Novice Knight MTG Card
2018-07-13 - Number 30
2020-09-26 - Number M19-30
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Human Knight |
| Abilities | Defender |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 3 |
Key Takeaways
- Effective early blocker that scales with enchantments, presenting tactical defensive value on the board.
- Requires additional cards for offense, limiting solo impact but encouraging synergistic deck design.
- Competitively priced for inclusion, adding strategic depth to decks focusing on equipment or auras.
Text of card
Defender (This creature can't attack.) As long as Novice Knight is enchanted or equipped, it can attack as though it didn't have defender.
Even the greatest hero begins with nothing.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Novice Knight doesn’t directly contribute to card draw, but it can be pivotal in defense early on in the game. Its potential to buff up with enchantments or equipment can easily make it more than just a simple blocker, thereby increasing the overall value you gain from the card.
Resource Acceleration: While Novice Knight itself doesn’t directly accelerate resources, its low casting cost makes it an efficient use of mana. It fits seamlessly into a strategy focused on deploying threats or defenses early in the game, conserving your mana for other plays.
Instant Speed: Although Novice Knight is a creature card and not cast at instant speed, it synergizes well with cards that are. Its ability to gain first strike when equipped or enchanted makes it a formidable defender when combined with instant speed buffs or equipment spells, allowing for reactive gameplay that can surprise an opponent.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Novice Knight requires you to have another knight or equipment card to truly shine. Without one, it remains a simple 2/3 defender, limiting its offensive capabilities and making it a potentially dead draw late-game when you’re vying for impactful cards.
Specific Mana Cost: With a mana cost that includes white, Novice Knight is predominantly viable in decks that are based around white mana or at least have it as a significant component. This can constrain deck-building options and deter inclusion in multi-colored decks that don’t focus on white.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although its mana cost is low at a single white mana, to make Novice Knight a threatening presence on the board, you typically need to invest additional mana to equip it or summon other knights. This additional investment can prove inefficient, especially when alternative creatures come with their own inherent abilities without requiring extra support.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Novice Knight boasts a solid defense line for an early one-mana drop, fitting seamlessly into defensive strategies while also providing a good base for equipment and aura spells that require a creature to be on the board.
Combo Potential: With its defender ability, Novice Knight serves as an excellent foundation for combos. Once it’s equipped or enchanted, it can attack, making it a powerful tool for decks that revolve around voltron strategies or comboing off with cards that trigger upon attacking or equipping.
Meta-Relevance: Given its low cost and strong defensive capabilities, Novice Knight remains relevant in metas where aggressive early creatures are prevalent, helping you stabilize the board while you set up for your mid-game strategy.
How to Beat
Novice Knight is a notable one-drop creature in Magic: The Gathering, lauded for its early game defensive potential. Boasting a noteworthy 2/3 stats, this card can be a roadblock against aggressive strategies when played early on. It’s the kind of card that offers robust defense, capable of derailing an opponent’s tempo with its conditional ability to attack only when equipped or enchanted.
To surpass the defensive prowess of Novice Knight, consider creature removal spells that are agnostic to a creature’s toughness. Cards such as Path to Exile or Murder can swiftly deal with this stalwart defender, bypassing the need to engage in combat. Additionally, enchantment removal spells like Disenchant, which targets attached equipment or auras, could strip Novice Knight of its offensive capabilities, rendering it harmless if confrontation is necessary. Therefore, strategic removal or disabling enchantments paired with these spells are keys to overcoming the challenge posed by Novice Knight in a game.
An understanding of key removals and neutralizing enchantments ensures that facing off against a Novice Knight is a hurdle that experienced players can confidently overcome with a well-built deck and timely card play.
Cards like Novice Knight
Novice Knight stands its ground in Magic: The Gathering as a reliable defensive one-drop creature. It mirrors the dedication to fortification displayed by cards like Deftblade Elite. The Elite also boasts a low cost and a penchant for protection, though it doesn’t have the same restrictions as Novice Knight, which requires an equipped enchantment to attack.
Exploring further similarities, we encounter Lagonna-Band Trailblazer. This card shares the aspect of being a powerful defensive creature with heroic abilities that trigger on targeting, fostering a protective stance but without the engaging conditional attack feature of Novice Knight. In contrast, Novice Knight promises steadfast defense, only transforming into an offensive asset under the right conditions, adding a strategic layer to your deck.
Delving into these comparable cards illuminates the Novice Knight’s unique position as a versatile, early defensive play in Magic: The Gathering. Though not as aggressive as some alternatives, it provides a solid foundation for strategies focused on fortifications and synergies, giving it a distinctive role in White creature decks.
Cards similar to Novice Knight by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Novice Knight MTG card by a specific set like Core Set 2019 and The List, 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 Novice Knight 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 Magic products
Printings
The Novice Knight Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2018-07-13 and 2018-07-13. Illustrated by Yongjae Choi.
| # | Release | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2018-07-13 | Core Set 2019 | M19 | 30 | 2015 | normal | black | Yongjae Choi | |
| 2 | The List | PLST | M19-30 | 2015 | normal | black | Yongjae Choi |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Novice Knight has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Novice Knight card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2018-07-13 | Once Novice Knight has attacked, it will remain in combat even if it’s no longer enchanted or equipped. |
