Cavalier of Flame MTG Card


Cavalier of Flame - Core Set 2020
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityMythic
TypeCreature — Elemental Knight
Released2019-07-12
Set symbol
Set nameCore Set 2020
Set codeM20
Power 6
Toughness 5
Number125
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byWesley Burt

Key Takeaways

  1. Cavalier of Flame excels in card cycling, enabling you to sift through your deck and access key components.
  2. This card enhances mana flexibility and can unexpectedly hasten your creatures to pressure opponents.
  3. While it adds strategic depth to your game, its specific needs can limit deck versatility and tempo.

Text of card

: Creatures you control get +1/+0 and gain haste until end of turn. When Cavalier of Flame enters the battlefield, discard any number of cards, then draw that many cards. When Cavalier of Flame dies, it deals X damage to each opponent and each planeswalker they control, where X is the number of land cards in your graveyard.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: When Cavalier of Flame enters the battlefield or dies, it provides a significant boon by allowing you to discard any number of cards, then draw that many cards. This feeds into your deck’s strategy by cycling through your deck for the key pieces you need while also filling your graveyard for potential synergies.

Resource Acceleration: The card’s ability to grant your lands the capability to convert into red mana exponentially increases your mana pool’s flexibility. This resource acceleration is paramount when pushing for a game-altering play or outpacing your opponent in the race to deploy threats.

Instant Speed: Although Cavalier of Flame itself is not an instant, its ability to grant haste to other creatures can turn any creature drop into an instant threat. This sudden burst of speed can catch opponents off guard, allowing you to capitalize on an unprotected state or finish a game out of nowhere.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While the ability to cycle through your hand is appealing, Cavalier of Flame requires you to discard your entire hand first. This can leave you at a severe disadvantage if you are not holding additional cards to refuel your hand, potentially causing a scarcity of options in subsequent turns.

Specific Mana Cost: The Cavalier’s activation cost includes triple red mana, making it a challenging card to include in decks that are not heavily red. This can restrict deck-building versatility and complicate your mana base, particularly in multicolored decks that require a wide variety of mana for their spells.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana value of five, including a steep three red mana requirement, Cavalier of Flame demands a significant investment. Other creatures or spells at a similar or lower mana value might offer more immediate board presence or effects that don’t require additional resource expenditures to be effective.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Cavalier of Flame offers diverse play options, smoothly integrating into a variety of red-centric decks. Its ability to grant haste to your creatures can swiftly turn the tide of battle in your favor.

Combo Potential: With this card, you have the possibility to activate its abilities to discard and then draw new cards, setting up for powerful graveyard synergies. Plus, its death trigger can target all opponents, potentially delivering a game-ending blow.

Meta-Relevance: In a game where the meta often fluctuates, Cavalier of Flame stands out as a relevant choice due to its capacity to hasten game tempo and deal with multiple threats across the board, a trait well-suited to aggressive and midrange strategies.


How to beat

The Cavalier of Flame presents itself as a dynamic force in Magic the Gathering, offering a unique blend of abilities. Its power to give creatures you control haste and its formidable ability to dish out damage upon death makes it an imposing threat on the battlefield. To effectively counter this red powerhouse, pinpoint removal spells that can bypass its last-rites effect are crucial. Consider cards like Path to Exile or, for a more budget-friendly option, Murder, to deal with it swiftly and preemptively.

Another strategy is employing counterspells or bounce spells before your opponent gets the chance to pump their creatures’ power and exploit that hastening ability. A well-timed Essence Scatter or Unsummon can mitigate the card’s impact. Be sure also to manage your life total proactively, as the Cavalier’s last ability could spell a quick defeat if left unchecked. Strategic life gain, chump blocking, and other defensive maneuvers are essential to surviving an encounter with the Cavalier of Flame.

Overall, the key is to remain vigilant and responsive, utilizing removal, counters, and life-gain strategies to ensure this fiery threat doesn’t overrun you. Active board management and playing the right answers at the right time will help keep the Cavalier’s flames at bay.


BurnMana Recommendations

With its blend of card cycling, mana acceleration, and haste granting, Cavalier of Flame secures a spot as a considerable asset in various MTG strategies. From bolstering your deck’s tempo to enabling surprise attacks and potent graveyard synergies, this card offers a multifaceted approach to winning matches. Its demand for a heavy red commitment is something to consider when building your deck. Are you aiming for explosive turns and commanding board presence? If yes, integrating Cavalier of Flame could provide that extra firepower. Dive deeper with us and discover strategic insights and deck optimizations to enhance your red-centric tactics in MTG.


Cards like Cavalier of Flame

Cavalier of Flame is a formidable presence in Magic: The Gathering, often drawing comparisons to other powerhouse creatures. One such card is Thundermaw Hellkite, which shares the same mana value and also deals a significant impact when it hits the battlefield. Yet, unlike the immediate damage Thundermaw Hellkite delivers, Cavalier of Flame provides a broader range of strategic advantages with its ability to grant haste to other creatures and its unique discard-to-draw ability, making it a key player in certain MTG decks focusing on graveyard mechanics and repeated damage.

Then comes the comparison with Flameblade Angel. While Flameblade Angel focuses on punishing opponents for targeting your creatures, Cavalier of Flame shifts the pressure with its ability to pump up the entire team, making all your creatures more threatening. Its flexibility and late-game mana sink potential through its activation cost offer a dynamic edge over Flameblade Angel’s defensive stance.

Evaluating the various attributes, Cavalier of Flame stands out for its versatility and potential to enhance and transform gameplay strategies. It offers not just a creature with a powerful attack but an engine to modify the battlefield to the player’s advantage.

Thundermaw Hellkite - MTG Card versions
Flameblade Angel - MTG Card versions
Thundermaw Hellkite - MTG Card versions
Flameblade Angel - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Cavalier of Flame MTG card by a specific set like Core Set 2020, 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 Cavalier of Flame and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Cavalier of Flame has restrictions

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

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Cavalier of Flame card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2019-07-12 As Cavalier of Flame’s enters-the-battlefield ability resolves, you may choose to discard zero cards. You just won’t draw any cards.
2019-07-12 In a Two-Headed Giant game, Cavalier of Flame’s last ability causes the opposing team to be dealt X damage twice.

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