Storm the Citadel MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	5
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Sorcery
Released	2019-05-03
Set symbol
Set name	War of the Spark
Set code	WAR
Number	178
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Grzegorz Rutkowski

Key Takeaways

Offers significant combat advantage by boosting multiple creatures’ power and toughness during your turn.
Versatility at instant speed allows for unexpected plays and fits into various strategies.
Must be used judiciously due to discard requirements and specific mana costs.

Text of card

Until end of turn, creatures you control get +2/+2 and gain "Whenever this creature deals combat damage to a player or planeswalker, destroy target artifact or enchantment defending player controls."

"If we die, we die. But we cannot let him win." —Ajani Goldmane

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Storm the Citadel is a remarkable card for those looking to push their deck’s capabilities further. By providing the potential to amplify the impact of your creatures during a crucial turn, it offers substantial strategic depth. This card, when played at the opportune moment, can turn the tide by enhancing multiple creatures at once, giving you a more commanding presence on the battlefield and the ability to overwhelm your opponent’s defenses.

Resource Acceleration: Although it doesn’t directly produce mana or tokens, Storm the Citadel enables your creatures to be much more effective during a turn, essentially creating a scenario where the resource of your creature’s power is significantly accelerated. This can lead to a swifter victory, as efficiently utilizing the power you have on board can be just as crucial as having access to more mana.

Instant Speed: The versatility offered by Storm the Citadel’s instant speed can’t be overstated. It allows savvy players to wait until just the right moment before a combat phase to cast it, catching an opponent off-guard and potentially securing a game-winning advantage. Its instant speed also means that it fits seamlessly into a strategy that holds mana in reserve for reactive plays, ensuring that you have the flexibility to respond to your opponent’s actions or to seize an opening when it presents itself.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Storm the Citadel offers a temporary boost to your creatures, it doesn’t come without its downsides. The requirement to discard a card could set you back, especially during tight moments when your hand is already depleted from earlier plays.

Specific Mana Cost: The mana cost for Storm the Citadel is specific and requires a combination of generic and green mana. This requirement can sometimes be restrictive, making it harder to cast in a deck that’s not heavily invested in green sources or one that has a more diverse mana base with multiple colors.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that might be considered high for its effect, Storm the Citadel competes with other cards that could provide more immediate or versatile outcomes for the same or less investment. Spells and creatures that have lower mana requirements could be more beneficial to a player looking to maintain tempo and board presence.

Reasons to Include Storm the Citadel in Your Collection

Versatility: Storm the Citadel offers a boost in any deck built around creatures. Its ability to give your creatures a power-up during an essential turn makes it adaptable across different builds, enhancing offensive strategies when it’s most crucial.

Combo Potential: This card shines when combined with strategies aimed at overwhelming opponents with a wide board. It can turn the tide when aligned with cards that benefit from attacking with numerous creatures or those that need a decisive power increase to close games.

Meta-Relevance: Given its potential to swing a game in your favor during combat, Storm the Citadel remains pertinent in metas where creature-based strategies are prevalent. It allows creature-heavy decks an edge against control types by maximizing the damage dealt in critical turns.

How to beat

Storm the Citadel is a nuanced card in Magic: The Gathering that provides your creatures with a significant boost during a pivotal turn. It’s akin to spells such as Overrun, which grants creatures increased power and trample, catering to that final, game-ending push. Nonetheless, Storm the Citadel requires a strategic approach to overcome. Being a sorcery that only applies during your turn, it opens a window for smart counterplay.

One effective strategy is the use of instant-speed removal spells, which can disrupt the synchronization of Storm the Citadel with your creature attacks. Consider spells like Murder or Path to Exile, which can neutralize key creatures before they benefit from the buff. Additionally, board wipes such as Wrath of God can be held in reserve to clear the battlefield post-combat, mitigating the impact of the additional power and toughness granted to your opponent’s creatures.

Understanding the pace at which your opponent is playing and predicting the timing of their key power plays is paramount. By controlling the pace, negating critical threats, and choosing the opportune moment to strike, you can effectively navigate around Storm the Citadel’s influence and maintain the upper hand in your Magic: The Gathering encounters.

Cards like Storm the Citadel

In the realm of Magic: The Gathering, Storm the Citadel is an intriguing card that amplifies your creatures’ abilities during a crucial turn. When you compare it with cards like Overrun, the similarities become clear as both provide a significant boost to your creatures. Overrun gives a larger boost in terms of power and toughness and also confers trample, but it does so at a higher mana cost.

Exploring further, we find cards like Trumpet Blast, which shares the concept of augmenting the attack phase. Unlike Storm the Citadel, Trumpet Blast specifically targets attacking creatures for a power increase and lands on the battlefield at a lower mana cost—though it doesn’t offer the resilient toughness boost during combat. Another card to consider is Make a Stand, which provides a +1/+1 increment and the indispensable indestructible until end of turn benefit, ensuring your creatures’ survival beyond the combat phase.

Analyzing these cards alongside Storm the Citadel reveals the strategic depth they add to the game. Each has its own advantages, depending on the game situation. Storm the Citadel stands out by offering both a power and toughness boost across the board, which, while not as aggressive as Overrun, is more balanced in cost and effect.

Cards similar to Storm the Citadel by color, type and mana cost

Overwhelming Stampede - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Storm the Citadel MTG card by a specific set like War of the Spark, 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 Storm the Citadel and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Storm the Citadel has restrictions

Format	Legality
Historicbrawl	Legal
Historic	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Commander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Explorer	Legal
Penny	Legal
Timeless	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2019-05-03	If a creature is attacking a planeswalker, the controller of the planeswalker is the defending player.
2019-05-03	Storm the Citadel affects only creatures you control at the time it resolves. Creatures you begin to control later in the turn won’t get +2/+2 or gain the triggered ability.