Darksteel Citadel MTG Card
2004-02-06 - Number 164
2004-09-01 - Number mb164
2014-07-18 - Number 242
2014-11-07 - Number 290
2015-05-22 - Number 238
2016-11-11 - Number 288
2018-06-08 - Number 243
2018-08-09 - Number 241
2019-11-07 - Number 1662
2020-08-07 - Number 315
2021-04-23 - Number 285
2022-07-28 - Number 20
2022-11-18 - Number 180
2019-12-02 - Number 608
2020-09-26 - Number MM2-238
| Card sets | Released in 15 setsSee all |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Artifact Land |
| Abilities | Indestructible |
Text of card
Darksteel Citadel is indestructible. ("Destroy" effects and lethal damage don't destroy it.) : Add to your mana pool.
Panopticon, forge of the Darksteel Eye, home of Mirrodin's keeper.
Cards like Darksteel Citadel
Darksteel Citadel is a unique land in the vast world of MTG, providing an indestructible mana source. Comparable lands, such as Seat of the Synod, offer colored mana but lack the robustness that comes with Darksteel Citadel’s indestructibility. Seat of the Synod is part of a cycle of Artifact Lands, but it’s vulnerable to land destruction, whereas Darksteel Citadel stands resilient amidst mass removal effects.
Another similar card, Great Furnace, provides red mana and is also an artifact, which can be advantageous in decks that capitalize on artifact synergies. Nonetheless, it can’t match the durability of Darksteel Citadel. There’s also Ancient Den which functions similarly to Great Furnace but taps for white mana. Despite their differences, they both share that same fragility when pitted against Darksteel Citadel’s steadfast presence on the battlefield.
Assessing the landscape of comparable artifact lands, Darksteel Citadel’s unique indestructible property offers a clear strategic advantage. It’s a card that finds its strength not just in its ability to produce mana, but also in securing a robust footing, making it a favored option in artifact-centric strategies within the game.
Cards similar to Darksteel Citadel by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Darksteel Citadel. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Izzet Ensoul Artifact | Pioneer | Izzet Ensoul Artifact | Pioneer Super Qualifier 2024-05-04 |
 | Affinity | Modern | Affinity | Modern Challenge 32 2024-05-03 |
 | Izzet Artifacts | Legacy | Blue Artifacts | Legacy Challenge 32 2024-05-04 |
| Grixis Artifacts | Legacy | Blue Artifacts | Legacy Challenge 32 2024-05-04 |
 | Azorius Affinity | Pauper | Azorius Affinity | Pauper Challenge 32 2024-05-04 |
 | Ensoul Artifact | Pioneer | Ensoul Artifact | Pioneer Challenge 32 2024-05-05 |
| Patchwork Stompy | Legacy | Patchwork Stompy | Legacy Challenge 32 2024-05-04 (1) |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Unlike many other lands, Darksteel Citadel offers resistance to common card removal strategies. Its indestructible nature ensures that it remains a consistent resource throughout the game, effectively providing a card advantage as it’s a land that’s difficult for opponents to deal with.
Resource Acceleration: As an artifact itself, Darksteel Citadel can contribute to strategies that rely on artifact synergy. This card can accelerate your game plan by enabling artifact count-dependent spells or abilities earlier in the match, often when it’s most critical.
Instant Speed: While Darksteel Citadel doesn’t function at instant speed, its unassuming entrance to the battlefield as a land translates to immediate utility. It’s ready to tap for mana or contribute to artifact synergies the moment it’s played, without tipping off opponents to your broader strategy and without waiting for summoning sickness to clear.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Darksteel Citadel does not directly impose a discard requirement on the player, but it’s important to note that its indestructible nature may not always protect against discard or exile effects which can specifically target land cards. In metagames where land destruction isn’t prevalent, its indestructible feature can be less impactful, possibly becoming an underutilized aspect of the card.
Specific Mana Cost: While Darksteel Citadel can be tapped for colorless mana, it does not provide any colored mana options. This can be a limiting factor in multicolored decks that require a diverse mana base to cast various spells. Decks that heavily rely on specific color combinations may find this artifact land less than ideal when looking to optimize their mana curve and color availability.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Darksteel Citadel enters the battlefield untapped, which is beneficial, however, it offers no additional mana ramp or color fixing. In an environment where the competition for land slots in a deck is fierce, some players might opt for utility lands that can accelerate their game plan or provide more flexibility, despite the resilience of the citadel.
Reasons to Include Darksteel Citadel in Your Collection
Versatility: Darksteel Citadel is an indestructible land that offers a reliable mana source in any game situation. It doesn’t come into play tapped, so it can be used right away, making it an excellent fit for various decks that require consistent mana without the drawback of entering the battlefield tapped.
Combo Potential: As an artifact itself, Darksteel Citadel works seamlessly with strategies that capitalize on artifact synergies. It feeds into mechanisms that count the number of artifacts you control and can be a robust enabler for artifact-themed combos.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where artifact removal is prevalent, Darksteel Citadel’s indestructible nature makes it impervious to such strategies, ensuring you maintain your land count and mana availability throughout the game.
How to beat
Darksteel Citadel holds a unique position in the pantheon of land cards in Magic: The Gathering. Unlike other non-basic lands, it comes with the powerful trait of indestructibility, providing a robust foundation for artifact-based strategies and resilience against land destruction effects. However, this doesn’t mean it’s unbeatable. Strategies to overcome the strength of Darksteel Citadel focus on limiting its synergies rather than attempting outright removal.
Players dealing with Darksteel Citadel often employ methods that prevent or mitigate the effects of artifact synergies, such as Stony Silence or Karn, the Great Creator. These options restrict the abilities of artifacts, effectively counteracting the advantages that Darksteel Citadel might provide in an artifact-heavy deck. Another tactic is to employ land cards like Blood Moon, which can turn Darksteel Citadel into a basic Mountain, negating any tactical edge the citadel’s indestructibility and type synergy may offer.
By understanding the limitations and focusing on key strategies that target the deck’s mechanics as opposed to the land itself, players can mitigate the impact of Darksteel Citadel within the game’s landscape, without the need to resort to direct land destruction tactics that would typically be ineffective due to its indestructible nature.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Darksteel Citadel MTG card by a specific set like Darksteel and World Championship Decks 2004, 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 Darksteel Citadel and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
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- MTG Mint Card
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- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
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Printings
The Darksteel Citadel Magic the Gathering card was released in 15 different sets between 2004-02-06 and 2022-11-18. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2004-02-06 | Darksteel | DST | 164 | 2003 | Normal | Black | John Avon | |
| 2 | 2004-09-01 | World Championship Decks 2004 | WC04 | mb164 | 2003 | Normal | Gold | John Avon | |
| 3 | 2014-07-18 | Magic 2015 | M15 | 242 | 2015 | Normal | Black | John Avon | |
| 4 | 2014-11-07 | Commander 2014 | C14 | 290 | 2015 | Normal | Black | John Avon | |
| 5 | 2015-05-22 | Modern Masters 2015 | MM2 | 238 | 2015 | Normal | Black | John Avon | |
| 6 | 2016-11-11 | Commander 2016 | C16 | 288 | 2015 | Normal | Black | John Avon | |
| 7 | 2018-06-08 | Commander Anthology Volume II | CM2 | 243 | 2015 | Normal | Black | John Avon | |
| 8 | 2018-08-09 | Commander 2018 | C18 | 241 | 2015 | Normal | Black | John Avon | |
| 9 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 1662 | 2015 | Normal | Black | John Avon | |
| 10 | Secret Lair Drop | SLD | 608 | 2015 | Normal | Borderless | DXTR | ||
| 11 | 2020-08-07 | Double Masters | 2XM | 315 | 2015 | Normal | Black | John Avon | |
| 12 | The List | PLST | MM2-238 | 2015 | Normal | Black | John Avon | ||
| 13 | 2021-04-23 | Commander 2021 | C21 | 285 | 2015 | Normal | Black | John Avon | |
| 14 | 2022-07-28 | Explorer Anthology 1 | EA1 | 20 | 2015 | Normal | Black | John Avon | |
| 15 | 2022-11-18 | The Brothers' War Commander | BRC | 180 | 1997 | Normal | Black | John Avon |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Darksteel Citadel has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Darksteel Citadel card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2014-07-18 | Although Darksteel Citadel is an artifact, it can't be cast as a spell. Playing it follows the normal rules for playing a land. |