Knight of the Tusk MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost6
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Human Knight
Abilities Vigilance
Power 3
Toughness 7

Key Takeaways

  1. Knight of the Tusk’s 6/5 stats and Vigilance offer strategic dominance through board control and psychological advantage.
  2. The two specific white mana in its cost may limit its ease of play in multi-colored decks.
  3. With vigilance and toughness, it’s a formidable inclusion for decks that capitalize on defense and counterattacks.
Vigilance card art

Guide to Vigilance card ability

In the strategic universe of Magic: The Gathering (MTG), the vigilance ability stands out as a powerful tool for players. This potent keyword allows creatures to attack without tapping, keeping them ready and alert to defend against incoming threats. It represents a perfect balance between aggression and defense, offering a dynamic approach to gameplay. Lets dive deeper into how vigilance shapes the battlefield.

Text of card

Vigilance (Attacking doesn't cause this creature to tap.)

"Horse? Who needs a horse?"


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Knight of the Tusk may not directly allow you to draw extra cards, but its presence as a 6/5 creature can lead to advantageous board states. By outclassing many common creatures in combat, it indirectly contributes to maintaining card superiority on the battlefield.

Resource Acceleration: Although Knight of the Tusk itself doesn’t ramp your mana, its substantial size for its mana cost represents a solid return on investment. The Vigilance ability allows it to attack without tapping, leaving resources available for other uses.

Instant Speed: While the Knight of the Tusk doesn’t operate at instant speed, as a strategic asset it compels opponents to hold back instant-speed removal in anticipation of its attack, thereby giving you a psychological edge during combat phases.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Knight of the Tusk does not require a player to discard cards, thus this drawback is not relevant for its evaluation.

Specific Mana Cost: Requiring two white mana and four generic mana, Knight of the Tusk can be challenging to deploy in multi-colored decks that struggle with color consistency or are competing for mana for other spells.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Six mana for a 3/7 creature with vigilance could be considered steep, especially when there are lower cost creatures with comparable stats or abilities. This mana investment can affect the pace of your gameplay and might not match up well against more mana-efficient creatures in the current meta.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Knight of the Tusk has the ability to become an indispensable part of your deck due to its significant toughness and vigilance. It can serve as a formidable defender while still being able to attack each turn without tapping, fitting well into defensive strategies while retaining offensive presence.

Combo Potential: With its substantial strength and vigilance, it pairs well with cards that benefit from high-toughness creatures or those that capitalize on the vigilance mechanic. This creates opportunities for synergies in decks that exploit such traits.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where the board often gets locked down, Knight of the Tusk stands out as a tough creature capable of breaking through stalled battlefields. Its vigilance and stoutness make it a card to consider, particularly in metas favoring creatures and combat-focused strategies.


How to beat

The Knight of the Tusk is a creature card that exudes resilience due to its substantial toughness and the formidable ability that it can be tapped for damage absorption. This ability can make the Knight a daunting obstacle, especially for those reliant on combat strategies to secure victory. Overcoming this defensive powerhouse means altering typical offensive plans. One efficient tactic is utilizing spells that can bypass its defensive capabilities, such as those that deal direct damage to creatures or those that can exile or transform it without necessitating combat.

Another strategy to nullify the Knight of the Tusk is employing cards that can force it to tap without engaging in battle, thereby impeding its capacity to block for a turn. Enchantments or creature abilities that restrict or control opponent’s creatures contribute significantly, allowing you to manage or entirely avoid the Knight’s defensive prowess. Moreover, cards with the flying ability can be extremely useful, as they can evade the Knight’s ground blockade and apply pressure from above.

Players can also opt to build around control or permission-based strategies, using counter spells and hand disruption to prevent such creatures from entering the battlefield. This proactive approach can deal with the issue before it even arises, displaying the layered strategies inherent in Magic: The Gathering’s gameplay.


Cards like Knight of the Tusk

Knight of the Tusk brings a formidable presence to the battlefield with its significant toughness and the Vigilance ability, enabling it to stand out among other creatures in Magic: The Gathering. When compared to cards like Sentry of the Underworld, both share the Vigilance trait; however, Knight of the Tusk boasts a higher toughness, which might make it a better blocker in certain situations. In contrast, Sentry of the Underworld offers the added flexibility of regeneration for a small mana fee.

Looking at Guardians of Meletis, we find another creature with comparable toughness, but it falls short as it lacks any abilities, making Knight of the Tusk a superior choice for decks that benefit from active defensive capabilities. Looming Altisaur is another creature with equal toughness but, similar to Guardians of Meletis, it doesn’t possess Vigilance, prioritizing Knight of the Tusk when a player needs a sturdy line of defense that can also partake in attacks without leaving itself open to retaliation.

Overall, Knight of the Tusk occupies a valuable niche of high-toughness vigilant creatures, ideal for players looking to maintain a strong defense while applying pressure on the opponent in the strategic landscape of Magic: The Gathering.

Sentry of the Underworld - MTG Card versions
Guardians of Meletis - MTG Card versions
Looming Altisaur - MTG Card versions
Sentry of the Underworld - Theros (THS)
Guardians of Meletis - Theros (THS)
Looming Altisaur - Ixalan (XLN)

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Sun Titan - Magic 2011 (M11)
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Aegis Angel - Magic Origins (ORI)
Auratouched Mage - Planechase 2012 (PC2)
Angelic Skirmisher - Gatecrash (GTC)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Knight of the Tusk MTG card by a specific set like Core Set 2019 and Mystery Booster, 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 Knight of the Tusk and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Knight of the Tusk Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2018-07-13 and 2020-07-17. Illustrated by Jesper Ejsing.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12018-07-13Core Set 2019M19 182015normalblackJesper Ejsing
22019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 1502015normalblackJesper Ejsing
32020-07-17JumpstartJMP 1142015normalblackJesper Ejsing
42020-09-26The ListPLST M19-182015normalblackJesper Ejsing

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Knight of the Tusk has restrictions

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

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