Tempest block
The Tempest block is the third block, consisting of the large expansion Tempest (Template:Set symbol) in October 1997 and the two small expansions Stronghold (Template:Set symbol) and Exodus (Template:Set symbol). Its official name is the Rath Cycle. The block came out in 1997-1998.
Keywords introduced in this block: Buyback, Shadow.
Licids, Slivers and Spikes first appeared in this block.
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. [1]
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. Sewvearl issues with the original block were solved to make it draftable in a modern environment. [2] [3]