Western Paladin MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Phyrexian Zombie Knight
Power 3
Toughness 3

Key Takeaways

  1. Western Paladin provides efficient creature removal at instant speed, enhancing tactical gameplay flexibility.
  2. Its ability can advance your strategy without hindering your resource curve, representing efficient play.
  3. However, reliance on discarding and specific mana needs may limit its versatility in some decks.

Text of card

o Bo B, oc T: Destroy target white creature.

"Their weak laws. Their flawed systems. They inhibit the Grand Evolution. In Yawgmoth's name, we shall erase them." —Oath of the West


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Western Paladin allows for strategic removal of key creatures your opponent controls. By repeatedly using its ability to destroy a black creature, you can potentially keep the board clear and swing advantage in your favor. This could lead to card advantage as your opponent loses resources while you maintain board presence.

Resource Acceleration: While Western Paladin doesn’t directly ramp your mana resources, its low mana activation cost for a potent ability means you can address threats while still developing your board or holding up mana for other responses. This efficiency can accelerate your game plan by handling opposing forces without a setback in your resource curve.

Instant Speed: The beauty of Western Paladin’s ability lies in its usability at instant speed. This flexibility offers significant tactical leverage during gameplay, as you can eliminate threats at the most opportune moments, during combat or at the end of your opponent’s turn, ensuring that your strategy remains uninterrupted and responsive to the evolving state of the game.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Western Paladin requires a discard to activate its ability, putting pressure on your hand and potentially leaving you at a card disadvantage.

Specific Mana Cost: Necessitating two black mana might make it challenging for multicolored decks to reliably leverage the Paladin’s potential, especially in a mana-tight scenario.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that leans on the heavier side, alternative creatures or removal spells could provide similar or greater impact for less investment, affecting its overall efficiency in gameplay.


Reasons to Include Western Paladin in Your Collection

Versatility: Western Paladin is a robust addition to decks looking for a solid creature drop that doubles as a strategic control piece. Its ability to repeatedly target and destroy specific colors of permanents makes it an adaptable choice in a variety of match-ups.

Combo Potential: The card’s capacity to synergize with other pieces that play off of destroyed permanents or benefit from targeted removal means it can be a crucial component in finely tuned decks. This lends itself well to strategies looking to capitalize on opponent’s setbacks.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where certain color decks are dominant, including Western Paladin offers a specialized tool against these prevalent archetypes. Recognizing the ebb and flow of the meta allows for this card to be leveraged at times when it will have the most impact.


How to beat

Western Paladin is a unique creature card in the vast roster of Magic: The Gathering that presents a special challenge on the battlefield. Renowned for its ability to destroy white creatures for a mere two black mana, it stands out as a formidable weapon against decks heavy on white creatures. However, triumphing over this card is more straightforward than it appears. The key to success lies in diversity – incorporating creatures of various colors into your deck to mitigate the risk posed by the Paladin’s ability.

Enhancing your deck with artifacts or spells that can either neutralize abilities or offer protection against targeted actions can also tip the scales in your favor. You might consider employing counter spells to prevent the Paladin from ever touching the field or using removal spells to deal with it as soon it enters play. Moreover, strategies that bypass the battlefield, such as direct damage spells or those that impose alternative win conditions, can also render the Paladin’s presence inconsequential. By anticipating the Paladin’s arrival and crafting a well-rounded response, the threat it poses diminishes, allowing you to maintain control of the game.


Cards like Western Paladin

In the competitive landscape of MTG, Western Paladin offers an intriguing suite of abilities for players looking to control the battlefield. Its ability to destroy white creatures for a simple cost of black mana stands in contrast with Eastern Paladin, which conversely targets black creatures. This dichotomy allows players to tailor their decks based on the opposition they anticipate facing.

Similar in spirit is the Northern Paladin, destroying black creatures at will, posing a strategic advantage against decks heavy in that color. Choosing between these Paladins is more than a matter of color preference, it also hinges on the meta-game and expected common opponents. Southern Paladin enters this comparison as well, wielding the power to eradicate red creatures, thereby rounding out the quartet of Paladin cards each specialized against a particular subset of the color pie.

In deeper analysis, while each Paladin serves a specialized role, their cost and effectiveness are ultimately circumstantial, requiring careful deck construction and forethought into the local playing environment. Despite this, Western Paladin stands tall in its niche, providing a unique toolset against prevalent white creatures in MTG playgroups or tournaments.

Eastern Paladin - MTG Card versions
Northern Paladin - MTG Card versions
Southern Paladin - MTG Card versions
Eastern Paladin - Urza's Saga (USG)
Northern Paladin - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Southern Paladin - Weatherlight (WTH)

Cards similar to Western Paladin by color, type and mana cost

Hell's Caretaker - MTG Card versions
Rag Man - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Debaser - MTG Card versions
Xiahou Dun, the One-Eyed - MTG Card versions
Slinking Skirge - MTG Card versions
Gravedigger - MTG Card versions
Scandalmonger - MTG Card versions
Urborg Shambler - MTG Card versions
Whispering Shade - MTG Card versions
Filth - MTG Card versions
Demon of Catastrophes - MTG Card versions
Bold Plagiarist - MTG Card versions
Dirge Bat - MTG Card versions
Toxin Sliver - MTG Card versions
Vampiric Spirit - MTG Card versions
Nim Shambler - MTG Card versions
Bad Ass - MTG Card versions
Scourge of Numai - MTG Card versions
Akuta, Born of Ash - MTG Card versions
Deathgazer - MTG Card versions
Hell's Caretaker - Chronicles (CHR)
Rag Man - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Phyrexian Debaser - Urza's Legacy (ULG)
Xiahou Dun, the One-Eyed - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)
Slinking Skirge - Urza's Destiny (UDS)
Gravedigger - The List (PLST)
Scandalmonger - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Urborg Shambler - Invasion (INV)
Whispering Shade - Odyssey (ODY)
Filth - Judgment (JUD)
Demon of Catastrophes - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Bold Plagiarist - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Dirge Bat - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Toxin Sliver - Legions (LGN)
Vampiric Spirit - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Nim Shambler - Mirrodin (MRD)
Bad Ass - Unhinged (UNH)
Scourge of Numai - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Akuta, Born of Ash - Saviors of Kamigawa (SOK)
Deathgazer - Ninth Edition (9ED)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Western Paladin MTG card by a specific set like Urza's Saga and Seventh Edition, 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 Western Paladin and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Western Paladin Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 1998-10-12 and 2003-07-28. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11998-10-12Urza's SagaUSG 1681997normalblackCarl Critchlow
22001-04-11Seventh Edition7ED 1701997normalwhitePaolo Parente
32001-04-11Seventh Edition7ED 170★1997normalblackPaolo Parente
42003-07-28Eighth Edition8ED 173★2003normalblackCarl Critchlow
52003-07-28Eighth Edition8ED 1732003normalwhiteCarl Critchlow

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Western Paladin has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

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