Cavalry Drillmaster MTG Card
2018-07-13 - Number 8
2022-12-02 - Number 165
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Human Knight |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 1 |
Key Takeaways
- Boosts a creature’s power and grants first strike, creating opportunities for advantageous combat and board control.
- Enables efficient use of resources, accelerating your game impact even with its one-time effect.
- Instant-like ability provides a surprise advantage during combat, often swaying the battle in your favor.
Text of card
When Cavalry Drillmaster enters the battlefield, target creature gets +2/+0 and gains first strike until end of turn. (It deals combat damage before creatures without first strike.)
Card Pros
Card Advantage: When Cavalry Drillmaster enters the battlefield, its ability to grant another creature +2/+0 and first strike until end of turn can outpace an opponent’s creature, setting up advantageous trades and keeping your board presence strong without losing card resources.
Resource Acceleration: Although Cavalry Drillmaster doesn’t directly produce mana or Treasure tokens, leading a lower-cost creature to victory against a more expensive one effectively accelerates your board impact by using fewer resources for a larger effect, allowing for more efficient use of turns and mana.
Instant Speed: While Cavalry Drillmaster itself isn’t an instant, its triggered ability has an immediate impact on the game, akin to instant speed interactions. This surprise factor can shift combat in your favor, especially since opponents might not factor in the additional first strike ability during their combat calculations.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Cavalry Drillmaster doesn’t necessitate discarding, its one-time use ability means it effectively leaves the battlefield after a single charge. This can lead to card disadvantage if not utilized effectively to secure an impactful attack.
Specific Mana Cost: Cavalry Drillmaster requires a white mana to cast, potentially restricting it to specific deck types that favor plains or multi-color decks with a white component.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Despite its low casting cost, when you consider Cavalry Drillmaster’s stats and singular ability, it might not always equate to the best value play. Other two-cost creatures could provide ongoing abilities or better stats, offering a more sustained advantage on the battlefield.
Reasons to Include Cavalry Drillmaster in Your Collection
Versatility: Cavalry Drillmaster is a welcome addition to aggro and midrange decks due to its ability to quickly enhance a creature’s combat capabilities.
Combo Potential: When paired with creatures that have powerful attack triggers, the Drillmaster can turn any board presence into an immediate threat, multiplying its impact the moment it enters the battlefield.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where quick tempo plays can outpace slower, reactive decks, Cavalry Drillmaster shines by providing an aggressive edge and potential for swift victories.
How to Counter Cavalry Drillmaster
Cavalry Drillmaster is a card that can quickly turn the tides of a match in favor of white aggro decks. This creature’s ability to give another target creature a considerable buff with +2/+0 and first strike upon entering the battlefield can lead to unanticipated combat results. To effectively neutralize the threat of Cavalry Drillmaster, it’s crucial to have removal spells or instant-speed interaction in hand.
Removal options such as Fatal Push or Shock excel at stopping the Drillmaster before its ability triggers. In the case of Shock, its instant speed allows it to disrupt the Drillmaster’s impact in combat. A well-timed Shock not only removes the creature but prevents your opponent’s creature from gaining those crucial first strike and power enhancement benefits. Moreover, having blockers with higher toughness can also mitigate the advantage Cavalry Drillmaster aims to provide, as it only gives temporary buffs.
Ultimately, when facing decks utilizing Cavalry Drillmaster, maintaining board control and readiness to dispatch creatures quickly are central to your strategy. By keeping these tactics in mind, you can maintain the upper hand and prevent your opponent’s quick-strike plays from dominating the game.
Cards like Cavalry Drillmaster
Cavalry Drillmaster adds a dynamic element to MTG deck strategies, sitting comfortably among the roster of two-cost creatures. While similar to other cards such as Sunblade Elf and Skyknight Legionnaire in terms of mana cost and impact on gameplay, the Drillmaster offers its unique twist – granting a boon when entering the battlefield. Sunblade Elf, in contrast, requires mana investment to give your creatures a temporary boost. Skyknight Legionnaire brings haste and flying to the field, yet doesn’t provide the direct buff that can push an early advantage like the Drillmaster does.
Exploring the archetype further, Leonin Warleader is another creature that shines in creating additional attacking forces, albeit at a higher mana value. While Warleader’s effect is recurring, Cavalry Drillmaster’s immediate value can be pivotal for an aggressive early game push. It’s a creature that can turn a modest battlefield presence into a significant threat the moment it lands, underscoring its comparative strength within creature-based strategies.
To sum up, Cavalry Drillmaster offers a fleeting, yet potentially game-changing effect for MTG players looking to enhance their combat phase, anchoring its position as a solid option among two-drop creatures.
Cards similar to Cavalry Drillmaster by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Cavalry Drillmaster MTG card by a specific set like Core Set 2019 and Jumpstart 2022, 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 Drillmaster and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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
Printings
The Cavalry Drillmaster Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2018-07-13 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by Slawomir Maniak.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2018-07-13 | Core Set 2019 | M19 | 8 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Slawomir Maniak | |
| 2 | 2022-12-02 | Jumpstart 2022 | J22 | 165 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Slawomir Maniak |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Cavalry Drillmaster has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
