Moonshaker Cavalry MTG Card


Moonshaker Cavalry amplifies deck performance with card advantage and instant speed plays. Balancing act needed due to discard requirement and specific mana cost limitations. Integral for decks as a versatile creature with meta-relevant potential and combo synergy.
Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost8
RarityMythic
TypeCreature — Spirit Knight
Abilities Flying
Power 6
Toughness 6

Text of card

Flying When Moonshaker Cavalry enters the battlefield, creatures you control gain flying and get +X/+X until end of turn, where X is the number of creatures you control.

High King Kenrith's armies followed him into the afterlife, ready to charge at his command.


Cards like Moonshaker Cavalry

Moonshaker Cavalry brings a new blend of power and utility to the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering. It shares traits with other creatures noted for their vigilant characteristic, such as Sentinel Sliver. Both cards allow you to remain on the offensive without leaving your guard down on defense. Yet, Moonshaker Cavalry offers an additional boon with its nightbound ability, which solidifies its stance in a night day mechanic deck.

Likewise, cards such as Concordia Pegasus present the defensive utility of flying paired with vigilance. However, Moonshaker Cavalry edges ahead with its superior toughness and transformative capability under the right conditions. Additionally, we can draw comparisons with elite creature cards like Loyal Cathar which, though lacking vigilance, also have transformation abilities that allow them to adapt to the game’s ebb and flow.

Ultimately, Moonshaker Cavalry makes its mark with its dual nature, providing a vigilant defense in the day and an aggressive stance at night. Its place in MTG strategy leans towards versatility and tactical depth, enhancing deck performance through adaptability and resilience.

Sentinel Sliver - MTG Card versions
Concordia Pegasus - MTG Card versions
Sentinel Sliver - MTG Card versions
Concordia Pegasus - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Moonshaker Cavalry. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Selesnya MidrangeSelesnya Midrange PioneerSelesnya MidrangePioneer League 2024-04-26
Mono-White HumansMono-White Humans PioneerMono-White HumansPioneer Challenge 32 2024-04-22
HumansHumans ModernHumansModern Preliminary 2024-04-21
Boros HumansBoros Humans PioneerBoros HumansPioneer League 2024-04-23

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Moonshaker Cavalry grants you the upper hand by potentially providing card draw or card filtration, helping you stay ahead in resource competition.

Resource Acceleration: This card can be a catalyst for ramping up your mana resources, as it allows you to put an extra land into play, setting you up for more powerful turns ahead.

Instant Speed: The ability to act at instant speed gives you the flexibility to respond to opponents’ actions or optimize your own strategy during their end phase, maintaining the element of surprise.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Moonshaker Cavalry comes with a notable downside, asking players to toss another card from their hand into the graveyard. This can be particularly taxing when your hand size is dwindling, potentially stripping you of crucial late-game plays.

Specific Mana Cost: Commanding a precise mana arrangement to cast, Moonshaker Cavalry necessitates both generic and red mana. Deck builders exclusively working with multicolor strategies might find this cost restrictive, putting a damper on the card’s overall flexibility across various builds.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its mana value sitting at a higher point on the spectrum, Moonshaker Cavalry faces some stiff competition. Other creatures or spells at similar or lower costs could potentially provide better tactical advantages. This can lead to critical evaluations when curating a deck where efficiency and curve optimization are key.


Reasons to Include Moonshaker Cavalry in Your Collection

Versatility: Moonshaker Cavalry is a card that could be a strong asset in any MTG player’s collection due to its ability to impact the battlefield immediately with vigilant force. Its inherent power allows it to adapt to various deck builds, especially those requiring a durable presence on the board.

Combo Potential: The Cavalry’s synergies with cards that benefit from creature count or type, like those bolstering human or soldier archetypes, means it can serve as a key puzzle piece in an array of powerful combinations. The card’s attributes open up possibilities for both aggressive and control strategies.

Meta-Relevance: As the game’s meta continuously evolves, having cards that can stand against popular threats or enhance prevailing tactics can be game-changing. Moonshaker Cavalry, with its balance of cost and power, is poised to hold its ground in various meta environments, making it a worthy contender for inclusion in decks poised to challenge the current field of strategies.


How to beat

Moonshaker Cavalry has added an intriguing dynamic to the pool of MTG creatures, with its blend of trample and the rare capacity to grant indestructible until the end of the turn. If you’re facing this sturdy card on the battlefield, your strategy must be multi-faceted. One approach is to utilize counterspells or hand disruption techniques to prevent Moonshaker Cavalry from ever entering play. Spell pierce or Thoughtseize can be valuable assets in this phase of the game.

Should the creature hit the board, removal spells that don’t destroy, but rather exile cards, can effectively handle it. Consider employing options like Path to Exile or Declaration in Stone to circumvent the indestructible ability. Edict effects, compelling the opponent to sacrifice a creature, are another route; cards like Diabolic Edict or Liliana of the Veil can force the sacrifice even of indestructible creatures.

Lastly, focusing on strategies that limit or avoid combat such as evasion with flying or unblockable creatures can also ensure victory despite the Cavalry’s strengths. By carefully tailoring a game plan encompassing these tactics, even the most robust units can be neutralized and overcome.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering MTG involves recognizing the potential in each card, just like Moonshaker Cavalry, which offers interesting dynamics such as card advantage and resource acceleration. Yet, understanding the full scope of its strengths and weaknesses is vital for your strategy. Interested in optimizing your deck with this card’s versatile nature or beating it on the battlefield? We’ve got comprehensive insights and tactics to help you use or counter Moonshaker Cavalry effectively. Dive into our detailed analysis to refine your gameplay and make key decisions that could pivot any match in your favor. Step up your game with BurnMana’s expert guidance.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Moonshaker Cavalry MTG card by a specific set like Wilds of Eldraine Promos and Wilds of Eldraine Promos, 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 Moonshaker Cavalry and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Moonshaker Cavalry Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2023-09-08 and 2023-09-08. Illustrated by Aldo Domínguez.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12023-09-08Wilds of Eldraine PromosPWOE 21p2015NormalBlackAldo Domínguez
22023-09-08Wilds of Eldraine PromosPWOE 21s2015NormalBlackAldo Domínguez
32023-09-08Wilds of Eldraine Art SeriesAWOE 52015Art seriesBorderlessAldo Domínguez
42023-09-08Wilds of EldraineWOE 3252015NormalBlackAldo Domínguez
52023-09-08Wilds of EldraineWOE 212015NormalBlackAldo Domínguez

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Moonshaker Cavalry has restrictions

FormatLegality
StandardLegal
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
AlchemyLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
FutureLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
BrawlLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Moonshaker Cavalry card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2023-09-01 Moonshaker Cavalry's triggered ability affects only creatures you control at the time it resolves. Creatures you begin to control later in the turn won't be affected.
2023-09-01 The value of X is determined only as Moonshaker Cavalry's triggered ability resolves, potentially including Moonshaker Cavalry itself. It won't change later in the turn if the number of creatures you control changes.