Slayers' Stronghold MTG Card
2012-05-04 - Number 229
2020-11-20 - Number 494
2021-04-23 - Number 318
2023-02-03 - Number 165
2024-02-09 - Number 295
2019-12-02 - Number 356
| Card sets | Released in 6 setsSee all |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Land |
Key Takeaways
- Enhances on-board creatures, indirectly aiding in card advantage and battlefield impact.
- Cost-efficient ability ramps up pressure, advancing your board state rapidly.
- Instant speed activation allows flexible combat tactics and surprise elements.
Guide to Vigilance card ability
In the strategic universe of Magic: The Gathering (MTG), the vigilance ability stands out as a powerful tool for players. This potent keyword allows creatures to attack without tapping, keeping them ready and alert to defend against incoming threats. It represents a perfect balance between aggression and defense, offering a dynamic approach to gameplay. Lets dive deeper into how vigilance shapes the battlefield.
Text of card
: Add to your mana pool. , : Target creature gets +2/+0 and gains vigilance and haste until end of turn.
Its courtyards are lit during every hour of the day so that night may never fall within its walls.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Slayers’ Stronghold doesn’t directly allow you to draw cards, but it does give your creatures a boost without costing a card from your hand. This increases the impact of your on-board creatures, indirectly contributing to card advantage by enhancing what’s already in play.
Resource Acceleration: By offering a valuable ability for only two mana—one of which is any color and the other specifically red or white—Slayers’ Stronghold can quickly ramp up the pressure on your opponent. This efficient use of resources helps advance your board state more swiftly.
Instant Speed: The benefit of the Stronghold’s ability to be activated at instant speed cannot be overstated. It allows for surprise augmentation during combat or at the end of your opponent’s turn, making it a flexible and potent tool for turning the tides in your favor.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Slayers’ Stronghold doesn’t have a discard requirement, but it does ask for a significant commitment of both mana and deck space to effectively utilize its ability. This could be cumbersome if your strategy hinges upon maintaining card advantage.
Specific Mana Cost: Activating Slayers’ Stronghold demands a specific blend of mana – one red, one white, and one colorless. This can be a tricky hoop to jump through for decks that aren’t fine-tuned for such meticulous mana requirements.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The activation cost for Slayers’ Stronghold’s ability is at the higher end for similar effects in game. There are alternative lands that offer creature enhancement at a lower cost, potentially providing more fluid gameplay and quicker turns.
Reasons to Include Slayers’ Stronghold in Your Collection
Versatility: Slayers’ Stronghold can be a dynamic addition to a wide array of decks, particularly those seeking to give their creatures a sudden boost. Its ability to give a creature +2/+0, vigilance, and haste allows for both aggressive and defensive plays, adapting to various in-game situations.
Combo Potential: This card synergizes well with strategies focused on enter-the-battlefield effects or creature-based tactics. It can turn a simple creature into an immediate threat and even facilitate infinite combos with cards that untap lands or creatures.
Meta-Relevance: In a game state where tempo plays can be decisive, Slayers’ Stronghold holds its ground. It can significantly impact games where surprising your opponent or dodging sorcery-speed removal can turn the tides in your favor. Whether you’re aiming to overpower slower control decks or outpace other aggro opponents, this card offers substantial utility in various metagames.
How to beat
Slayers’ Stronghold presents a unique challenge on the battlefield, bestowing key advantages like vigilance, haste, and a power boost upon the chosen creature. This formidable land card in Magic: The Gathering can turn the tide by enhancing creatures the moment they stomp onto the field, making it a backbone of many aggressive strategies. Tackling this stronghold requires a proactive approach. Land destruction spells could dismantle the stronghold before it fortifies the opponent’s position. Consider cards like Ghost Quarter or Field of Ruin to disrupt this strategic asset.
Another effective method is to target the player’s creatures. Board wipes such as Wrath of God or Doomskar ensure that even if the Stronghold is available, there are no creatures to benefit from its enhancements. Players might also consider instant-speed removal such as Fatal Push or Path to Exile to react swiftly to creatures targeted by the Stronghold’s ability. In essence, the key to overpowering Slayers’ Stronghold lies in managing the threats it amplifies rather than the card itself.
Ultimately, preemptive control of the field and situational awareness are paramount. Prevent Slayers’ Stronghold from ever gaining momentum, and you’ll neutralize its threat, keeping the battlefield in your favor.
Cards like Slayers' Stronghold
Slayers’ Stronghold stands out in the world of lands within Magic: The Gathering. This versatile land is often compared to Kessig Wolf Run, giving creatures bonus power. Where Slayers’ Stronghold provides a boost of speed with vigilance in addition to power, Kessig Wolf Run ups the ante with trample, allowing excess damage to bleed through to the opponent. Both cards, however, excel in late-game scenarios where mana availability allows you to maximize their effects.
Another related card is Sunhome, Fortress of the Legion, which also buffs creatures, albeit strictly focusing on double strike. This powerful ability can be game-ending when paired with the right creature. In contrast, Slayers’ Stronghold is generally more flexible, useful across various stages of the game for applying quick pressure or enabling defensive maneuvers without sacrificing the capability to attack.
Ultimately, while there are other lands like Rogue’s Passage that make creatures unblockable or utility lands such as Inkmoth Nexus which transform into threats themselves, Slayers’ Stronghold provides a unique combination of haste, power, and vigilance that makes it an influential addition to any MTG deck focusing on combat finesse.
Cards similar to Slayers' Stronghold by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Slayers' Stronghold MTG card by a specific set like Avacyn Restored and Secret Lair Drop, 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 Slayers' Stronghold and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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
See Magic products
Printings
The Slayers' Stronghold Magic the Gathering card was released in 6 different sets between 2012-05-04 and 2024-02-09. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Release | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2012-05-04 | Avacyn Restored | AVR | 229 | 2003 | normal | black | Karl Kopinski | |
| 2 | Secret Lair Drop | SLD | 356 | 2015 | normal | black | Alayna Danner | ||
| 3 | 2020-11-20 | Commander Legends | CMR | 494 | 2015 | normal | black | Karl Kopinski | |
| 4 | 2021-04-23 | Commander 2021 | C21 | 318 | 2015 | normal | black | Karl Kopinski | |
| 5 | 2023-02-03 | Phyrexia: All Will Be One Commander | ONC | 165 | 2015 | normal | black | Karl Kopinski | |
| 6 | 2024-02-09 | Murders at Karlov Manor Commander | MKC | 295 | 2015 | normal | black | Karl Kopinski |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Slayers' Stronghold has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
