The Story Behind the Citadel

The Citadel wasn't the first deck box we designed.

In fact, some of our earliest designs looked very different from the products we sell today. They featured removable display inserts, additional moving parts, and more complex assemblies that allowed players to showcase their commander cards.

While the concept worked, the reality wasn't quite what we wanted.

The boxes were larger than they needed to be, swapping display cards wasn't always convenient, and the extra components added complexity without necessarily improving the overall user experience. What seemed like a good idea on paper often became frustrating during everyday use.

As we continued designing, testing, and gathering feedback from players, a clear pattern emerged: people wanted something simpler, stronger, and more practical.

That realisation became the foundation of what would eventually become the Citadel range.

Every design decision from that point onwards focused on reducing unnecessary complexity, improving portability, making card changes easier, and creating a deck box that felt as good to use as it looked on the table.

Like many great products, the Citadel started with a problem.

As Commander players ourselves, we were constantly searching for a deck box that offered the right balance of protection, presentation, and portability. Some options were incredibly durable but bulky. Others looked great but sacrificed practicality. Many simply didn't feel designed with Commander players in mind.

We wanted something different.

A deck box that could securely hold a fully double-sleeved Commander deck. A deck box that could proudly display the commander on the front. A deck box that felt premium without taking up unnecessary space in a bag.

So we set out to design one ourselves.

The first Citadel prototypes were far from perfect. Early versions taught us valuable lessons about dimensions, tolerances, latch mechanisms, card displays, and how players actually use their deck boxes during game nights, local events, and tournaments.

Every prototype solved one problem and revealed another.

Some latches were too loose. Some were too tight. Some versions were stronger but less practical. Others looked fantastic but weren't as easy to manufacture consistently. Each revision brought the design one step closer to the product we originally envisioned.

What started as a personal project quickly became something bigger.

As photos and prototypes were shared online, feedback started pouring in from other Commander players. Suggestions, feature requests, criticisms, and ideas all helped shape the direction of the design.

The community became part of the development process.

That feedback led to improvements in storage capacity, card display options, overall usability, and eventually the expansion of the range itself. The original Citadel evolved into multiple versions, giving players the ability to choose the display style and features that suited their collection.

One of the most important goals throughout development was keeping the deck box compact. Commander players already carry decks, playmats, binders, dice, and accessories. The last thing we wanted was to create another oversized deck box that took up unnecessary space in a backpack.

The result was a design focused on maximising protection while remaining practical for everyday use.

Today, every Citadel deck box is still manufactured in-house and inspected before it leaves the workshop. While the design has evolved significantly since those first prototypes, the original goal remains unchanged: create a deck box that we would genuinely want to use ourselves.

The recent introduction of the Pro range is a perfect example of that philosophy. By replacing traditional toploaders with premium hard-card cases, we've continued refining the product based on player feedback and our own desire to create the best possible display deck box.

The Citadel exists because of problem-solving, persistence, and community feedback. Every improvement, new feature, and future version builds on the same foundation that started the project in the first place.

We're incredibly proud of how far the Citadel has come, but we're even more excited about where it's going next.

And we're only getting started.