You can use this ability before the combat-damage step, yet i prefer deathtouch, without paying additional mana.
ddd
★★★★☆ (4.6/5.0)(7 votes)
she is better than deathtouch, she will kill almost anything before thay can evan touch her with first strike
PeterRabit
★☆☆☆☆ (1.0/5.0)(1 vote)
People are simply not going to block him, unless they think one of their creatures (a token or something) is worth less than 2 points of damage, also, a LOT worse than death touch, you are very rarely supposed to attack with a low power creature with deathtouch, this card is only able to destroy creatures blocking it. Only way this would become playable would be a built in way to get a provoke-like effect like 1B: Target creature blocks Knight of dusk if able
Gaussgoat
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(5 votes)
Saying that this is worse than deathtouch is not true at all. Deathtouch requires that you damage the target, so this card negates any danger of damage redirection or healing. This is actually closer to the "original" death touch that was around in the days of revised:
She obviously isn't super powerful, but what you're really getting is a creature that is either a) going to wipe out something guaranteed as long as you have the mana or b) going to do 2 points of damage, before any other buffs are added.
Definitely not bad, 3.5/5
GrimjawxRULES
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(5 votes)
To Raptorman333 - you're wrong. The Knight won't deal damage to the defending player after you've killed the blockers with its ability. That's because the Knight is still considered to be blocked, but since the creatures it was blocked by no longer exists, the Knight won't deal its damage to anything. (to explain - the Knight tries to deal damage to its blockers, but since they're no longer on the battlefield, the damage is automatically prevented by the game rules)
Another example is Sylvan Basilisk - if it kills its blockers, it still won't deal any damage to the defending player, because it was blocked.
I can see why the Knight is good, but must say that the ability is quite expensive, considering the cost of the knight itself. Sure, I can see the cool thing in having an attacking 2/2 creature on your 4th turn that no one wants to block, but that's about it. Even if your opponents should block the Knight, you should consider the fact that there are better ways of spending your 4th turn than destroying a single creature (your opponent would be stupid to block with 2) and start your second main phase with 2 mana open and a tapped 2/2 creature.
To repeat Gaussgoat's last line - "Definitely not bad, 3.5/5"
DeathDark
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.8/5.0)(6 votes)
@Grimjaw
Nay.
If we look at how this is playing out, first you declare attackers, then your opponent declares blockers. After blockers are declared, wiping out a blocker with Unsummon, Doom Blade, Path to Exile, or any other such card, causes the creature to no longer be blocked.
After all, how are you going to be blocked by something that isn't there?
I give this card a 4.5. In my hands, I can pump it up to levels where blocking it would be nice, but obviously un-doable. I have quite a few black creatures that just fly through and prick the enemy to death, such as Dread Warlock. Though it may seem inefficient, it keeps them on a time limit (at least 10 turns, not counting other creatures).
achilleselbow
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
@Deathdark: Please go look up the official rules; few things in Magic work the way you would think just through logical reasoning :-) Once blockers are declared, that's it - any creatures that are blocked stay blocked, no matter what happens afterwards. In the examples you cite, you could unsummon, exile, or otherwise remove a blocking creature with an instant right after you declare attackers, BEFORE the opponent can declare blockers. But you can't do that with this Knight's ability because it requires the creature to already be blocking the Knight in order to be targeted. And once that happens, he is already blocked until end of combat. If you just think of the Knight's ability as some sort of super first strike, it will make more sense to you.
SleetFox
★★☆☆☆ (2.5/5.0)(5 votes)
This is a pretty solid card. Then I remembered Vampire Nighthawk. Amazing how a card can so heavily outclass an already good card.
Leo...Preliator
★★★★☆ (4.9/5.0)(6 votes)
The official rules
509.1h An attacking creature with one or more creatures declared as blockers for it becomes a blocked creature; one with no creatures declared as blockers for it becomes an unblocked creature. This remains unchanged until the creature is removed from combat, an effect says that it becomes blocked or unblocked, or the combat phase ends, whichever comes first. A creature remains blocked even if all the creatures blocking it are removed from combat.
510.1c A blocked creature assigns its combat damage to the creatures blocking it. If no creatures are currently blocking it (if, for example, they were destroyed or removed from combat), it assigns no combat damage.
InternetNinjacy
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I like to give her Sadistic Glee (or Blade of the Bloodchief) and treat her like a Slith. "If Knight of Dusk becomes blocked, pay , destroy blocking creature and put a +1/+1 counter on Knight of Dusk." Not to mention she'd get bonus-ed if other creatures die for any reason.
Take two, or take more later.
Lateralis0ne
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
In the later game, with mana available and several of these, I could see her working in a {B}{G} deck with Lure. They block with all their creatures, and you pick off the ones you want to for {B}{B} apiece.
Casual, yes, but still potent. She gets a solid 4 from me for interesting combat tricks.
Guest1162619373
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(3 votes)
@PeterRabit :: That's the point: it's a deterrent to BEING BLOCKED.
Bishop084
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I've always wanted to use her, and now with Necrotic Ooze, I have a much better reason to.
Fumi
★★☆☆☆ (2.0/5.0)(2 votes)
Unfortunately mostly outclassed by the Vampire Nighthawk. Though I would run this for the sake of novelty.
Duskdale_Wurm
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Superb. A must have.
gongshowninja
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
Paint her sword with the blood of my strongest, huh?
Akroma, I choose you! Slap this little ***!
AmericanVigor
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
Great for endgame creature removal.
Stray_Dog
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(3 votes)
*browsing cards* ooh nice art!
Kryptnyt
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
She stole Medivh's cloak...
JRE47
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(3 votes)
It is a crime that this has only 3 1/2 stars. Come on, people. This is deathtouch on steroids, and with a very relevant creature type as well.
Oh, hey...my 4.5 stars vote gave it 4 overall. That's a little better, I guess.
wstonefi
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
She needs Lure or a similar effect to be truly useful. By herself, she's just an unblockable 2/2, not much better than Severed Legion and the like.
Vedalken_Arbiter
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
I'm digging this Elvira-esque art.
Atali
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(3 votes)
She wants an Aura or Equipment that gives trample (and probably a power boost). Loxodon Warhammer for example.
mononegator
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Wow.
Any other classic cards I missed out on that got GREAT new art?
psychichobo
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
WOW. That's good art.
Stupidly good card as well.
TastetheJace
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Elvira, Mistress of the Dark?
raptorman333
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
I think what people fail to realize is that, when the creature(s) is destroyed, there is nothing left blocking her, so not only is she going to automatically deal 2 damage to the player, but also wipe out the defending player's troops. throw an unholy strength or any pump card on this *** and you have a nearly unblockable beast to wield. it just further exemplifies black's motif of creature destruction. Certainly better than Severed Legion.
EDIT: Wow, when I posted this comment, 3/9/2010 7:27:15 AM, I had a great misconception of the rules. In fact I think it was only last year when I actually finally find myself corrected, and only today did I see that the top comment had a citing of how wrong I was--embarASSing! With the correction, my rating agrees with Gaussgoat, as well. I can think of several other things for 3 mana that I'd rather play (i.e. if I were looking for creature destruction, I'd rather use royal assassin for the cost), but would certainly consider putting this in my Chainer EDH deck with Nightmare Lash and Strata Scythe.
Jannissary
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I don't much care for the art, or for the card itself. It's got an odd casting cost, and the BB for what is essentially half of deathtouch isn't much to write home about. That said, I can see it being a favorite in a beginner's deck- the ability to force your opponent to choose their blockers carefully can be useful.
Comments (28)
Venom
Thicket Basilisk
She obviously isn't super powerful, but what you're really getting is a creature that is either a) going to wipe out something guaranteed as long as you have the mana or b) going to do 2 points of damage, before any other buffs are added.
Definitely not bad, 3.5/5
(to explain - the Knight tries to deal damage to its blockers, but since they're no longer on the battlefield, the damage is automatically prevented by the game rules)
Another example is Sylvan Basilisk - if it kills its blockers, it still won't deal any damage to the defending player, because it was blocked.
I can see why the Knight is good, but must say that the ability is quite expensive, considering the cost of the knight itself. Sure, I can see the cool thing in having an attacking 2/2 creature on your 4th turn that no one wants to block, but that's about it. Even if your opponents should block the Knight, you should consider the fact that there are better ways of spending your 4th turn than destroying a single creature (your opponent would be stupid to block with 2) and start your second main phase with 2 mana open and a tapped 2/2 creature.
To repeat Gaussgoat's last line - "Definitely not bad, 3.5/5"
Nay.
If we look at how this is playing out, first you declare attackers, then your opponent declares blockers. After blockers are declared, wiping out a blocker with Unsummon, Doom Blade, Path to Exile, or any other such card, causes the creature to no longer be blocked.
After all, how are you going to be blocked by something that isn't there?
I give this card a 4.5. In my hands, I can pump it up to levels where blocking it would be nice, but obviously un-doable. I have quite a few black creatures that just fly through and prick the enemy to death, such as Dread Warlock. Though it may seem inefficient, it keeps them on a time limit (at least 10 turns, not counting other creatures).
509.1h An attacking creature with one or more creatures declared as blockers for it becomes a blocked creature; one with no creatures declared as blockers for it becomes an unblocked creature. This remains unchanged until the creature is removed from combat, an effect says that it becomes blocked or unblocked, or the combat phase ends, whichever comes first. A creature remains blocked even if all the creatures blocking it are removed from combat.
510.1c A blocked creature assigns its combat damage to the creatures blocking it. If no creatures are currently blocking it (if, for example, they were destroyed or removed from combat), it assigns no combat damage.
Take two, or take more later.
Casual, yes, but still potent. She gets a solid 4 from me for interesting combat tricks.
Akroma, I choose you! Slap this little ***!
Oh, hey...my 4.5 stars vote gave it 4 overall. That's a little better, I guess.
Any other classic cards I missed out on that got GREAT new art?
Stupidly good card as well.
EDIT: Wow, when I posted this comment, 3/9/2010 7:27:15 AM, I had a great misconception of the rules. In fact I think it was only last year when I actually finally find myself corrected, and only today did I see that the top comment had a citing of how wrong I was--embarASSing! With the correction, my rating agrees with Gaussgoat, as well. I can think of several other things for 3 mana that I'd rather play (i.e. if I were looking for creature destruction, I'd rather use royal assassin for the cost), but would certainly consider putting this in my Chainer EDH deck with Nightmare Lash and Strata Scythe.