Aliban's Tower MTG Card

Homelands (HML)
1995-10-01 - Number 61a

Homelands (HML)
1995-10-01 - Number 61b

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Common
Type	Instant

Key Takeaways

Aliban’s Tower allows strategic depth with dual-mode functionality and instant speed actions.
Requires specific mana and a discard, potentially affecting card advantage negatively.
Combines well with orc-focused decks, adding versatility to your collection.

Text of card

Target blocking creature gets +3/+1 until end of turn.

"Those who hide in hollow towers would do well to remember the rain." —Reyhan, Samite Alchemist

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Aliban’s Tower offers a dual-mode functionality, providing choice and strategic depth. Utilizing the tower can effectively generate card advantage by turning a single card into multiple resources or by replacing itself in your hand when a creature is successfully defended.

Resource Acceleration: By granting an additional mana of any color when acting as a mana source, Aliban’s Tower can accelerate your mana curve. This acceleration can be pivotal in casting high-impact spells earlier than expected, giving you a significant edge over the competition.

Instant Speed: The tower’s ability to both create a creature token and potentially draw a card can be activated at instant speed. This flexibility allows savvy players to adapt to the evolving state of the game, making more informed decisions during the crucial moments of a match.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Aliban’s Tower asks players to discard a card upon activation. This can be a significant downside when you’re trying to maintain card advantage or if your hand is already low on cards, possibly giving your opponent an unintended edge in the long game.

Specific Mana Cost: Getting Aliban’s Tower onto the battlefield requires a specific investment of both colorless and black mana. This necessity can restrict deck-building flexibility and may not always align seamlessly with your mana curve, especially in multi-colored decks where mana is at a premium.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a requirement of three colorless and one black mana to cast, Aliban’s Tower is not the most mana-efficient card in its category. Given the dynamic landscape of the game, players might find that this card’s cost outweighs the benefit, especially when comparing it to other options that might require less of a mana investment for similar or better effects.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Aliban’s Tower offers a unique utility for decks focusing on manipulating creature’s power, especially in casual playgroups or Commander games. It’s a useful tool for enabling surprise blocks or forcing through unexpected damage.

Combo Potential: Aliban’s Tower shines in decks that benefit from power adjustments, perhaps turning an innocuous creature into a lethal threat or in combination with cards that trigger effects based on power changes.

Meta-Relevance: While not a staple in competitive formats, Aliban’s Tower has the potential to swing games in more informal settings where the meta is less predictable and innovative card choices can thrive.

How to beat

Aliban’s Tower occupies a unique spot in the collection of Magic the Gathering artifacts, drawing comparisons to cards that manipulate the battlefield and creature combat. When playing against Aliban’s Tower, one strategy that can be highly effective is to use cards that can disable or remove artifacts directly from the game, such as Abrade or Disenchant. This deprives your opponent of the ability to utilize Aliban’s Tower’s potential to fortify their creatures.

Moreover, timing is everything when facing this card. Playing your instant removal spells in response to your opponent activating Aliban’s Tower can lead to a significant shift in combat outcomes. This is because the resources they expend will be wasted, creating a loss of board presence or tempo. Being proactive by playing aggressive creatures and keeping pressure can also deter your opponent from exploiting the defensive benefits Aliban’s Tower provides.

Overall, to tackle the challenges posed by Aliban’s Tower, players must plan ahead, execute timing-sensitive plays, and potentially incorporate targeted removal tools into their decks. These approaches can effectively invalidate the artifact’s combat tricks, keeping your strategic advantage on the battlefield intact.

Cards like Aliban's Tower

Aliban’s Tower is an intriguing artifact in Magic: The Gathering, sharing functionality with other cards that offer creature protection. Comparable in some aspects to Safe Haven, which also shelters creatures, Aliban’s Tower is distinct with its defensive capability limited to target Orc creatures. Safe Haven doesn’t have such restrictions but also doesn’t specialize in any particular tribe.

Moving to another related card, Rainbow Vale stands out for transferring control of lands. While Aliban’s Tower focuses on protecting your creatures, Rainbow Vale tactically shifts land ownership—albeit offering no direct creature defense. Additionally, we find Homeward Path which, unlike Aliban’s Tower, returns control of all your creatures rather than protecting an individual one. However, it does so at a broader scope, without the tribal specificity.

Each of these cards plays a unique role depending on your deck’s strategy and the tribes it supports. In conclusion, while evaluating cards similar to Aliban’s Tower, it’s clear that while it may not provide the breadth of application as some others, it caters specifically to players leveraging an Orc-centric strategy, making it quite niche and valuable within its context.

Cards similar to Aliban's Tower by color, type and mana cost

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Aliban's Tower MTG card by a specific set like Homelands and Homelands, 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 Aliban's Tower and other MTG cards: