Castle Ardenvale MTG Card
2019-10-04 - Number 386
2019-10-04 - Number 238
2022-04-29 - Number 391
2023-02-03 - Number 149
2023-06-23 - Number 361
2023-06-23 - Number 391z
2023-06-23 - Number 391
2023-09-08 - Number 154
2024-02-09 - Number 253
| Card sets | Released in 9 setsSee all |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Land |
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.
Cards similar to Castle Ardenvale by color, type and mana cost
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.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Azorius Control | Pioneer | Azorius Control | Pioneer Challenge 32 2024-04-26 |
 | Jeskai Indomitable Creativity | Pioneer | Jeskai Indomitable Creativity | Pioneer Challenge 64 2024-04-28 |
 | Mono-White Humans | Pioneer | Mono-White Humans | Pioneer Challenge 32 2024-04-26 |
| Esper Control | Pioneer | Esper Control | Pioneer Challenge 32 2024-04-29 |
 | Mono-White Midrange | Pioneer | Mono-White Midrange | Pioneer 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.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2019-10-04 | Throne of Eldraine | ELD | 386 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Volkan Baǵa | |
| 2 | 2019-10-04 | Throne of Eldraine | ELD | 238 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Volkan Baǵa | |
| 3 | 2022-04-29 | New Capenna Commander | NCC | 391 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Volkan Baǵa | |
| 4 | 2023-02-03 | Phyrexia: All Will Be One Commander | ONC | 149 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Volkan Baǵa | |
| 5 | 2023-06-23 | Tales of Middle-earth Commander | LTC | 361 | 2015 | Normal | Borderless | Jeremy Paillotin | |
| 6 | 2023-06-23 | Tales of Middle-earth Commander | LTC | 391z | 2015 | Normal | Borderless | Jeremy Paillotin | |
| 7 | 2023-06-23 | Tales of Middle-earth Commander | LTC | 391 | 2015 | Normal | Borderless | Jeremy Paillotin | |
| 8 | 2023-09-08 | Wilds of Eldraine Commander | WOC | 154 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Volkan Baǵa | |
| 9 | 2024-02-09 | Murders at Karlov Manor Commander | MKC | 253 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Volkan Baǵa |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Castle Ardenvale has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
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. |