MTG Salvation

Quote from TheMajinV »

At least, I'm hoping so. I'm going to MF Calgary in a few weeks and picked up the last of my Dredge list, and I really don't want to fret about getting a new deck together and wasting all that testing. ^^'

this is a big reason why we likely wont see any changes on monday. there are 3 modern GPs in the next few weeks. so waiting till those are over doesnt screw over a lot of players, and it gives more data to better inform whatever decision.

i get why people lump lootings together with blue cantrips or the narrow green ones like stirrings. i do it myself sometimes because its easy grouping broadly similar cheap spells.

however i'd like to remind people that lootings and what it does in modern is not remotely close to the various blue cantrips or even stirrings. im not talking about power, but the literal effect. its hand filtering/selection that moves cards between zones after you see more cards AND copies can be used in that zone. as such its a key enabler for an entire class of strategies, of which would be severely crippled or outright die if it was removed. in that context how it stacks up to the banned blue cantrips, or the ones being played is irrelevant.

i said it some time ago but id rate a banning of lootings similar to banning mox opal. im not saying i think it should happen or not, but people shouldnt take the gravity of that decision lightly.

tbh i liked your post not because i completely agree with all of your assertions, but because it was emotive and had some insights into your personal perspective. sure there are the regular unfounded sweeping statements and some assumptions i think some wouldnt agree are a thing, but there is nothing wrong with a voice of dissent saying 'im really not enjoying modern right now, it seems like its been invariably moving in whatever direction for a while, and i cant understand how others do (like it that is)'. i also found your novel idea of the collective memory of modern up and vanishing and where and how it would pick up and form as an interesting thought experiment.

its mostly a lot of the same people discussing in this thread/sub-forum. as presumably people who likely care about modern more than the average person for a longer period of time its almost ingrained to come to the formats defense because of the historically negative stigma of being 'linear no skill garbage' or some variation. especially so in arenas where its just mobs of anonymous people whom you cant even be sure actually know anything or even play modern shouting their disdain into the wind.

however ive seen you on these forums for years, and apart from any sort of true swaying/convincing with 'arguments' that are mostly asinine and fruitless there is hearing/reading what other people think and reflecting on it. so yeah maybe there are biases, misunderstandings, or even logical inconsistencies; but if you say you dont like something and are frustrated and confused that is still a relevant piece of feedback. its not like we can logic you into enjoy something you clearly arent atm.

bad beats man. titanshift is decently positioned right (including GR breach)? not a lot of decks running around that are faster. despite how explosive these GY aggro decks may seem they typically arent shipping in for lethal until turn 5.

as for assassin's trophy. the card makes more sense in GB rock since you have the fields to bolster the mana denial plan if it comes up; especially with fulminators out of the side.

for jund though, the deck is all over the place still with minor variations. really id attribute that GP placement to it being logan nettles as much as anything else. /shrug

the field has narrowed a bit and most of GBx's maindeck cards do relevant stuff. thats really how the archetype hangs in there in terms of consistency.

also not surprising to see hardened scales do well since its decently positioned to fight through fairish decks with spot removal. i just cant get behind decks that have such polarizing draws hinging on one card.

what i read into a jund deck reverting back to a leaner build with more bolts is just wanting to get people dead faster. i actually think its perfectly reasonable considering the strength of jund over rock is its closing speed, so you lean into that with 4 bolts and 4 bbe and forego a bunch of 2 cmc interaction that can gum up your curve.

afaik the london mulligan is going to debut at its namesake mythic championship. sanctioned tournaments cant use it until then.

if deathrite could only be cast with green i think itd be an alright card in the format. unfortunately the hybrid cost leave it opened to be played in literally every shard/wedge sans jeskai.

anyone have the GP data for GDS in the second half of 2017? that is really when the deck blew up, and as far as i know its still holds the title of having the biggest hype + success while avoiding a ban. humans is probably a close second.

it might give some perspective on how much rope phoenix gets before it hangs itself.

another GP with multiple copies of phoenix in the top8. so as i said with the last GP, this is just one more data point if someone was building a case for phoenix being problematic. 3 more modern GPs in the next month(ish). so should be some good data.

some anecdotal info; my local scene is dominated by phoenix as well. i personally play it (played jeskai the last week and a half though), but its easily 25-30 percent of the field at the 2 lgs i play at (between different phoenix builds).

i think UW miracles playing RiP main is still close, even in this environment. foregoing snaps, even without the full set, makes your cheap spells a bit worse and your top end a little less high (snaps + cryptic). then you consider that UR phoenix has draws that play through it, and its questionable to register them maindeck at a GP. i think having 3-4 in the 75 is completely reasonable alongside 1-2 surgicals in this kind of field though.

i wouldnt be against 1-2 relics main, which we saw fabiano employ at an SCG event not too long ago. those still leave your snaps somewhat live, and the instant speed draw is applicable.

Quote from Joban8 »

On the whole, I think that's pretty reasonable and fair when looking at the format as a whole. However, they essentially said that some inclusions were made with particular decks/archetypes in mind. Therefore, I could definitely see an Enlightened Tutor reprint as works on two different fronts; it'd be a welcome addition to niche enchantment-relevant archetypes (e.g. Bogles) while also helping to give White some more options and boost that part of the color pie.

On the topic of baseless speculation, what do we all think about the potential for Sylvan Library entering Modern? Initially, I chalked it up as busted, but the more I think about it the more convinced I am that it wouldn't break the format or cause any major disruptions (aside from blue players again having to see Green get superior card draw).

i would also like to see some added enchantment support, and i think there are a few enchantment based strategies just one good tutor/enabler away from being real competitors. however i think enlightened tutor is just a little too much, 1 mana at instant speed that can also get artifacts sounds too dangerous long term imo.

i dont think Sylvan Library would break anything. in a format dominated by aggro and burn always lurking paying those chunks of life is a liability that would likely relegate the card as sideboard tech. given that though i think it would be a potent tool for plenty of green decks. so yeah i dont think its an absurd option.

Quote from icehippo »

Ideally, I’m hoping Modern Horizons brings in old extended archetypes that don’t have a home in Legacy.

I am fearful though that this product introduces too many new cards too quick and changes Modern more rapidly than usual. For me, I enjoy the slow paced Modern evolution as each Standard set releases a few Modern playables. With this set entirely designed as new cards for Modern, be they old pre 8th Edition or brand new cards entirely, it could change Modern much quicker than ever before. Besides rotation, another aspect of Standard that I dislike is how much of a drastic impact a new set has upon the format so I don’t want to see this happen to my favorite format Modern.

in the interview that the Professor did with Gavin Verhey (wotc product architect) not too long ago the question was posed about a straight-to-modern set and Verhey brought up these very concerns. Specifically he mentions the concern with the format not developing organically over time like you say. He also goes on to mention that the barrier to such a set was the extra resources (man hours designing/testing) that would be required.

Given that he made those statements with full knowledge that such a specific product was soon (relatively) to be announced/released; i think its safe to assume he was recounting what actually happened but just worded to be noncommittal

That isnt to say that there wont be any mistakes; i just think its worth noting that they at least had the stuff youre talking about in mind. how well they pull it off, or whether they ignored it are yet to be seen.

here is the interview link: https://youtu.be/0DUGg9PDnIY?t=2895

Quote from ashtonkutcher »

Some thoughts on Modern Horizons, including breakdowns of the stream-spoiled cards, possible reprint includes, and of course long-term format implications. I think Horizons might slow the format's development to a crawl after an initial brewing renaissance of sorts; after all, there's no guarantee more products like this are released down the road. In fact, I'd say the odds of that happening (especially with any semblance of frequency) are very low.

http://modernnexus.com/modern-horizons-perspectives-implications/

while its technically true there is no guarantee the fact that the set code is 'MH1' speaks of more down the line. at this point i think wizards hasnt decided whether there will be more, and wont until they can better gauge reception. if its a smash hit, i think its a safe bet there will be another next year.

edit: after reading your article i think i agree with your assertions; particularly regarding therapist vs. serra evaluations. the only thing im on the fence about is force of will. its possible it is too strong, but without the suite of strong cantrips there are also fewer decks that can support the adaquate number of blue cards to reliably cast it with its alternative cost. however i do worry what a deck like UR phoenix would do with a set of forces in the 75; so maybe you are right.

the lack of needed currently legal reprints will probably be the headline complaint about this set. personally i can understand why wizards might have leaned toward no-reprints; however i think they could have still added a few.

for those who dont understand, it is probably just due to design space. the code for the set is 'MH1', which indicates that this will be a series product; maybe annual releases. these are presumably going to be the ONLY ancillary product(s) with the caveat of being modern legal; whereas they can put reprints basically anywhere. so if they wanted to come out swinging with all these flashy newly designed cards or pre-modern reprints it may have left too little space to fit.

that said i find it hard to believe they couldnt have fit in half or the full fetch land cycle.

edit: confirmed 36 booster pack boxes - which further indicates that the price will be closer to $5-$7 per pack than 10

Quote from AUTUMNTWILIGHT »

Quote from tronix »

damn that Serra walker looks pushed to the hilt. cant even begin to think of the ramifications of cabal therapist.

tentatively optimistic. set details are basically what a lot of people have been asking for. no msrp anymore but given the price tag for sealed GP entry, and it being a full set with its own 'prerelease'; im led to believe packs will be in the 5-7 range.

Would it be broken if it gave counters?

As for Cabal all Black does is win win no matter what. I think Esper and Sultai will soon be quite viable in modern that is my prediction.

broken? i dunno that is kinda a vague descriptor. i would say no, but at the same time i dont think the card needs that extra push to be playable. no point bogging yourself down with what-ifs; like what if she costed 3 mana?