Decorated Knight // Present Arms MTG Card

Decorated Knight // Present Arms - Happy Holidays

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Mythic
Type	Sorcery — Adventure
Released	2006-12-31
Set symbol
Set name	Happy Holidays
Set code	HHO
Number	19
Frame	2015
Layout	Adventure
Border	Silver
Illustred by	Zoltan Boros

Key Takeaways

Equipping creatures at will, Decorated Knight enhances board presence significantly as they arrive.
Present Arms scales offensive might instantly, aligned with the number of attacking creatures.
Strategic mana requirements and discard cost must be weighted for effective deck building.

Text of card

Exchange your library with another deck you own from outside the game. Shuffle your library.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Thanks to its Equip ability, Decorated Knight lets players pull ahead by equipping other creatures as they enter the battlefield, making sure every creature drop can potentially become a larger threat, thus maximizing card usability on the field.

Resource Acceleration: The Present Arms side of this versatile card offers a resource boost by putting a number of +1/+1 counters equal to the number of times you’ve declared attackers this turn. This can ramp up one’s offensive potential substantially in a single combat phase.

Instant Speed: Present Arms can be cast at instant speed, allowing strategic players to respond to opponents’ moves by strengthening their creatures right before or during combat ensuring your knights are always ready for battle.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: For players considering the inclusion of Decorated Knight // Present Arms in their decks, it’s important to recognize the card’s inherent disadvantage in situations where conserving hand size is critical. The card’s ability comes at the steep price of having to discard, which can deplete your options and leave you at a disadvantage, particularly in the late game when resources are scarce.

Specific Mana Cost: Deck building versatility takes a hit with the card’s stringent mana requirements. Commanding a particular combination of mana types, it may prove challenging to effectively integrate Decorated Knight // Present Arms into a multicolored strategy or when mana flexibility is paramount. This card might relegate itself to decks that heavily support its color identity, potentially limiting its widespread playability.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Another aspect to consider is the efficiency of your mana expenditure. When it comes to cost versus effect, Decorated Knight // Present Arms might not provide the impact that one expects from such a significant mana investment. In the fast-paced dynamics of a game, deploying this card could mean forgoing speedier, more impactful plays that could be obtained from other cards at the same or lower cost tiers.

Reasons to Include Decorated Knight // Present Arms in Your Collection

Versatility: Decorated Knight // Present Arms offers a dual-card solution, giving players the flexibility to respond to different situations on the battlefield. As a creature, Decorated Knight can be a sturdy blocker or an attacker, while Present Arms can equip any creature with additional strength and vigilance at a moment’s notice.

Combo Potential: The ability to switch between a creature and an equipment at crucial phases makes Decorated Knight // Present Arms an excellent piece in synergistic strategies. It can complement both voltron-style decks where a single creature becomes the focal point, and those that rely on swift, interchangeable boosts to multiple creatures.

Meta-Relevance: Being adaptable to the ebb and flow of the game grants Decorated Knight // Present Arms a spot in collections aimed at staying competitive. Its inherent flexibility allows it to remain a solid choice regardless of the prevalent deck types in the current meta, fortifying a variety of strategies.

How to beat

Decorated Knight // Present Arms is a card that brings dynamic play to the battlefield of Magic: The Gathering. Its versatile nature, offering both a creature and a sorcery within the same card, can be a challenge to play against. However, like any card, it has its vulnerabilities that can be exploited.

To counter Decorated Knight’s effectiveness, understanding your deck’s inherent strengths is key. Removal spells that bypass indestructibility, such as exile or -X/-X effects, are particularly powerful against this stalwart creature. Additionally, playing around the sorcery Present Arms is about timing. It’s crucial to anticipate and disrupt the combat phase when this spell can be most impactful. Saving an instant-speed removal spell or a combat trick can disrupt your opponent’s strategy, leaving them vulnerable to counter-attacks.

When engaging with a card possessing so many angles like Decorated Knight // Present Arms, thoughtful decision-making and strategic planning will be your greatest assets. Knowing when to hold back and when to act can mean the difference between victory and defeat on the MTG battlefield.

Cards like Decorated Knight // Present Arms

Decorated Knight // Present Arms introduces a unique twist on creature versatility in MTG. It’s a comparable entity to modal double-faced cards like the adventures found in Throne of Eldraine, allowing players to cast one side as an instant or sorcery and the other as a creature. However, Decorated Knight stands out by embodying this duality on a single card. Relative to its kin, Kazuul’s Fury // Kazuul’s Cliffs, which can act as a land or a spell, Decorated Knight offers more aggressive options tailored to combat scenarios.

Looking at card utility, Valor in Akros offers a similar boon to other creatures when entering the battlefield, albeit as an enchantment that does not offer the tactical flexibility of switching between modes. While both Decorated Knight and Valor in Akros enhance board presence, the ability of Decorated Knight to be an acting combatant positions it as a more dynamic choice.

Surveying the variety and adaptable nature of these split cards, Decorated Knight // Present Arms demonstrates considerable potential in MTG. It blends the immediacy of Present Arms with the ongoing threat of Decorated Knight, thus establishing its niche within the diverse arsenal of versatile card options.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Decorated Knight // Present Arms MTG card by a specific set like Happy Holidays, 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 Decorated Knight // Present Arms and other MTG cards:

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