Takeno's Cavalry MTG Card

Takeno's Cavalry - Betrayers of Kamigawa

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Human Samurai Archer
Abilities	Bushido
Released	2005-02-04
Set symbol
Set name	Betrayers of Kamigawa
Set code	BOK
Power	1
Toughness	1
Number	24
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Darrell Riche

Key Takeaways

Takeno’s Cavalry facilitates card advantage by repeatedly eliminating creatures with its Bushido ability.
Its consistent board presence indirectly accelerates your strategy by hampering opponent’s resources.
With instant-speed-like effects during combat, it introduces surprise elements and strategic depth.

Text of card

Bushido 1 (When this blocks or becomes blocked, it gets +1/+1 until end of turn.) : Takeno's Cavalry deals 1 damage to target attacking or blocking Spirit.

At night he perfected his aim, shooting spiderwebs by starlight.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Takeno’s Cavalry might not draw cards, but it contributes to card advantage by offering the potential for repeatable creature destruction. Each turn presents an opportunity to eliminate opponent’s creatures with Bushido, maintaining pressure and controlling the board.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly affecting mana resources, Takeno’s Cavalry’s consistent presence can indirectly accelerate your game plan by keeping your opponent’s board clear. This allows you to devote your resources to advancing your own strategy rather than responding to threats.

Instant Speed: Takeno’s Cavalry’s Bushido ability activates during combat, which can have a similar impact to using an instant. By discouraging attacks or blocking favorably, you can effectively surprise an opponent in a way similar to instant-speed interaction, keeping your opponents uncertain and cautious.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Playing Takeno’s Cavalry often does not involve a discard cost directly, but considering its Bushido ability, players might need to balance hand resources to make the most of its potential combat effectiveness.

Specific Mana Cost: The card demands a white mana to cast, which may restrict deck-building choices and is not always readily available in multi-colored decks without proper mana-fixing.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of 4 mana, two of which are color-specific, Takeno’s Cavalry competes with other creatures and spells in this mana slot, potentially offering lower impact for the investment when compared to other options available.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Takeno’s Cavalry offers the unique ability to craft defensive strategies while having the upside of bushido. This mechanism allows it to fit into various deck builds, particularly those emphasizing defensive tactics or benefiting from samurai synergies.

Combo Potential: The Cavalry’s ability to produce Spirit tokens upon destroying a creature can be leveraged in numerous combos, mainly when paired with cards that utilize token generation for larger benefits or sacrifice mechanics.

Meta-Relevance: With creature-heavy strategies often dominating play, having reliable destroyers like Takeno’s Cavalry can be a game-changer. Its presence is more pronounced in metas where its spirit token generation can disrupt opponent tactics or fortify your board presence.

How to beat

Takeno’s Cavalry stands out in the realm of MTG with its bushido mechanic, increasing its power and toughness whenever it blocks or becomes blocked. This card brings a unique defensive capability to the battlefield, especially when facing opponents who rely on creature-based strategies. Its power to deal with spirits by tapping is a peculiar but specific advantage.

Overcoming this cavalry requires a shift in tactics. One effective strategy is to use removal spells that don’t depend on engaging in combat. Cards like Doom Blade or Murder can dispatch the cavalry without triggering bushido. Another tactic is to play around its defensive posture by using flying creatures, which can evade cavalry’s ground presence altogether. Enchantment-based creature removal, such as Pacifism or Oblivion Ring, also provides a solution to neutralize it without having to engage directly.

Ultimately, dealing with Takeno’s Cavalry boils down to acknowledging its combat strength and applying non-combat solutions or evasion tactics. By doing so, it becomes possible to circumvent the cavalry’s main advantage and maintain pressure on your opponent.

Cards like Takeno's Cavalry

Takeno’s Cavalry is another intriguing card in Magic: The Gathering that players consider when building decks with a Bushido theme. This card shares similarities with other creatures that offer a form of combat prowess, like the Kitsune Blademaster. Both cards have the Bushido ability, which makes them stronger during combat. However, Takeno’s Cavalry boasts a distinct secondary ability to destroy Spirits, adding a tactical edge against specific creature types that the Kitsune Blademaster lacks.

When looking at comparisons, Hand of Honor is a creature that cannot be overlooked. It not only has the Bushido benefit but also has protection from black, which can be pivotal in certain matchups. Although it doesn’t share the Spirit elimination trait, this added layer of protection can be a game-changer. Other notable cards with a defensive edge like Samurai of the Pale Curtain offer abilities that disrupt graveyard strategies but don’t directly impact the combat phase as Takeno’s Cavalry does with its Bushido and Spirit control.

In summary, Takeno’s Cavalry finds its niche in MTG by combining combat enhancement with targeted removal in a single card, distinguishing itself among Bushido-capable creatures and gaining favor for players who strategize against Spirit-infused decks.

Samurai of the Pale Curtain - MTG Card versions

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Takeno's Cavalry MTG card by a specific set like Betrayers of Kamigawa, 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 Takeno's Cavalry and other MTG cards: