Knight of Sorrows MTG Card
2019-01-25 - Number 14
2019-11-07 - Number 148
2020-09-26 - Number RNA-14
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Human Knight |
| Abilities | Afterlife |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 3 |
Text of card
Knight of Sorrows can block an additional creature each combat. Afterlife 1 (When this creature dies, create a 1/1 white and black Spirit creature token with flying.)
The helmet reveals no eyes to witness your penance, no mouth to offer absolution.
Cards like Knight of Sorrows
Knight of Sorrows finds its place among the broad spectrum of creature cards in MTG, particularly within the subset of White creatures that emphasize defense and recuperation. It bears resemblance to Mourning Thrull, as both cards provide life gain abilities, appealing to players keen on maintaining their life total. Unlike Mourning Thrull, Knight of Sorrows cannot fly but compensates with its afterlife ability, producing a 1/1 white and black Spirit creature token with flying upon its demise.
Comparable too is the Gallant Cavalry, another White creature that spawns a creature token. Knights of Sorrows shares the token-generating concept but diverges with the afterlife trigger as opposed to Gallant Cavalry’s immediate ‘enters the battlefield’ effect. Furthermore, while both are vigilant, the Knight of Sorrows carries the potential for added board presence in the longer game.
To summarize, Knight of Sorrows provides strategic depth for players who favor defensive play and value the resilience offered by token-generating creatures. Its integration with afterlife gives it a unique angle compared to similar MTG creature cards, underlining its role in decks that wish to benefit from creatures that leave something behind post-battle.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Knight of Sorrows can generate continuous benefit by allowing you to funnel surplus mana into creating new creature tokens, which can lead to overwhelming your opponent through sheer numbers or using these tokens for various synergistic purposes within your deck.
Resource Acceleration: The synergies that Knight of Sorrows can establish with other cards might indirectly contribute to resource acceleration by sharing beneficial effects, though the card in isolation does not directly provide mana acceleration.
Instant Speed: Knight of Sorrows can be utilized at instant speed with its ‘Afterlife’ ability to produce a token creature at the end of your opponent’s turn once it’s been dealt with, setting up a defense on their end step and leading into a potentially powerful movement on your turn.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Knight of Sorrows forces a discard upon death for its afterlife ability to create a 1/1 white and black Spirit creature token with flying. This can contribute to a decrease in hand advantage which is critical in maintaining options and tempo in gameplay.
Specific Mana Cost: Knight of Sorrows has a mana cost that includes White and an additional colorless, which may not be as flexible for multicolor decks not focused on white mana. This requirement might hinder its inclusion in certain deck builds that prioritize a smooth mana base.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Costing five mana to cast, Knight of Sorrows may be considered inefficient compared to other creatures that offer more impact or present a better cost-to-benefit ratio on the battlefield. Players might opt for lower-cost creatures or those with more powerful abilities for the same mana investment.
Reasons to Include Knight of Sorrows in Your Collection
Versatility: Knight of Sorrows can be a flexible addition to decks that need a resilient creature. With its ability to block an additional creature and its afterlife ability, it can serve multiple roles in both offensive and defensive strategies.
Combo Potential: The afterlife 1 mechanic of Knight of Sorrows creates a 1/1 white and black Spirit creature token with flying when it dies, providing synergy with decks that capitalize on creature tokens and death-triggered effects.
Meta-Relevance: At a time when board presence and creature-based strategies are key, Knight of Sorrows offers value in maintaining board control. Its ability to deter multiple attackers can be particularly relevant in metas with aggressive creature decks.
How to beat
Knight of Sorrows is a card that players often encounter in the Limited formats of Magic: The Gathering. With its built-in afterlife ability, it’s designed to linger on the battlefield, even after being dealt with. To effectively counter this resilient creature, one must understand its strengths and weaknesses. An effective strategy is to bypass its afterlife feature through exile removal spells such as Path to Exile or utilizing bounce spells to return it to the owner’s hand, thereby delaying its board presence and negating the token generation.
Another approach is to take advantage of the fact that Knight of Sorrows requires significant mana investment for its abilities, so keeping pressure with early drops or establishing board control with efficient creatures can outpace the Knight before it becomes a substantial threat. Additionally, spells that prevent activated abilities from being used can hinder the Knight, limiting its defensive potential. Consider cards like Silent Dart to pick it off before its afterlife can trigger, or go over the top with evasive creatures that fly right past it, ensuring your game plan isn’t stalled by this tenacious knight.
In summary, while Knight of Sorrows can be a nuisance in the mid to late game, it’s manageable with a bit of strategic foresight, and the card’s impact can be minimized to maintain the upper hand throughout the match.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Knight of Sorrows MTG card by a specific set like Ravnica Allegiance 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 Sorrows 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 Sorrows Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2019-01-25 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by Zezhou Chen.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2019-01-25 | Ravnica Allegiance | RNA | 14 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Zezhou Chen | |
| 2 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 148 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Zezhou Chen | |
| 3 | The List | PLST | RNA-14 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Zezhou Chen |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Knight of Sorrows has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Knight of Sorrows card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2019-01-25 | Because blockers are chosen all at once, you can’t block with a creature with afterlife, wait for it to die, then block with the resulting Spirit tokens. |