Ebon Stronghold MTG Card
1994-11-01 - Number 95
1996-05-02 - Number ll95
1997-03-24 - Number 416
1999-04-21 - Number 324
2000-10-01 - Number 72
2008-09-22 - Number 228
2011-11-18 - Number 25
| Card sets | Released in 7 setsSee all |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Land |
Text of card
Comes into play tapped. oc T: Add o B to your mana pool. oc T: Sacrifice Ebon Stronghold to add o Bo B to your mana pool.
Cards like Ebon Stronghold
Ebon Stronghold finds its niche in Mana acceleration and fixing within the realm of Magic: The Gathering. It’s akin to cards like Peat Bog, which also provides black Mana; however, Ebon Stronghold has the upper hand with its ability to be tapped for colorless Mana as well. Both lands come into play tapped and can be sacrificed for additional black Mana, though Ebon Stronghold offers a more flexible Mana base at the cost of entering play tapped as well.
Diving into the comparison, Barren Moor is another relative, offering both Mana consistency and card draw through cycling. While it doesn’t accelerate your black Mana production, the ability to draw a card at a later stage can be a tactical advantage. Then we find Lake of the Dead, a more aggressive option for black Mana ramp. Although it significantly boosts your black Mana, the requirement to sacrifice a swamp can be a steep price for the surge in Mana resources.
Assessing Ebon Stronghold among its counterparts, it stands out with its dual Mana capability and a one-time Mana boost with no additional cost besides entering the battlefield tapped. This makes it a solid consideration for decks looking to ensure Mana availability without too significant a loss in resources.
Cards similar to Ebon Stronghold by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Ebon Stronghold doesn’t directly allow for drawing cards; instead, it sets the stage for indirect card advantage by helping you deploy your crucial spells ahead of time. Essentially, this translates to having more cards in play and fewer in your hand, which can often pressure your opponent into unfavorable situations.
Resource Acceleration: Upon entering the battlefield, Ebon Stronghold may have a bit of a drawback, coming into play tapped. However, its ability to sacrifice for additional black mana can significantly accelerate your resources at a critical moment. This can be pivotal, especially when you’re on the brink of casting high-cost, game-changing spells.
Instant Speed: While Ebon Stronghold operates at sorcery speed due to its nature as a land, the flexibility it offers comes in the form of resource management at instant timing. By holding up mana and sacrificing Ebon Stronghold during your opponent’s end step, you can effectively emulate instant-speed play by boosting your available mana for the next turn without tipping off your strategic plans too early.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Ebon Stronghold forces you to sacrifice a creature when you utilize its ability, which is a steep price, especially if you’re playing a deck that relies on creature synergy or a critical creature presence on the battlefield.
Specific Mana Cost: This location produces only black mana, which might not be a perfect fit for multicolor decks that require a more versatile mana base to cast a diverse array of spells efficiently.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Accessing the additional black mana from Ebon Stronghold comes at the cost of it entering the battlefield tapped. This delay can be significant in the early game where the speed of mana availability is crucial, setting you behind other strategies that capitalize on faster mana ramp.
Reasons to Include Ebon Stronghold in Your Collection
Versatility: Ebon Stronghold provides a special niche in decks looking to utilize lands for more than just mana. It can be a resourceful addition to black decks as it offers both mana acceleration and fixing.
Combo Potential: This card pairs well with strategies revolving around land recursion or sacrifice mechanics. By sacrificing Ebon Stronghold, you not only get an immediate mana boost but also set up potential synergies with cards that benefit from lands entering the graveyard.
Meta-Relevance: In a format where black-centric strategies are prominent, Ebon Stronghold ensures consistency by smoothing out mana curves. It’s a fitting choice for decks that require a critical mass of specific mana types to execute their game plan effectively.
How to beat Ebon Stronghold
Ebon Stronghold is a unique land card that has the ability to ramp up your mana reserves in Magic: The Gathering. But like any card, it has its vulnerabilities. The key to overpowering an Ebon Stronghold is to hinder the land’s ability to benefit your opponent. Consider employing land destruction cards or strategies to disrupt your opponent’s mana base. Cards such as Ghost Quarter or Field of Ruin allow you to target specific lands, potentially removing Ebon Stronghold from play before your opponent can capitalize on its ability to sacrifice for additional black mana.
Another approach is to apply pressure early in the game. Since Ebon Stronghold enters the battlefield tapped and only produces colorless mana unless sacrificed, you can take advantage of the tempo loss your opponent experiences. Aggressive decks can capitalize on this by developing their board presence and reducing the opponent’s life total before they can make use of the mana boost Ebon Stronghold provides when sacrificed.
Remember, disrupting your opponent’s strategy is just as important as building your own. By effectively neutralizing Ebon Stronghold, you’ll be one step closer to securing victory on the battlefield.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Ebon Stronghold MTG card by a specific set like Fallen Empires and Pro Tour Collector Set, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.
For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.
Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.
Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Ebon Stronghold and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
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Printings
The Ebon Stronghold Magic the Gathering card was released in 7 different sets between 1994-11-01 and 2011-11-18. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1994-11-01 | Fallen Empires | FEM | 95 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Mark Poole | |
| 2 | 1996-05-02 | Pro Tour Collector Set | PTC | ll95 | 1993 | Normal | Gold | Mark Poole | |
| 3 | 1997-03-24 | Fifth Edition | 5ED | 416 | 1997 | Normal | White | Liz Danforth | |
| 4 | 1999-04-21 | Classic Sixth Edition | 6ED | 324 | 1997 | Normal | White | Liz Danforth | |
| 5 | 2000-10-01 | Beatdown Box Set | BTD | 72 | 1997 | Normal | White | Liz Danforth | |
| 6 | 2008-09-22 | Masters Edition II | ME2 | 228 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Mark Poole | |
| 7 | 2011-11-18 | Premium Deck Series: Graveborn | PD3 | 25 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Liz Danforth |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Ebon Stronghold has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Oldschool | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |