Cathedral of War MTG Card


Exalted ability of Cathedral of War significantly enhances creature power during attacks, increasing threat level. Lands like Cathedral of War offer strategic benefits without additional card costs, saving resources. Despite entering tapped, its persistent combat phase advantage can decisively impact the game’s outcome.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
RarityRare
TypeLand
Abilities Exalted

Text of card

Cathedral of War enters the battlefield tapped. Exalted (Whenever a creature you control attacks alone, that creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn.) : Add to your mana pool.


Cards like Cathedral of War

Cathedral of War is a unique land card that stands out in Magic: The Gathering for its ability to bolster creatures in combat. Its closest relatives might be land cards like Slayers’ Stronghold, which also gives a boon to creatures by granting them +2/+0 and vigilance for a turn. While Slayers’ Stronghold requires a specific mana investment to activate, Cathedral of War requires none, simply needing to be tapped alongside other mana sources for its Exalted ability to trigger, powering up a single attacking creature.

Similarly, Rogue’s Passage enables one of your creatures to slip past defenses, becoming unblockable for a turn, but again, at the cost of mana. Cathedral of War provides a perpetual advantage without the continual mana drain, though it doesn’t offer the guarantee of an unblocked attack. Comparatively, Sunhome, Fortress of the Legion gives more control over the outcome of combat by endowing a creature with double strike, albeit with a substantial mana commitment.

Assessing these varied options, Cathedral of War presents a passive yet consistent approach to enhancing your creatures, functioning effectively in decks that benefit from having a solitary, powerful attacker each turn.

Slayers' Stronghold - MTG Card versions
Rogue's Passage - MTG Card versions
Sunhome, Fortress of the Legion - MTG Card versions
Slayers' Stronghold - MTG Card versions
Rogue's Passage - MTG Card versions
Sunhome, Fortress of the Legion - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Cathedral of War by color, type and mana cost

Cathedral of Serra - MTG Card versions
Mishra's Factory - MTG Card versions
Urza's Tower - MTG Card versions
Bad River - MTG Card versions
Griffin Canyon - MTG Card versions
Ice Floe - MTG Card versions
Winding Canyons - MTG Card versions
Scorched Ruins - MTG Card versions
Ghost Town - MTG Card versions
Rath's Edge - MTG Card versions
Deserted Temple - MTG Card versions
Urza's Mine - MTG Card versions
Hall of Tagsin - MTG Card versions
Maze's End - MTG Card versions
Reflecting Pool - MTG Card versions
Urza's Workshop - MTG Card versions
Labyrinth of Skophos - MTG Card versions
Bonders' Enclave - MTG Card versions
City of Brass - MTG Card versions
Bloodstained Mire - MTG Card versions
Cathedral of Serra - MTG Card versions
Mishra's Factory - MTG Card versions
Urza's Tower - MTG Card versions
Bad River - MTG Card versions
Griffin Canyon - MTG Card versions
Ice Floe - MTG Card versions
Winding Canyons - MTG Card versions
Scorched Ruins - MTG Card versions
Ghost Town - MTG Card versions
Rath's Edge - MTG Card versions
Deserted Temple - MTG Card versions
Urza's Mine - MTG Card versions
Hall of Tagsin - MTG Card versions
Maze's End - MTG Card versions
Reflecting Pool - MTG Card versions
Urza's Workshop - MTG Card versions
Labyrinth of Skophos - MTG Card versions
Bonders' Enclave - MTG Card versions
City of Brass - MTG Card versions
Bloodstained Mire - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Cathedral of War doesn’t directly allow you to draw cards, it helps maintain card quality on the battlefield. It can effectively turn any creature into a more substantial threat, making each creature card you play potentially more valuable.

Resource Acceleration: Cathedral of War enters the battlefield tapped, but the Exalted ability it grants is a form of resource acceleration. It bolsters your attacking creatures without needing to commit additional cards from your hand, saving those resources for other strategic plays.

Instant Speed: Although lands do not operate at instant speed, Cathedral of War enhances your combat phase unexpectedly. Its effect is always “on” during your turn, providing a surprise boost to an unblocked attacker that can shift the tide of battle instantly.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Cathedral of War does not have a discard requirement but it does come into play tapped, which could set you back a turn. This delay can be particularly disadvantageous if you’re aiming for a quick and aggressive gameplay strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: While Cathedral of War provides colorless mana which may seem flexible, it also requires Exalted—a specific mechanic that benefits from solitary attacks—limiting its use to decks that can capitalize on this feature.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Even though Cathedral of War doesn’t have a mana cost to play, its Exalted ability is relatively costly since it requires the land to sacrifice a turn of untapped potential. In fast-paced games, players may find more dynamic land options that offer immediate benefits without sacrificing tempo.


Reasons to Include Cathedral of War in Your Collection

Versatility: Cathedral of War is a land card, which makes it a simple inclusion in many decks. Its ability to produce colorless mana means it’s not limited by color identity, while the Exalted mechanic it offers can turn any single creature into a significant threat during combat.

Combo Potential: The Exalted ability of Cathedral of War naturally pairs with creature-based strategies looking to maximize combat damage. It pairs exceptionally well with elusive creatures, turning them into powerful singular attackers.

Meta-Relevance: Within a meta that values strong individual attackers or relies heavily on combat to win games, Cathedral of War has the potential to be a game-changer. The additional +1/+1 it provides can be the crucial difference in damaging an opponent or achieving lethal damage.


How to beat Cathedral of War

The Cathedral of War is a unique land card that buffs your attacking creatures with its Exalted ability, giving them a critical advantage. This support can quickly turn the tide in any duel by enhancing each attacking creature individually. To counter this strategy, focusing on removal or land disruption can prove effective. Cards with land destruction capabilities can directly target the Cathedral, rendering the Exalted trait null. Alternatively, controlling the battlefield by using board wipes helps clear the creatures benefiting from the land’s boost, blocking their path to using it to their advantage.

Utilizing counter spells or instant removal also allows you to address the threat immediately, maintaining the balance of power. Keeping your opponent’s creature count low will minimize the impact of Cathedral of War’s Exalted ability, forcing them to rely on other tactics. In multiplayer settings, political play can also help in convincing other players to cooperate in suppressing the card’s influence. Be sure to have a strategy that incorporates such defensive measures, enabling you to stay ahead of your opponent’s game plan and ultimately come out on top.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Cathedral of War MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Magic 2013, 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 Cathedral of War and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Cathedral of War Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2012-07-13 and 2012-07-13. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 452152003NormalBlackFranz Vohwinkel
22012-07-13Magic 2013M13 2212003NormalBlackKekai Kotaki
32020-09-26The ListPLST M13-2212003NormalBlackKekai Kotaki

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Cathedral of War has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PennyLegal