Rath Cycle (Magic: The Gathering)

Tempest
Tempest expansion symbol (Storm cloud)
ReleasedOctober 1997
December 8, 2008 (MTGO)
Size350 cards (110 commons, 110 uncommons, 110 rares, 20 basic lands)
KeywordsBuyback, Shadow
MechanicsSlivers, Licids
DesignersMark Rosewater (lead), Richard Garfield, Charlie Catino, Mike Elliott
Development codeBogavhati
Expansion codeTMP
First set in the Rath Cycle block
Tempest Stronghold Exodus
Weatherlight Stronghold
Mirage Block Urza Block
Stronghold
ReleasedFebruary 1998
April 13, 2009 (MTGO)
Size143 cards (55 commons, 44 uncommons, 44 rares)
KeywordsNone new
MechanicsSpikes
Development codeRachimulot
Expansion codeSTH
Second set in the Rath Cycle block
Tempest Stronghold Exodus
Tempest Exodus
Mirage Block Urza Block
Exodus
ReleasedJune 15, 1998
December 7, 2009 (MTGO)
Size143 cards (55 commons, 44 uncommons, 44 rares)
KeywordsNone New
MechanicsNone new
Development codeGorgonzola
Expansion codeEXO
Third set in the Rath Cycle block
Tempest Stronghold Exodus
Stronghold Portal Second Age
Mirage Block Urza Block
Tempest Remastered
ReleasedMay 6, 2015 (MTGO only)
Size269 cards (101 commons, 80 uncommons, 53 rares, 15 mythic rares)
Expansion codeTPR
Dragons of Tarkir Modern Masters 2015 Edition

The Rath Cycle (also known as the Tempest block) is a cycle of three Magic: The Gathering expansions that continues the events of the Weatherlight Saga. Whereas there had previously been no official term for a trilogy (or tetralogy) of thematically or story-linked expansions, starter decks and booster packs from all three of these sets had the phrase "The Rath cycle" printed on them, firmly establishing "cycle" as the official word of choice and "The Rath Cycle" as the name of this particular cycle. It consists of Tempest (October 1997), Stronghold (March 1998) and Exodus (June 1998) as the 20th, 21st and 22nd expansion sets, respectively.