Castle Locthwain MTG Card
2019-10-04 - Number 241
2019-10-04 - Number 389
2022-06-10 - Number 884
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Land |
Text of card
Castle Locthwain enters the battlefield tapped unless you control a Swamp. : Add . , : Draw a card, then you lose life equal to the number of cards in your hand.
Without Locthwain's persistence, the realm would stagnate and die.
Cards like Castle Locthwain
Castle Locthwain holds a unique seat at the table of land cards within Magic: The Gathering. It shares some similarities with cards like Temple of Malady that also functions as both a land and a source of card advantage. Where Temple of Malady scrys when it enters the battlefield, Castle Locthwain lets you draw a card at the cost of some life and mana. One distinct advantage of Castle Locthwain is its ability to be activated without tapping, providing a useful draw mechanism on your opponent’s turn or whenever you lack other actions.
Another comparable card is War Room. This land also offers the opportunity to draw a card. Yet, unlike Castle Locthwain, it requires a colorless payment but does not incur life loss based on the number of cards in your hand. This paints Castle Locthwain as a strategic choice in decks where the life payment is a manageable downside. War Room’s constant life cost could be more user-friendly for decks less concerned with hand size.
Evaluating Castle Locthwain against these similar cards, its place in MTG is cemented by the valuable trade-off of life for card draw, providing an aggressive edge for decks that can capitalize on maintaining a lower hand size.
Cards similar to Castle Locthwain by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Castle Locthwain. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Rakdos Midrange | Pioneer | Rakdos Midrange | Pioneer League 2024-05-09 |
 | Jund Scapeshift | Pioneer | Jund Scapeshift | Pioneer Preliminary 2024-05-08 (1) |
| Golgari Midrange | Pioneer | Golgari Midrange | Pioneer League 2024-05-09 |
| Rakdos Scam | Modern | Rakdos Scam | Modern League 2024-05-07 |
 | Mono-Black Discard | Pioneer | Mono-Black Discard | Pioneer Preliminary 2024-05-07 (1) |
 | Mono-Black Midrange | Pioneer | Mono-Black Midrange | Pioneer Preliminary 2024-05-07 (1) |
| Mono-Black Scam | Modern | Mono-Black Scam | Modern League 2024-05-08 |
| Rakdos Sacrifice | Pioneer | Rakdos Sacrifice | Pioneer Preliminary 2024-05-07 (1) |
 | Mono-Black Coffers | Modern | Mono-Black Coffers | Modern Preliminary 2024-05-07 |
| Rakdos Artifact Sacrifice | Pioneer | Rakdos Artifact Sacrifice | Pioneer Preliminary 2024-05-07 (1) |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Castle Locthwain offers consistent card draw which can be pivotal in keeping your hand replenished throughout the match. The ability to activate this during your opponent’s end phase ensures you enter your turn with more options.
Resource Acceleration: Although not a direct form of resource acceleration, the card ensures you hit your land drops consistently. This indirectly accelerates your resource development by preventing mana screw situations, allowing you to deploy threats more reliably.
Instant Speed: The activation of Castle Locthwain’s draw ability can be used at instant speed, providing flexibility to adapt to the constantly changing game state. This way, you can optimize the use of your mana each turn and ensure you aren’t falling behind in the draw race.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Castle Locthwain’s ability can put players in a challenging position by demanding a card to be discarded if their hand is empty. This downside necessitates careful timing to avoid unwanted card loss, making it less reliable when your hand is running low.
Specific Mana Cost: The activation of Castle Locthwain’s draw ability is bound to black mana, which could pose a potential issue for multi-colored or non-black decks. Players need to ensure sufficient black mana to fully capitalize on the card’s potential, potentially restricting the card’s universality.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its activated ability costing both three generic and one black mana, Castle Locthwain might be seen as resource-intensive for the card advantage it provides. Especially in match-ups where speed and efficiency are key, the comparative investment might sway players towards other options for card draw.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Castle Locthwain shines in various deck types, offering an efficient card draw mechanism for those needing to refill their hand, whether in aggressive decks running out of steam or control decks seeking more answers.
Combo Potential: With its ability to draw additional cards, Castle Locthwain fits perfectly into decks that synergize around the number of cards in hand or those that utilize the discard mechanic for beneficial effects.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where long, grindy games are common, having Castle Locthwain ensures a steady flow of resources, making it a key component in maintaining card advantage over your opponent.
How to beat Castle Locthwain
Castle Locthwain holds a special place among land cards in Magic: The Gathering. It provides black mana and, when the conditions align, it offers crucial card draw. The ability to draw additional cards can be a game changer, particularly in decks that thrive on having a wide variety of options at hand. To effectively counter this card, deny your opponent the opportunity to use its card draw feature. This can be executed through land destruction or land count reduction strategies, disrupting their mana base and limiting their ability to maintain an extensive enough hand to capitalize on Castle Locthwain’s advantages.
Another strategy to overcoming Castle Locthwain involves the use of hand disruption techniques. Cards like Thoughtseize or Duress that force your opponent to discard can negate the benefits gained from Castle Locthwain by stripping away key options before they can be used. Keeping pressure on your opponent’s lifepoints is also effective since Castle Locthwain’s card draw comes at the cost of life, based on the number of cards in their hand. Applying aggressive tactics can therefore hinder your opponent’s ability to use this land to its full potential without risking their game position.
In summary, maintaining control over your opponent’s hand and land resources while exerting consistent pressure can counter and eclipse the strategic value Castle Locthwain may hold within a match.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Castle Locthwain 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 Locthwain and other MTG cards:
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- 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
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Printings
The Castle Locthwain Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2019-10-04 and 2022-06-10. Illustrated by Titus Lunter.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2019-10-04 | Throne of Eldraine | ELD | 241 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Titus Lunter | |
| 2 | 2019-10-04 | Throne of Eldraine | ELD | 389 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Titus Lunter | |
| 3 | 2022-06-10 | Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate | CLB | 884 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Titus Lunter |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Castle Locthwain 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 Locthwain 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 | No player may take actions between the time you draw a card and the time you lose life. |