Monastery of Hitrana stops you before you even read the text box. The moment your eyes hit the image, you’re held still by that sweep of crimson-leaved trees, the sunlit cliffs, and a temple nestled high among winding roots and stone.
There’s motion in the stillness. A reverent kind of pause—like the card is asking you to breathe.
It feels like balance. Like clarity. Like discipline before action.
Illustration Breakdown
The composition climbs, literally. From the foreground shadows to the soaring cliff-top monastery, the perspective leads your gaze upward.
Warm reds dominate the scene—the fire of the trees plays against soft blue skies and smooth stone architecture.
The leaves aren’t just a backdrop. They’re alive, mid-fall, scattering like memories or thoughts cleared from the mind.
There’s something meditative about how the image balances chaos and calm. The soft haze behind the temple suggests isolation—not loneliness, but peace.
The light filters through like the first morning of autumn, and that framing of twisted tree roots curling around ancient stone makes the entire piece feel old, grounded, and earned.
There’s no battle happening here. Only the aftermath of discipline.
Gameplay Integration
Mechanically, Monastery of Hitrana reflects that same idea of focused sacrifice. The effect reads:
“When you conquer here, you may spend a buff to draw 1.”
In Riftbound, buffs are often temporary advantages—burst windows, power-ups, or one-turn damage amplifiers.
This card converts that momentary spike into long-term value. If you’re willing to forgo the immediate swing, the monastery gives you clarity: a draw.
It’s an elegant mechanic. No flashy payoff, no broken loop. Just a clean option for decks that generate buffs but don’t always need them on curve.
Thematically, it fits. You let go of force to gain insight. You conquer not to dominate, but to understand.
Collector Details / Value Mention
Monastery of Hitrana is card 292/298, making it one of the final Battlefields revealed in the Riftbound base set.
While the rarity hasn’t been confirmed yet, its subtle impact and gorgeous art might make it one of the more desirable Battlefields among collectors, especially if a foil or full-art version exists.
There’s currently no word on an overnumbered or alt-art print, but this illustration feels tailor-made for a future showcase treatment.
The atmosphere alone will earn it a place in binders even for players who don’t run it.
Read more – The art of Unyielding Spirit from Riftbound TCG
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