Sunrise Cavalier MTG Card


Combines haste and lifelink for aggressive strategies and efficient game tempo. Requires precise mana, posing a deck-building challenge but rewards with synergy. Compares favorably with similar cards, providing a unique blend of attributes.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Human Knight
Abilities Haste,Trample
Power 3
Toughness 3

Text of card

Trample, haste If it's neither day nor night, it becomes day as Sunrise Cavalier enters the battlefield. Whenever day becomes night or night becomes day, put a +1/+1 counter on target creature you control.

"Like us, the morning fights for survival."


Cards like Sunrise Cavalier

Sunrise Cavalier enters the landscape of three-mana creatures providing an exciting blend of speed and aggression. A kin to other cards such as Skyknight Legionnaire, Sunrise Cavalier dances on the battlefield with a comparable haste attribute that allows for instantaneous impact. Nevertheless, what makes Sunrise Cavalier shine is the additional lifelink ability, furnishing not only swift attacks but also a tangible lifeline during combat.

Pivoting from airborne assault to the dominion of knights, we encounter history-steeped Silverblade Paladin, which also bestows a double-strike capability similar to our Cavalier. While the Paladin lacks the self-propelling haste, it offers a strategic bond, sharing its double strike with another creature. The cavalry charge of Sunrise Cavalier might be swift, yet Silverblade Paladin allows for a more premeditated two-pronged tactic.

Assessing the varied capabilities of these creatures reveals how Sunrise Cavalier stands out amongst its peers. While many cards might echo its individual attributes, the seamless combination of haste, lifelink, and double strike presents a unique package for players eager to dominate the early to mid-game battlefield.

Skyknight Legionnaire - MTG Card versions
Silverblade Paladin - MTG Card versions
Skyknight Legionnaire - MTG Card versions
Silverblade Paladin - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Sunrise Cavalier by color, type and mana cost

Mila, Crafty Companion // Lukka, Wayward Bonder - MTG Card versions
Queen Kayla bin-Kroog - MTG Card versions
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Zirda, the Dawnwaker - MTG Card versions
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Venerable Warsinger - MTG Card versions
Stonebound Mentor - MTG Card versions
General Ferrous Rokiric - MTG Card versions
Mila, Crafty Companion // Lukka, Wayward Bonder - MTG Card versions
Queen Kayla bin-Kroog - MTG Card versions
Duergar Hedge-Mage - MTG Card versions
Plargg, Dean of Chaos // Augusta, Dean of Order - MTG Card versions
Lavabelly Sliver - MTG Card versions
Skyknight Legionnaire - MTG Card versions
Boros Reckoner - MTG Card versions
Hearthfire Hobgoblin - MTG Card versions
Depala, Pilot Exemplar - MTG Card versions
Resolute Survivors - MTG Card versions
Tajic, Legion's Edge - MTG Card versions
Feather, the Redeemed - MTG Card versions
Iroas's Champion - MTG Card versions
Vikya, Scorching Stalwart - MTG Card versions
Zirda, the Dawnwaker - MTG Card versions
Akiri, Fearless Voyager - MTG Card versions
Kargan Warleader - MTG Card versions
Venerable Warsinger - MTG Card versions
Stonebound Mentor - MTG Card versions
General Ferrous Rokiric - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Sunrise Cavalier. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Boros AggroBoros Aggro StandardBoros AggroStandard League 2023-11-23

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Sunrise Cavalier doesn’t directly allow you to draw additional cards, it provides value by potentially replacing itself on the battlefield if it meets an untimely demise. This efficiency in maintaining a board presence can translate to card advantage.

Resource Acceleration: Sunrise Cavalier can bolster your aggressive strategies by offering haste. This means it can contribute to your attack the same turn it’s played, potentially accelerating the pressure you put on your opponent’s resources, disrupting their game plan earlier than expected.

Instant Speed: While the Sunrise Cavalier itself doesn’t operate at instant speed, it’s a key piece in decks that want to take advantage of untapped mana. This could mean holding mana for a trick or removal before committing to the next attack. The Cavalier then comes down post-conflict, ready to strike rapidly on the following turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Sunrise Cavalier’s abilities don’t inherently demand a discard, but in a deck focused on maximizing its celerity, you may find yourself pressured to discard advantageous cards to maintain its unleashed potential.

Specific Mana Cost: This creature requires both red and white mana, making it less flexible for inclusion in multicolored decks that do not support these exact colors, potentially constraining your deck-building options.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana value of three, including one red and one white, Sunrise Cavalier faces competition from other cards at similar cost points offering potentially greater impact or versatility on the battlefield.


Reasons to Include Sunrise Cavalier in Your Collection

Versatility: Sunrise Cavalier offers a dynamic blend of speed and resilience, making it a powerful fit for aggressive strategies that aim to dominate the early to mid-game. Its dual creature types—Knight and Vampire—allow it to synergize with a large array of tribal-themed decks.

Combo Potential: With its haste, Sunrise Cavalier can immediately impact the board and can be the perfect enabler for strategies that capitalize on dealing damage quickly. It also pairs well with other cards that benefit from attacking creatures or those who capitalize on life gain mechanics.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where tempo plays a vital role, Sunrise Cavalier’s haste and lifelink provide both an offensive and defensive advantage. This synergy is particularly effective against slower, controlling decks, allowing you to maintain pressure and life totals simultaneously.


How to beat

Sunrise Cavalier is a swift and robust creature in Magic: The Gathering, offering both trample and haste for a quick offensive play. Dealing effectively with this card requires a strategy that can stall its immediate impact or remove it swiftly from play. Employing removal spells like Fatal Push or Path to Exile can be instrumental, letting you counter Sunrise Cavalier before it can deal significant damage. For those who prefer a less direct approach, board wipes such as Wrath of God can reset the field, though these are best used when Sunrise Cavalier has company.

Furthermore, building a deck with solid defensive creatures can also help. Cards with high toughness or those that bring life gain into the equation such as Kitchen Finks offer a buffer against Sunrise Cavalier’s aggressive play. Additionally, instant-speed interaction is key. Having the ability to act during your opponent’s turn means you can adapt to threats immediately, which is essential when up against something as fast-paced as Sunrise Cavalier.

In essence, while Sunrise Cavalier can provide an early game advantage, it is not insurmountable. With the appropriate removal spells, defensive creatures, and the agility to respond in real-time, you can successfully navigate against this powerful card and maintain control of the game.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Sunrise Cavalier MTG card by a specific set like Innistrad: Midnight Hunt and Innistrad: Double Feature, 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 Sunrise Cavalier and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Sunrise Cavalier Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2021-09-24 and 2022-01-28. Illustrated by John Di Giovanni.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12021-09-24Innistrad: Midnight HuntMID 2442015NormalBlackJohn Di Giovanni
22022-01-28Innistrad: Double FeatureDBL 2442015NormalBlackJohn Di Giovanni

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Sunrise Cavalier has restrictions

FormatLegality
StandardLegal
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
FutureLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
BrawlLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Sunrise Cavalier card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2021-09-24 Before a player untaps their permanents during the untap step, the game checks to see if the day/night designation should change.
2021-09-24 Day and night are designations that the game itself can have. The game starts as neither. Once the game becomes day (or less commonly, night), the game will be exactly one of them—day or night—going back and forth for the rest of the game.
2021-09-24 For more information about Day and Night and the Daybound and Nightbound abilities, please see the Innistrad: Midnight Hunt Mechanics atricle (https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/feature/innistrad-midnight-hunt-mechanics-2021-09-02).
2021-09-24 If a triggered ability triggers whenever day becomes night or night becomes day, it only triggers if it was already either day/night and becomes the other. It does not trigger when the game becomes day or night for the first time.
2021-09-24 If it is day, and the active player of the previous turn cast no spells during their turn, it becomes night.
2021-09-24 If it is night, and the active player of the previous turn cast two or more spells during their turn, it becomes day.