Sandsteppe Citadel MTG Card

Boosts card advantage by aiding a diverse spell repertoire through solid mana fixing. Accelerates resources in multicolor decks allowing timely, critical plays. Crucial in providing color choices, enhancing deck strategies and versatility.
Card setsReleased in 15 setsSee all
RarityUncommon
TypeLand

Text of card

Sandsteppe Citadel enters the battlefield tapped. : Add , , or to your mana pool.

That which endures, survives.

Cards like Sandsteppe Citadel

Sandsteppe Citadel is an intriguing land card that allows MTG players to tap for one of three possible mana colors – white, blue, or green. This powerful versatility brings to mind Command Tower, a card that offers one mana of any color in your commander’s color identity. While Command Tower shines in multicolored Commander decks, Sandsteppe Citadel provides a reliable three-color mana base in standard deck formats.

Nomad Outpost and Mystic Monastery tell a similar story. They too tap for three colors of mana but differ in the color combinations they provide. Offering players choices in different shards, these lands are pivotal in their respective three-color decks. Although they enter the battlefield tapped just like Sandsteppe Citadel, they enable a wide range of strategic plays once they’re ready for action.

When analyzing the trade-off between having instant access to mana versus a broader range of color availability, Sandsteppe Citadel remains a staple in decks that prioritize color flexibility over speed. Its balance of color variety and ease of integration into multicolor decks make it a mainstay for players looking to optimize their mana bases in the MTG multiverse.

Command Tower - MTG Card versions
Nomad Outpost - MTG Card versions
Mystic Monastery - MTG Card versions
Command Tower - MTG Card versions
Nomad Outpost - MTG Card versions
Mystic Monastery - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Sandsteppe Citadel by color, type and mana cost

Indatha Triome - MTG Card versions
Murmuring Bosk - MTG Card versions
Indatha Triome - MTG Card versions
Murmuring Bosk - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Sandsteppe Citadel itself doesn’t directly allow you to draw additional cards, it supports strategies that lead to card advantage. Specifically, by providing a smooth mana base in three colors, it helps you cast a wider range of spells, including those that can generate card advantage for you.

Resource Acceleration: Sandsteppe Citadel enters the battlefield tapped, but it offers mana fixing by tapping for one of three different colors—white, black, or green. This is especially crucial in multicolored decks looking to accelerate their resource availability and deploy key spells on-curve without being hindered by a lack of the right mana.

Instant Speed: While lands like Sandsteppe Citadel don’t operate at instant speed, its impact is in the deck’s overall ability to have the right mana at the right time. It enables you to utilize other cards at instant speed by ensuring you have the necessary mana colors available when you need them.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Although Sandsteppe Citadel enters the battlefield tapped, it doesn’t have a discard requirement. This is a minor misconception some players might have.

Specific Mana Cost: As a tri-color land, Sandsteppe Citadel taps for white, blue, or red mana. This specificity can be restrictive if you’re not running a deck that requires all three colors, thus potentially limiting its versatility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While it doesn’t cost any mana to play, its entering the battlefield tapped is equivalent to a higher mana cost in terms of speed. In comparison to basic lands or lands with no such entering the battlefield drawback, Sandsteppe Citadel can slow your game plan down, which might be crucial in fast-paced games.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Sandsteppe Citadel is a key addition to decks requiring a robust mana base across multiple colors. Its ability to tap for white, black, or green mana makes it a staple in any Abzan deck or other color-intensive strategies, ensuring smoother plays and color fixing.

Combo Potential: This land card doesn’t just provide mana; it pairs beautifully with landfall abilities or other mechanics that benefit from land types entering the battlefield. In addition, it sets up your deck for multicolor spells or combos that can turn the tide of the game.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta that favors multicolored decks or three-color commanders, Sandsteppe Citadel maintains solid relevance. Its presence supports key plays without the downside of entering the battlefield tapped if properly sequenced with other lands or effects that untap lands.

How to beat Sandsteppe Citadel

In the realm of Magic: The Gathering, Sandsteppe Citadel stands as a pivotal fixture in multicolored decks, specifically those that tap into the Abzan color combination (white, black, and green mana). Its ability to provide one of three mana types makes it a strategic piece in playing diverse spells efficiently. However, like all lands that enter the battlefield tapped, its greatest weakness lies in the timing.

To gain an edge against Sandsteppe Citadel, speed is essential. Aggressive, single-colored or two-colored decks that utilize untapped lands can outpace a Citadel-centric strategy. This allows for quicker deployment of threats that the Abzan player may not be prepared to handle. Furthermore, land destruction cards or effects that restrict the opponent from searching their library for lands can disrupt the mana base that a card like Sandsteppe Citadel aims to stabilize.

In essence, exploiting the tempo loss associated with Sandsteppe Citadel can be a clear path to victory. By staying ahead on the board and applying pressure, you can ensure that the Citadel’s entrance to the battlefield tapped becomes a tactical disadvantage for your opponent.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Sandsteppe Citadel MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Khans of Tarkir, 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 Sandsteppe Citadel and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Sandsteppe Citadel Magic the Gathering card was released in 14 different sets between 2014-09-26 and 2023-08-04. Illustrated by 3 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 576062015NormalBlackJohn Avon
22014-09-26Khans of TarkirKTK 2412015NormalBlackSam Burley
32015-07-17Magic Origins Clash PackCP3 62015NormalBlackJohn Avon
42016-11-11Commander 2016C16 3202015NormalBlackSam Burley
52017-08-25Commander 2017C17 2742015NormalBlackSam Burley
62018-06-08Commander Anthology Volume IICM2 2642015NormalBlackSam Burley
72019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 16852015NormalBlackSam Burley
82020-04-17Commander 2020C20 3052015NormalBlackSam Burley
92020-09-26The ListPLST CM2-2642015NormalBlackSam Burley
102020-09-26The ListPLST KTK-2412015NormalBlackSam Burley
112022-09-09Dominaria United CommanderDMC 2292015NormalBlackSam Burley
122023-02-03Phyrexia: All Will Be One CommanderONC 1622015NormalBlackSam Burley
132023-05-08From Cute to BrutePCTB 802015NormalBlackSam Burley
142023-06-23Tales of Middle-earth CommanderLTC 3272015NormalBlackTitus Lunter
152023-08-04Commander MastersCMM 10242015NormalBlackSam Burley

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Sandsteppe Citadel has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
TimelessLegal