Goldnight Castigator MTG Card
2016-04-08 - Number 162s
2016-04-08 - Number 162
2023-03-21 - Number 160
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Mythic |
| Type | Creature — Angel |
| Abilities | Flying,Haste |
| Power | 4 |
| Toughness | 9 |
Key Takeaways
- Able to decisively pressure opponents with its high power and flying ability, altering battlefield dynamics.
- Can be a mana-efficient play, allowing for a potentially faster pacing against opponents’ defenses.
- Immediate impact can shift game momentum, particularly if played at a strategic point in the match.
Text of card
Flying, haste If a source would deal damage to you, it deals double that damage to you instead. If a source would deal damage to Goldnight Castigator, it deals double that damage to Goldnight Castigator instead.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: While Goldnight Castigator doesn’t directly allow you to draw cards, it offers a significant power boost on the battlefield. As a high-powered flyer, it can quickly tip the scales in your favor, effectively putting your opponent on a clock and pressuring their resource management to handle this threat.
Resource Acceleration: Goldnight Castigator is not a traditional resource accelerator. However, its aggressive cost to power ratio means you’re getting a lot of strengths out on the field for a relatively modest mana investment, which can let you outpace your opponent’s defenses or force them to allocate resources they would prefer to use elsewhere.
Instant Speed: Although Goldnight Castigator itself isn’t an instant-speed spell, its impact on the game can be immediate. Dropping this card at the right moment, especially post-combat when your opponent’s resources are low, can lead to a swift change in the game’s momentum, simulating the sudden shift often associated with instant-speed interactions.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Goldnight Castigator doesn’t directly necessitate discarding cards, playing it does make you vulnerable due to its drawback, potentially forcing you to discard cards for better defense later.
Specific Mana Cost: Goldnight Castigator requires a specific combination of mana (1RRR), which may be difficult to meet early in the game or in multicolored decks not heavily skewed towards red.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of four mana, Goldnight Castigator’s aggressive stats are offset by its downside, making it a risky play compared to other cards with a similar cost that don’t increase damage taken.
Reasons to Include Goldnight Castigator in Your Collection
Versatility: Goldnight Castigator adds an aggressive edge to red decks, suitable for players looking to apply pressure and finish games quickly. Its flying ability also provides an excellent aerial threat that many opposing decks may struggle to address.
Combo Potential: With its high damage capability, this card pairs well with strategies aiming to amplify the damage output, such as doubling damage dealt to opponents or combining it with cards that prevent damage to you.
Meta-Relevance: In a game setting where life totals are a resource used strategically, Goldnight Castigator can be extremely potent. Its relevance grows in metas where the pace is fast, and powerful hitters are crucial to overwhelm control or combo adversaries.
How to Beat Goldnight Castigator
Goldnight Castigator is a powerful creature card, recognized for its high flying damage potential in Magic: The Gathering. This card offers aggressive players an opportunity to quickly reduce an opponent’s life total. However, its drawback lies in causing you to receive double damage, which savvy opponents can exploit.
To turn the tables, consider using cards that capitalize on this weakness. Swift responses such as direct damage spells, or setting up defenses with creatures that deal damage when blocked or blocking, can be particularly effective. Spot removals like Path to Exile or Doom Blade can also remove the Castigator from the battlefield before it can inflict significant harm. In multiplayer formats, drawing attention to the increased damage vulnerability may encourage others to target the player with Goldnight Castigator.
Employing strategies that mitigate damage or prioritize life gain can also provide a buffer against the Castigator’s onslaught. Cards like Essence Warden or lifelink creatures can help protect your life total while dealing with its threat. Overall, when facing a Goldnight Castigator, the key is to leverage its aggressive nature and make calculated moves that capitalize on its risky drawback.
Cards like Goldnight Castigator
Goldnight Castigator stands out in the realm of high-risk, high-reward creatures in Magic: The Gathering. It’s somewhat akin to Abyssal Persecutor, another creature with heavy stat power for its cost but with caveats that can be detrimental if not strategically managed. Goldnight Castigator offers a formidable 4/9 flying body for four mana that can turn the tides of a game quickly.
Comparably, Demonic Taskmaster presents an enticing aggressive stance, providing a substantial 4/3 for only three mana. Still, the Taskmaster necessitates a sacrifice of another creature during your upkeep, which Goldnight Castigator does not. Flamewake Phoenix also shares a semblance, cost-efficient with recurring potential, yet it lacks the immediate impact and size that the Castigator brings to the battlefield.
On balance, while each of these cards offers a blend of cost efficiency and potent offensive capabilities, Goldnight Castigator’s unique combination of high power, flying, and its punishing drawback define its special niche. This makes it a distinct and audacious choice for players looking to leave a bold mark on their MTG matches.
Cards similar to Goldnight Castigator by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Goldnight Castigator MTG card by a specific set like Shadows over Innistrad Promos and Shadows over Innistrad, 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 Goldnight Castigator 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 Goldnight Castigator Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2016-04-08 and 2023-03-21. Illustrated by Zack Stella.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2016-04-08 | Shadows over Innistrad Promos | PSOI | 162s | 2015 | Normal | Black | Zack Stella | |
| 2 | 2016-04-08 | Shadows over Innistrad | SOI | 162 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Zack Stella | |
| 3 | 2023-03-21 | Shadows over Innistrad Remastered | SIR | 160 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Zack Stella |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Goldnight Castigator has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Goldnight Castigator card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2016-04-08 | If multiple replacement effects could apply to damage being dealt to you or Goldnight Castigator, you choose the order to apply those effects. |
| 2016-04-08 | If you control two Goldnight Castigators and a source would deal damage to you, it deals four times that much damage instead. If you control a third Goldnight Castigator, the source deals eight times that much damage to you, and so on. Damage dealt to a Goldnight Castigator is only doubled, regardless of how many are on the battlefield. |
