Citadel of Pain MTG Card


Transforming unused mana into a source of damage, Citadel of Pain deters a passive gameplay approach. Pressuring foes to spend mana may force them into less advantageous positions, granting you the upper hand. Exploiting predictable behavior, instant speed spells complement Citadel of Pain by optimizing mana at end steps.
Citadel of Pain - Prophecy
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeEnchantment
Released2000-06-05
Set symbol
Set nameProphecy
Set codePCY
Number86
Frame1997
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byDarrell Riche

Text of card

At the end of each player's turn, Citadel of Pain deals X damage to that player, where X is the number of untapped lands he or she controls.

"Battle is our religion. This fortress is our temple." —Latulla, Keldon overseer


Cards like Citadel of Pain

Citadel of Pain stands as a unique enchantment within Magic: The Gathering, providing a strategy that punishes passive players. Alongside cards like Mana Barbs, Citadel of Pain offers an intriguing dynamic to red deck styles that capitalize on the cost of inaction. While Mana Barbs deals damage to players when they tap lands for mana, Citadel of Pain delivers punishment when players opt not to use their mana, causing them to lose health for each untapped land during their end phase.

City of Solitude is another card worth comparing, which restricts players to acting only on their own turns, forcing more mana usage during their phase to avoid the consequences of Citadel of Pain. In contrast, Price of Glory dissuades opponents from using instants or abilities during another player’s turn by making them sacrifice lands. Each of these cards applies pressure in a different manner yet strives to limit an opponent’s comfort and strategy options.

While these cards share the aim to disrupt opponents’ gameplay, Citadel of Pain has its niche in encouraging a continuous cycle of mana usage or incurring damage, making it a distinctive choice for players looking to add a layer of strategy to controlling red-centric decks in Magic: The Gathering.

City of Solitude - MTG Card versions
Price of Glory - MTG Card versions
City of Solitude - MTG Card versions
Price of Glory - MTG Card versions

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Heat Stroke - MTG Card versions
Seismic Assault - MTG Card versions
Torch Song - MTG Card versions
Ghitu War Cry - MTG Card versions
Goblin Warrens - MTG Card versions
Fervor - MTG Card versions
Spellshock - MTG Card versions
Mana Cache - MTG Card versions
Insolence - MTG Card versions
Steam Vines - MTG Card versions
Curse of Hospitality - MTG Card versions
Anax, Hardened in the Forge - MTG Card versions
Draconic Destiny - MTG Card versions
Mechanized Warfare - MTG Card versions
Blood Moon - MTG Card versions
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Card Pros

Card Advantage: Citadel of Pain presents the opportunity to exploit idle mana. In gameplay, where unspent mana is typical, this card turns potential inefficiencies into a relentless source of damage, effectively transforming any leftover mana into strategic advantage.

Resource Acceleration: This red enchantment indirectly accelerates your resources by pressuring opponents to use their mana. When opponents are forced to spend resources preemptively, they may have to make less optimal plays, giving you the upper hand and potentially leading to more favorable interactions for you.

Instant Speed: While Citadel of Pain itself doesn’t operate at instant speed, it immensely benefits from instant speed spells. Given that players will want to tap out to avoid the incremental damage, holding up instant speed interactions in your repertoire allows you to capitalize on your opponents’ predictable behavior during their end steps.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Citadel of Pain pushes players to use up all their mana each turn, or face potentially damaging consequences for untapped lands. This requirement can lead to inefficient plays just to avoid the card’s damage output.

Specific Mana Cost: Requiring two colorless and one red mana to cast, Citadel of Pain fits primarily in decks heavy on red mana. This can restrict the variety of decks in which you can effectively include this card.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its three-mana cost, Citadel of Pain can be seen as an investment that doesn’t directly influence the board state. In fast-paced games or in a meta with cheaper disruption, the card’s impact may not justify its slot in a deck.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Citadel of Pain’s unique ability to punish passive playstyles makes it a strategic addition to decks that encourage opponents to act. This creates pressure in each phase, altering the typical flow of play in your favor.

Combo Potential: This card offers great synergy with strategies that aim to tap out opponents’ mana. Pairing it with other cards can amplify its effect, turning it into a potent damage-dealing machine in the right setup.

Meta-Relevance: In a game where control decks may opt to keep mana open for responses, Citadel of Pain becomes a crucial tool that can consistently deal damage. Its relevance grows as it directly challenges decks that usually wait to take action on your turn.


How to beat

Citadel of Pain stands as a unique enchantment in the world of Magic: The Gathering, compelling players to strategize carefully. To successfully navigate against this card, maintaining flexibility in mana usage becomes crucial. The enchantment punishes those who leave mana untapped, inflicting damage identical to the number of untapped lands by the end of a turn. Hence, optimizing mana expenditure each turn is key.

One could also counteract Citadel of Pain’s impact by incorporating cards that either tap lands for a benefit or change the nature of lands altogether. Playing instant-speed spells during your opponent’s turn can help empty your mana pool and avoid unnecessary damage. Additionally, card types like creatures with activated abilities or artifacts that require tapping lands ensure your mana doesn’t sit idle.

Reflecting on its inherent challenge, conquering Citadel of Pain demands a proactive approach, mindfully converting all available mana into actions or adjusting your deck to sidestep the penalty altogether. It’s about mastering the fine art of leveraging your lands to their fullest potential in every round of play.


BurnMana Recommendations

The MTG battlefield is shaped by strategy, and every card can tip the scales. Citadel of Pain is a game-changer, transforming unspent mana into a weapon against opponents. It challenges conventional play and rewards those who adapt. Keen to explore how Citadel of Pain can pressure opponents and enhance your deck’s performance? Dive deeper with us and harness the strategic advantage this card offers. By compelling tactical mana usage, it reshapes interactions and can skew the game in your favor. Join us to master its potential and carve a path to victory in your MTG endeavors.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Citadel of Pain MTG card by a specific set like Prophecy, 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 Citadel of Pain and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Citadel of Pain has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2004-10-04 It counts the untapped lands on resolution.