Lifecraft Cavalry MTG Card
2017-01-20 - Number 113
2020-11-12 - Number 166
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Elf Warrior |
| Abilities | Revolt,Trample |
| Power | 4 |
| Toughness | 4 |
Key Takeaways
- Lifecraft Cavalry shines with a triggered Revolt ability, rewarding strategic plays with power and trample.
- Despite its power, Lifecraft Cavalry’s effectiveness is limited in multi-colored or graveyard-based decks.
- Its versatility makes it a contender for inclusion in decks maximizing the Revolt mechanic for an edge.
Text of card
Trample Revolt — Lifecraft Cavalry enters the battlefield with two +1/+1 counters on it if a permanent you controlled left the battlefield this turn.
"I do not ask you to be tame. I only ask you to be true." —Rishkar, Peema renegade
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Lifecraft Cavalry can offer an indirect form of card advantage due to its trample ability. When you’re able to deal damage to a player through their blockers, you’re effectively reducing the number of resources your opponent has at hand while still pushing through some damage.
Resource Acceleration: Its substantial power and toughness come at a cost effective rate, especially when the Revolt ability is triggered. By ensuring a permanent you controlled left the battlefield this turn, your Lifecraft Cavalry enters the battlefield with two additional +1/+1 counters. This accelerated resource in the form of increased power can significantly impact the board’s dynamics.
Instant Speed: While Lifecraft Cavalry itself does not operate at instant speed, it synergizes well with instant-speed spells that enable the Revolt mechanic. By orchestrating the departure of a permanent on your opponent’s turn, you can set up your next turn to deploy a more formidable threat, maximizing your potential board state as you cast Lifecraft Cavalry.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Lifecraft Cavalry lacks this aspect which can often provide card advantage or synergize with graveyard strategies, limiting its versatility in decks that benefit from discarding.
Specific Mana Cost: Requiring both generic and green mana, its specific mana cost may not align well with multi-colored decks, potentially restricting its playability across diverse deck archetypes.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Its five mana cost can be burdensome, particularly when you consider that other creatures at a similar mana value may offer immediate board impact or game-changing abilities.
Reasons to Include Lifecraft Cavalry in Your Collection
Versatility: Lifecraft Cavalry stands out for its flexibility on the battlefield. As a creature that thrives with the Revolt mechanic, it can seamlessly be integrated into decks that are designed to have permanent leaving the battlefield, gaining an additional boon of +2/+2 and trample.
Combo Potential: Given its potential as a 6/6 trampler, Lifecraft Cavalry works wonders in combos with cards that trigger on the entry of powerful creatures or that can take advantage of the trample ability to deal excessive damage.
Meta-Relevance: In an environment where board presence is key, a timely Lifecraft Cavalry can change the tide of the game, making it a relevant choice for your deck against opponents who may not be prepared for a sudden, large trampler.
How to beat
Lifecraft Cavalry, a creature card in Magic: The Gathering, presents a formidable challenge on the battlefield with its potential to bolster its strength and toughness when you trigger its Revolt ability. This mechanism can quickly turn the tides of a game if the Cavalry’s condition for a +1/+1 counter is met, usually by having a permanent you controlled leave the battlefield this turn. However, outmaneuvering this card is not beyond reach.
Removal spells are your mightiest weapons against Lifecraft Cavalry. Employing instant-speed removal before the Revolt ability triggers can eliminate the threat before it magnifies. Consider spot removal options like Fatal Push or Path to Exile for efficient and timely solutions. Should the Cavalry’s Revolt ability resolve, board wipes become a necessary step. Wrath of God and Damnation offer complete removal, resetting the field and negating any advantage the Lifecraft Cavalry may have gained. Control decks can keep up the pressure with counterspells such as Mana Leak to prevent Lifecraft Cavalry from ever hitting the board.
Neutralizing Lifecraft Cavalry involves a mix of preemption and direct response. The right balance of removal and control will keep the odds in your favor, preserving your board and tempo against the onrush of this creature.
Cards like Lifecraft Cavalry
Lifecraft Cavalry is an intriguing creature card that reinforces the battlefield in MTG. When compared to cards like Serra Angel, the Cavalry offers a substantial power boost when you achieve the condition for its Revolt ability. Unlike Serra Angel, it doesn’t provide flying, but it can potentially outsize many creatures when Revolt activates.
Meanwhile, cards like Siege Rhino bring a different dynamic to the table. Whilst it’s not directly boosting its stats like Lifecraft Cavalry, Siege Rhino has the addition of a life-draining enter-the-battlefield effect, impacting the game immediately upon arrival. Other similar cards, such as Arborback Stomper, provide a significant life gain, though without the conditional power increase that comes with Revolt.
Evaluating the role of Lifecraft Cavalry in the game, it’s clear that its power hinges on its conditional mechanic. Its potential alignment with Revolt-oriented decks gives it a unique edge in the right setup, enabling it to become a significant threat on the board.
Cards similar to Lifecraft Cavalry by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Lifecraft Cavalry MTG card by a specific set like Aether Revolt and Kaladesh Remastered, 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 Lifecraft Cavalry 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 Lifecraft Cavalry Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2017-01-20 and 2020-11-12. Illustrated by Svetlin Velinov.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2017-01-20 | Aether Revolt | AER | 113 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Svetlin Velinov | |
| 2 | 2020-11-12 | Kaladesh Remastered | KLR | 166 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Svetlin Velinov |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Lifecraft Cavalry 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 |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Lifecraft Cavalry card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2017-02-09 | Energy counters aren’t permanents. Paying won’t satisfy a revolt ability. |
| 2017-02-09 | Revolt abilities check only whether a permanent you controlled left the battlefield this turn or not. They don’t apply multiple times if more than one permanent you controlled left the battlefield. They don’t check whether the permanent that left the battlefield is still in the zone it moved to. |
| 2017-02-09 | Revolt abilities don’t care why the permanent left the battlefield, who caused it to move, or where it moved to. They’re equally satisfied by an artifact you sacrificed to pay a cost, a creature you controlled that was destroyed by Murder, or an enchantment you returned to your hand with Leave in the Dust. |
| 2017-02-09 | Tokens that leave the battlefield will satisfy a revolt ability. |
