Quote from Valanarch »
What I find ridiculous is that you dismiss it so easily and that you don't even address that blue has a problem with drawing cards (seriously, Esper Charm, Thirst for Knowledge, Sphinx's Revelation, and Think Twice are the best card-draw spells we have and Charm and Thirst are both only playable in specific decks, Revelation is a worse Opportunity unless you have 7+ mana, and Think Twice costs 5 mana to draw 2 cards).
You know what will blow your mind?
Those cards you mentioned actually aren't bad. I would even add Sultai Charm, Izzet Charm, Peer Through Depths(which is a replacement effect) to that list, and call that a worthy Modern card draw spell. Why do you believe that there should be a card at 3+ mana, that automatically turns the tide in favor of the blue decks? Ancestral Vision may be the perfect card to help regulate blue, but the mere presence of so many other options would only make the better blue decks harder to combat.
You need to enable specific strategies. Blue and White are suffering completely right now as being viable control colors. Green and Black has taken that throne away from them, which I personally do not agree with based on my discussions with other individuals about the format. In order to help Blue and White regain some control in the format, those two colors need finishers. Snapcaster Mage, Restoration Angel and Celestial Colonnade cannot do those tasks. Broken card draw and increased power-level of counter magic will only further a problem of making it the secondary blue combo format.
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Sultai is BGx
Junk is BGx
Little Kid is still BGx
Jund of course, is BGx
The most 'fair' and interactive decks are also likely approaching $2000...which is a comical price for a game of cards.
The next step down from interactivity is the UR shell, which has fair decks (URx Delver) combo/control (URx Twin)/(Blue/RUG Moon) or...goldfish UR Storm.
After that, what colors can even meaningfully interact and continue to do so throughout the life of the game?
Thats the primary issues with modern.
1. 'Fair' decks are expensive as hell.
2. 'Fair' decks are either BGx or MAYBE URx at a stretch.
I dont know. I love the format more than the rest, and to me money isnt really a long term issue (I wont drop 2K today on Jund, but I'll build up to it or stick with Twin which only cost me $300ish) but the balance of the colours/archetypes matters a lot.
Here's hoping MM2015 nails it.
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Because people dont want to lose to Infect and Burn, they want to interact and trade spells. Ban Red and Pumps.
Because people dont want to play against grindy midrange all day. Ban BGx
Because people want to play 'Real' reactive Control, and anyone who doesnt, doesnt play Magic at the highest level. Unban Top, Ponder, and DTT!
Yes, you shouldn't be surprised to get fact ignorning biased commentary on the internet.
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When you consider the rise of linear decks has matched a rise in viewers online...
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If that wasnt the case, then Dark Tutelage would be a common, Pain Seer an Uncommon, and Dark Confidant rare. I dont think so. I know he was Rare originally, but the power level is real, and its above those other similar cards.
EDIT: As for Goyf (which is not near as dear to my heart as Confidant, that I covet relentlessly) both the cards you mention cost more mana, have 1 less toughness, and only pump off creatures. Granted they get +1 for each creature, but there are many decks that run very few creatures, and the difference between 2cmc and 3cmc (or 4...) is massive. I note again, that those are also rare, are you saying they are on par with Goyf against the field?
If not mythic rare, when compared to other rares, what?
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Honestly I would rather have teeth pulled than play against 'Pure' reactive control that drags the game into turn 15 just to FINALLY end the game. Its the same as playing against mono-white decks that do nothing but exile, cast Ghostly Prison type cards, and prevent you from playing magic before finally deigning to attack and finish the game.
Honestly, a T1 level draw go would be worse than Burn, by far, to play against.
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QUOTING THIS.
I seriously am lost as to what these cards are for. At this point I'll buy the commands (BR/RG) and not crack a single pack for all this Dragon madness.
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I'll grant you Silumgar's could have been pushed a lot harder though.
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