Castle Ardenvale MTG Card


Castle Ardenvale excels in late games, providing continuous creature production and board control. Its specific mana cost and activation may limit use in various deck strategies. Adaptive in white decks, Ardenvale offers utility beyond simple mana generation.
Card setsReleased in 9 setsSee all
RarityRare
TypeLand

Text of card

Castle Ardenvale enters the battlefield tapped unless you control a Plains. : Add . , : Create a 1/1 white Human creature token.


Understanding Castle Ardenvale’s Role

Castle Ardenvale has carved out its niche within Magic: The Gathering’s array of utility lands. This card provides players with not only a source of white mana but also a late-game advantage by producing creature tokens. This gimmick of creating tokens finds parallels in cards like Kjeldoran Outpost, yet Castle Ardenvale offers the functionality without the challenging prerequisite of sacrificing a land. More than that, the option to tap for colorless mana without any entry conditions contrasts the Outpost’s restrictive mana generation.

Cards like Castle Ardenvale

When looking at cards in MTG similar to Castle Ardenvale, Gavony Township comes to mind. It has the ability to boost the power of your creatures, yet unlike Castle Ardenvale, it does not add creatures to the board. Following this, we might consider Mobilized District. This card, akin to Castle Ardenvale, can become a creature, but it changes how you approach combat rather than increasing your creature count like Castle Ardenvale’s token-generating ability.

Finally, Westvale Abbey offers a stark contrast. While it initially creates creature tokens, its true power lies in its transformation ability, which pivots on sacrificing creatures, marking a significant tactical divergence from Castle Ardenvale’s creature generation strategy. Although each of these utility lands has its distinct applications, Castle Ardenvale’s straightforward mana ability and token generation capability make it a notable option for players aiming to expand their battlefield presence in the late game.

Kjeldoran Outpost - MTG Card versions
Gavony Township - MTG Card versions
Mobilized District - MTG Card versions
Kjeldoran Outpost - MTG Card versions
Gavony Township - MTG Card versions
Mobilized District - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Castle Ardenvale by color, type and mana cost

Plains - MTG Card versions
Snow-Covered Plains - MTG Card versions
Ruins of Trokair - MTG Card versions
Karoo - MTG Card versions
Drifting Meadow - MTG Card versions
Rustic Clachan - MTG Card versions
Emeria, the Sky Ruin - MTG Card versions
Vivid Meadow - MTG Card versions
Kabira Crossroads - MTG Card versions
Shefet Dunes - MTG Card versions
Makindi Stampede // Makindi Mesas - MTG Card versions
Emeria's Call // Emeria, Shattered Skyclave - MTG Card versions
Ondu Inversion // Ondu Skyruins - MTG Card versions
Eiganjo Castle - MTG Card versions
Secluded Steppe - MTG Card versions
Eiganjo, Seat of the Empire - MTG Card versions
Citadel Gate - MTG Card versions
Memorial to Glory - MTG Card versions
Karakas - MTG Card versions
Minas Tirith - MTG Card versions
Plains - MTG Card versions
Snow-Covered Plains - MTG Card versions
Ruins of Trokair - MTG Card versions
Karoo - MTG Card versions
Drifting Meadow - MTG Card versions
Rustic Clachan - MTG Card versions
Emeria, the Sky Ruin - MTG Card versions
Vivid Meadow - MTG Card versions
Kabira Crossroads - MTG Card versions
Shefet Dunes - MTG Card versions
Makindi Stampede // Makindi Mesas - MTG Card versions
Emeria's Call // Emeria, Shattered Skyclave - MTG Card versions
Ondu Inversion // Ondu Skyruins - MTG Card versions
Eiganjo Castle - MTG Card versions
Secluded Steppe - MTG Card versions
Eiganjo, Seat of the Empire - MTG Card versions
Citadel Gate - MTG Card versions
Memorial to Glory - MTG Card versions
Karakas - MTG Card versions
Minas Tirith - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

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

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Azorius ControlAzorius Control PioneerAzorius ControlPioneer Challenge 32 2024-04-26
Jeskai Indomitable CreativityJeskai Indomitable Creativity PioneerJeskai Indomitable CreativityPioneer Challenge 64 2024-04-28
Mono-White HumansMono-White Humans PioneerMono-White HumansPioneer Challenge 32 2024-04-26
Esper ControlEsper Control PioneerEsper ControlPioneer Challenge 32 2024-04-29
Mono-White MidrangeMono-White Midrange PioneerMono-White MidrangePioneer League 2024-04-28

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Castle Ardenvale shines in its subtle yet powerful ability to create additional creature tokens. Particularly in the late game, this ability can keep your hand firmly controlling the board, ensuring that every draw is potentially a new threat for your opponents to deal with.

Resource Acceleration: While it does not directly ramp your mana like traditional acceleration cards, Castle Ardenvale provides a steady stream of creatures. This subtle resource advantage allows you to commit more resources to hand and actions per turn, thus accelerating your board presence and potential power.

Instant Speed: The ability to create a 1/1 white Human creature token operates at instant speed, which means maintaining mana for Castle Ardenvale’s ability allows for strategic flexibility. Deploy a blocker or attacker anytime you have open mana, turning any end-of-turn scenario into an opportunity to expand your army.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Castle Ardenvale provides utility, it does not require the player to discard cards, making this con inapplicable to this card’s evaluation.

Specific Mana Cost: Castle Ardenvale’s activation cost demands a white mana, which might restrict its integration into multicolored or colorless decks that might struggle to produce the necessary mana consistently.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The cost of activating Castle Ardenvale’s ability to create a 1/1 white Human creature token is relatively high, at four mana including one white. This can be quite resource-intensive in situations where players need to maintain mana for other spells or abilities.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Castle Ardenvale provides a land slot that carries additional utility, easily sliding into white decks without compromising mana stability. It can become a reliable producer of chump blockers or a consistent creature source in control strategies.

Combo Potential: This card works well with strategies that benefit from tokens, like convoke or cards that pump up your creature count, such as “Divine Visitation” which transforms those 1/1 tokens into formidable 4/4 Angels.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where games are drawn out, Castle Ardenvale shines by offering late-game value. Its capacity to generate creatures each turn can tip the scales in your favor, making it particularly effective against decks that struggle to deal with a steady stream of tokens.


How to beat

Castle Ardenvale is a strategic land card that shines in the late game of Magic: The Gathering, offering players a consistent way to churn out creature tokens. Notably, Castle Ardenvale can be as tenacious as it is beneficial, especially when it enables players to continuously create blockers or pressure opponents with an ever-growing army. Defeating this card requires a multi-faceted approach.

One efficient strategy is targeting the player’s land base directly, using spells that destroy or incapacitate lands. Cards such as Ghost Quarter or Field of Ruin allow a player to dismantle the opponent’s mana foundation, including key utility lands like Castle Ardenvale. Additionally, utilizing cards that restrict a player’s ability to utilize lands, like Blood Moon, can effectively neutralize the advantages offered by such cards. Another approach lies in a proactive strategy: ramping up the aggression early in the game to diminish the relevance of late-game token generators.

Ultimately, while Castle Ardenvale can offer a significant edge, understanding and employing specific land disruption techniques or maintaining a high-paced offense can effectively counteract the advantages this mighty fortress extends to a deck.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Castle Ardenvale MTG card by a specific set like Throne of Eldraine and Throne of Eldraine, 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 Castle Ardenvale and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Castle Ardenvale Magic the Gathering card was released in 6 different sets between 2019-10-04 and 2024-02-09. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12019-10-04Throne of EldraineELD 3862015NormalBlackVolkan Baǵa
22019-10-04Throne of EldraineELD 2382015NormalBlackVolkan Baǵa
32022-04-29New Capenna CommanderNCC 3912015NormalBlackVolkan Baǵa
42023-02-03Phyrexia: All Will Be One CommanderONC 1492015NormalBlackVolkan Baǵa
52023-06-23Tales of Middle-earth CommanderLTC 3612015NormalBorderlessJeremy Paillotin
62023-06-23Tales of Middle-earth CommanderLTC 391z2015NormalBorderlessJeremy Paillotin
72023-06-23Tales of Middle-earth CommanderLTC 3912015NormalBorderlessJeremy Paillotin
82023-09-08Wilds of Eldraine CommanderWOC 1542015NormalBlackVolkan Baǵa
92024-02-09Murders at Karlov Manor CommanderMKC 2532015NormalBlackVolkan Baǵa

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Castle Ardenvale has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2019-10-04 Although the common lands have basic land types, they aren't basic lands.
2019-10-04 Once the common lands (such as Mystic Sanctuary) enter the battlefield tapped, there's no way to untap them with a spell or ability to make their last ability trigger.