Cavalry Master MTG Card


Cavalry Master - Time Spiral
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Human Knight
Abilities Flanking
Released2006-10-06
Set symbol
Set nameTime Spiral
Set codeTSP
Power 3
Toughness 3
Number6
Frame2003
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byThomas M. Baxa

Key Takeaways

  1. Boosts multiple creatures at once, increasing board presence and making for effective combat strategies.
  2. Instant speed utility allows for flexible combat tactics, potentially altering the outcome of battles.
  3. Despite its power, mana requirements and cost can limit its inclusion in diverse or quick-deploy decks.

Text of card

Flanking (Whenever a creature without flanking blocks this creature, the blocking creature gets -1/-1 until end of turn.) Other creatures you control with flanking have flanking. (Each instance of flanking triggers separately.)


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Cavalry Master offers the power to buff multiple creatures simultaneously, effectively increasing your board presence and potential card value without expending additional cards from your hand.

Resource Acceleration: By amplifying the strength of your creature army, Cavalry Master accelerates your path to victory, potentially reducing the number of turns needed to deplete your opponent’s life total.

Instant Speed: With the ability to affect combat outcomes on the fly, this card ensures advantageous blocks or attacks can be set up even during the opponent’s turn for tactical supremacy.


Card Cons

Specific Mana Cost: Cavalry Master comes with a non-flexible white mana cost requirement, which can be restrictive in multicolored decks that may struggle to consistently produce the necessary white mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that leans towards the higher end, Cavalry Master might compete with other impactful plays in the same mana range, potentially slowing down your game tempo when you might prefer to cast multiple spells or more cost-effective creatures.

Discard Requirement: While Cavalry Master does not inherently demand a discard, its inclusion in a deck might force you to let go of other cards to accommodate it—either during the deck building phase or in-game when choosing which cards to keep in hand.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Cavalry Master’s ability to grant double strike to other knights makes it a powerful inclusion in tribal-themed decks that cherish combat superiority.

Combo Potential: This card has great synergy with cards that increase attacking creatures’ strength or ones that benefit when creatures deal combat damage, multiplying the effects and advantages gained during the battle phase.

Meta-Relevance: Given its capabilities in a knight deck, Cavalry Master is relevant in metas where tribal decks are prominent, enhancing their aggression and board presence significantly against a range of opponent strategies.


How to beat

Cavalry Master can be a formidable card on the battlefield, known for its ability to boost other Knights you control. Understanding its dynamics is key to creating a counterstrategy. When facing a deck that includes this card, consider using removal spells that can take it out before its effects become a problem, such as Path to Exile or Fatal Push. Utilizing board wipes like Wrath of God or Damnation can also clear your opponent’s strengthened creatures, nullifying Cavalry Master’s impact.

Timing is essential when dealing with Cavalry Master. Aim to disrupt your opponent before they declare attackers, thereby avoiding the buffs Cavalry Master provides. Alternatively, you could employ strategies that don’t rely on creature combat, such as direct damage or mill decks, to circumvent the Cavalry Master’s advantage altogether. In the end, recognizing the threat level and managing it before it escalates is your best bet against this tactically enhancing card.


Cards like Cavalry Master

Cavalry Master is a unique creature card that encourages strategies built around flanking — a mechanic that offers a tactical advantage during combat. A noteworthy comparison can be drawn with Sidar Kondo of Jamuraa, which promotes a low-power combat approach, offering different tactical maneuvers in battle. Yet, the Cavalry Master stands out by bolstering all other flanking creatures, potentially turning a modest battalion into a formidable force.

Another card that harmonizes with this theme is the Reconnaissance mission, which, while not directly influencing combat stats, still accentuates combat by rewarding card draw upon dealing combat damage. Though Cavalry Master doesn’t offer card draw, it compensates by being a force multiplier, an invaluable asset in creature-based decks. Then there’s Spinal Villain, a creature that can be devastating to blue creatures, acting as a specific metagame tool. In contrast, Cavalry Master affects the board more broadly, empowering a spectrum of creatures.

Assessing the synergy and impact on the battlefield, Cavalry Master is a powerful inclusion in decks utilizing flanking, providing a persistent edge in combat and enhancing the strength of your creature lineup seamlessly within the game.

Sidar Kondo of Jamuraa - MTG Card versions
Spinal Villain - MTG Card versions
Sidar Kondo of Jamuraa - Commander 2016 (C16)
Spinal Villain - Legends (LEG)

Cards similar to Cavalry Master by color, type and mana cost

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Moorish Cavalry - MTG Card versions
Witch Hunter - MTG Card versions
Carrier Pigeons - MTG Card versions
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Coalition Honor Guard - MTG Card versions
Mangara, the Diplomat - MTG Card versions
Akroma's Devoted - MTG Card versions
Aven Cloudchaser - MTG Card versions
Seht's Tiger - MTG Card versions
Valor - MTG Card versions
Guardian Seraph - MTG Card versions
Lightkeeper of Emeria - MTG Card versions
Cho-Manno, Revolutionary - MTG Card versions
Hero of Bladehold - MTG Card versions
Mausoleum Guard - MTG Card versions
Galepowder Mage - MTG Card versions
Kor Cartographer - MTG Card versions
Sunspire Gatekeepers - MTG Card versions
Northern Paladin - Revised Edition (3ED)
Moorish Cavalry - Arabian Nights (ARN)
Witch Hunter - Chronicles (CHR)
Carrier Pigeons - Alliances (ALL)
Tormented Angel - Urza's Destiny (UDS)
Seasoned Marshal - Battle Royale Box Set (BRB)
Coalition Honor Guard - Apocalypse (APC)
Mangara, the Diplomat - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Akroma's Devoted - Legions (LGN)
Aven Cloudchaser - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Seht's Tiger - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Valor - Time Spiral Timeshifted (TSB)
Guardian Seraph - Magic 2010 (M10)
Lightkeeper of Emeria - Worldwake (WWK)
Cho-Manno, Revolutionary - Salvat 2011 (PS11)
Hero of Bladehold - Mirrodin Besieged (MBS)
Mausoleum Guard - Innistrad (ISD)
Galepowder Mage - Duel Decks: Venser vs. Koth (DDI)
Kor Cartographer - Duel Decks: Venser vs. Koth (DDI)
Sunspire Gatekeepers - Dragon's Maze (DGM)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Cavalry Master MTG card by a specific set like Time Spiral, 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 Cavalry Master and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Cavalry Master has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2006-09-25 Cavalry Master adds only one instance of flanking per creature, even if that creature already has multiple instances of flanking.
2006-09-25 If a creature without flanking is given flanking by another effect, then this ability will grant a second instance. Similarly, if a creature loses flanking, then it won’t get the Calvary Master instance either.

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