The second of the infamous “they even had a ________ precon!!!” decks I’ve covered on here. Will be the second deck, after The Swarm, that I have a copy of as well.
The Sparkler
A blue red counterburn deck which is notable among Magic’s preconstructed decks for only including three creatures.
Official product information page (archived)
“The Sparkler” is meant to hold out for the long term. Winning usually comes from preventing anything really bad from happening in the early part of the game, then using a buyback damage spell to win later.
In general, you won’t do much on your turn. Most of your cards are instants or interrupts, and you can play the instants at the end of your opponent’s turn. This leaves you in a good position to counter your opponent’s spells, and keeps him or her guessing as to what you might do later.
Stronghold Strategy Guide insert (compiled here)
The decklist and card images can also be found on Moxfield, MTG Goldfish and mtg.wtf.
Advanced Deck
2 Capsize
1 Coral Atoll
4 Counterspell
1 Dismiss
2 Disrupt
1 Dissipate
1 Dwarven Ruins
1 Earthquake
1 Fanning the Flames
4 Impulse
4 Incinerate
13 Island
1 Jokulhaups
3 Mana Leak
9 Mountain
1 Portent
1 Power Sink
2 Propaganda
4 Quicksand
1 Searing Touch
2 Shock
1 Whispers of the Muse
1 Disrupt
2 Earthquake
1 Hurkyl's Recall
3 Hydroblast
2 Nevinyrral's Disk
3 Pyroblast
3 Steel Golem
List also on MTG Goldfish and mtg.wtf
Reviews
Abe Sargent
CasualNation #48 – Top Ten Theme Decks of All Time (CoolStuffInc, 2011)
1. The Sparkler – Stronghold – I just don’t see how anyone who has ever played The Sparkler can rate another theme deck higher. The Sparkler makes you a better Magic player. Winning with it takes skill. This is not a theme deck you pick up and can play easily. Without understanding the nuances of the deck, you will lose.
The Kitchen Table #122: The Casual Player’s Preconstructed Deck Primer (StarCityGames, 2006)
The Sparkler – Obviously my favorite precon. This is not an easy deck to just pick up and win with. Be aware that Fanning the Flames is your key to victory; don’t use them as mere creature kill unless you absolutely have to.
Why the Sparkler is the best Precon Ever Made! (CoolStuffInc, 2023)
This is a Counter/Burn/Tempo deck that tries to tap, bounce, force payments with Propaganda while also countering and burning. That’s how it works. This deck wins on the skin of its teeth and it rarely wins at 20 life in those life formats. Also, all of that mana payment tapping lands and mana rocks and then bouncing stuff for repayments makes Mana Leak a much more reliable counter than normal in this brew, and it’s easier to cast, so this deck is more consistent than it may appear at first.
Cubic Creativity
Budget Deckbuilding: The Sparkler
After going through the entire decklist, I have to admit that I can see the idea working; at least when it comes to defense. Turtling behind a copy of “Propaganda” is very much possible and something I have done in multiplayer rounds before. My main problem right now is the win option because I cannot see how this deck is supposed to kill the opponent.
Jay Kirkman
History of Izzet Theme Decks (CoolStuffInc)
With Theme Decks introduced only the set before in Tempest, Wizards was effectively starting with a clean slate. What would they do to showcase the pairing of Red and Blue? Why, simply create one of the greatest Theme Decks of all time, that’s what!
PRECONversation: Jay Kirkman (Ertai’s Lament) (beatsandskies)
It was a delicate balancing act, keeping enough mana up for your counters while making the most of your resources thanks to the buyback mechanic, as featured on one of my all-time favorite Magic cards Whispers of the Muse. Very skill-testing, easy for everything to go pear-shaped but it could make you feel like you’d just solved the Washington Post crossword puzzle when you managed to pull it all off.
What is my favorite Precon?
M:tG Precon Decon
Pojo
It relies on stalling the game with countermagic, blue bounce and it’s less-than-a-handful of creatures until it can draw one of two Fanning the Flames, at which point you have a choice of two options: Tap out and go for broke with the mother of all X spells or nickel and dime your opponent to death by paying the Flames buyback cost.
Stric9
Whispers of the Muse: Stric9’s “The Sparkler” (Ertai’s Lament)
But this is old school Magic. This is a deck from the way it used to be played. I’m talking about grinding out an agonizingly slow win against your opponent through domination and frustration.
The Duelist
If you hide behind The Sparkler’s walls and liberally apply its direct damage, you should survive the early game long enough to set up Propaganda and/or Intruder Alarms, which will give you the mana buildup you’ll need for the numerous recursive spells you’ll cast in the mid and late game.
Issue 24, compiled here.
Unboxings
Doctor Alzheimers Academia Magica
German language channel
shmijdacards
I thought I’d start to point my artist credits towards each artist’s official webpage… a lot of Magic artists need to work on getting these sorted a bit better I think.
Beats and Skies 
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