Wilt-Leaf Cavaliers

Creature — Elf Knight

Vigilance

Legality

Format	Legality
1v1 Commander	Legal
Archenemy	Legal
Block Constructed	Legal
Canadian Highlander	Legal
Casual	Legal
Commander / EDH	Legal
Commander: Rule 0	Legal
Custom	Legal
Duel Commander	Legal
Highlander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Leviathan	Legal
Limited	Legal
Modern	Legal
Modern Beyond Horizons	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Planar Constructed	Legal
Planechase	Legal
Quest Magic	Legal
Tiny Leaders	Legal
Vanguard	Legal
Vintage	Legal

Discussion (22)

DemonDragonJ on Verdant Vitality

1 month ago

I have replaced the four copies of Wilt-Leaf Cavaliers in this deck with four copies of Faeburrow Elder, because the elder offers additional utility over the cavaliers.

Kazierts on Which is More Important: Total …

7 months ago

The answer is pretty simple, it always depends on context. Magic is a very complex game and situations matter a lot. A lot of examples you gave already mentions different contexts and cannot be judged the same way as other examples.

Of the cards with activated abilities you mentioned, only Spectral Sailor and Faerie Mastermind are any good because they are useful aside from their card draw ability. A lot of times you don't even need to activate them since that's just tge cherry on top. Unless you have a very specific combo with Mystic Archaeologist, it's a horrible card because the only thing you can with it is pay a lot of mana to draw only 2 cards. For 5 mana, Mulldrifter is miles better. However, maybe you're making a weird Wizard EDH with Zirda as a companion and Mystic Archaeologist happens to fit perfectly.

Even the example with Wilt-Leaf Cavaliers and Vernadi Shieldmate is relative. The Cavaliers is an Elf Knight while the Shieldmate is a Human soldier, which means, as more "efficient" as one is over the other, some decks might completely one of them.

Usually, cheaper cards are better, but synergies, strategies and redundancy also influence card choice. Is Searing Spear better than Shock? Maybe, but maybe some people prefer to have only {R} burn spells in their deck. Maybe there's a format where Lightning Bolt doesn't exist and both Shock and Searing Spear (or Lightning Strike since it's the more modern version) go in the same deck.

Very few things are so black and white in MTG.

DemonDragonJ on Which is More Important: Total …

7 months ago

I often wonder which is more important for a card: its overall cost or its cost-to-effect ratio (i.e., its mana efficiency); for example, there is no question that Lightning Bolt is superior to both Shock and Searing Spear, but, between the other two cards, I would choose Shock over Searing Spear in the majority of situations, because Shock has a ratio of 2 damage for 1 mana, whereas Searing Spear has a ratio of 1.5 damage for 1 mana.

For a slightly more complicated example, compare Eladamri's Call to Shared Summons; the former card can find a creature for a mere 2 mana, which is very efficient, but it simply replaces one card in its controller's hand with another, whereas the latter card can search for two creatures, which leaves its caster with an additional card in hand, compared to before it is cast, but it is less efficient, costing 2.5 mana per creature found, so it is not as clear which card is superior, there.

Opportunity is literally a double version of Quick Study, as they both have the same ratio of cost to effect, but which is the superior card? Is it really better to spend six mana to draw four cards, as doing that would leave the caster with less mana to cast the spells that they draw? Also, Quick Study is strictly better than is Inspiration, as it costs 1 less mana to cast, but, between Concentrate and Tidings, I am not certain which is superior, since they both allow a player to draw one less card than their mana values.

On the subject of card drawing, in the realm of repeatable card drawing, Arcane Encyclopedia is strictly better than is Jayemdae Tome, as it costs only 3 mana to draw a single card, compared to 4, but Tower of Fortunes can draw four cards for 8 mana, which is a ratio of 2 mana per card, but that ability costs 8 mana, overall, so the question is if it is worth 8 mana to draw four cards.

Continuing that theme, there are numerous creatures (and one enchantment) that allow a player to repeatedly draw cards, such as Azure Mage, Spectral Sailor, Faerie Mastermind, Triskaidekaphile, or Treasure Trove, a ratio of 4 mana for one card, but Mystic Archaeologist can draw 2 two cards for 5 mana, a ratio of 2.5 mana per card, which is definitely far superior, in my mind.

Hedron Archive is literally two Mind Stones put together, and Dreamstone Hedron is literally a triple Mind Stone, so they all have the same cost-to-effect ratio, but I prefer the original Mind Stone, since the existence of Thran Dynamo and Gilded Lotus makes it difficult to justify using the other mana rocks, at least, for me.

To use the example of Skyward Eye Prophets, a 1/1 creature for 2 mana is perfectly acceptable, a 2/2 creature for 4 mana is slightly expensive, but nothing outrageous, but a 3/3 creature for 6 mana is simply too much, although, as a side note, I have a copy of that creature, in one of my decks, because I really like its ability.

For a further example, I would choose Mantis Rider over Lightning Angel in the majority of situations, since it provides a better rate than does the angel, and, similarly, I would choose Wilt-Leaf Cavaliers over Vernadi Shieldmate, since the former creature is more efficient for its cost.

I believe that I have provided a sufficient number of examples, for this discussion, so which trait do you believe is more important: overall mana cost or cost-to-effect ratio/mana efficiency? I certainly am interested to hear your thoughts on this matter.

Dragaan on $100 Competitive Selesnya Midrange

3 years ago

GW aggro is just so easy for beginners to get into (as with most 'stompy' type G/x decks). Here is a list I made a few years back (around the time this was posted, as I see it's a few yrs old as well). This particular one was for a friend who I was trying to get into mtgo (as you can see in the comments, heh).

Anyway, just wanted to mention some of my favorite cards to use in this type of deck - Wilt-Leaf Cavaliers and Shield of the Oversoul. Another one is Dryad Militants, esp in more modern times when graveyard stuff is everywhere (them getting +2/+2 from the liege is just icing), but you already have that listed (I used Wheel of Sun and Moon a bit as well whenever I played decks like this in modern). One funky inclusion is Mercy Killing. Removal spell for random hard-to-remove solo threats, but more than that it can even pull off some shenanigans in niche scenarios (maybe you need to go wide and have a liege+smiter out ->> trade in your own smiter and you now have six 3/3 green/white elves instead. Very loose/niche/casual type of play, but fun.

CoCo is also obviously a good fit in the GW aggro decks, but it also raised the price significantly and changes how the deck plays a bit. I also have a Selesnya Company list in my decks but it's pretty similar (just adds things like fetchlands/knights/CoCo/Hierarchs), as well as an Abzan Liege decklist which is what your deck looks to be turning into? That's actually (obviously) a better deck overall (the full list with hand disruption, goyfs, and all) but more expensive in the long run.

Raomeas on Knight deck

4 years ago

DreadKhan About the Rebuff the Wicked i placed Mana Tithe in place of that card since i thought it would cover more cases.

Bow of Nylea is a great idea.

If i include bounce lands i don't think Ohran Frostfang would be a good idea since he is quite expensive in comparison to the rest of the deck.

Maybe a substitute to Knight of the White Orchid would be a good idea? I heard Knight of the Reliquary was good but i can't really see his use, or maybe some Wilt-Leaf Cavaliers ?

DemonDragonJ on Verdant Vitality

5 years ago

I am contemplating removing two copies of Wilt-Leaf Cavaliers in exchange for two additional copies of Knight of Autumn, because of how useful the knights are, but the knights are useful primarily for their abilities, whereas the cavaliers are better in the long term. What does everyone else say about that?

Dragaan on Selesnya Defence

5 years ago

I have always loved GW under-costed beaters and modern decks build around them. Naya Big Zoo is actually my favorite way to play the archetype, but here is my straight GW company list from a few years ago - Selesnya Company (Modern). I haven't updated it in forever, but honestly it wouldn't change that much besides possibly adding a Tireless Tracker and maybe 1-2 Knight of Autumn and Collector Ouphe in the board. Ranger-Captain of Eos is also something to look at, since it can get you Hexdrinker (if you play them) or Noble Hierarch or Dryad Militant .

If you just love GW creatures and wanna max out value from Wilt Leaf Liege you could play Conclave Cavalier or even Wilt-Leaf Cavaliers , but the best version of a GW stompy deck probably should not use them.

Have fun with your GW beatsticks! :)

Duerten on Selesnya Defence

6 years ago

While I usually play with faster cost-effective setups I did tested a lot with something like this list, let me give you my impressions.

First, if you can find more copies of these cards you should run 4 of Qasali Pridemage , Loxodon Smiter , Wilt-Leaf Liege , Fleecemane Lion . These are the core cards that win the game, should max them out.

Second, you definietly want more creatures total. About 28-30 is nice and consistent, any fewer and you won't be able to keep a decent fighting force on the field. Add cheap common creatures like Llanowar Elves and 2 more Steward of Valeron to gain mana faster. Maybe a few heavy hitters like 1 more Oversoul of Dusk or Wolfir Silverheart . Or if you can find some of these Kitchen Finks Knight of Autumn Wilt-Leaf Cavaliers .

Third, too many basic lands. With that many same color sources it will be harder to cast the multicolored spells. Many games live or die by the stability of the mana base. The obvious but very pricey choice is Windswept Heath wich is nice with Knight of the Reliquary , or Temple Garden . Cheaper alternatives are Sunpetal Grove and Canopy Vista , cheapest is Selesnya Guildgate . Whatever you pick, you need more color stability.

2 more Dromoka's Command would be nice too, filling the removal/defense slot. Shapers' Sanctuary will often be a dead card if you opponent doesn't target your creatures, you could replace it with 2 more Shield of the Oversoul .

You don't need to go big money to make a nice Selesnya Midrange get competitive.