Child of Night MTG Card
2009-07-17 - Number 88
2010-07-16 - Number 88
2011-07-15 - Number 87
2013-03-15 - Number 5
2013-07-19 - Number 89
2014-07-18 - Number 90
2016-08-26 - Number 130
2017-11-17 - Number 85
2017-11-24 - Number 16
2018-07-13 - Number 89
2018-10-05 - Number 65
2019-11-07 - Number 598
2020-07-17 - Number 218
2020-09-26 - Number IMA-85
| Card sets | Released in 14 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Vampire |
| Abilities | Lifelink |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 1 |
Text of card
Lifelink (Damage dealt by this creature also causes you to gain that much life.)
A vampire enacts vengeance on the entire world, claiming her debt two tiny pinpricks at a time.
Cards like Child of Night
Child of Night stands out in MTG as a creature card that provides lifelink—a handy ability that lets you gain life equal to the damage it deals. This characteristic is shared with other creatures like Vampire Nighthawk. However, Vampire Nighthawk also brings additional perks to the table, such as flying and deathtouch, making it a more versatile choice in battle.
Comparing Child of Night with another familiar card, Ajani’s Pridemate, we notice a synergy rather than a likeness. Ajani’s Pridemate benefits from each life you gain, growing stronger with each lifelink interaction, which could make it a powerful ally for Child of Night. On the flip side, both cards are vulnerable without their counterpart’s assistance, signaling the importance of strategic deck building.
When evaluating creature cards for their lifegain potential, Child of Night may seem basic, but its low mana cost makes it an accessible choice for early game plays, giving it a rightful place in decks focusing on lifegain strategies in MTG.
Cards similar to Child of Night by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Although Child of Night may not allow direct card draw, its lifelink ability effectively offers a form of card advantage by sustaining your life total. This allows for a more aggressive playstyle without worrying as much about the backlash on your own life points.
Resource Acceleration: While not immediately apparent, the life you gain from Child of Night can be seen as a resource accelerator in decks that benefit from high life totals. In some formats and decks, a high life total can be converted into other resources, allowing for more robust strategic plays.
Instant Speed: While Child of Night isn’t played at instant speed, its lifelink ability acts at the speed of combat. This means anytime Child of Night is involved in combat, you gain life, which is effectively a benefit you garner at the speed of the game’s most common interactions.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Child of Night doesn’t directly entail discarding cards, but the requirement to effectively utilize it in a vampiric deck often leads players to include cards with discard mechanics to synergize. This can inadvertently pressure your hand, especially if the match extends and hand replenishment becomes scarce.
Specific Mana Cost: This creature demands a specific mana combination to cast, black mana twice. This can hamstring decks that strive for a more diverse mana base or those that don’t heavily invest in black mana ramping or fixing capabilities.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While two black mana may not appear daunting, within the vast pool of two-drop creatures in the game, Child of Night competes against a plethora of other options. For two mana, players might seek out creatures with more impactful effects or better stat distributions that provide immediate board advantages or longer-term value.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Child of Night is a card that effortlessly slots into various black-themed decks, serving as both an early-game threat and a source of life gain. Its low mana cost allows for a quick play, making it a reliable turn-two drop in most games.
Combo Potential: Thanks to its lifelink ability, Child of Night pairs well with cards that capitalize on life changes, such as Sanguine Bond or Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose, creating opportunities for powerful synergies in your deck.
Meta-Relevance: Lifegain strategies often surface as a counter to aggressive red decks in the format. Child of Night can be a key player in such decks, helping you stabilize early and maintain a life advantage against burn strategies and creature assaults.
How to beat
Child of Night is a creature card sought after for its lifelink ability, a trait that allows the player to gain life equivalent to the damage it deals. When facing this vampiric foe in Magic: The Gathering, players might feel the pressure as their opponent’s life total slowly escalates with each successful attack. The card’s modest mana cost makes it an early threat, but its low toughness presents an avenue for counterplay.
To get the upper hand against Child of Night, efficient removal spells are key. Even a simple Shock or similar direct damage spell can dispatch the creature before the lifelink becomes a significant hindrance. Players should also consider utilizing blockers with equal or greater power to ensure Child of Night is taken out during combat. Another strategy is to employ cards that can bypass the creature’s abilities, such as those with ‘can’t be blocked’ or ‘protection from creatures’ effects.
Ultimately, while Child of Night shines in gaining life and early game pressure, it can be effectively countered with the right cards and tactics, maintaining a balanced battlefield and keeping the vampire’s influence in check.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Child of Night MTG card by a specific set like Magic 2010 and Magic 2011, 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 Child of Night 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 Child of Night Magic the Gathering card was released in 14 different sets between 2009-07-17 and 2020-07-17. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2009-07-17 | Magic 2010 | M10 | 88 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Ash Wood | |
| 2 | 2010-07-16 | Magic 2011 | M11 | 88 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Ash Wood | |
| 3 | 2011-07-15 | Magic 2012 | M12 | 87 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Ash Wood | |
| 4 | 2013-03-15 | Duel Decks: Sorin vs. Tibalt | DDK | 5 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Ash Wood | |
| 5 | 2013-07-19 | Magic 2014 | M14 | 89 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Ash Wood | |
| 6 | 2014-07-18 | Magic 2015 | M15 | 90 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Ash Wood | |
| 7 | 2016-08-26 | Conspiracy: Take the Crown | CN2 | 130 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Ash Wood | |
| 8 | 2017-11-17 | Iconic Masters | IMA | 85 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Ash Wood | |
| 9 | 2017-11-24 | Explorers of Ixalan | E02 | 16 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Ash Wood | |
| 10 | 2018-07-13 | Core Set 2019 | M19 | 89 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Ash Wood | |
| 11 | 2018-10-05 | Guilds of Ravnica | GRN | 65 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Igor Kieryluk | |
| 12 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 598 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Ash Wood | |
| 13 | 2020-07-17 | Jumpstart | JMP | 218 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Igor Kieryluk | |
| 14 | The List | PLST | IMA-85 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Ash Wood |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Child of Night has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |