Citywide Bust MTG Card


Indirect card advantage gained by selectively clearing high-powered creatures and controlling the board. Offers tempo with low mana cost, aiding your strategy without stalling your resource development. Despite sorcery speed, anticipatory play allows for a maintained game pace and post-wipe advantage.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeSorcery

Text of card

Destroy all creatures with toughness 4 or greater.

"Oh, you fellas are going to love the lockup. Excellent gruel. Very low ceilings." —Libuse, Boros sergeant


Cards like Citywide Bust

Citywide Bust stands out in MTG as a powerful board wipe specifically designed to target larger creatures. Its role can be seen as somewhat parallel to cards like Day of Judgment or Wrath of God, which clear the board of all creatures, irrespective of their stats. The unique angle for Citywide Bust, however, is its ability to selectively remove only creatures with toughness 4 or greater, preserving smaller, potentially utility-oriented creatures that could be critical to your strategy.

When comparing it to something more specialized like Ratchet Bomb, which can be calibrated to destroy creatures of a certain mana cost, Citywide Bust offers a different tactical approach. While Ratchet Bomb can take time to set up and has the potential to affect a broader range of permanents, Citywide Bust delivers immediate impact on the board state, specifically sculpting the battlefield in favor of decks running creatures with lower toughness.

Considering the strategic implications, Citywide Bust provides a unique blend of selective eradication and speed, making it a superb choice for players who aim to tip the scales of the board while dancing around their own low-toughness utility creatures or key permanents.

Day of Judgment - MTG Card versions
Wrath of God - MTG Card versions
Ratchet Bomb - MTG Card versions
Day of Judgment - MTG Card versions
Wrath of God - MTG Card versions
Ratchet Bomb - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Citywide Bust by color, type and mana cost

Tivadar's Crusade - MTG Card versions
Cleansing - MTG Card versions
Blinding Light - MTG Card versions
Dust to Dust - MTG Card versions
Warrior's Charge - MTG Card versions
Valorous Charge - MTG Card versions
Bargain - MTG Card versions
Angelic Blessing - MTG Card versions
Virtuous Charge - MTG Card versions
Riding Red Hare - MTG Card versions
Cleansing Meditation - MTG Card versions
Search for Glory - MTG Card versions
Hive Stirrings - MTG Card versions
Kayla's Reconstruction - MTG Card versions
Council's Judgment - MTG Card versions
Proclamation of Rebirth - MTG Card versions
Marshaling Cry - MTG Card versions
Solemn Offering - MTG Card versions
Righteous Charge - MTG Card versions
Timely Reinforcements - MTG Card versions
Tivadar's Crusade - MTG Card versions
Cleansing - MTG Card versions
Blinding Light - MTG Card versions
Dust to Dust - MTG Card versions
Warrior's Charge - MTG Card versions
Valorous Charge - MTG Card versions
Bargain - MTG Card versions
Angelic Blessing - MTG Card versions
Virtuous Charge - MTG Card versions
Riding Red Hare - MTG Card versions
Cleansing Meditation - MTG Card versions
Search for Glory - MTG Card versions
Hive Stirrings - MTG Card versions
Kayla's Reconstruction - MTG Card versions
Council's Judgment - MTG Card versions
Proclamation of Rebirth - MTG Card versions
Marshaling Cry - MTG Card versions
Solemn Offering - MTG Card versions
Righteous Charge - MTG Card versions
Timely Reinforcements - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Citywide Bust is a strategic addition to decks looking to control the board. While it doesn’t directly add cards to your hand, it targets a common vulnerability in many strategies – creatures with high power. By decimating your opponent’s heavy hitters while preserving your lower-powered creatures, you maintain a favorable stance on the battlefield, effectively creating an indirect card advantage.

Resource Acceleration: Although Citywide Bust doesn’t directly provide resource acceleration, its low mana cost serves to your strategic advantage. As a white sorcery, it allows you to execute a significant board wipe without setting you back on mana. This permits the allocation of resources towards developing your board state in the following turns, granting tempo that acts as a form of acceleration in mid-game scenarios.

Instant Speed: While Citywide Bust operates at sorcery speed, its inclusion in your game plan accounts for the necessity to manage threats proactively. By anticipating the turn you’d want to clear the board, you set the stage for a post-wipe advantage. This preemptive consideration is a vital part of maintaining the pace of the game and keeping your opponents at bay, allowing you to dictate the tempo in the turns that follow.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Unlike some other removal spells, Citywide Bust doesn’t ask you to discard cards, making it easy to keep your hand filled while dealing with threats on the battlefield.

Specific Mana Cost: Citywide Bust requires both white mana and generic mana, which may not fit seamlessly into every deck archetype. Players running multicolor decks might find it challenging to manage their mana base to accommodate this specific cost.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana, Citywide Bust can be considered costly for its effect of destroying creatures with toughness 4 or greater. This can be a drawback in fast-paced games where lower mana cost removals could be more beneficial.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Citywide Bust is a powerful card that can be incorporated into a variety of deck builds targeting creature control. It’s particularly effective in formats where larger creatures dominate the battlefield, serving as a potent board wipe against formidable opponents.

Combo Potential: This card can be synergized with strategies that preserve your own creatures while devastating your opponent’s larger forces. It works well with creatures that have low power but high toughness, ensuring your board remains unaffected when you cast Citywide Bust.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta filled with decks that rely on heavy hitters, Citywide Bust levels the playing field by removing those threats in a single, cost-effective move. It’s a strategic inclusion against decks that aim to outsize and overpower opponents early in the game.


How to Beat Citywide Bust

Citywide Bust can be a formidable card to face in Magic: The Gathering, particularly for players who favor creatures with higher toughness. This powerful removal card specifically targets creatures with toughness 4 or greater, which can decimate a carefully cultivated board presence. Understanding the type of deck and creatures that can withstand Citywide Bust is key to overcoming its impact on your game.

To effectively navigate around Citywide Bust, consider playing creatures with lower toughness that pack a punch through abilities or synergies rather than raw power. Aggro decks filled with swift, low-toughness creatures can slip under the radar and continue to apply pressure. Incorporating indestructible creatures or those with the ability to regenerate also improves resilience against such board wipes. Additionally, cards that grant temporary indestructibility or those that counter noncreature spells can protect your key pieces from Citywide Bust’s effect.

Ultimately, versatility and adaptability are your greatest tools. Decks that can rapidly rebuild or those that don’t rely solely on creature-based strategies will find it easier to recover from a Citywide Bust, maintaining their competitive edge. It’s all about foresight and keeping a step ahead of your opponent’s potential plays.


BurnMana Recommendations

Fine-tuning your MTG collection with impactful cards like Citywide Bust positions you for strategic victories. Whether you’re shifting the board state in your favor or just edging out competitors in creature-heavy metas, cards like this are quintessential. Remember, it’s the subtle interactions and smart deck construction that often spells the difference between a win and a loss in Magic. Delve deeper into deck building techniques, card synergies, and the art of the perfect play with BurnMana. Expand your knowledge, refine your strategies, and achieve mastery over your MTG matches. Ready for the next level? Join us and explore the depths of your deck’s potential.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Citywide Bust MTG card by a specific set like Guilds of Ravnica and Guilds of Ravnica Promos, 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 Citywide Bust and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Citywide Bust Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2018-10-05 and 2020-04-17. Illustrated by Victor Adame Minguez.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12018-10-05Guilds of RavnicaGRN 42015NormalBlackVictor Adame Minguez
22018-10-05Guilds of Ravnica PromosPGRN 4s2015NormalBlackVictor Adame Minguez
32020-04-17Commander 2020C20 822015NormalBlackVictor Adame Minguez

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Citywide Bust has restrictions

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