I am not convinced there was an implied agreement to preserve secondary market prices outside of the Reserved List, at least for cards which are Modern legal. As you mention in the article, one of Wizards' stated reasons for establishing the Modern format was to have a non-rotating format that wouldn't present a significant price barrier to entry. I think it's pretty clear that this constitutes an announcement by Wizards that there is no promise of value retention in Modern-legal cards, that what has been true for cards before Modern is no longer true. In this case, there isn't merely an omission of a verbal/written contract; there is a stated rejection of such a contract. Wizards essentially said, with the Modern format, "We are providing these cards but you are hereafter warned that they are open to reprint at any time."
That being said, I can't help but wonder if there is a point where enough time has gone by, much like a statute of limitations, where that original statement becomes invalid. Even though Wizards appeared to intend this to be the rule for Modern, they have not really lived up to that. Personally, I consider the low price barrier concept an essential point of having the format. However, we now live in a time when certain cards in Modern cost more than the expensive cards did in Legacy at the time when Modern was created.
I honestly think Wizards should consider banning cards from Modern purely based on their price having risen too high. Either that or do a real reprint of these cards (Modern Masters doesn't count because the price per pack still presents a significant price barrier).
Monoblack Devotion 20.65%
Gruul Midrange 11.61%
Azorius Control 10.97%
Orzhov Control 10.32%
Monoblue Devotion 8.39%
Esper Control 5.16%
Esper Midrange 3.23%
RG Devotion 3.23%
RW/Naya Devotion 3.23%
Selesnya Aggro 3.23%
Golgari Midrange 1.94%
Monoblack Aggro 1.94%
American Control 1.29%
Bant Control 1.29%
Bant Midrange 1.29%
Boros Midrange 1.29%
Orzhov Aggro 1.29%
Rakdos Aggro 1.29%
Red Deck Wins 1.29%
Azorius Auras 0.65%
Boros Aggro 0.65%
Dimir Control 0.65%
GB Devotion 0.65%
Jund Aggro 0.65%
Jund Midrange 0.65%
Junk Reanimator 0.65%
Monored Devotion 0.65%
Naya Auras 0.65%
Naya Midrange 0.65%
UW Devotion 0.65%
A high percentage here could reflect either high frequency of use or high frequency of wins (or both, but definitely not neither). However, most competitive players play a deck that they think is either the best or near the best, so I think we can assume that this is a good indication of the power level of these decks.
I've also made a few changes to the sideboard:
Added Far // Away against midrange decks.
- 4 Hallowed Fountain
- 4 Watery Grave
- 4 Godless Shrine
- 4 Temple of Deceit
- 4 Temple of Silence
- 4 Temple of Enlightenment
- 2 Jace, Memory Adept
- 2 Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver
- 3 Supreme Verdict
- 4 Detention Sphere
- 4 Dissolve
- 3 Nullify
- 3 Hero's Downfall
- 3 Thoughtseize
- 4 Quicken
- 4 Sphinx's Revelation
- 3 Pilfered Plans
- 1 Elixir of Immortality
SideboardSo the basic principle is that it tries to operate like successful UW Control decks that rely on just a couple win conditions and the rest is control, except the win conditions are mill instead. I know Quicken is a bit of an oddity here, but I've never felt bad about drawing this card. The problem I've always encountered without it is that sometimes you have that supreme verdict and a dissolve, but not enough mana to use both. Control wants to play as many cards during the opponent's turn as possible, so that it's never tapped out when it needs to counter. And Quicken solves that problem, has a negligible casting cost, and replaces itself. If nothing else, it can be dumped at opponent's EOT for something else. I generally add them to the deck by turning 4 4-ofs into 3-ofs, since with Quicken you are going to dig deeper into the library anyway.
The sideboard is where I feel the greatest uncertainty. Against control, I have Negate and Duress to replace Nullify and Supreme Verdict. Against aggro, I have Drown in Sorrow to replace Hero's Downfall. Dark Betrayal is an additional force against Rakdos Aggro, and also against Monoblack Devotion. I'm unsure about Ratchet Bomb and Pithing Needle. They seem like obvious choices but I've never really been sure when to bring them in.
I feel like it's almost there, but still struggling. The thing that would make the deck great is an anti-creature enchantment of some kind. Maybe in the next set...
Mostly what I am looking for is... is this the best I can expect to do with the concept of creatureless esper control/mill currently? The deck went 2-2 at the local weekly Standard this week, but I didn't have the Temple of Enlightenment yet, and the losses taught me that I need Dark Betrayal badly as an option for Rakdos Aggro (the 3/1 haste Spike Jester is pretty rough for this deck that otherwise would need to wait until Downfall/Drown in Sorrow/Verdict is an option).