Castle MTG Card
1993-08-05 - Number 9
1993-10-04 - Number 9
1993-12-01 - Number 9
1993-12-10 - Number 9
1993-12-10 - Number 9
1994-04-01 - Number 8
1994-04-01 - Number 8
1994-06-21 - Number 8
1995-04-01 - Number 12
1995-04-01 - Number 12
1997-03-24 - Number 15
1999-04-21 - Number 6
2001-04-11 - Number 5★
2001-04-11 - Number 5
2022-11-28 - Number 9
2022-11-28 - Number 306
| Card sets | Released in 16 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Enchantment |
Text of card
Your untapped creatures gain +0/+2. Attacking creatures lose this bonus.
Cards like Castle
The intriguing aspect of the Castle card lies in its specific situational utility within Magic: The Gathering. It carries similarities with other cards that offer land-based advantages. For instance, take the Ravnica block’s Guildgates, which provide a mana of two different colors but enters the battlefield tapped, a trait shared with Castle. However, Castle brings a nuance to the battlefield with its conditional ability to enter untapped, given you control a land type it specifies. This grants strategic value and timing advantages.
Comparatively, we see the famous utility land, Ghost Quarter, capable of targeting any land for destruction, a tactical disruption absent in Castle. Both serve strategic land functions, but with divergent tactical roles. Additionally, the Castle series, including Castle Locthwain and Castle Garenbrig, are akin to the card Field of Ruin, which offers both mana-fixing and a pathway to disrupt opponents’ lands. Each Castle card, specific to their color pie, grants benefits – such as card draw or mana ramp – that can be pivotal to a game’s outcome.
In evaluating the distinct aspects and strategic depth offered, the Castle cards hold their niche within the MTG landscape, presenting players with both utility and the potential for clever play-making.
Cards similar to Castle by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Drawing cards is akin to amassing an arsenal in MTG, and Castle cards often facilitate this by offering players additional draws or through other means. This results in keeping your hand filled with options, outmaneuvering opponents with a greater selection of tactics.
Resource Acceleration: Castle cards are known for ramping up your resources swiftly, as some allow you to untap lands or even generate additional mana, catapulting you ahead in the race for resource dominance. This often means deploying larger threats or crucial spells ahead of schedule, tipping the scales in your favor.
Instant Speed: The reactive nature of instant speed Castle spells provides flexibility in your strategy, allowing you to adapt to the evolving game state. Responding to opponent moves or optimizing your own plays during their turn can provide a substantial tactical edge.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One of the drawbacks of the Castle card is the necessity to discard another card. This can put you at a disadvantage, especially if your hand is already running low on options, and can deplete your resources faster than you might like.
Specific Mana Cost: Another hurdle for including the Castle in a deck is its specific mana requirement. This card needs a precise blend of mana types, which can restrict its use to certain deck builds that can reliably generate the needed mana colors.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: When evaluating the mana cost of Castle, it may appear steep relative to its benefits. Certain players might find that there are other cards available at a lower mana cost that provide a similar or even better strategic advantage in gameplay.
Reasons to Include Castle in Your Collection
Versatility: Castle cards adapt to various deck types, from control to aggro, thanks to their ability to provide immediate utility or long-term advantage regardless of your strategy. Their inherent synergy with land types makes them a seamless addition to most mana bases.
Combo Potential: These cards often work well with other land-based mechanics or cards that capitalize on specific land types. They can also play a pivotal role in activating abilities that require diverse mana sources or completing landfall triggers that power up your gameplay.
Meta-Relevance: Given the evolving nature of the game, Castle cards maintain relevance as they can be fine-tuned to address the needs of any given meta. This helps players reinforce their deck’s performance against an array of competitive scenarios, ensuring that their deck remains robust and responsive.
How to beat
Overcoming the might of a Castle card in MTG requires both strategy and understanding of how it integrates into your opponent’s deck. These fortresses often come with abilities that strengthen their controller’s position, be it through creating sturdy defense mechanisms or enabling powerful attacks. The key to conquering such a card lies in pinpointing the right moment to strike.
One effective tactic is to prioritize the removal of cards that give life to the Castle’s abilities. Whether it’s disabling the synergies that amplify a Castle’s power or using land destruction spells, creating a strategic chokepoint can turn the tide in your favor. Artifact removal spells can also be critical, as they dismantle the supportive tools often used in tandem with a Castle.
Furthermore, employing cards that restrict or negate activated abilities helps nullify the Castle’s impact, allowing you to navigate around its defenses or offensive enhancements. It’s essential to be preemptive, to react swiftly, and to execute a game plan that keeps the Castle’s advantages at bay. By tactfully undermining the structural integrity of your opponent’s strategy, you pave your path to victory in the grand tactical warfare that is MTG.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Castle MTG card by a specific set like Limited Edition Alpha and Limited Edition Beta, 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 and other MTG cards:
BUY NOW BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Printings
The Castle Magic the Gathering card was released in 14 different sets between 1993-08-05 and 2022-11-28. Illustrated by 3 different artists.
Show/hide all sets| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1993-08-05 | Limited Edition Alpha | LEA | 9 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Dameon Willich | |
| 2 | 1993-10-04 | Limited Edition Beta | LEB | 9 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Dameon Willich | |
| 3 | 1993-12-01 | Unlimited Edition | 2ED | 9 | 1993 | Normal | White | Dameon Willich | |
| 4 | 1993-12-10 | Collectors' Edition | CED | 9 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Dameon Willich | |
| 5 | 1993-12-10 | Intl. Collectors' Edition | CEI | 9 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Dameon Willich | |
| 6 | 1994-04-01 | Revised Edition | 3ED | 8 | 1993 | Normal | White | Dameon Willich | |
| 7 | 1994-04-01 | Foreign Black Border | FBB | 8 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Dameon Willich | |
| 8 | 1994-06-21 | Summer Magic / Edgar | SUM | 8 | 1993 | Normal | White | Dameon Willich | |
| 9 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition | 4ED | 12 | 1993 | Normal | White | Dameon Willich | |
| 10 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border | 4BB | 12 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Dameon Willich | |
| 11 | 1997-03-24 | Fifth Edition | 5ED | 15 | 1997 | Normal | White | David O'Connor | |
| 12 | 1999-04-21 | Classic Sixth Edition | 6ED | 6 | 1997 | Normal | White | Dameon Willich | |
| 13 | 2001-04-11 | Seventh Edition | 7ED | 5★ | 1997 | Normal | Black | Edward P. Beard, Jr. | |
| 14 | 2001-04-11 | Seventh Edition | 7ED | 5 | 1997 | Normal | White | Edward P. Beard, Jr. | |
| 15 | 2022-11-28 | 30th Anniversary Edition | 30A | 9 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Dameon Willich | |
| 16 | 2022-11-28 | 30th Anniversary Edition | 30A | 306 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Dameon Willich |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Castle has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Oldschool | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |