"Stronghold Rats" is a 2/1 black rat printed as an uncommon for the Magic the Gathering expansion set known as "Future Sight." It is perhaps one of the cards printed in Future Sight with abilities that bring back memories of some classic expansion sets. With respect to Stronghold Rats, it seems to be a good card to use in a black control deck. If you use Stronghold Rats with other cards, you could get a lot of use.

The converted mana cost for Stronghold Rats is three. You will need one black mana and two colorless mana to play Stronghold Rats. For what Stronghold Rats can do, the converted mana cost is well worth it. Stronghold Rats has two great abilities which can mess up the momentum of your opponents. As a result, a black control deck should consider having a few Stronghold Rats cards on hand.

What does Stronghold Rats do in the first place?

Stronghold Rats has Shadow. Shadow is an ability which was introduced back in the late 1990s during the Rath cycle which consisted of "Tempest," "Stronghold," and "Exodus." Shadow is on the same par with Flying and Fear. Flying can only be blocked by creatures with Flying or Reach. Fear can only be blocked by black and artifact creatures. Shadow can only be blocked by creatures with Shadow.

You can attack with Stronghold Rats and deal two points of combat damage if your opponent has no creatures with Shadow. Because of this, Shadow has become useful ability. It would override abilities such as Flying and Reach. As long as your opponent has no Shadow creatures, you can continue attacking with Stronghold Rats. However, this is not the only ability that Stronghold Rats possesses. It is not the main ability of Stronghold Rats.

The main ability of Stronghold Rats causes all players to discard a card whenever it deals combat damage. Of course you are hurting your own card advantage; but, you are doing the same to your opponents. Being able to disrupt an opponent's card advantage is always a good thing.

In an extended format, you can combine Stronghold Rats with "Megrim" and "Wound Reflection." When your opponents discard a card, Megrim will deal each of them two points of damage. And then, Wound Reflection kicks in at the end of the turn as it doubles the amount of life points lost. The one that received the combat damage would end up losing eight points of life in the end.

Overall, Stronghold Rats should be a formidable contender in the extended format with black let alone Shadow creatures. Asides from the Rath cycle, the other set blocks do not have Shadow creatures. Using Stronghold Rats should give you an advantage for the time being.

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