Great Hall of the Citadel MTG Card
2023-06-23 - Number 705
2023-06-23 - Number 254
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Land |
Text of card
: Add . , : Add two mana in any combination of colors. Spend this mana only to cast legendary spells.
"Renewed shall be blade that was broken: The crownless again shall be king." —Bilbo
Cards like Great Hall of the Citadel
Great Hall of the Citadel is a unique land card in Magic: The Gathering, offering players a special ability to transform one resource into another. When considering similar cards, Khalni Gem stands out as it also allows the conversion of lands into tokens, namely Eldrazi Spawn. Nonetheless, Great Hall has the edge with its ability to generate a powerful token creature without any mana cost, just a simple tap and conversion of another creature.
Besides, there’s Westvale Abbey, a land with the ability to churn out creature tokens. However, unlike Great Hall which tasks you to sacrifice a creature for its transformation, Westvale Abbey asks for a higher price—five creatures. Once transformed, it becomes a formidable flying, lifelink, indestructible demon. The trade-off is steep, but the outcome can be game-ending.
Lastly, Sokenzan, Crucible of Defiance offers similar transformation abilities but focuses on creating an aggressive benefit by giving you an extra combat phase rather than a creature token. This showcases Great Hall’s unique niche, strategically shifting a stalled board by replacing a creature with an immediately impactful token.
Cards similar to Great Hall of the Citadel by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Great Hall of the Citadel. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Kethis Combo | Modern | Kethis Combo | Modern Super Qualifier 2023-12-27 |
 | Naya Midrange | Gladiator | Gladiator Proving Grounds: Week 14 2024 | |
 | Five-color Aggro | Modern | Grand Open Qualifier Prague 2024 | |
 | Boros Aggro | Modern | Jeskai Legends Aggro | #30 Last Chance Qualifier: Modern |
 | Bant Control | Gladiator | Gladiator Team Unified League |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Great Hall of the Citadel is a land card that provides not just mana, but also potential card advantage by enabling you to essentially draw from your creature cards. Each time a creature you control dies, if it was enchanted or equipped, you can create a 2/2 white Knight creature token with vigilance. This helps maintain pressure on the board and can replace lost resources, contributing to a sustained card advantage.
Resource Acceleration: As a land card that can be tapped for mana, Great Hall of the Citadel offers the inherent benefit of resource acceleration. This land taps for colorless mana, which can be essential for diverse deck builds, and it doesn’t come into play tapped, allowing for immediate impact. Moreover, converting your enchanted or equipped creatures into new tokens after they die doesn’t cost extra mana, providing an additional form of resource efficiency.
Instant Speed: While not an instant itself, Great Hall of the Citadel interacts favorably with instant speed mechanics. Its ability triggers whenever your creatures die, which means it synergizes with instant speed removal or combat tricks that could lead to both equipped or enchanted creatures and opponents’ creatures dying during the same interaction. This land provides a strategic edge, allowing you to capitalize on the inherent unpredictability of instant speed exchanges.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Incorporating Great Hall of the Citadel into your deck comes with the stipulation that when using its ability, you’re required to discard a card. This can be especially detrimental during the late game when every card in hand is vital for turning the tide of battle or clutching the win.
Specific Mana Cost: Great Hall’s activation hinges on a specific mana requirement, which isn’t always easily fulfilled. Decks that run multiple colors might find this stringent mana specification problematic, potentially obstructing the card’s utilization at critical moments.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The expense required to activate Great Hall’s ability is on the steeper side when benchmarked against other cards that can provide similar benefits. Savvy players often look for more economically viable options to optimize mana expenditure, which might make Great Hall less appealing despite its potential strategic benefits.
Reasons to Include Great Hall of the Citadel in Your Collection
Versatility: Great Hall of the Citadel brings a unique offering to decks that capitalize on both land utility and creature enhancement. It operates as both a mana source and a transformative tool to escalate your creatures’ impact on the battlefield.
Combo Potential: This card enables a symbiotic relationship with decks that leverage sacrifice mechanics, allowing players to exchange creatures for a potent legendary token that can turn the tides of gameplay. Additionally, the land aspect of Great Hall of the Citadel provides an avenue for landfall strategies, which can amplify the power of certain decks.
Meta-Relevance: Within an environment that rewards players for intricate plays and versatility, Great Hall of the Citadel holds its ground. It helps navigate against decks aiming to limit creature advantages while offering a land that progresses your strategy in the face of diverse threats and competitions.
How to beat
The Great Hall of the Citadel card is a unique asset for players looking to bolster their defenses in MTG. Unlike other lands, it offers a transformative ability that allows you to sacrifice a creature and pay some mana to create a potent God creature token. This card can become a thorn in your side if you’re not prepared with a strategy to handle its capabilities.
To effectively counteract the Great Hall of the Citadel, players should consider using land destruction or control methods to neutralize the advantage it provides. Spot removal or exile effects geared towards lands can prevent opponents from capitalizing on the card’s transformation ability. Additionally, cards that restrict token generation or target God creatures directly could serve as precise countermeasures against the resulting tokens. Keep in mind that forcing your opponent to sacrifice creatures to activate the Great Hall can be turned to your advantage, with cards that punish or inhibit sacrificing, thus effectively using their strategy against them.
In essence, getting ahead of Great Hall of the Citadel hinges on controlling the state of the battlefield and depriving your opponent of the chance to exploit its transformation ability to its full extent. A timely and tailored response will ensure that this hall does not become the foundation of your opponent’s victory.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Great Hall of the Citadel MTG card by a specific set like The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth and The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth, 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 Great Hall of the Citadel 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 Great Hall of the Citadel Magic the Gathering card was released in 1 different sets between 2023-06-23 and 2023-06-23. Illustrated by Campbell White.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2023-06-23 | The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth | LTR | 705 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Campbell White | |
| 2 | 2023-06-23 | The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth | LTR | 254 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Campbell White |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Great Hall of the Citadel has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Alchemy | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |