Coldsnap

Coldsnap is the thirty-ninth Magic expansion and was released in July 2006 as the third set and second small expansion of the Ice Age block, ten years after the second expansion of the block, Alliances. This replaced the Homelands expansion as a member of the block, the only time a block has been changed this way in Magic. Since Coldsnap concluded a much older block, its design made a special effort to revisit many of the previous themes while updating them for the more modern environment. The prerelease events for this set were held on July 8–9, 2006.
==Set details==
Coldsnap contains 155 black-bordered cards (40 rare, 55 uncommon, and 60 commons). Its expansion symbol is a depiction of three icicles. When Coldsnap was initially announced, Wizards of the Coast claimed that the set was a "lost design file" only recently found. Because this statement was taken seriously, Mark Rosewater later had to clarify that it was a joke. 
Coldsnap had the shortest-ever design, at six weeks. R&D made a conscious effort to hit on every standout theme in Ice Age and Alliances to give the set the necessary “retro” feel. This included cumulative upkeep, allied colors, pitch cards, old characters springing to life and land that doesn't tap for mana. The 'snow-covered' supertype changed to 'snow' and expanded its use to nonland permanents. The new Recover mechanic captured the feel of "graveyard order matters" without requiring meticulous tracking. Another new mechanic was Ripple.
Because most sealed tournaments would use only Coldsnap cards due to the rarity of Ice Age and Alliances booster packs, as a means of making frequently recurring commons more valuable, several common cards (the "kindle" and "surging" cycles) were printed that rewarded players for using multiple copies in their decks, making them more desirable.
===Storyline===
Terisiare, the island continent that was home to the Brothers’ War and the Ice Age, is in a state of rebirth known as the Thaw. The icy shell that encased the continent is melting away. Most of the inhabitants of Terisiare rejoice as the ice gives way to warmth and the rebirth of the land. But, in this time of great change, some see it as a time to angle for power: a secretive society of mages poised to shroud the continent with their icy brand of magic.
====Storyline sources====
Title 	Author 	Publishing date	Setting (plane)	Featuring
The Weather Outside Is Frightful	Unknown 	2006 	Dominaria 	Freyalise, Lovisa Coldeyes, Darien, Heidar, Haakon, Garza Zol
Keeping the Cold 	Jeff Grubb	2006 	Dominaria 	Heidar, Gendrin, Lindra, Haakon, Lovisa Coldeyes, Lothar Lovisasson, Darien
====Savor the Flavor====
Title 	Author 	Release Date 	Setting (plane)	Featuring
The Horror at Ronom Glacier	Doug Beyer 	June 21, 2006	Dominaria 	Aevar Borg, Arcum Dagsson, Heidar, Darien
The Battle of Kjeldor 	Monty Ashley	June 28, 2006	Dominaria 	Darien, Sek'Kuar, Haakon
Vannemir's Choice 	Adam Lee 	July 5, 2006 	Dominaria 	Vannemir, Pik, Guldark, Valharad, Heidar, Darien, Taaveti, Ysidra, Sek'Kuar, Isa
===Marketing===
 
Coldsnap was sold in 15-card boosters, four preconstructed theme decks and a fat pack. The decks and the fat pack contained a random Pro Tour Players Card. The booster packs featured artwork from <c>Adarkar Valkyrie</c>, <c>Rimescale Dragon</c>, and <c>Allosaurus Rider</c>. The prerelease card was a foil alternate art <c>Allosaurus Rider</c>. The release card was a <c>Marit Lage</c> token The fat pack contained Jeff Grubb's classic novel The Gathering Dark and a new original story by the same author included with the Coldsnap Player's Guide (Keeping the Cold).
===Legality===
Coldsnap is tournament legal in Modern, Legacy, Vintage, and Ice Age block tournament formats.
This set is the only expansion released during the block-oriented period of Magic that was not in any block, creating some confusion. Upon release, it was legal in Standard and Extended formats based on its release date, not its association with the Ice Age block. It rotated out of Standard slightly over two years later together with the block released immediately afterward, Time Spiral block. Since both Coldsnap and core sets of the time were released in the "summer slot" of the Magic release cycle, this schedule was similar to the core sets, but Coldsnap remained legal a couple months longer - until the new block began that autumn, rather than until the new core set was released in the summer.
Coldnsnap was released on Magic Online on August 14, becoming the first expansion ever to be legal for Constructed tournament play on Magic Online before its paper version was. However, the Ice Age and Alliances reprints from the theme decks were not legal in Standard tournament play, and the reprints have not been added to Gatherer.
==Mechanics==
*Recover allows a player to return cards with the ability to their hand by paying the card's Recover cost when a creature is put into their graveyard from the battlefield; however, if they do not pay the Recover cost the card is then exiled.
*Ripple when a player plays a spell with ripple, they may reveal the top four cards of their library. If they do, they cast play all cards revealed this way that shares a name with the spell without paying their mana costs.
==Creature types==
The following creature types are introduced in this expansion: Juggernaut.
The following creature types are used in this expansion but also appear in previous sets: Angel, Ape, Artificer, Assassin, Aurochs, Avatar, Barbarian, Bear, Beast, Bird, Cat, Centaur, Cleric, Construct, Dragon, Druid, Elemental, Elf, Faerie, Gargoyle, Giant, Goblin, Griffin, Horror, Illusion, Knight, Leviathan, Lizard, Lord (later changed to Human), Minotaur, Mutant, Ooze, Orc, Rogue, Serpent, Shade, Shaman, Skeleton, Slug, Snake, Soldier, Specter, Sphinx, Spider, Spirit, Treefolk, Unicorn, Vampire, Wall, Warrior, Wizard, Wurm, Yeti, Zombie.
==Cycles==
Coldsnap has ten cycles and a vertical cycle.
Cycle name 	 	 	 	 	
Allied-color cumulative upkeep spells	 	 	 	 	
Allied-color cumulative upkeep spells	Each of these uncommon spells has a cumulative upkeep cost that can be paid with either that spell's color or the next allied color clockwise around the color pie and has an age counter related ability. Balduvian Fallen has an unusual template to a similar effect - colorless cost with no reference to age counters, but its ability is only relevant when is paid for the upkeep.	Each of these uncommon spells has a cumulative upkeep cost that can be paid with either that spell's color or the next allied color clockwise around the color pie and has an age counter related ability. Balduvian Fallen has an unusual template to a similar effect - colorless cost with no reference to age counters, but its ability is only relevant when is paid for the upkeep.	Each of these uncommon spells has a cumulative upkeep cost that can be paid with either that spell's color or the next allied color clockwise around the color pie and has an age counter related ability. Balduvian Fallen has an unusual template to a similar effect - colorless cost with no reference to age counters, but its ability is only relevant when is paid for the upkeep.	Each of these uncommon spells has a cumulative upkeep cost that can be paid with either that spell's color or the next allied color clockwise around the color pie and has an age counter related ability. Balduvian Fallen has an unusual template to a similar effect - colorless cost with no reference to age counters, but its ability is only relevant when is paid for the upkeep.	Each of these uncommon spells has a cumulative upkeep cost that can be paid with either that spell's color or the next allied color clockwise around the color pie and has an age counter related ability. Balduvian Fallen has an unusual template to a similar effect - colorless cost with no reference to age counters, but its ability is only relevant when is paid for the upkeep.
Enemy-color hosers 	 	 	 	 	
Enemy-color hosers 	Each of these uncommon spells hampers both of their enemy colors at a low mana cost. This cycle was reprinted in 10th Edition. 	Each of these uncommon spells hampers both of their enemy colors at a low mana cost. This cycle was reprinted in 10th Edition. 	Each of these uncommon spells hampers both of their enemy colors at a low mana cost. This cycle was reprinted in 10th Edition. 	Each of these uncommon spells hampers both of their enemy colors at a low mana cost. This cycle was reprinted in 10th Edition. 	Each of these uncommon spells hampers both of their enemy colors at a low mana cost. This cycle was reprinted in 10th Edition.
Kindle spells 	 	 	 	 	
Kindle spells 	Each of these common instant or sorcery spells become more powerful the more spells there are with the same name in all graveyards. This cycle is named after the card from Tempest. 	Each of these common instant or sorcery spells become more powerful the more spells there are with the same name in all graveyards. This cycle is named after the card from Tempest. 	Each of these common instant or sorcery spells become more powerful the more spells there are with the same name in all graveyards. This cycle is named after the card from Tempest. 	Each of these common instant or sorcery spells become more powerful the more spells there are with the same name in all graveyards. This cycle is named after the card from Tempest. 	Each of these common instant or sorcery spells become more powerful the more spells there are with the same name in all graveyards. This cycle is named after the card from Tempest.
Martyrs 	 	 	 	 	
Martyrs 	Each of these common Human creatures has an activated ability that requires you to pay a mana cost, reveal X cards of its color from your hand, and sacrifice it for an effect based on the number of cards revealed. 	Each of these common Human creatures has an activated ability that requires you to pay a mana cost, reveal X cards of its color from your hand, and sacrifice it for an effect based on the number of cards revealed. 	Each of these common Human creatures has an activated ability that requires you to pay a mana cost, reveal X cards of its color from your hand, and sacrifice it for an effect based on the number of cards revealed. 	Each of these common Human creatures has an activated ability that requires you to pay a mana cost, reveal X cards of its color from your hand, and sacrifice it for an effect based on the number of cards revealed. 	Each of these common Human creatures has an activated ability that requires you to pay a mana cost, reveal X cards of its color from your hand, and sacrifice it for an effect based on the number of cards revealed.
Super pitch cards 	 	 	 	 	
Super pitch cards 	Each of these rare spells may be played by removing two cards in your hand of its color from the game instead of playing its mana cost. Allosaurus Rider was the set's prerelease card. 	Each of these rare spells may be played by removing two cards in your hand of its color from the game instead of playing its mana cost. Allosaurus Rider was the set's prerelease card. 	Each of these rare spells may be played by removing two cards in your hand of its color from the game instead of playing its mana cost. Allosaurus Rider was the set's prerelease card. 	Each of these rare spells may be played by removing two cards in your hand of its color from the game instead of playing its mana cost. Allosaurus Rider was the set's prerelease card. 	Each of these rare spells may be played by removing two cards in your hand of its color from the game instead of playing its mana cost. Allosaurus Rider was the set's prerelease card.
Surging spells 	 	 	 	 	
Surging spells 	Each of these common spells has the ripple ability. 	Each of these common spells has the ripple ability. 	Each of these common spells has the ripple ability. 	Each of these common spells has the ripple ability. 	Each of these common spells has the ripple ability.
Snow-covered lands 	 	 	 	 	
Snow-covered lands 	Each of these basic lands has the snow supertype. They were reprinted from Ice Age. 	Each of these basic lands has the snow supertype. They were reprinted from Ice Age. 	Each of these basic lands has the snow supertype. They were reprinted from Ice Age. 	Each of these basic lands has the snow supertype. They were reprinted from Ice Age. 	Each of these basic lands has the snow supertype. They were reprinted from Ice Age.
Cycle name 	 	 	 	 	
Allied-color snow taplands 	 	 	 	 	
Allied-color snow taplands 	Each of these uncommon nonbasic snow lands come into play tapped and can produce two allied colors of mana. 	Each of these uncommon nonbasic snow lands come into play tapped and can produce two allied colors of mana. 	Each of these uncommon nonbasic snow lands come into play tapped and can produce two allied colors of mana. 	Each of these uncommon nonbasic snow lands come into play tapped and can produce two allied colors of mana. 	Each of these uncommon nonbasic snow lands come into play tapped and can produce two allied colors of mana.
Uncommon gold spells 	 	 	 	 	
Uncommon gold spells 	Each uncommon multicolor spell requires two mana of allied colors to cast. 	Each uncommon multicolor spell requires two mana of allied colors to cast. 	Each uncommon multicolor spell requires two mana of allied colors to cast. 	Each uncommon multicolor spell requires two mana of allied colors to cast. 	Each uncommon multicolor spell requires two mana of allied colors to cast.
Cycle name 	 	 	 	 	
Tricolor creatures 	 	 	 	 	
Tricolor creatures 	Each rare creature requires three mana colors to cast. 	Each rare creature requires three mana colors to cast. 	Each rare creature requires three mana colors to cast. 	Each rare creature requires three mana colors to cast. 	Each rare creature requires three mana colors to cast.
===Vertical cycle===
Cycle name 	 	 	
Rimewind wizards	 	 	
Rimewind wizards	Each of these blue Human Wizard creatures, one at each level of rarity, has an activated ability that can be used only if you control four or more snow permanents.	Each of these blue Human Wizard creatures, one at each level of rarity, has an activated ability that can be used only if you control four or more snow permanents.	Each of these blue Human Wizard creatures, one at each level of rarity, has an activated ability that can be used only if you control four or more snow permanents.
===Pairs===
Coldsnap has one mirrored pair.
Mirrored Pairs	Mirrored Pairs	Description
 	 	Uncommon 2/1 Knight creatures, each have protection from the other's color, "{M}: [This] gains flying until end of turn", and "{M}{M}: [This] gets +1/+0 until end of turn". These cards are an homage to the "pump knights" from Fallen Empires and Ice Age.
==Theme decks==
Like other theme decks, Coldsnap theme decks used cards available in its block. This created reprints of Ice Age and Alliances cards. These reprints were different from the originals in that they had expansion symbol rarity coloring (in addition to being slightly redesigned), had collector numbers, and were printed featuring the new card frame.
The preconstructed theme decks are:
==Notable cards==
*<c>Dark Depths</c> was originally ignored for tournament play, until the printing of <c>Vampire Hexmage</c> in Zendikar (and later <c>Thespian's Stage</c> in Gatecrash) caused its play value and price to skyrocket. The associated token, <c>Marit Lage</c>, was made available only as a promotional card and eventually became one of the most valuable token cards ever printed.
*<c>Ohran Viper</c> was the initial chase rare of the set, harkening back to <c>Shadowmage Infiltrator</c>'s legacy.
*<c>Panglacial Wurm</c> is the first, and likely only, spell that can be played directly from the library. Due to its rules implications, Rosewater doubts such an ability will return.
*<c>Haakon, Stromgald Scourge</c> is the first creature that specifies that it can't be cast from multiple zones. This includes the command zone, meaning that, if chosen as one's commander, it cannot be cast without first finding a way to move it to the graveyard.
* is the last card printed to use asymmetrical counters and one of two to remain legal in Modern, the other being the Mirage reprint .
* is the only spell that has an activated ability while it is a spell on the stack, and the only card to use counters while in that zone; many other instant and sorcery cards do have activated abilities in other zones or use counters in exile, but not while on the stack. Lightning Storm saw regular play as the kill condition for any deck that could draw its library until was printed.
*<c>Vanish into Memory</c> is the third card to be designed through the Wizards of the Coast's "You Make the Card" promotion through their website, MTG.com
*<c>Counterbalance</c> is perhaps the most powerful blue enchantment ever printed, the combination of Counterbalance with deck manipulation cards such as <c>Brainstorm</c> and <c>Sensei's Divining Top</c> can be used to repeatedly counter your opponent's spells. The two-card combo of Counterbalance and Sensei's Divining Top is most commonly referred to as "CounterTop", and CounterTop decks have been a Legacy staple for years, with the most recent archetype to use CounterTop to full advantage being Miracles, before its ban in 2017.
*A cycle of free spells that require two cards to be exiled to be played for free, with many seeing unsurprising play in competitive formats. 
**<c>Commandeer</c> has seen sporadic play in Modern sideboards in metagames with spells worth spending three cards on to steal.
**<c>Allosaurus Rider</c> was a crucial part of the infamous NeoBrand combo deck in Modern, which could play the Rider for free then use <c>Neoform</c> to put <c>Griselbrand</c> onto the battlefield as early as turn one. The success of this deck lead contributed to the banning of fast mana in the format.
**<c>Soul Spike</c> has seen play in Modern "black burn" decks, which look to rapidly drain the opponent's life total using primarily noncombat means. These decks can often draw large amounts of cards with <c>Necrodominance</c> and then exile black cards that would otherwise need to have been discarded to hand size to pay for Soul Spike. Additionally, cards like <c>Chancellor of the Dross</c>, which are unlikely to ever be cast and generally bad to draw, are ideal fodder to exile to Soul Spike.
*<c>Rite of Flame</c> is likely the best red ritual ever printed, providing additional mana for the least initial investment. This, combined with its ability to make even more mana if other copies have been played before it, led to it getting banned in Modern to prevent degenerate early starts.
*<c>Mishra's Bauble</c> has seen heavy play in Modern and other formats as a "free card," costing no mana and returning a card at the next upkeep about old cantrips. This led to it seeing heavy play in multiple formats, particularly in combination with <c>Lurrus of the Dream Den</c> which can recur every turn for free extra card draw.
*<c>Thrumming Stone</c> was a notoriously powerful Limited card, as due to the small nature of the set, it became easy to draft many copies of commons and put them all onto the battlefield with a single cast.
*<c>Martyr of Sands</c> paired with <c>Proclamation of Rebirth</c> to make the Martyr-Proc deck in Modern and Legacy, which used the Martyr's ability to gain significant amounts of life every turn; even a control deck would struggle to contain an opponent gaining 15 life every upkeep.
==Reprinted cards==
The following cards have been reprinted from previous sets and included in Coldsnap.
*<c>Frozen Solid</c> was last seen in Scourge, possibly reprinted due to the card name and card flavor fitting the set.
*Snow-covered lands were last seen in Ice Age.
==Functional reprints==
Coldsnap has two functional reprints:
*<c>Krovikan Scoundrel</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Dakmor Scorpion</c> from Portal Second Age, <c>Skeletal Snake</c> from Portal and <c>Wei Infantry</c> from Portal Three Kingdoms, save for creature types.
*<c>Ronom Unicorn</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Kami of Ancient Law</c> from Champions of Kamigawa, save for creature type.
==Trivia==
*<c>Skred</c> is the Norse word for avalanche.
*An in the Kjeldoran Cunning deck uses the illustration of a from Ice Age.
==Gallery==
File:Coldsnap_icecube_off.jpg
File:Coldsnap_icecube_on.jpg
Keeping the Cold 12.jpeg
Keeping the Cold 13.jpeg
==Notes==
==References==
==External links==
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