Icatian Town MTG Card
1994-11-01 - Number 15
1996-05-02 - Number et15
1996-05-02 - Number et15sb
1997-03-24 - Number 38
1999-04-21 - Number 25
2007-09-10 - Number 18
| Card sets | Released in 6 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 6 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Sorcery |
Text of card
Put 4 Citizen tokens into play. Treat these tokens as 1/1 white creatures.
Icatia's once peaceful towns faced increasing attacks from Orcs and Goblins as the climate cooled. By the time the empire fell, they were little more than armed camps.
Cards like Icatian Town
Icatian Town holds a unique spot in the realm of token-generating cards in Magic: The Gathering. It shares a thematic lineage with cards like White Sun’s Zenith, which also delivers a bevy of creature tokens. Unlike Icatian Town, White Sun’s Zenith relies on X cost flexibility, offering scalable impact based on available mana, and the cats it creates come with an advantageous 2/2 standing.
There’s also Martial Coup, which resonates with the idea of mass token creation. For a higher mana investment, it not only summons soldier tokens but has the potential to clear the board when you invest enough mana, highlighting a dual purpose not inherent to Icatian Town’s design. Another similar card worth mentioning is Kjeldoran Outpost. Although it requires a land sacrifice and continual mana input for its token generation, it offers repeatable action versus Icatian Town’s one-time burst of creatures.
Ultimately, within the broader category of token generators, Icatian Town posits itself as a distinct choice. Its ability to produce an instant army can be a noteworthy tactic, albeit countered by the card’s higher cost and the summoning sickness affecting the troops it enlists.
Cards similar to Icatian Town by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: When playing the Icatian Town, it has the potential to generate multiple creature tokens, effectively offering a form of card advantage as you get more assets on the battlefield from a single card.
Resource Acceleration: Although not directly serving as a mana accelerant, the influx of tokens can indirectly lead to resource acceleration by providing additional creatures that can be used for various mechanics or sacrifices to propel your game state forward.
Instant Speed: While Icatian Town itself doesn’t operate at instant speed, the tokens it creates can be a surprise boon during your opponent’s turn if synchronized with flash mechanics or cards that allow you to deploy creatures at instant speed, heightening the card’s strategic value.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: In the gameplay context, Icatian Town doesn’t necessitate a discard, but it has a requirement that can be equally taxing. Deploying its ability mandates sacking a land, which, particularly in the early game, can set you back in terms of available mana resources and impact your board development.
Specific Mana Cost: Icatian Town not only requires a substantial amount of mana to cast, but its activation cost is also specific, requiring two white mana. This color-specific demand can limit deck-building flexibility and make it more challenging to integrate into multicolored decks that are not heavily white-centric.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of four mana and an activation cost that’s steep both in terms of mana and additional resource sacrifice, Icatian Town comes off as an investment that may not provide immediate or substantial returns. This is especially evident when you consider other cards in the same mana range that can provide more immediate impact or benefits without the additional costs.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Icatian Town can be a key component in token generating decks and those that capitalize on creature count. Its ability to add multiple creature tokens makes it valuable for strategies that require a wide board presence.
Combo Potential: The produced tokens can synergize with cards that benefit from creatures entering the battlefield or dying, opening up a myriad of combo possibilities. It’s also great for boosting your army in decks that aim to overrun opponents.
Meta-Relevance: As metagames shift, versatility matters. Icatian Town’s ability to populate the board can be crucial against control decks, helping to maintain a foothold even after a board wipe. In the right circumstances, it provides the numbers needed to withstand and outpace your opponent’s strategies.
How to Beat Icatian Town
Icatian Town is a unique card from the Fallen Empires expansion in Magic: The Gathering, known for its ability to flood the battlefield with creature tokens. Neutralizing Icatian Town’s impact requires a strategic approach to manage the wave of 1/1 Citizen tokens it creates. Cards like Pyroclasm or Electrickery are effective tools, as they can clear out multiple tokens with one spell. Additionally, utilizing cards that can repeatedly deal damage to multiple creatures, such as Pestilence or Shrivel, can help maintain control over the swarm of tokens. It’s important to manage your resources wisely, keeping the board clear and preventing your opponent from overwhelming you with their numerical advantage.
Another tactic against Icatian Town is countering it before it takes effect. Counter spells like Negate or Essence Scatter can be used to stop the card from ever hitting the field, eliminating the threat before it begins. For those who prefer a more proactive approach, cards that can preemptively remove Icatian Town from play, such as Thoughtseize or Duress, can be included in a deck to deal with threats before they manifest.
Regardless of your preferred method, it’s crucial to understand your deck’s capabilities and how it matches up against token-generating cards like Icatian Town. A well-timed sweeper or a strategic counterplay can make all the difference, ensuring that this blast from the past doesn’t overpower you.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Icatian Town MTG card by a specific set like Fallen Empires and Pro Tour Collector Set, 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 Icatian Town 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 Icatian Town Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 1994-11-01 and 2007-09-10. Illustrated by Tom Wänerstrand.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1994-11-01 | Fallen Empires | FEM | 15 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Tom Wänerstrand | |
| 2 | 1996-05-02 | Pro Tour Collector Set | PTC | et15 | 1993 | Normal | Gold | Tom Wänerstrand | |
| 3 | 1996-05-02 | Pro Tour Collector Set | PTC | et15sb | 1993 | Normal | Gold | Tom Wänerstrand | |
| 4 | 1997-03-24 | Fifth Edition | 5ED | 38 | 1997 | Normal | White | Tom Wänerstrand | |
| 5 | 1999-04-21 | Classic Sixth Edition | 6ED | 25 | 1997 | Normal | White | Tom Wänerstrand | |
| 6 | 2007-09-10 | Masters Edition | ME1 | 18 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Tom Wänerstrand |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Icatian Town has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Oldschool | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |