Knight PaladinHow it works & interactions with other cards

Explosive Entry

The primary feature of Knight Paladin is its triggered ability, Rapid-fire Battle Cannon. When this Vehicle enters the battlefield, it deals 4 damage to each opponent in the game. This ability does not require the Vehicle to be crewed or even to be a creature; as long as the artifact successfully enters the battlefield, the damage is put onto the stack. This makes it an excellent finisher in multiplayer games where multiple players might be at low life totals.

Mechanics of Crew and Trample

Knight Paladin has a Crew 1 requirement, which is exceptionally low for a creature with its stats. To turn it into a creature, you must tap any number of creatures you control with a total power of 1 or more. Once crewed, it becomes an artifact creature until the end of the turn. Thanks to Trample, if Knight Paladin is blocked, it can deal its excess damage directly to the defending player or planeswalker after dealing lethal damage to the blockers.

Timing and Strategy

Common mistakes involve forgetting that the enters-the-battlefield ability happens automatically. You do not need to crew the Vehicle in response to the trigger to deal the damage. Furthermore, because it is an artifact, it is susceptible to artifact destruction even before you have a chance to crew it. If you intend to attack, ensure you have at least one creature ready to tap for the Crew cost during your pre-combat main phase or beginning of combat step.

Interaction examples

Easy Crewing with Value

Solemn Simulacrum

After casting Knight Paladin and dealing 4 damage to each opponent, you can use Solemn Simulacrum to crew it. Since Solemn Simulacrum has 2 power, it satisfies the Crew 1 requirement on its own. This allows you to attack with a 10/10 Trample creature without risking your utility creatures in actual combat.

Interaction with Protection

The One Ring

If an opponent has cast The One Ring, they gain protection from everything until their next turn. If you play Knight Paladin during that window, the Rapid-fire Battle Cannon ability will still trigger. However, the 4 damage intended for that specific opponent will be prevented by their protection. Other opponents who do not have protection will still take the 4 damage as usual.