Throne of the High City MTG Card

Instant monarch status with Throne of the High City can shift game dynamics with end-of-turn card draw. Resource acceleration through being the monarch can outweigh the need for token or mana generation. Throne’s flexible instant-speed activation allows players to maintain mana for other crucial plays.

Throne of the High City - Conspiracy: Take the Crown (CN2)

Conspiracy: Take the Crown (CN2)
2016-08-26 - Number 80

Throne of the High City - Treasure Chest (PZ2)

Treasure Chest (PZ2)
2016-11-16 - Number 73

Throne of the High City - Tales of Middle-earth Commander (LTC)

Tales of Middle-earth Commander (LTC)
2023-06-23 - Number 339

Throne of the High City - Murders at Karlov Manor Commander (MKC)

Murders at Karlov Manor Commander (MKC)
2024-02-09 - Number 307

Card sets	Released in 4 setsSee all
Rarity	Rare
Type	Land

Text of card

: Add to your mana pool. , , Sacrifice Throne of the High City: You become the monarch.

A shining symbol of Paliano's true ruler—ambition.

Cards like Throne of the High City

Throne of the High City occupies a unique slot in the array of MTG lands with its capacity to confer the Monarch status upon a player. It shares a conceptual space with other lands that bring more than just mana to a player’s game, such as Windbrisk Heights. While Windbrisk Heights hides away a spell for a potential windfall later in the game, the Throne of the High City creates a significant strategic impact by introducing the Monarch mechanic immediately. This action can shift the dynamics of a game by drawing additional cards each turn.

In juxtaposition with Opal Palace, which also serves a dual role by supporting commander color identity and placing +1/+1 counters, Throne of the High City demands a higher investment due to its sacrifice clause. Conversely, unlike Opal Palace, it can pivot a game by altering how players interact, baiting opponents into direct combat, and providing a steady stream of card advantage. Though neither land produces colored mana, the scenarios they best serve can differ greatly within the game.

Ultimately, when evaluating Throne of the High City against other utility lands in MTG, it stands out for its ability to change the monarchy element of gameplay, rewarding those who dare to seize the crown with extra card draw and thereby leveraging significant influence over the course of the match.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Throne of the High City offers a unique way for players to ensure they aren’t falling behind in card resources. By sacrificing this land, you can assertively march into the monarch mechanic, drawing you an additional card at the end of your turn. This continuous extra draw when you’re the monarch can be the key to outpacing your opponents in long games.

Resource Acceleration: Although it doesn’t create tokens or provide multiple mana like some other lands, Throne of the High City can be considered a form of resource acceleration because becoming the monarch can lead to regular card gain. This steady influx of new options can be just as powerful as accelerating mana in the right deck, especially in formats where the monarchy is less contested.

Instant Speed: The ability to become the monarch by sacrificing Throne of the High City can be activated at instant speed. This flexibility allows savvy players to wait until the end of their opponent’s turn before making a move to claim the crown. This way, you can keep your options open, hold up mana for other instant speed interactions, and potentially dodge sorcery-speed removal or disruption aimed at snatching the monarchy away from you.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One of the drawbacks of Throne of the High City is the need to discard a card to activate its ability. This can be a significant drawback when your hand is already depleted, potentially forcing you to part with a vital piece of your strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: Throne of the High City requires a diversified mana base to tap for a colorless mana, which might not seamlessly fit into decks that run heavily on colored mana or those that have strict color requirements for casting other spells.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Investing four mana to utilize its ability, Throne of the High City may compete with other four-drop cards that offer immediate impact on the game state. Players often have to weigh the opportunity cost of using their mana to activate the Throne versus developing their board with other spells.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Throne of the High City offers a unique flexibility to deck builders with its ability to provide colorless mana or become a strategic tool for gaining the monarchy. This adaptability means it can be a worthwhile addition to a variety of decks, particularly in formats where becoming the monarch can dramatically shift the game’s dynamics.

Combo Potential: The card’s capability to confer the monarchy can be tactically used in combination with cards that thrive on being the monarch or interacting with it. This can spark off a chain of advantageous plays, enabling you to draw extra cards and gain leverage over your opponents.

Meta-Relevance: In metas where controlling the game’s pace is key, Throne of the High City can be invaluable. The draw mechanic it provides by becoming the monarch introduces an ongoing advantage that helps in keeping your hand replenished, important in outlasting opponents in long and grindy matchups.

How to beat

Throne of the High City offers players a unique combination of land utility and political intrigue in Magic: The Gathering. Its ability to tap for colorless mana without drawback means it fits seamlessly into any deck, but its true value comes from its second ability: trading the land for the coveted monarch status and drawing an extra card at the beginning of the end step. Overlooking Throne of the High City can be a crucial oversight as it allows an opponent to generate incremental card advantage.

To effectively counteract the advantages Throne of the High City provides, players should prioritize two strategies. The first involves aggressive tactics to strip the monarch title once claimed; swift creatures or evasive strategies work well in this regard. The second strategy hinges on proactive land disruption. Spell effects that specifically destroy lands or abilities that restrict land activation can effectively nullify the impact of Throne of the High City. Additionally, holding up instant-speed removal or counterspells for the turn the Throne is activated can prevent an opponent from gaining the upper hand. Maintaining pressure and board control remains key to keeping the throne’s power in check.

At its core, Throne of the High City is a delicate balance of timing and opportunity. Its disruptive power lies not only in the card draw it provides but also in the tactical shifts it introduces into the game. Mastering this balance is an essential skill for players looking to outmaneuver their opponents and claim victory.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Throne of the High City MTG card by a specific set like Conspiracy: Take the Crown and Treasure Chest, 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 Throne of the High City and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Throne of the High City Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2016-08-26 and 2024-02-09. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2016-08-26	Conspiracy: Take the Crown	CN2	80	2015	Normal	Black	Titus Lunter
2	2016-11-16	Treasure Chest	PZ2	73	2015	Normal	Black	Titus Lunter
3	2023-06-23	Tales of Middle-earth Commander	LTC	339	2015	Normal	Black	Pablo Mendoza
4	2024-02-09	Murders at Karlov Manor Commander	MKC	307	2015	Normal	Black	Titus Lunter

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Throne of the High City has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Throne of the High City card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date	Text
2016-08-23	Abilities that trigger whenever you "become the monarch" trigger only if you aren't already the monarch. For example, if you are already the monarch as Custodi Lich enters the battlefield, its last ability won't trigger.
2016-08-23	Being the monarch carries two inherent triggered abilities. "At the beginning of the monarch's end step, that player draws a card" and "Whenever a creature deals combat damage to the monarch, its controller becomes the monarch."
2016-08-23	If the triggered ability that causes the monarch to draw a card goes on the stack, and a different player becomes the monarch before that ability resolves, the first player will still draw the card.
2016-08-23	The game starts with no monarch. Once an effect makes one player the monarch, the game will have exactly one monarch from that point forward.