Key to the City
Artifact
, Discard a card: Up to one target creature can't be blocked this turn.
Whenever this artifact becomes untapped, you may pay 
. If you do, draw a card.
- CMC
- 2
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- C
- Rarity
- rare
- Set
- The Brothers' War Retro Artifacts
- Price
- $0.37
- EDHREC rank
- #1333
Key to the City makes any creature unblockable for a turn and replaces itself with a card draw on your next upkeep — the cost is discarding a card, which many decks treat as a feature. In Magar of the Magic Strings builds especially, that discard is the whole point, turning what looks like a drawback into free spell setup.
Best Commanders
Commanders with the highest synergy
Magar of the Magic Strings
Magar of the Magic Strings needs two things to function: instants and sorceries in the graveyard, and a creature that can connect. Key to the City delivers both in one activation — discard a spell to fuel Magar, then push the token through unblocked.
Captain Howler, Sea Scourge
Captain Howler, Sea Scourge rewards unblocked combat, and Key to the City is one of the cheapest, most repeatable ways to guarantee it — the incidental card draw on upkeep means the slot never feels wasted even in games where evasion wasn't strictly necessary.
Terra, Herald of Hope
Terra, Herald of Hope leans on unblockable creatures to convert combat into resources, and Key to the City provides that guarantee on demand while smoothing the hand with its delayed draw trigger.
Greasefang, Okiba Boss
Greasefang, Okiba Boss wants Vehicles in the graveyard fast, and Key to the City's discard outlet puts them there while also clearing the path for Greasefang to attack unimpeded once a Vehicle is crewed.
Squall, SeeD Mercenary
Squall, SeeD Mercenary pairs naturally with Key to the City because unblocked damage triggers matter — the card turns Squall into a guaranteed threat every turn while keeping the hand cycling.
Format Analysis
Where it lives, where it can’t
| Format | Verdict |
|---|---|
| commander | legal |
| legacy | legal |
| modern | legal |
| pioneer | legal |
| standard | not legal |
| vintage | legal |
| pauper | not legal |
| oathbreaker | legal |
Key to the City sees its real home in Commander, where the combination of repeatable discard, evasion on demand, and a free upkeep draw over a 99-card game adds up to consistent value. In competitive 1v1 formats like Legacy, Modern, and Pioneer it's essentially absent — two mana for a non-permanent effect that requires additional activation investment is too slow against streamlined threats. Oathbreaker mirrors the Commander context closely enough that the same discard-synergy builds find it useful there too. The card is bulk everywhere in terms of competitive presence, but in the right Commander shell it punches well above its price.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Price Context
Current price
$0.37 bulk tier
At $0.37, Key to the City is deep bulk — you're paying pocket change for a card that earns its slot in the right deck. That price has nowhere meaningful to fall and reflects a card that's widely available, so there's no reason to hesitate on picking up copies.
Explore
Sources
Mentioned
- Magar of the Magic Strings
- Captain Howler, Sea Scourge
- Terra, Herald of Hope
- Greasefang, Okiba Boss
- Squall, SeeD Mercenary
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.