Rath Cycle (Magic: The Gathering)

The Rath Cycle refers to a block of Magic: The Gathering sets released between 1997 and 1998, telling the story of the artificial plane of Rath and its role in the impending Phyrexian invasion of Dominaria. The block consists of three sets: Tempest, Stronghold, and Exodus.

The story focuses on the conflicts within Rath, primarily between the Kor and Vec, two distinct humanoid races. The Kor, often depicted as nomadic and spiritual, are contrasted with the Vec, who are ruthless and militaristic. The Phyrexian influence on Rath is a major theme, with the plane itself being shaped and molded by Phyrexian technology and the insidious influence of Yawgmoth, the Father of Machines.

Mechanically, the Rath Cycle introduced or emphasized several notable mechanics. Tempest brought back Slivers, a creature type that shares abilities with all other Slivers on the battlefield, and introduced Shadow, a keyword ability that allowed creatures to only block or be blocked by other creatures with Shadow. Stronghold continued the themes and mechanics of Tempest, while Exodus focused on powerful legendary creatures and introduced the concept of cards being "exiled" from the game, a precursor to the modern exile zone.

The Rath Cycle is considered significant in Magic: The Gathering lore as it directly leads into the Phyrexian invasion of Dominaria depicted in the Invasion block. The events on Rath established the Phyrexians as a major threat and set the stage for one of the game's most significant storylines.