Cadaverous Knight MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Zombie Knight
Abilities Flanking
Power 2
Toughness 2

Key Takeaways

  1. Cadaverous Knight thrives in environments valuing persistent battlefield presence, offering tactical advantage.
  2. Its regeneration, activated at instant speed, enables versatile combat plays and deck strategies.
  3. Despite its strengths, the card’s mana and discard requirements may deter its inclusion.

Text of card

Flanking (Whenever a creature without flanking is assigned to block this creature, the blocking creature gets -1/-1 until end of turn.) o1o Boo B Regenerate

Grieve for the soul in death dishonored. —Shadow Guild saying


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Cadaverous Knight’s ability to regenerate gives it staying power on the battlefield, which offers a persistent threat to the opponent and can lead to card advantage over time, as opponents need to allocate more resources to deal with it.

Resource Acceleration: Although not a direct accelerator, the card’s resilience allows for ongoing assault and defense strategies without requiring additional mana investment for creature casting, indirectly benefiting your mana resources for other spells.

Instant Speed: While the Cadaverous Knight itself isn’t an instant, its regeneration can be activated at instant speed. This feature enables you to cleverly manage combat scenarios and surprise opponents who might not have factored in the possibility of regeneration during combat planning.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Cadaverous Knight can be a persistent threat due to its regeneration ability, players must be prepared to part with another card if they wish to utilize this feature. This can be a deterrent, especially in tight situations where card advantage is critical.

Specific Mana Cost: Requiring both black and generic mana, Cadaverous Knight demands a dedicated mana base, which may not always align with multi-colored decks that are mana-hungry for a variety of different colors. This sometimes results in the card being sidelined for more flexible options.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost typically higher than other creatures of similar stature, Cadaverous Knight’s initial mana investment can be steep, compared to other creatures in the metagame that might provide a higher power-to-mana cost ratio. This makes it less favored in decks striving for efficiency and optimal mana curve.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Cadaverous Knight demonstrates its adaptability by fitting seamlessly into various deck archetypes, particularly those that thrive on resilience and recurring threats. Its regeneration ability allows it to persist on the battlefield, providing a reliable blocker or a persistent attacker in any matchup.

Combo Potential: With its undying presence due to regeneration, Cadaverous Knight can be a key piece in combos that capitalize on creature death and resurrection. It pairs well with cards that reward you for creature survival or exploit the number of creatures you have in play.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where attrition wars and creature removal are prevalent, the Cadaverous Knight excels by dodging common removal spells. Its ability to come back from would-be lethal damage makes it a sturdy asset in the face of opponent’s attempts to control the board.


How to beat Cadaverous Knight

Cadaverous Knight can be a tricky card to handle in a Magic: The Gathering match due to its resilience. This Knight boasts a regeneration ability, making it a persistent threat on the battlefield. However, players can employ several strategies to overcome this undead warrior. Utilizing cards that exile, such as Path to Exile or Swords to Plowshares, provides a definitive way to remove Cadaverous Knight without triggering its regeneration.

Counterspells also serve as a solid preemptive measure, stopping the Cadaverous Knight from ever hitting the field. If the Knight is already in play, cards that apply -1/-1 counters or effects that reduce its toughness to zero, like Mutilate or Toxic Deluge, can wipe it away as regeneration does not save a creature from dying due to having 0 or less toughness. Additionally, leveraging the use of sacrifice effects, for instance through Diabolic Edict, forces your opponent to choose and sacrifice a creature, which can bypass regeneration capabilities altogether.

While Cadaverous Knight offers a formidable challenge, strategic deck choices and knowledge of MTG mechanics can effectively neutralize this tenacious threat. Crafting a deck with answers to such persistent creatures ensures that you maintain control over the game’s flow and remain one step ahead of your adversaries.


Cards like Cadaverous Knight

The Cadaverous Knight finds its place among the pantheon of regenerating creatures within Magic: The Gathering. Closely resembling Drudge Skeletons, both share the key feature of regeneration, allowing them to defy death in combat or against destroy effects. However, the Knight ups the ante with a more robust physique compared to the Skeletons’ more skeletal frame.

Knights of Stromgald are another equivalent, thriving in decks that value resiliency. Like the Cadaverous Knight, they can regenerate, ensuring their presence on the battlefield is persistent. The tradeoff comes with their color-associated restrictions and activation cost. Where the Cadaverous Knight offers strength in black mana flexibility, Knights of Stromgald requires a commitment to black mana symbols.

When evaluating these warriors, the Cadaverous Knight stands out for its adaptability and solid stats for its cost. It balances the scale of power and survivability, making it a formidable figure for many MTG enthusiasts who prefer creatures that can endure through various threats.

Drudge Skeletons - MTG Card versions
Drudge Skeletons - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)

Cards similar to Cadaverous Knight by color, type and mana cost

Nettling Imp - MTG Card versions
Royal Assassin - MTG Card versions
El-Hajjâj - MTG Card versions
Frozen Shade - MTG Card versions
Scathe Zombies - MTG Card versions
Sorceress Queen - MTG Card versions
Lost Soul - MTG Card versions
Mindstab Thrull - MTG Card versions
Mischievous Poltergeist - MTG Card versions
Strongarm Thug - MTG Card versions
Razortooth Rats - MTG Card versions
Ghastly Remains - MTG Card versions
Lord of the Undead - MTG Card versions
Deepwood Ghoul - MTG Card versions
Dross Prowler - MTG Card versions
Nim Abomination - MTG Card versions
Vesper Ghoul - MTG Card versions
Hypnotic Specter - MTG Card versions
Dusk Imp - MTG Card versions
Severed Legion - MTG Card versions
Nettling Imp - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Royal Assassin - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
El-Hajjâj - Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border (4BB)
Frozen Shade - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Scathe Zombies - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Sorceress Queen - Rivals Quick Start Set (RQS)
Lost Soul - Introductory Two-Player Set (ITP)
Mindstab Thrull - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Mischievous Poltergeist - Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)
Strongarm Thug - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Razortooth Rats - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Ghastly Remains - Legions (LGN)
Lord of the Undead - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Deepwood Ghoul - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Dross Prowler - Mirrodin (MRD)
Nim Abomination - Darksteel (DST)
Vesper Ghoul - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Hypnotic Specter - Magic Player Rewards 2006 (P06)
Dusk Imp - Tenth Edition (10E)
Severed Legion - Tenth Edition (10E)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Cadaverous Knight MTG card by a specific set like Mirage and Planechase, 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 Cadaverous Knight and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Cadaverous Knight Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 1996-10-08 and 2009-09-04. Illustrated by Dermot Power.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11996-10-08MirageMIR 1101997normalblackDermot Power
22009-09-04PlanechaseHOP 202003normalblackDermot Power
32020-09-26The ListPLST MIR-1101997normalblackDermot Power

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Cadaverous Knight has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

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