Court of Ardenvale MTG Card


Court of Ardenvale offers consistent card advantage by generating tokens to maintain battlefield strength. Its specific mana cost and token production pace may limit suitability in fast, mana-diverse decks. With its combo and meta-relevance, Court of Ardenvale is a strategic addition for many MTG players.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityRare
TypeEnchantment

Text of card

When Court of Ardenvale enters the battlefield, you become the monarch. At the beginning of your upkeep, return target permanent card with mana value 3 or less from your graveyard to your hand. If you're the monarch, return that permanent card to the battlefield instead.


Cards like Court of Ardenvale

Court of Ardenvale makes its mark in the rich tapestry of MTG as a unique land card that not only boosts mana but also creates creature tokens. It shares common ground with Castle Embereth in its ability to benefit from a special ability if you control a Plains. However, Court of Ardenvale’s advantage lies in token generation versus Castle Embereth’s focus on powering up creatures already on the battlefield.

Moorland Haunt is another land that resonates with Court of Ardenvale’s token-creating aspect, offering Spirit creature tokens instead of Human ones. While Moorland Haunt requires a creature card to be exiled from the graveyard, Court of Ardenvale’s recurrent effect only needs an open mana pool to operate. Then we have Westvale Abbey, which also thrives in the realm of token creation. Though it demands a hefty sacrifice of five creatures to transform, its final form, Ormendahl, Profane Prince, is a force to be reckoned with and far surpasses Ardenvale’s humble servitors in power.

As we delve into comparisons, we can appreciate Court of Ardenvale for its steady and less conditional supply of defenders or attackers. It performs reliably as both a land and a creature generator, securing its position as a versatile card in Magic: The Gathering decks that capitalize on creature quantity and board presence.

Castle Embereth - MTG Card versions
Moorland Haunt - MTG Card versions
Castle Embereth - MTG Card versions
Moorland Haunt - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Court of Ardenvale by color, type and mana cost

Castle - MTG Card versions
Karma - MTG Card versions
Conversion - MTG Card versions
Angelic Voices - MTG Card versions
Seeker - MTG Card versions
Drought - MTG Card versions
Justice - MTG Card versions
Divine Transformation - MTG Card versions
Null Chamber - MTG Card versions
Field of Souls - MTG Card versions
Light of Day - MTG Card versions
Pegasus Refuge - MTG Card versions
Opal Titan - MTG Card versions
Ivory Mask - MTG Card versions
Parallax Wave - MTG Card versions
Worship - MTG Card versions
Diversionary Tactics - MTG Card versions
Moat - MTG Card versions
Teleportation Circle - MTG Card versions
Hallowed Haunting - MTG Card versions
Castle - MTG Card versions
Karma - MTG Card versions
Conversion - MTG Card versions
Angelic Voices - MTG Card versions
Seeker - MTG Card versions
Drought - MTG Card versions
Justice - MTG Card versions
Divine Transformation - MTG Card versions
Null Chamber - MTG Card versions
Field of Souls - MTG Card versions
Light of Day - MTG Card versions
Pegasus Refuge - MTG Card versions
Opal Titan - MTG Card versions
Ivory Mask - MTG Card versions
Parallax Wave - MTG Card versions
Worship - MTG Card versions
Diversionary Tactics - MTG Card versions
Moat - MTG Card versions
Teleportation Circle - MTG Card versions
Hallowed Haunting - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

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

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Esper ControlEsper Control LegacyEsper Control97 / The 97th Legacy at Home

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Court of Ardenvale is a reliable source of card advantage as it consistently creates creature tokens to bolster your battlefield presence without depleting your hand.

Resource Acceleration: This land card steps up the game in resource acceleration by providing you with an alternative method to create board impact without spending spells from your hand, effectively saving your other resources.

Instant Speed: The ability to produce tokens at instant speed offers strategic depth, allowing players to wait until the end of an opponent’s turn to create a Human token, keeping mana available for other instant-speed interactions and surprises.


Card Cons

Specific Mana Cost: To activate Court of Ardenvale’s ability to create a 1/1 white Human creature token, a player must invest not only three generic mana but also one white mana. This specific requirement means that the card is best suited for decks heavily leaning on white mana sources, potentially restricting its utility in more color-diverse decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The investment of four total mana to produce a single creature token might not always align with a player’s strategy, particularly in fast-paced games where efficiency is key. Other options exist that might provide more immediate board presence or card advantage for a similar, if not lower, mana investment.

Discard Requirement: While Court of Ardenvale itself does not require the player to discard as part of its activation cost, it is important to note that its inclusion in a deck may necessitate keeping mana open that could have otherwise been spent on casting spells or developing board state, which can be akin to a discard in terms of lost tempo and opportunity cost.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Court of Ardenvale fits seamlessly into a variety of white-based control decks. Its ability to create token creatures ensures a steady board presence, making it a reliable option for defending against aggressive strategies.

Combo Potential: This land synergizes well with cards that capitalize on the quantity of creatures you control, such as “Divine Visitation” which can turn your humble 1/1 tokens into formidable 4/4 Angels. It can also benefit from proliferate mechanics to increase the loyalty of planeswalkers on your battlefield.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta dominated by slow, grindy strategies, Court of Ardenvale shines by offering a reusable source of creature generation. This can apply pressure on opponents without expending valuable spells from your hand, contributing to the endurance of your control game plan.


How to beat

The Court of Ardenvale is an enchantment card that can be a persistent source of creature tokens, proving to be a stronghold for many decks in Magic: The Gathering. In order to effectively counteract this card’s abilities, players should consider targeting enchantments directly or employing strategies that bypass the steady stream of tokens it creates.

Enchantment removal spells like Disenchant are straightforward solutions, offering a quick and cost-effective way to remove Court of Ardenvale from the battlefield. For a more comprehensive approach, sweepers or mass removal cards such as Wrath of God can clear the tokens generated, dealing with the immediate threat they pose. Additionally, cards that limit the effectiveness of token strategies, such as Illness in the Ranks, can be invaluable in mitigating the card’s impact. Moreover, players can also capitalize on its opportunity cost by applying pressure elsewhere – often, Court of Ardenvale’s ability comes at the expense of other potentially more impactful plays.

It’s important to weigh these options against the context of your own deck and the typical game scenarios you encounter. Whether by targeted removal, board wipes, or strategic overextension, there are multiple avenues to overcome the challenges posed by the Court of Ardenvale in a game of Magic: The Gathering.


BurnMana Recommendations

It’s clear that Court of Ardenvale can be a pivotal card in your MTG matchup. With its steady token generation and versatility in white-based decks, this card deserves consideration for your collection. Whether you are shoring up your defenses, creating token-driven synergies, or simply aiming for late-game dominance, this card can support a multitude of strategic angles. Understanding how to utilize Court of Ardenvale effectively, as well as how to counter it, can elevate your gameplay. We invite you to delve deeper into the nuances of this card, integrate it into your strategies, and continue to refine your deck’s performance. Discover more insights and strategies on how to optimize your MTG experience with Court of Ardenvale by joining our community.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Court of Ardenvale // Court of Ardenvale MTG card by a specific set like Wilds of Eldraine Art Series and Wilds of Eldraine Commander, 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 Court of Ardenvale // Court of Ardenvale and other MTG cards:

TCGPlayerBUY NOW
BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Printings

The Court of Ardenvale // Court of Ardenvale Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2023-09-08 and 2023-09-08. Illustrated by Donato Giancola.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12023-09-08Wilds of Eldraine Art SeriesAWOE 512015Art seriesBorderlessDonato Giancola
22023-09-08Wilds of Eldraine CommanderWOC 212015NormalBlackDonato Giancola
32023-09-08Wilds of Eldraine CommanderWOC 292015NormalBlackDonato Giancola

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Court of Ardenvale has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2023-09-01 If combat damage dealt to the monarch causes that player to lose the game, the triggered ability that causes the controller of the attacking creature to become the monarch doesn't resolve. In most cases, the controller of the attacking creature will still become the monarch as it is likely their turn.
2023-09-01 If the monarch leaves the game during another player's turn, that player becomes the monarch. If the monarch leaves the game during their turn, the next player in turn order becomes the monarch.
2023-09-01 If the triggered ability that causes the monarch to draw a card goes on the stack and a different player becomes the monarch before that ability resolves, the first player will still draw the card.
2023-09-01 The game starts with no monarch. As a player becomes the monarch, the current monarch (if any) ceases being the monarch. There is never more than one monarch at a time.
2023-09-01 There are two inherent triggered abilities associated with being the monarch. These triggered abilities have no source and are controlled by the player who was the monarch at the time the abilities triggered. The full texts of these abilities are "At the beginning of the monarch's end step, that player draws a card" and "Whenever a creature deals combat damage to the monarch, its controller becomes the monarch."