Stronghold
- For other uses see Stronghold (location)
Template:Expansion Stronghold is the thirteenth Magic expansion and was released in 1998 as the second set in the Tempest Block.
Mechanics and abilities
The block mechanics buyback and shadow are expanded upon in this set.
The ability associated with the en-Kor, based on the defunct ability banding, are introduced in this set. The abilities associated with Slivers, Licids, Flowstone, and especially Spikes are expanded upon in this set.
Cycles
- Legendary land mega-mega cycle: Volrath's Stronghold is the second card in this mega-mega cycle, which also includes Teferi's Isle, Yavimaya Hollow, Kor Haven, and Keldon Necropolis.
- Allied-color Slivers: Crystalline Sliver, Hibernation Sliver, Acidic Sliver, Spined Sliver, and Victual Sliver.
- Licids: Calming Licid, Gliding Licid, Corrupting Licid, Convulsing Licid, and Tempting Licid.
- Walls: The designers tried to create walls good enough to be used by tournament players. Each color received one 2-mana wall with a special ability — Wall of Essence, Wall of Tears, Wall of Souls, Wall of Razors, and Wall of Blossoms.
Notable cards
- Mox Diamond. This rare artifact requires a land card to be discarded as an additional cost, thereafter it produces a mana of any color.
- Sliver Queen. The Queen is a 7/7 Sliver which produces sliver tokens. It's casting cost of 1 of each colored mana is often referred to as "WUBRG" {pronounced woo-berg}. Stronghold was the first set to feature a five-colored card.