Child of Night MTG Card


Lifelink enables sustained aggression by compensating for life lost during combat, fostering an aggressive playstyle. Child of Night’s lifegain bolsters strategies that convert high life totals into powerful in-game resources. While versatile within black-themed decks, Child of Night faces competition from more impactful two-drops.
Card setsReleased in 14 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Vampire
Abilities Lifelink
Power 2
Toughness 1

Text of card

Lifelink (Damage dealt by this creature also causes you to gain that much life.)

A vampire enacts vengeance on the entire world, claiming her debt two tiny pinpricks at a time.


Cards like Child of Night

Child of Night stands out in MTG as a creature card that provides lifelink—a handy ability that lets you gain life equal to the damage it deals. This characteristic is shared with other creatures like Vampire Nighthawk. However, Vampire Nighthawk also brings additional perks to the table, such as flying and deathtouch, making it a more versatile choice in battle.

Comparing Child of Night with another familiar card, Ajani’s Pridemate, we notice a synergy rather than a likeness. Ajani’s Pridemate benefits from each life you gain, growing stronger with each lifelink interaction, which could make it a powerful ally for Child of Night. On the flip side, both cards are vulnerable without their counterpart’s assistance, signaling the importance of strategic deck building.

When evaluating creature cards for their lifegain potential, Child of Night may seem basic, but its low mana cost makes it an accessible choice for early game plays, giving it a rightful place in decks focusing on lifegain strategies in MTG.

Vampire Nighthawk - MTG Card versions
Ajani's Pridemate - MTG Card versions
Vampire Nighthawk - MTG Card versions
Ajani's Pridemate - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Child of Night by color, type and mana cost

Drudge Skeletons - MTG Card versions
Nether Shadow - MTG Card versions
Erg Raiders - MTG Card versions
Cuombajj Witches - MTG Card versions
Order of the Ebon Hand - MTG Card versions
Bog Imp - MTG Card versions
Wall of Corpses - MTG Card versions
Blighted Shaman - MTG Card versions
Rabid Rats - MTG Card versions
Dakmor Bat - MTG Card versions
Ravenous Rats - MTG Card versions
Flesh Reaver - MTG Card versions
Bloodcurdler - MTG Card versions
Nantuko Shade - MTG Card versions
Piper of the Swarm - MTG Card versions
Undead Augur - MTG Card versions
Shepherd of Rot - MTG Card versions
Swarm of Rats - MTG Card versions
Skullsnatcher - MTG Card versions
Nezumi Cutthroat - MTG Card versions
Drudge Skeletons - MTG Card versions
Nether Shadow - MTG Card versions
Erg Raiders - MTG Card versions
Cuombajj Witches - MTG Card versions
Order of the Ebon Hand - MTG Card versions
Bog Imp - MTG Card versions
Wall of Corpses - MTG Card versions
Blighted Shaman - MTG Card versions
Rabid Rats - MTG Card versions
Dakmor Bat - MTG Card versions
Ravenous Rats - MTG Card versions
Flesh Reaver - MTG Card versions
Bloodcurdler - MTG Card versions
Nantuko Shade - MTG Card versions
Piper of the Swarm - MTG Card versions
Undead Augur - MTG Card versions
Shepherd of Rot - MTG Card versions
Swarm of Rats - MTG Card versions
Skullsnatcher - MTG Card versions
Nezumi Cutthroat - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Although Child of Night may not allow direct card draw, its lifelink ability effectively offers a form of card advantage by sustaining your life total. This allows for a more aggressive playstyle without worrying as much about the backlash on your own life points.

Resource Acceleration: While not immediately apparent, the life you gain from Child of Night can be seen as a resource accelerator in decks that benefit from high life totals. In some formats and decks, a high life total can be converted into other resources, allowing for more robust strategic plays.

Instant Speed: While Child of Night isn’t played at instant speed, its lifelink ability acts at the speed of combat. This means anytime Child of Night is involved in combat, you gain life, which is effectively a benefit you garner at the speed of the game’s most common interactions.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Child of Night doesn’t directly entail discarding cards, but the requirement to effectively utilize it in a vampiric deck often leads players to include cards with discard mechanics to synergize. This can inadvertently pressure your hand, especially if the match extends and hand replenishment becomes scarce.

Specific Mana Cost: This creature demands a specific mana combination to cast, black mana twice. This can hamstring decks that strive for a more diverse mana base or those that don’t heavily invest in black mana ramping or fixing capabilities.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While two black mana may not appear daunting, within the vast pool of two-drop creatures in the game, Child of Night competes against a plethora of other options. For two mana, players might seek out creatures with more impactful effects or better stat distributions that provide immediate board advantages or longer-term value.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Child of Night is a card that effortlessly slots into various black-themed decks, serving as both an early-game threat and a source of life gain. Its low mana cost allows for a quick play, making it a reliable turn-two drop in most games.

Combo Potential: Thanks to its lifelink ability, Child of Night pairs well with cards that capitalize on life changes, such as Sanguine Bond or Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose, creating opportunities for powerful synergies in your deck.

Meta-Relevance: Lifegain strategies often surface as a counter to aggressive red decks in the format. Child of Night can be a key player in such decks, helping you stabilize early and maintain a life advantage against burn strategies and creature assaults.


How to beat

Child of Night is a creature card sought after for its lifelink ability, a trait that allows the player to gain life equivalent to the damage it deals. When facing this vampiric foe in Magic: The Gathering, players might feel the pressure as their opponent’s life total slowly escalates with each successful attack. The card’s modest mana cost makes it an early threat, but its low toughness presents an avenue for counterplay.

To get the upper hand against Child of Night, efficient removal spells are key. Even a simple Shock or similar direct damage spell can dispatch the creature before the lifelink becomes a significant hindrance. Players should also consider utilizing blockers with equal or greater power to ensure Child of Night is taken out during combat. Another strategy is to employ cards that can bypass the creature’s abilities, such as those with ‘can’t be blocked’ or ‘protection from creatures’ effects.

Ultimately, while Child of Night shines in gaining life and early game pressure, it can be effectively countered with the right cards and tactics, maintaining a balanced battlefield and keeping the vampire’s influence in check.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Child of Night MTG card by a specific set like Magic 2010 and Magic 2011, 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 Child of Night and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Child of Night Magic the Gathering card was released in 14 different sets between 2009-07-17 and 2020-07-17. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12009-07-17Magic 2010M10 882003NormalBlackAsh Wood
22010-07-16Magic 2011M11 882003NormalBlackAsh Wood
32011-07-15Magic 2012M12 872003NormalBlackAsh Wood
42013-03-15Duel Decks: Sorin vs. TibaltDDK 52003NormalBlackAsh Wood
52013-07-19Magic 2014M14 892003NormalBlackAsh Wood
62014-07-18Magic 2015M15 902015NormalBlackAsh Wood
72016-08-26Conspiracy: Take the CrownCN2 1302015NormalBlackAsh Wood
82017-11-17Iconic MastersIMA 852015NormalBlackAsh Wood
92017-11-24Explorers of IxalanE02 162015NormalBlackAsh Wood
102018-07-13Core Set 2019M19 892015NormalBlackAsh Wood
112018-10-05Guilds of RavnicaGRN 652015NormalBlackIgor Kieryluk
122019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 5982015NormalBlackAsh Wood
132020-07-17JumpstartJMP 2182015NormalBlackIgor Kieryluk
142020-09-26The ListPLST IMA-852015NormalBlackAsh Wood

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Child of Night has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal