Subject: STRONGHOLD: A Preview Date: Sun, 1 Mar 1998 10:56:44 +0800 From: "Richard M. David" To: "Frank Kusumoto" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- STONGHOLD REPORT I will make a fearless forecast on the current Standard enviroment with the release of Stronghold in Type II. I am not an expert on the subject but I will try to make a sound predicition on the matter at hand. If you think about it, Stronghold is not the set everyone thought it would be. There are a lot of good cards but I doubt anyone of them can make a real impact in the Standard enviroment. Deck types that really benifit from this set are Pox, PropaOrb and Sligh...and...ummm...did I mention PropaOrb already. Pox will get Megrim, Grave Pact and Ensnaring Bridge, Sligh will be pleased with the mini-Bolt and those groovy Flunkies and PropaOrb will still continue it's dominance of contol style playing with Mana Leak and Portcullis. Other decks that might also benefit from the set are White Weenie (a.k.a. Armored Falcon) especially with those Kooky en-Kor guys running berzerk around Rath just begging and screaming, "C'mon, Bolt me!!!!". Provoke and Wall of Blossoms will find home in green Stompy decks as well. The Trap will be hosed off big-time with people going bonkers over Mox Diamond (I can't really see what the fuzz is all about with this worthless piece of trash). ProsBloom...nothing really there for this one...let's just leave it in peace until Mirage is rotated out in Standard. We may see a new deck archetype with the introduction of Intruder Alarm and Pursuit of Knowledge. But, as I've said, nothing in the set will really affect the current enviroment. With all honesty, I'm a bit disappointed with Stronghold but I guess that's what I get for being so damn eager. Let's just wait and see when Exodus comes about. TOP ELEVEN STONGHOLD CARDS - based solely on their use... some may or may not be seen in Constructed... besides... I'm tired of seeing top TENS... so I'm using ELEVEN for a change. 11. the Walls these little things are about as useful as they get. Wall of Blossoms is good only if you have some way of putting it back into play again. Wall of Souls, Tears and Essence are average considering they have to be in combat for their effects to trigger. My vote for best wall is Wall of Razors...I know what you're all thinking...4/1 (boltable, fanaticable, and what have you). I've always liked the underdogs, but don't you notice anything? The only thing that can stop this baby is if you're opponent is playing red (or black --- think drain life and brush with death), otherwise, it's a great hoser for green. I mean, how often do you see a red critter with First Strike? But we probably won't see this in Constructed...a very good card in sealed. Wall of Tears might just make it in the Standard enviroment...but, we'll see. 10. the en-Kors what can I say? These guys rock!!! Better than the Spikes and less annoying than the Slivers. Anything with a free ability ain't all that bad. Badly, hoses burn decks and fattie creatures. Now we'll finally get to see the "Pass the Hot Potato" Decks we've so long hoped for. Great creature, with an equally great staying power...might make the white weenie roster. 9. Mogg "instantly replaces Ironclaw Orcs in Sligh" - M. Benveniste. Flunkies These Funky Flunkies are out to prove that Sligh is not a dying term. A must for every Sligh deck. 8. Provoke about as close as a creature control card green is ever going to get, Cantrip at that. We'll see this as a staple card for green...hopefully. 7. Mulch a green version of Impulse. Need I say more. Great with Harvest Wurms and the like. 6. Ensnaring another card for the Pox deck, though I doubt it will see much Bridge action...everybody playing creature decks will "Curse" this card (if you know what I mean) 5. Shock I guess this was inevitable...bummer...any one cating cost replica of the much love lightning bolt can't be all bad, so give it a chance. 4. Megrim dunno know how to abuse this yet, but I'm pretty sure someone will eventually send this card to the "ba-roken" card category. Hoses contol decks. Best used in conjuction with card discard cards of all types. Imagine using your Funeral Charms as Shocks. Get the picture!!! Pox decks will learn to love this in months to follow. 3. Intruder Excellent as a combo card ONLY. Used with Tims, Mana Birds Alarm and Shrieking Drakes. We may see the resurgence of Tim the Machine Gun Decks again...I'm crossing my fingers. Abusable in every sense of the word. 2. Pursuit of Sylvan Library anyone??? Seven cards is not something to Knowledge sneeze at, especially if don't have any cards in your hand. Of course, Meditate is better...but then again, anything that allows you to draw seven cards with minimal penalty is good enough for me. Who am I to argue? Expect the price to zoom in months to come. 1. Mana Leak undoubtedly the best card in the set. How often to you see three untapped mana when someone casts a spell? Easily splashable in N-colored decks. PropaOrb players can't wait to fire this baby up. Tournament Quality of the highest order and a common card at that. My hats off to WotC for making the best card a common card. HONORABLE MENTIONS: Ransack, Portcullis, Grave Pact, Ruination, Silver Wyvern, Mask of the Mimic BEST HOSER: Ruination BEST FATTIE: Silver Wyvern BEST WEENIE: Mogg Flunkies BEST CANTRIP: Provoke BEST WALL: Wall of Razors BEST BUYBACK SPELL: Brush with Death (though we'll rarely see it being bought back) and Mind Games BEST COMMON: Mana Leak BEST UNCOMMON: Megrim BEST RARE: Pursuit of Knowledge BEST EN-KOR: Shaman en-Kor BEST SLIVER: Acidic Sliver BEST SPIKE: Spike Feeder BEST LICID: Tempting Licid WORST CARD: Hidden Retreat I'm tired already...so I guess that's all for now...until Exodus... Any comments or suggestions, please feel free to write me... RICHARD M. DAVID ricmarda@philonline.com.ph TEAM G.S.S. Villareal St., Pasay City, Philippines -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FEU-NRMF Institute of Medicine Manila, Philippines