this mammoth does not require fancy tricks but strategic play. Cards with “Destroy target creature” effects offer a straightforward resolution to the Candlelit Cavalry problem. Additionally, employing smaller creatures for chump blocking whittles down the attacker, though somewhat inefficient against trample. For a more cunning approach, cards that force the Cavalry to tap without attacking, such as those with “tap target creature” effects or enchantments that prevent it from untapping during its controller’s untap step, can neutralize it effectively.
It’s a game of wits and resources; planning your deck to include various tools to answer different threats is as pivotal as the maneuvers you execute on the battlefield. Candlelit Cavalry presents a challenge, but one that savvy players can anticipate and overcome with the right strategy.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Candlelit Cavalry MTG card by a specific set like Innistrad: Midnight Hunt and Innistrad: Double Feature, 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 Candlelit Cavalry 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
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Printings
The Candlelit Cavalry Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2021-09-24 and 2022-01-28. Illustrated by Viko Menezes.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2021-09-24 | Innistrad: Midnight Hunt | MID | 175 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Viko Menezes | |
| 2 | 2022-01-28 | Innistrad: Double Feature | DBL | 175 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Viko Menezes |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Candlelit Cavalry has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |