Daru Cavalier MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Human Soldier |
| Abilities | First strike |
| Released | 2002-10-07 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Onslaught |
| Set code | ONS |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 2 |
| Number | 18 |
| Frame | 1997 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Dany Orizio |
Text of card
First strike When Daru Cavalier comes into play, you may search your library for a card named Daru Cavalier, reveal it, and put it into your hand. If you do, shuffle your library.
Cards like Daru Cavalier
Daru Cavalier holds its unique place within the Magic: The Gathering universe as a creature card that can potentially expand your battlefield presence quickly. When you compare it to other cards like Squadron Hawk, the likeness becomes clear. Both Daru Cavalier and Squadron Hawk allow you to search your library for copies of themselves, thus paving the way for deck consistency and increased odds of drawing into your strategy. However, Daru Cavalier takes this a step further by putting another copy directly onto the battlefield, rather than into your hand like Squadron Hawk.
Considering cards with similar functions, we come across Legion Conquistador. This card also searches your library for copies of itself; however, it requires you to cast each copy individually, potentially slowing down momentum as compared to the immediate impact provided by Daru Cavalier. That direct-to-battlefield action is a strong strategic advantage for decks designed around creature synergy and board presence.
Looking through the lens of utility and battlefield efficacy, Daru Cavalier demonstrates its strength within strategies emphasizing creature volume. It’s ability to quickly muster forces can be invaluable in the right deck, showcasing why it continues to be a card players contemplate for their MTG army.
Cards similar to Daru Cavalier by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Daru Cavalier excels at multiplying your forces; summoning another copy of itself from your deck straight onto the battlefield, this not only increases your troop count but also thins your deck, enhancing the chance of drawing high-impact cards later in the game.
Resource Acceleration: While not directly providing mana, Daru Cavalier accelerates your resources by placing additional creatures onto the battlefield without paying their mana costs. This effectively doubles your creature output for the cost of one card, paving the way for a more formidable presence on the board.
Instant Speed: As a creature with an ETB (Enter the Battlefield) effect, Daru Cavalier doesn’t have instant speed itself. However, it pairs exceptionally well with cards that can cheat creatures into play at instant speed or with flicker effects that can be used reactively to surprise an opponent and generate advantage during their turn.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Daru Cavalier’s utility might be reduced by requiring you to have another card with the same name in your deck to fully utilize its potential, making it less effective in a standalone situation.
Specific Mana Cost: Daru Cavalier demands a specific blend of mana, including white, which could complicate deck-building strategies for some players and limit inclusion outside mono-white or two-color decks.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost situated in the mid-range, Daru Cavalier competes for a deck slot against other impactful creatures or utility spells, which can lead to tough decisions during deck construction and gameplay.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Daru Cavalier’s ability to search for another copy of itself when it enters the battlefield makes it a solid addition to decks that prioritize unit strength and board presence. It can adapt to various strategies that depend on creature quantity like White Weenie or Soldier tribal decks.
Combo Potential: Its utility increases when paired with effects that trigger upon creatures entering the battlefield or when using cards that can capitalize on having multiple creatures of the same type. This can lead to various synergies and combo interactions within your deck construct.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where creature-based strategies are prominent, Daru Cavalier helps maintain a competitive edge by consistently populating the battlefield, enhancing both offensive and defensive capabilities of your collection.
How to beat Daru Cavalier
Daru Cavalier offers an enticing advantage in MTG as it allows players to search for another Daru Cavalier from their library and put it into their hand when it enters the battlefield. This “tutor” effect can incrementally strengthen your battlefield presence, especially in decks centered on soldiers or tribal synergies.
Countering this creature card effectively entails disrupting the chain of play that it catalyzes. Removal spells that can target the Cavalier before it activates its ability, such as Instant-speed removals like Path to Exile or Fatal Push, will negate the search action. Additionally, leveraging graveyard manipulation with cards like Scavenging Ooze can prevent recursion strategies involving Daru Cavalier from taking root. Another potent strategy is to employ counter spells when Daru Cavalier is cast, preventing it from entering the battlefield at all. This proactive disruption ensures that the multiplying Cavalier threat is halted before it can gather momentum.
Ultimately, the key to overcoming Daru Cavalier lies in timely intervention and strategic use of disruption tools. In MTG, where timing is crucial, ensuring that you have the means to disrupt your opponent’s plays will often give you the upper hand against cards like Daru Cavalier.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Daru Cavalier MTG card by a specific set like Onslaught, 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 Daru Cavalier and other MTG cards:
BUY NOW BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
- 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
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Daru Cavalier has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |