Stronghold

STH · 143 cards · Released

Bandage
Instant

Prevent the next 1 damage that would be dealt to any target this turn.

Draw a card.

Takara shook with guilt. She knew the last image her father had seen was her sword flashing toward him.

Calming Licid
Creature — Licid

, : This creature loses this ability and becomes an Aura enchantment with enchant creature. Attach it to target creature. You may pay to end this effect.

Enchanted creature can't attack.

2/2
Change of Heart
Instant

Buyback (You may pay an additional as you cast this spell. If you do, put this card into your hand as it resolves.)

Target creature can't attack this turn.

Contemplation
Enchantment

Whenever you cast a spell, you gain 1 life.

"How fascinating it is to watch the machinations of one's own mind play themselves out."

—Volrath

Conviction
Enchantment — Aura

Enchant creature

Enchanted creature gets +1/+3.

: Return this Aura to its owner's hand.

It was not the minotaur's shoulders but his soul that bore the heaviest weight.

Hidden Retreat
Enchantment

Put a card from your hand on top of your library: Prevent all damage that would be dealt by target instant or sorcery spell this turn.

After an hour in the hidey-hole, Squee seriously pondered the advantages of danger over boredom.

Honor Guard
Creature — Human Soldier

: This creature gets +0/+1 until end of turn.

"It is not a choice I make, to have this guard. It is the choice of my people, and my duty to them."

—Oracle en-Vec

1/1
Lancers en-Kor
Creature — Kor Soldier

Trample

: The next 1 damage that would be dealt to this creature this turn is dealt to target creature you control instead.

Nearly all sets of Kor twins are trained as lancers.

3/3
Nomads en-Kor
Creature — Kor Nomad Soldier

: The next 1 damage that would be dealt to this creature this turn is dealt to target creature you control instead.

The Kor forsake roots for the winding of the path; forsake voices for the silence of the mind; forsake all else for the poverty of isolation.

1/1
Pursuit of Knowledge
Enchantment

If you would draw a card, you may put a study counter on this enchantment instead.

Remove three study counters from this enchantment, Sacrifice this enchantment: Draw seven cards.

Rolling Stones
Enchantment

Wall creatures can attack as though they didn't have defender.

Walls collapse and kill people all the time. Some are just more aggressive about it.

Sacred Ground
Enchantment

Whenever a spell or ability an opponent controls causes a land to be put into your graveyard from the battlefield, return that card to the battlefield.

"That which knows itself cannot be shaped to another's will."

—Oracle en-Vec

Samite Blessing
Enchantment — Aura

Enchant creature

Enchanted creature has ": The next time a source of your choice would deal damage to target creature this turn, prevent that damage."

Knit bone, darn flesh, Stitch skin, weave breath.

—Samite healing ritual

Scapegoat
Instant

As an additional cost to cast this spell, sacrifice a creature.

Return any number of target creatures you control to their owner's hand.

"Enjoy your deception, Vuel," Gerrard said as Volrath's features melted from the dead shapeshifter. "I'll count this one as practice."

Shaman en-Kor
Creature — Kor Cleric Shaman

: The next 1 damage that would be dealt to this creature this turn is dealt to target creature you control instead.

: The next time a source of your choice would deal damage to target creature this turn, that damage is dealt to this creature instead.

1/2
Skyshroud Falcon
Creature — Bird

Flying, vigilance

The falcon slits the sky to let the light drip through.

—Kor saying

1/1
Smite
Instant

Destroy target blocked creature.

"You've got your childhood wish at last. Now you get to die."

—Gerrard, to Volrath

Soltari Champion
Creature — Soltari Soldier

Shadow (This creature can block or be blocked by only creatures with shadow.)

Whenever this creature attacks, other creatures you control get +1/+1 until end of turn.

2/2
Spirit en-Kor
Creature — Kor Spirit

Flying

: The next 1 damage that would be dealt to this creature this turn is dealt to target creature you control instead.

Death free throat from thirst, mouth from speech, feet from earth.

—Kor requiem

2/2
Temper
Instant

Prevent the next X damage that would be dealt to target creature this turn. For each 1 damage prevented this way, put a +1/+1 counter on that creature.

"I don't need a plan, just a goal. The rest will follow on its own."

—Gerrard

Venerable Monk
Creature — Human Monk Cleric

When this creature enters, you gain 2 life.

Age wears the flesh but galvanizes the soul.

2/2
Wall of Essence
Creature — Wall

Defender (This creature can't attack.)

Whenever this creature is dealt combat damage, you gain that much life.

The ceiling and the floor fell in love, but only the wall knew.

—Dal saying

0/4
Warrior en-Kor
Creature — Kor Warrior Knight

: The next 1 damage that would be dealt to this creature this turn is dealt to target creature you control instead.

Only a matter as vital as destroying Volrath could bring together the reclusive Kor people.

2/2
Warrior Angel
Creature — Angel Warrior

Flying

Whenever this creature deals damage, you gain that much life.

She represents not hope, but hope's desperate fury.

3/4
Youthful Knight
Creature — Human Knight

First strike

"Let no child be without a sword. We will all fight, for if we fail, we will certainly all die."

—Oracle en-Vec

2/1
Cloud Spirit
Creature — Spirit

Flying

This creature can block only creatures with flying.

Clouds are the soil, dreams are the crop.

—Kor saying

3/1
Contempt
Enchantment — Aura

Enchant creature

When enchanted creature attacks, return it and this Aura to their owners' hands at end of combat.

"Predictable little man. In all these years you taught me so much yet learned so little."

—Volrath, to Starke

Dream Halls
Enchantment

Rather than pay the mana cost for a spell, its controller may discard a card that shares a color with that spell.

Within without.

Dream Prowler
Creature — Illusion

This creature can't be blocked as long as it's attacking alone.

"To think that some find sleep a restful state."

—Volrath

1/5
Evacuation
Instant

Return all creatures to their owners' hands.

The first step of every exodus is from the blood and the fire onto the trail.

Gliding Licid
Creature — Licid

, : This creature loses this ability and becomes an Aura enchantment with enchant creature. Attach it to target creature. You may pay to end this effect.

Enchanted creature has flying.

2/2
Hammerhead Shark
Creature — Shark

This creature can't attack unless defending player controls an Island.

Cross the eyes of a hammerhead and you'll dot its teeth.

2/3
Hesitation
Enchantment

When a player casts a spell, sacrifice this enchantment and counter that spell.

Gerrard hesitated, looking up at the enemy ship. The future hesitated with him, changed forever by the pause.

Intruder Alarm
Enchantment

Creatures don't untap during their controllers' untap steps.

Whenever a creature enters, untap all creatures.

Mirri was startled by Volrath's apparition—it had no scent.

Leap
Instant

Target creature gains flying until end of turn.

Draw a card.

Mirri leapt quickly and silently. The guard died likewise.

Mana Leak
Instant

Counter target spell unless its controller pays .

"The fatal flaw in every plan is the assumption that you know more than your enemy."

—Volrath

Mask of the Mimic
Instant

As an additional cost to cast this spell, sacrifice a creature.

Search your library for a card with the same name as target nontoken creature, put that card onto the battlefield, then shuffle.

Mind Games
Instant

Buyback (You may pay an additional as you cast this spell. If you do, put this card into your hand as it resolves.)

Tap target artifact, creature, or land.

Ransack
Sorcery

Look at the top five cards of target player's library. Put any number of them on the bottom of that library in any order and the rest on top of the library in any order.

Rebound
Instant

Change the target of target spell that targets only a player. The new target must be a player.

Insult, like an arrow, is beyond control once loosed.

Reins of Power
Instant

Untap all creatures you control and all creatures target opponent controls. You and that opponent each gain control of all creatures the other controls until end of turn. Those creatures gain haste until end of turn.

Sift
Sorcery

Draw three cards, then discard a card.

"Twice I have let the Legacy slip away. Never again."

—Karn, silver golem

Silver Wyvern
Creature — Drake

Flying

: Change the target of target spell or ability that targets only this creature. The new target must be a creature.

4/3
Spindrift Drake
Creature — Drake

Flying

At the beginning of your upkeep, sacrifice this creature unless you pay .

Sea brine for blood, washing foam for laughter.

2/1
Thalakos Deceiver
Creature — Thalakos Wizard

Shadow (This creature can block or be blocked by only creatures with shadow.)

Whenever this creature attacks and isn't blocked, you may sacrifice it. If you do, gain control of target creature. (This effect lasts indefinitely.)

1/1
Tidal Surge
Sorcery

Tap up to three target creatures without flying.

"It is nature that gives us our boundaries and nature that enforces them."

—Eladamri, Lord of Leaves

Tidal Warrior
Creature — Merfolk Warrior

: Target land becomes an Island until end of turn.

The tide of battle favors those who can swim.

1/1
Volrath's Shapeshifter
Creature — Phyrexian Shapeshifter

As long as the top card of your graveyard is a creature card, this creature has the full text of that card and has the text ": Discard a card." (This creature has that card's name, mana cost, color, types, abilities, power, and toughness.)

: Discard a card.

0/1
Walking Dream
Creature — Illusion

This creature can't be blocked.

This creature doesn't untap during your untap step if an opponent controls two or more creatures.

Dreams, by definition, live shorter lives than those who dream them.

3/3
Wall of Tears
Creature — Wall

Defender (This creature can't attack.)

Whenever this creature blocks a creature, return that creature to its owner's hand at end of combat.

"Many have been lost to pity."

—Karn, silver golem

0/4
Bottomless Pit
Enchantment

At the beginning of each player's upkeep, that player discards a card at random.

"I'm sure it came with the place. I don't think you build one on purpose."

—Gerrard

Brush with Death
Sorcery

Buyback (You may pay an additional as you cast this spell. If you do, put this card into your hand as it resolves.)

Target opponent loses 2 life. You gain 2 life.

Cannibalize
Sorcery

Choose two target creatures controlled by the same player. Exile one of those creatures and put two +1/+1 counters on the other.

"Mine."

Corrupting Licid
Creature — Licid

, : This creature loses this ability and becomes an Aura enchantment with enchant creature. Attach it to target creature. You may pay to end this effect.

Enchanted creature has fear. (It can't be blocked except by artifact creatures and/or black creatures.)

2/2
Crovax the Cursed
Legendary Creature — Vampire Noble

Crovax enters with four +1/+1 counters on it.

At the beginning of your upkeep, you may sacrifice a creature. If you do, put a +1/+1 counter on Crovax. If you don't, remove a +1/+1 counter from Crovax.

: Crovax gains flying until end of turn.

0/0
Dauthi Trapper
Creature — Dauthi Minion

: Target creature gains shadow until end of turn. (It can block or be blocked by only creatures with shadow.)

Merfolk tell their young of Dandân, humans of Rag Man. Dal tell tales of the Dauthi, and they are far worse.

1/1
Death Stroke
Sorcery

Destroy target tapped creature.

For a sharp second, Selenia froze, and Crovax's blade found home. As the angel shattered like glass, Crovax felt his mind collapse—the curse had been fulfilled.

Dungeon Shade
Creature — Shade Spirit

Flying

: This creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn.

A sickness stirs in its eyes, a nightmare born in darkened wails.

1/1
Foul Imp
Creature — Imp

Flying

When this creature enters, you lose 2 life.

The imp, unaware of its own odor, paused to catch its breath . . . and promptly died.

2/2
Grave Pact
Enchantment

Whenever a creature you control dies, each other player sacrifices a creature of their choice.

"The bonds of loyalty can tie one to the grave."

—Crovax