Knight of Old Benalia MTG Card
2019-06-14 - Number 17
2019-11-07 - Number 147
2020-09-26 - Number MH1-17
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Human Knight |
| Abilities | Suspend |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 3 |
Text of card
Suspend 5— (Rather than cast this card from your hand, you may pay and exile it with five time counters on it. At the beginning of your upkeep, remove a time counter. When the last is removed, cast it without paying its mana cost. It has haste.) When Knight of Old Benalia enters the battlefield, other creatures you control get +1/+1 until end of turn.
Cards like Knight of Old Benalia
Knight of Old Benalia is a striking entry into the realm of creature cards in Magic: The Gathering. This card is akin to other White creatures like Benalish Marshal, which provides a boost to fellow creatures with its static ability. Nonetheless, Knight of Old Benalia distinguishes itself with a saga-like ability that unfolds over several turns, enhancing your creatures in succession before summoning a substantial token.
Another card worth drawing a parallel to is History of Benalia. Both cards share a saga mechanic and produce Knight tokens, strengthening their synergy with Knight-focused decks. However, while History of Benalia emphasizes immediate board presence over two turns, Knight of Old Benalia offers a build-up that results in a potentially more dominant creature. Conversely, Radiant Destiny stands out for its ascend mechanic and potential to provide a solid buff to all creatures of a chosen type but lacks the incremental growth and token generation offered by Knight of Old Benalia.
Summing it up, Knight of Old Benalia’s unique combination of progressive buffs followed by the creation of a powerful token gives it a special place among White creature cards, providing strategic depth to MTG players looking to capitalize on Knight synergies.
Cards similar to Knight of Old Benalia by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Knight of Old Benalia can become a critical aspect of your deck’s strategy by offering card advantage when it returns from exile with a +1/+1 counter. This recurring presence on the battlefield not only pressures opponents but also bolsters your hand by potentially drawing out removal spells or forcing unfavorable trades on their part.
Resource Acceleration: When Knights of Old Benalia enters the battlefield, it enables resource acceleration by potentially offering a boost to your other Knight creatures. This synergy can snowball into a more formidable presence early on, shaping the pace of the match and allowing you to deploy additional threats or support with the accelerated board state.
Instant Speed: The adaptability of casting Knight of Old Benalia at instant speed provides a tactical edge. By strategically timing the play during your opponent’s end step or responding to their actions, you maintain mana flexibility while deploying a threat that needs to be answered, thus keeping your opponent on their toes.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Knight of Old Benalia’s abilities may sometimes necessitate discarding a card to optimize its play which could put you at a disadvantage in terms of card advantage, particularly when your hand size is already dwindling.
Specific Mana Cost: This knight comes with a color-specific mana requirement that might not fit into all deck types. Ensuring you have the right mana at the right time can be a strategic challenge in decks not heavily focused on white mana.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a substantial mana cost, this card may come into play later than some other creatures with similar abilities. This delay could put you behind in matches where tempo and early board presence are key to securing victory.
Reasons to Include Knight of Old Benalia in Your Collection
Versatility: Knight of Old Benalia boasts a flexible role in decks focused on knight synergy or those simply benefiting from a sturdy three-drop creature. Its modal nature and saga abilities provide adaptive play throughout different game phases, enhancing both aggressive and midrange strategies.
Combo Potential: Upon the completion of its saga, this card brings forth a Knight creature that buffs others, making it an ideal combo piece in decks aiming to generate large, powerful fields. It contributes to intricate strategies that snowball into overwhelming board states, particularly with cards boosting knight tribal decks.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where creature interactions and battlefield presence matter, Knight of Old Benalia can hold its own. The inherent value it produces in spawning creatures and modifying combat can make it a contender in various matchups, maintaining relevance in an evolving gameplay environment.
How to Beat
Encountering the Knight of Old Benalia on the battlefield can be a significant challenge in Magic: The Gathering, given its ability to buff other creatures and potentially sway the tide in favor of your opponent. The key to countering this formidable threat lies in understanding its mechanics and finding efficient ways to neutralize it before its power amplifies. One effective strategy is utilizing removal spells that can rapidly dispatch the Knight before it can accumulate too much value. Spells such as Murder or Path to Exile offer direct and immediate solutions to remove the Knight from play.
Another crucial tactic is to disrupt the synergy that Knight of Old Benalia creates among other creatures. Board wipes like Wrath of God or Doomskar can clear multiple creatures at once, nullifying the threat the Knight poses when it’s supported by a wide board presence. Alternatively, employing counter spells when the Knight is cast, such as Counterspell or Mana Leak, prevents it from entering the battlefield in the first place, hindering your opponent’s strategic development. Always stay one step ahead by planning around potential threats and maintaining control over the game state.
Ultimately, beating the Knight of Old Benalia in MTG involves preemptive measures, strategic removal, and disruption of synergies. By applying these strategies, you can effectively counteract the Knight’s influence and keep the game in your favor.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Knight of Old Benalia MTG card by a specific set like Modern Horizons and Mystery Booster, 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 Knight of Old Benalia and other MTG cards:
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- 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
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Printings
The Knight of Old Benalia Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2019-06-14 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by Dan Scott.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2019-06-14 | Modern Horizons | MH1 | 17 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Dan Scott | |
| 2 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 147 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Dan Scott | |
| 3 | The List | PLST | MH1-17 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Dan Scott |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Knight of Old Benalia has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Knight of Old Benalia card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2019-06-14 | The last ability of Knight of Old Benalia affects only creatures you control at the time it resolves. Creatures you begin to control later in the turn won’t get +1/+1. |