Tempest block

Tempest block, officially called Rath Cycle, is the third Magic block, spanning 1997-1998. It encompasses three sets: the large expansion Tempest (), and the two small expansions Stronghold () and Exodus (). It is part of the Weatherlight Saga.

The keywords introduced in this block were Buyback and Shadow. Three creature types (Licids, Slivers and Spikes) also debuted here.

Mega cycle

One mega cycle exists across the block's three sets:

• Retrievers: Each of these 2/2 creatures returns a card of a certain type to your hand when it comes into play — four from Exodus: Treasure Hunter (artifact), Scrivener (instant), Anarchist (sorcery), Cartographer (land) and one from Tempest: Gravedigger (creature). Four out of the five were reprinted in Odyssey; Treasure Hunter was replaced by Auramancer.

Theme decks

Theme decks from this block have 3 rares. After this block, theme decks contain 2 rares each.

Tempest Remastered

Tempest Remastered is a Magic Online-only reprint set that willl be released on May 6, 2015. It will be available until May 27, 2015 but will return on a later date. Tempest Remastered is intended to support the Legacy format, and get sought-after cards into the hands of players.

For this set, the 621 cards from the block were reduced to the best 269 and the best playing archetypes. It contains 101 commons, 80 uncommons, 53 rares, 15 mythic rares, and 20 basic lands. There's no new art, but the cards have received new card frames. Several issues with the original block were solved to make it draftable in a modern environment.

Sets