Subject: More Stronghold Reports, Etc.
Date: Mon, 23 Feb 1998 19:22:43 -0900
From: ejkmcsm@arctic.net (Elizebeth Moeller)
To: fkusumot@ix.netcom.com

JEFF'S STRONGHOLD TOP TEN LIST:  My initial impression of Stronghold as
a set is mildly positive.  Out of 140 card set, there are maybe 20 or so
tourney calibre cards.  There are some neat new cards, some cards that
finish current Type 2 archetypes, and a few cards that will get played in
Extended.  There is a fair amount of filler.  It is a terrible sealed deck
set, IMO, because one of the better cards in the set is next to unstoppable
in sealed.  At risk of leaving out someone's pet favorite, here's my Top
Ten.  Cards were selected for impact on the Type 2 tourney scene.  That
Dojo place has a checklist.

1. Mulch.  Yeah, that's right, Mulch.  Best played with Gaea's Blessings,
this generates a really silly card drawing engine that I am still figuring
out how to fully exploit.  Look at the top 4 cards, you get the land, the
rest goes to the graveyard.  Hey, wasn't that last one a Gaea's Blessing?
Even without Gaea's Blessings, sucking 1-4 land straight into your hand on
Turn 2 is huge.  Big help to 5CG or any five color deck.
2. Constant Mists.  This is a strong tourney card and will form the basis
of a new deck archetype.  I don't like to use the word "broken", but it is
in sealed deck.  Buyback Fog for 1G, with the buyback being sacrifice a
land.  Game after game at the Prerelease stalled out completely when the
Mists of Draw were located.  In constructed, with Gaea's Blessings, Howling
Mines, Gerrard's Wisdoms, and Mulches, it's a new tourney deck.
3. Awakening.  You really have to think about this to understand why it's
so good.  Both players get to untap all of their lands and creatures at the
beginning of each upkeep.  Think Capsize and Tradewind Riders.  Think
Counterspells.  Now go get your 4 copies.
4. Megrim.  With Bottomless Pit, the finishing card for the current
monoblack Pox/Scroll deck.  With Bottomless pit, let's all randomly discard
during our upkeeps!  With Megrim out, your opponent takes 2 each time he
discards.  And with Pox, you lose life, *then* you discard.
5. Mana Leak.  The new splash counterspell, for 1U it counters unless your
opponent pays 3.
6. Mulch.  Best played with Gaea's Blessings, this generates a really silly
card drawing engine that I am still figuring out how to fully exploit.
Look at the top 4 cards, you get the land, the rest goes to the graveyard.
Hey, wasn't that last one a Gaea's Blessing?
7. Ensnaring Bridge.  Totally shuts down their creature based attacks if
you empty your hand.  And of course, emptying your hand works in this
enviroment (ref:  Cursed Scroll).
8. Shock.  Bolts are good.  You will play these.
9.  Spindrift Drake.  Ridiculously undercosted.  U for a 2/1 flyer with an
upkeep of U.  You will play these.
10. Mox Diamond.  This is the chase card of the set, and while it isn't a
brother to the other Moxen, it is at least a cousin.  It's a five-color Mox
that makes you discard a land when it comes into play.  It's a good tourney
calibre card, but that's all I can say.  It will quickly achieve silly
price status, though, only semi-deservedly.

Honorable Mention Cards:  Reins of Power, Evacuation, Invasion Plans, Dream
Halls, Burgeoning, Volrath's Gardens, Crystalline Sliver, Portcullis, Mind
Games, Wall of Essence (vicious with the En-Kors), Calming Licid, Various
En-Kors, Death Stroke, Endangered Armodon (Ernie the Elephant?).

Dishonorable Mention:  Red.  Red got hosed.