Charging Paladin MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 6 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Human Knight
Power 2
Toughness 2

Key Takeaways

  1. Maintains battlefield advantage with its robust blocking, indirectly affecting card efficiency.
  2. The Paladin’s cost-efficiency aids in resource distribution, improving overall mana curve.
  3. Despite potential downsides, its versatility and meta relevance make it a valuable collection asset.

Text of card

If Charging Paladin attacks, it gets +0/+3 until the end of the turn.

A true warrior's thoughts are of victory, not death.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Charging Paladin enables players to maintain a favorable board state with its robust blocking capability. This generates a physical advantage on the battlefield, which in certain decks may translate to improved card efficiency, keeping your hand ready for more strategic plays.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly generating additional mana, the Charging Paladin’s cost-effective stats allow you to preserve mana for other spell casting or abilities. This indirectly contributes to a smoother mana curve, ensuring a steady deployment of resources throughout the match.

Instant Speed: Although the Charging Paladin isn’t an instant itself, its presence can cause opponents to hesitate or adjust their plays, indirectly giving you the kind of reactive advantage often associated with instant-speed interaction. Its vigilant nature keeps it ever-ready to defend, similar to how instant-speed spells keep opposition at bay.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: To play Charging Paladin, you might find yourself in a tight spot having to discard another card which could be crucial for your strategy. This puts you at a potential card disadvantage and might disrupt your hand balance, causing you to make difficult choices about what to keep and what to throw away.

Specific Mana Cost: Charging Paladin requires a specific blend of mana to cast, including white mana. This requirement can limit its compatibility, restricting it to decks that can consistently generate the necessary colors. For players who enjoy a multicolor approach, this might reduce the card’s utility and influence deck building decisions.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Weighing in with a notable mana investment, the Paladin’s cost may be considered steep for its offered stats and abilities. Other creatures and spells at a similar cost could potentially provide a higher value or immediate impact on the game, making them more attractive picks during the deck construction phase and gameplay.


Reasons to Include Charging Paladin in Your Collection

Versatility: Charging Paladin offers a reliable creature card that can easily adapt to various deck builds. Its balance of cost and power makes it a steady choice for players seeking a solid battlefield presence in the early to mid-game.

Combo Potential: With its ability to gain first strike until the end of turn when it attacks, Charging Paladin works well in synergistic strategies that capitalize on combat tricks and power enhancements.

Meta-Relevance: With the fluid nature of the MTG meta, having a card that can contend with aggressive decks while also being a respectable blocker can be incredibly useful, making Charging Paladin a relevant addition for diverse match-ups.


How to beat Charging Paladin

Charging Paladin is a card that can pack quite a punch in creature-focused decks within the Magic: The Gathering universe. Often seen bolstering ranks in white weenie or life gain archetypes, this Paladin thrives when in the heat of combat with its life gaining ability. But like all strategies, it has its weaknesses.

One effective tactic to outmaneuver Charging Paladin is through the use of removal spells. By targeting the Paladin before it can attack and engage its life gain ability, you prevent your opponent from establishing a lifeline. Spells such as Doom Blade or Murder come in handy as they are inexpensive and instant, allowing you to react swiftly to the threat. Alternatively, if you’re facing it down in combat, ensuring you have blockers that can survive the encounter or utilizing combat tricks like Giant Growth to overpower it can shift the tide in your favor.

Ensnaring Charging Paladin with enchantments that prevent it from attacking or blocking is also a viable option. Pacifism and similar effects can effectively neutralize the Paladin without having to remove it from the board. Balancing proactive threat management with your broader strategy will guide you to victory against decks featuring this stalwart Paladin.


Cards like Charging Paladin

The Charging Paladin is an intriguing creature card that brings a straightforward, yet effective combat tactic to the battlefield. In the realm of Magic the Gathering, it’s not alone in offering players an aggressive edge. We can compare it to cards like Veteran Swordsmith, where the focus also lies in buffing attack power. The Charging Paladin gets stronger as it charges into battle, possibly outpacing the Swordsmith due to its potential increase in power every time it attacks.

Another card that echoes the Paladin’s aggression is the Ondu War Cleric, which offers a different type of utility by providing life gain while still being capable of participating in combat. However, what makes the Charging Paladin stand out is its relentless offensive potential, growing more formidable with each assault. While Ondu War Cleric may offer sustainability, the Paladin’s increasing threat level can quickly turn it into a primary target for your opponents to deal with.

Through an analytical lens, the Charging Paladin has a distinct place among MTG creature cards. It excels by rewarding aggressive play styles and becomes a growing concern for opponents with each attack, making it a worthy component in many strategies focused on combat progression.

Veteran Swordsmith - MTG Card versions
Ondu War Cleric - MTG Card versions
Veteran Swordsmith - Magic 2010 (M10)
Ondu War Cleric - Oath of the Gatewatch (OGW)

Cards similar to Charging Paladin by color, type and mana cost

Argivian Blacksmith - MTG Card versions
Jamuraan Lion - MTG Card versions
Snow Hound - MTG Card versions
Femeref Knight - MTG Card versions
Border Guard - MTG Card versions
Benalish Knight - MTG Card versions
Regal Unicorn - MTG Card versions
Wild Griffin - MTG Card versions
Pianna, Nomad Captain - MTG Card versions
Dogged Hunter - MTG Card versions
Diving Griffin - MTG Card versions
Faithful Squire // Kaiso, Memory of Loyalty - MTG Card versions
Freewind Equenaut - MTG Card versions
Sanctum Guardian - MTG Card versions
Field Marshal - MTG Card versions
Kithkin Healer - MTG Card versions
Kor Hookmaster - MTG Card versions
Zhalfirin Commander - MTG Card versions
Silverblade Paladin - MTG Card versions
Emancipation Angel - MTG Card versions
Argivian Blacksmith - Antiquities (ATQ)
Jamuraan Lion - Media Inserts (PMEI)
Snow Hound - Ice Age (ICE)
Femeref Knight - Mirage (MIR)
Border Guard - Portal (POR)
Benalish Knight - Anthologies (ATH)
Regal Unicorn - Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)
Wild Griffin - Starter 2000 (S00)
Pianna, Nomad Captain - Odyssey (ODY)
Dogged Hunter - Odyssey (ODY)
Diving Griffin - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Faithful Squire // Kaiso, Memory of Loyalty - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Freewind Equenaut - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Sanctum Guardian - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Field Marshal - Coldsnap (CSP)
Kithkin Healer - Lorwyn (LRW)
Kor Hookmaster - Zendikar (ZEN)
Zhalfirin Commander - Duel Decks: Knights vs. Dragons (DDG)
Silverblade Paladin - Avacyn Restored (AVR)
Emancipation Angel - Avacyn Restored (AVR)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Charging Paladin MTG card by a specific set like Portal and Exodus, 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 Charging Paladin and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Charging Paladin Magic the Gathering card was released in 6 different sets between 1997-05-01 and 2015-05-06. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11997-05-01PortalPOR 111997normalblackKev Walker
21998-06-15ExodusEXO 41997normalblackCiruelo
31999-07-01Starter 1999S99 121997normalwhiteKev Walker
42009-04-10Duel Decks: Divine vs. DemonicDDC 42003normalblackCiruelo
52014-12-05Duel Decks Anthology: Divine vs. DemonicDVD 42015normalblackCiruelo
62015-05-06Tempest RemasteredTPR 92015normalblackCiruelo

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Charging Paladin has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

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