Corpse Knight MTG Card


Corpse Knight harmonizes with creature-centric decks for sustained opponent life total pressure. Triggers from creatures played at any speed augment deck’s threat and strategic advantage. Mandatory color mana restricts Corpse Knight to specific deck builds enhancing focus.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Zombie Knight
Power 2
Toughness 2

Text of card

Whenever another creature enters the battlefield under your control, each opponent loses 1 life.

"With each knight that rode out from the bone-white keep, the queen's soldiers felt their courage failing." —Krinnea, *Siege of the Bone Spire*


Cards like Corpse Knight

Corpse Knight is a unique piece in the MTG arsenal, blending creature presence with a passive damage-dealing ability. It’s akin to cards like Cruel Celebrant, which also dish out damage to opponents whenever a creature you control leaves the battlefield. Where Corpse Knight shines is in its ability to deal damage upon creature arrival, not departure, enhancing synergy with token strategies.

Zulaport Cutthroat is another card with shades of similarity, offering damage to opponents and gaining life whenever a creature you control dies. It’s different as it requires the creature to die, whereas Corpse Knight triggers on creature entry. Then there is Impact Tremors, dealing with similar territory but remains an enchantment, which makes it less vulnerable to creature removal yet affects all creatures entering the battlefield under your control.

To sum it up, while Corpse Knight shares common ground with other damage-dealing cards, its distinct combination of being a creature that triggers upon allies’ arrival positions it as an impactful card in decks eager to deploy numerous creatures and reap the benefits of immediate pressure on the opponent.

Cruel Celebrant - MTG Card versions
Zulaport Cutthroat - MTG Card versions
Impact Tremors - MTG Card versions
Cruel Celebrant - MTG Card versions
Zulaport Cutthroat - MTG Card versions
Impact Tremors - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Corpse Knight. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Orzhov AristocratsOrzhov Aristocrats ModernDEN24 Sun 9:30 - Modern $10k Open 8-slot RCQ

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Corpse Knight’s presence on the battlefield enables potent synergies with deck themes that focus on creature deployment. Its effect, dealing damage upon the summoning of other creatures, effectively pressures opponents while developing your own board presence, offering a form of indirect card advantage by negatively impacting enemy resources.

Resource Acceleration: While Corpse Knight itself doesn’t directly provide resource acceleration in terms of mana, it accelerates your win condition. Each creature played translates to incremental damage, hastening the game’s conclusion and reducing the need for traditional combat to whittle down opponent life totals, optimizing the value of each creature cast.

Instant Speed: Although Corpse Knight operates at sorcery speed, it complements an arsenal of instant-speed spells by ensuring that any creatures summoned on your turn, or even an opponent’s, via flash or other instant-speed effects, will trigger its damage ability, thereby maximizing the utility and impact of each creature played at instant speed.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Corpse Knight’s ability triggers only when another creature enters the battlefield under your control. This requirement does not have a direct discard mechanic but can limit its effectiveness when you are short on creatures or unable to cast them.

Specific Mana Cost: Corpse Knight requires both white and black mana for casting, which restricts its inclusion only to decks that can reliably provide both colors of mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although Corpse Knight costs two mana, its impact on the game may not compare favorably against other two-drop creatures or cards that could provide immediate board presence or utility.


Reasons to Include Corpse Knight in Your Collection

Versatility: Corpse Knight is a versatile card that effortlessly slots into various deck types, particularly those centered around creature strategies. Its ability to deal damage to opponents whenever another creature enters the battlefield under your control makes it a valuable asset in token strategies or any deck that floods the board with creatures.

Combo Potential: The strength of Corpse Knight lies in its capability to create devastating combos. It can be paired with cards that create multiple creature tokens to whittle down opponents’ life totals or used in conjunction with sacrifice mechanics to trigger its effect multiple times in a single turn.

Meta-Relevance: Considering the persistent presence of creature-based decks in the meta, Corpse Knight can serve as a powerful tool to tip the scales in your favor. Its constant pressure on opponents’ life totals can shift their playstyle or force early game decisions, proving to be a constant nuisance that can steer the game to your advantage.


How to beat

Corpse Knight is a card that presents a unique challenge on the battlefield. Its ability to whittle down an opponent’s life total whenever another creature enters the battlefield under your control can accumulate significant pressure, especially in decks designed around creature swarms. To effectively combat this, controlling the board is crucial.

Removal spells are your best ally against Corpse Knight. Casting spells like Murder or Path to Exile can remove it from the field before its effect can stack up. Another strategy is to employ board wipes like Wrath of God or Damnation, which can clear multiple threats at once, mitigating the problem of facing multiple triggered abilities from various creatures entering the battlefield simultaneously.

It’s also beneficial to limit the number of creatures your opponent can play. Cards that cause players to sacrifice creatures or that limit the number of creatures that can be played each turn can greatly diminish Corpse Knight’s impact on the game. Adapt your approach, focus on board control, and keep removal at the ready, and you’ll find Corpse Knight’s influence on the match greatly reduced.


BurnMana Recommendations

Dive deeper into the nuanced world of MTG with Corpse Knight as your strategic companion. Understanding the pros and cons of this unique card can dramatically shift the outcome of your duels. Corpse Knight thrives in decks teeming with creatures, turning each summoning into an assault on your opponent’s life totals. It’s a must-have for players seeking to optimize their deck’s synergy and push their strategies over the edge. Expand your collection, embrace the meta, and outmaneuver your opponents. Enhance your gameplay and outwit adversaries with the calculated inclusion of Corpse Knight. Take the next step in your MTG journey with us.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Corpse Knight MTG card by a specific set like Core Set 2020 and 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 Corpse Knight and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Corpse Knight Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2019-07-12 and 2023-04-21. Illustrated by Karl Kopinski.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12019-07-12Core Set 2020M20 206†2015NormalBlackKarl Kopinski
22019-07-12Core Set 2020M20 2062015NormalBlackKarl Kopinski
32023-04-21March of the Machine CommanderMOC 3212015NormalBlackKarl Kopinski

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Corpse Knight has restrictions

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

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Corpse Knight 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 In a Two-Headed Giant game, Corpse Knight's ability causes the opposing team to lose 1 life twice.