Mesa Cavalier MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Human Knight |
| Abilities | Flying |
| Released | 2022-09-09 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Dominaria United |
| Set code | DMU |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 1 |
| Number | 26 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | David Palumbo |
Text of card
Flying When Mesa Cavalier enters the battlefield, you gain 2 life.
In the fight to defeat Phyrexia, the courage of Benalish knights is matched only by that of their pegasus steeds.
Cards like Mesa Cavalier
Mesa Cavalier is a fresh entrant in the world of soldier tribe synergies in Magic: The Gathering. It brings to mind other knight and soldier staples like Knight of the White Orchid. Both cards flourish in a deck built around knights or soldiers, though the Cavalier offers unique advantages with its bolster ability, enhancing the battlefield presence of your lowest-strength creatures. In contrast, Knight of the White Orchid provides a land advantage which can be pivotal early in the game.
Another comparable soldier is Precinct Captain. While the Captain can generate a steady stream of 1/1 soldier tokens with its combat-damage-to-a-player ability, Mesa Cavalier shines in its potential to immediately impact the board by strengthening other creatures. The Captain’s ability is dependent on successful combat, making Mesa Cavalier’s effect somewhat more reliable. Additionally, cards like Benalish Marshal also come to mind, granting an across-the-board power and toughness boost to your creatures, although it doesn’t possess the same single-target significant boost potential as Mesa Cavalier.
Altogether, Mesa Cavalier positions itself as a solid choice for soldier-centric strategies in Magic: The Gathering, striking a balance between individual creature enhancement and tribal thematic support.
Cards similar to Mesa Cavalier by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Mesa Cavalier. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Mono-White Control | Free form | Standard Pauper Tournament Feb 2024 |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Mesa Cavalier enables players to maintain a strong hand by potentially drawing cards through its abilities. This advantage is significant as it can turn the tide of the game by providing more options and responses to the opponent’s moves.
Resource Acceleration: This card contributes to resource acceleration by potentially allowing a player to put additional lands into play or create token creatures that can be utilized for various strategic advantages, keeping you ahead in the resource game.
Instant Speed: The ability to play Mesa Cavalier at instant speed provides a strategic edge, offering flexibility to react to your opponent’s actions. This can lead to surprise blocks or unexpected plays that can disrupt your opponent’s strategy and provide a competitive advantage during gameplay.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Installing the Mesa Cavalier means meeting its discard condition. This can prove taxing, particularly when your hand is already dwindling and every card becomes crucial.
Specific Mana Cost: The Cavalier demands a rigid white mana for casting, potentially straining mana bases not heavily skewed towards Plains.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that sits on the steeper side, the Mesa Cavalier might be overshadowed by more mana-efficient creatures with similar or better abilities.
Reasons to Include Mesa Cavalier in Your Collection
Versatility: Mesa Cavalier shines in decks that capitalize on creature synergies and strategies that require solid defensive units. Its ability to serve multiple roles in both offense and defense makes it an excellent addition to a variety of white and multicolor builds.
Combo Potential: With its ability to possibly untap lands, Mesa Cavalier works well in setups that revolve around landfall abilities or require mana flexibility to cast powerful spells in the same turn. This creates opportunities to surprise opponents and maximize your turn efficiency.
Meta-Relevance: The white color pie often emphasizes balance and control, which makes Mesa Cavalier a relevant choice in a meta that favors creatures with moderate cost and strong blocking capabilities. Its presence can significantly impact board control during the game, and it aligns well with strategies that outlast and outmaneuver opponents.
How to beat
Mesa Cavalier enters the Magic: The Gathering arena as a knight on a noble quest, fortified with abilities that can sway the tides of a duel in its controller’s favor. If you’re staring down this steadfast warrior on the battlefield, it’s crucial to have a strategy to dismount this challenge. In the realm of MTG, direct removal spells are your stalwart ally against such threats. Cards like Murder or Doom Blade can dispatch Mesa Cavalier without ceremony, circumventing any combat tricks that might have been lying in wait.
Enchantment-based options like Pacifism also offer a non-lethal resolution, neutralizing the Cavalier without sending it to the graveyard, which might be beneficial if the opponent has graveyard retrieval tactics. Board sweepers such as Wrath of God provide a one-size-fits-all solution, resetting the playing field but at the cost of your own forces as well. Don’t overlook the power of card advantage either; drawing into answers and maintaining hand supremacy can equip you with the tools needed to outpace the threat posed by the Cavalier.
Ultimately, overcoming the Mesa Cavalier is about preparation, timing, and the tactical deployment of your resources to ensure that this noble’s charge is thwarted before it can leave an indelible mark on the match.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Mesa Cavalier MTG card by a specific set like Dominaria United, 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 Mesa Cavalier 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
See MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Mesa Cavalier has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Alchemy | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |