Knight of the Last Breath MTG Card
2019-01-25 - Number 188
2023-04-21 - Number 331
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 7 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Giant Knight |
| Abilities | Afterlife |
| Power | 4 |
| Toughness | 4 |
Text of card
, Sacrifice another nontoken creature: Create a 1/1 white and black Spirit creature token with flying. Afterlife 3 (When this creature dies, create three 1/1 white and black Spirit creature tokens with flying.)
Cards like Knight of the Last Breath
Knight of the Last Breath is an intriguing creature within the broad realm of Magic: The Gathering. It stands in the same circle as many other formidable giants, though it carves its own niche with its unique sacrifice ability. Comparable to the likes of Woe Strider, which offers a sacrifice outlet and a way to manipulate the top cards of your library, Knight of the Last Breath expands on this by also creating token creatures. Unlike Woe Strider, Knight of the Last Breath requires a hefty seven mana to cast, making it a later game option.
Examining Sundering Stroke, we see a cost similar in weight. It deals seven damage divided as you choose among one, two, or three targets. While the mana cost remains high, the immediate board impact differs significantly. On the flip side, Vindictive Lich shares the sacrifice theme but grants you a menu of disruptive options upon its death. It brings a more strategic element at a considerably lower mana investment.
In weighing the strengths and roles of these selections, Knight of the Last Breath offers a distinctive balance by combining a sacrifice outlet with the ability to generate additional board presence, positioning it uniquely among high-cost creatures and spells in Magic: The Gathering.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Knight of the Last Breath provides a unique route to card advantage. Upon sacrificing another nontoken creature, it allows you to delve into your library for a coveted creature with lesser cost, enhancing your board state with each activation.
Resource Acceleration: This formidable creature steps beyond mere combat; it facilitates resource acceleration by producing a 1/1 white and black Spirit creature token with flying for each afterlife trigger you control. These tokens not only serve as relentless attackers or vigilant blockers but can also be sacrificed to fuel the knight’s formidable ability or other synergistic strategies within your deck.
Instant Speed: The ability to sacrifice creatures at instant speed endows you with the flexibility to respond to your opponent’s moves. In moments of pending doom for your creatures or in response to an opponent’s end step, Knight of the Last Breath can turn potential losses into strategic gains, arming you with resources when they are most advantageous.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Knight of the Last Breath asks you to sacrifice another nontoken creature to utilize its ability. This is a significant cost, particularly in decks that do not readily generate creatures. Players must weigh the value of the creature they are forfeiting against the potential Gargoyle token or the card that could be drawn off of Knight’s effect.
Specific Mana Cost: Requiring a blend of generic, white, and black mana to cast, Knight of the Last Breath has a mana cost that may not seamlessly fit into all deck constructs, especially those keen on maintaining a swift mana curve. This can hinder its playability in various deck archetypes that don’t support such a specific mana requirement.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its total cost of seven mana, Knight of the Last Breath is on the higher end of the mana spectrum. In a game where pace can determine the winner, the wait to cast Knight can be a severe drawback compared to other lower-cost creatures, which may offer immediate benefits or quicker board presence.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Knight of the Last Breath is capable of defense in decks based around sacrifice mechanics. This giant knight fits seamlessly into Orzhov strategies where sacrificing is key to triggering powerful abilities and gaining an edge in resource management.
Combo Potential: With its ability to generate 1/1 white and black Spirit creature tokens with afterlife, the card allows for synergies with numerous strategies like aristocrats, token generation, and combo plays that amplify death-triggered effects.
Meta-Relevance: Especially potent in metas heavy with creature-based strategies, Knight of the Last Breath can serve as a focal point in games, offering a way to deal with opponent’s threats while progressing your own board state significantly.
How to beat
Knight of the Last Breath offers players in MTG a unique blend of sacrifice mechanics and token generation. This formidable creature can transform your lesser creatures into valuable resources when it’s advantageous. To counter such a pawn, strategic removal of less crucial creatures can be key. Preventing the opponent from building a board filled with expendable tokens will curb their ability to exploit the Knight’s abilities.
Moreover, addition of graveyard disruption to your deck is an effective tactic against Knight of the Last Breath. Since this creature can leverage the creatures in the graveyard through its abilities, hindering that access can significantly weaken its impact. Cards like Rest in Peace can eliminate the option of the opponent making use of their graveyard as a resource tool.
Lastly, keeping direct removal spells at the ready can nullify the Knight’s presence before its ability becomes a threat. Swiftly dispatching it with cards like Murder or Path to Exile ensures that the opponent’s strategy is thwarted. Mitigating the potency of the Knight of the Last Breath in this manner can tip the scales in your favor, maintaining control over the game’s flow.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Knight of the Last Breath MTG card by a specific set like Ravnica Allegiance and March of the Machine Commander, 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 the Last Breath 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 the Last Breath Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2019-01-25 and 2023-04-21. Illustrated by Milivoj Ćeran.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2019-01-25 | Ravnica Allegiance | RNA | 188 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Milivoj Ćeran | |
| 2 | 2023-04-21 | March of the Machine Commander | MOC | 331 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Milivoj Ćeran |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Knight of the Last Breath has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Knight of the Last Breath 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. |