Just putting in my 2 cents worth, but it is quite possible that Wizards would fear an artificial boom of twin decks in the format for if they unbanned it. There would be former players returning, and those who believe it to be an unbeatable monster all playing it, even if it is just a middle- tier 1 deck. That’s why I honestly believe that if it ever came off the list it would be with multiple other cards (sfm, GSZ) or a Deceiver Exarch ban to power it down.
Hello all. Returning GDS player here. I have noticed in recent lists that Snapcaste has dropped to 3 and Looting to 0-1. How is that so? I could understand Looting, but going out without 4 Snaps makes me feel a little insecure.
The full four Snaps tends to be too slow against what is a highly fast and linear meta. Most have relegated it to the sideboard where it can thrive against control and other slower decks where the grind value becomes more important than speed.
On the topic of of whether Creeping Chill was on Wizard's radar, Paul Cheon said on stream (R&D plays Magic on the main MTG Twitch) that they knew/were aware of Chill's modern playability, and they guessed that Arclight Phoenix had potential, with it being spell-based. This was after they were asked about wariness of Modern playables for GRN. This suggests that there was probably minimal testing, but at very least it was known that the aforementioned cards could/would see play, if not to the degree they currently are.
Mental Misstep would be played in every single deck, if only to counter other players' own copies. You hate matchup lottery-style nights? Wait until the "who drew more missteps" game determines the outcome on turn one or two.
I don't think humans, dredge, hollow one, KCI, or tron would play mental misstep. Do you?
Mental Misstep is one of the most broken cards in the history of the modern format, and should never come off the ban list if Wizards has any idea what they are doing. While maybe not every deck would play it, it is literally a free card that can be put into any deck, and results in wars of who had the most. The card is fundamentally unfair and will not see legal play outside of its restriction in Vintage. Please stop suggesting that it is even close to a consideration for something to be put into the format.
Misstep would do more harm than good to the modern format, and all it does is interrupt other decks adds no real value to the format. It cannot be played around, and should never come off the ban list. There is no reason to unban Misstep.
Phoenix really seems to have broken out this tournament. Does anyone have a link to Merriam's list/the full decklists of the top 8? Also, I was wondering whether there is a forum here for the U/R archetype yet, as it would be great to get some discussions going about the deck.
If we are getting back into the unban Twin talks, then I will repeat a slightly altered version of what I said two years ago; If Twin is released back into the format, then yes, if you want to play a U/R deck then it is certainly the best option and may suppress of URx decks. However, if one looks at the current metagame, the only truly competitive decks in the colours are Storm, which is a separate archetype and will never use twin, and Death's Shadow which is more of a black deck that utilises blue's card selection and Stubborn Denial.
Izzet phoenix, and blue moon are the only two current decks that play even vaguely similarly to twin, but they are realistically not viable. Blue moon is merely a remnant, and phoenix a slow, semi-linear deck in a metagame of faster, more linear decks that are harder to interact with.
To reiterate idSurge's statement, the archetype of UR Tempo and control is dead, and has been since January 18, 2016. Furthermore, while I hate the use of the phrase 'format police,' that is exactly what twin would do in a meta of linearity and the ever-imposing threat of dredge.
This is all I could find in regards to the legality:
Magic Tournament Rules 2.11, Taking Notes:
'Players are allowed to take written notes during a match and may refer to those notes while that match is in progress. At the beginning of a match, each player’s note sheet must be empty and must remain visible throughout the match. Players do not have to explain or reveal notes to other players. Judges may ask to see a player’s notes and/or request that the player explain his or her notes.
Players may not refer to other notes, including notes from previous matches, during games.'
Also, 'Artistic modifications to cards that indirectly provide minor strategic information are acceptable. The Head Judge is the final arbiter on what cards and notes are acceptable for a tournament.'
However, the mat hardly contains any strategic information, as the different steps of the turn are something that is just an integral part of the game. Everybody knows the steps and phases. Giving you a penalty for the incredibly minor strategic information featured on the mat shouldn't ever happen.
In regards to the suing, I'm no lawyer, but as long as it isn't for commercial use, you should be fine. I have seen many players with custom mats featuring MTG artwork, and of course no legal action was taken against them.
I'd say that the Reckless Cohort is worded as it is to prevent confusion due to additional combat phases and the removal of allies before and after them.
You beat me to mentioning this. Good catch! I don't really think we're going to be getting contraptions yet, but MaRo's been known for being good at pretending he hasn't done something when he has (e.g. Poison). I'm anyway excited for this steampunk world, so it doesn't make too much of a difference to me.
Thing in the Ice being both sorcery speed and dying to abrupt decay/terminate is a huge cost seeing as we run a ton of 2 mana counters, and normally blank removal g1. I could see it being good in a build similar to what Jacob wilson was playing where you have access to serum visions and already have targets for opponents removal.
Has anyone tested out goblin dark dwellers out in a build with 4x visions? I'm really skeptical of a 5mana sorcery speed threat in the main deck, and its hard for me to believe its better than a keranos.
I have been testing it as a one of, but I'm only playing it as a one-of. When there is an Ancestral Vision in the yard it does things that have made opponents tilt out at times.
Here is the List I am currently running. What's everyone's thoughts on it?
The full four Snaps tends to be too slow against what is a highly fast and linear meta. Most have relegated it to the sideboard where it can thrive against control and other slower decks where the grind value becomes more important than speed.
Mental Misstep is one of the most broken cards in the history of the modern format, and should never come off the ban list if Wizards has any idea what they are doing. While maybe not every deck would play it, it is literally a free card that can be put into any deck, and results in wars of who had the most. The card is fundamentally unfair and will not see legal play outside of its restriction in Vintage. Please stop suggesting that it is even close to a consideration for something to be put into the format.
Misstep would do more harm than good to the modern format, and all it does is interrupt other decks adds no real value to the format. It cannot be played around, and should never come off the ban list. There is no reason to unban Misstep.
Izzet phoenix, and blue moon are the only two current decks that play even vaguely similarly to twin, but they are realistically not viable. Blue moon is merely a remnant, and phoenix a slow, semi-linear deck in a metagame of faster, more linear decks that are harder to interact with.
To reiterate idSurge's statement, the archetype of UR Tempo and control is dead, and has been since January 18, 2016. Furthermore, while I hate the use of the phrase 'format police,' that is exactly what twin would do in a meta of linearity and the ever-imposing threat of dredge.
Abrupt Dispersal
1U
Counter target spell with converted mana cost 3 or less.
Magic Tournament Rules 2.11, Taking Notes:
'Players are allowed to take written notes during a match and may refer to those notes while that match is in progress. At the beginning of a match, each player’s note sheet must be empty and must remain visible throughout the match. Players do not have to explain or reveal notes to other players. Judges may ask to see a player’s notes and/or request that the player explain his or her notes.
Players may not refer to other notes, including notes from previous matches, during games.'
Also, 'Artistic modifications to cards that indirectly provide minor strategic information are acceptable. The Head Judge is the final arbiter on what cards and notes are acceptable for a tournament.'
However, the mat hardly contains any strategic information, as the different steps of the turn are something that is just an integral part of the game. Everybody knows the steps and phases. Giving you a penalty for the incredibly minor strategic information featured on the mat shouldn't ever happen.
In regards to the suing, I'm no lawyer, but as long as it isn't for commercial use, you should be fine. I have seen many players with custom mats featuring MTG artwork, and of course no legal action was taken against them.
Here is the List I am currently running. What's everyone's thoughts on it?
2 Arid Mesa
3 Celestial Colonnade
1 Eiganjo Castle
2 Flooded Strand
1 Hallowed Fountain
3 Island
1 Minamo, School at Water's Edge
1 Mountain
1 Plains
1 Sacred Foundry
4 Scalding Tarn
2 Steam Vents
1 Sulfur Falls
2 Tectonic Edge
3 Ancestral Vision
2 Cryptic Command
2 Electrolyze
4 Lightning Bolt
3 Lightning Helix
3 Mana Leak
4 Path to Exile
2 Remand
2 Spell Snare
Creatures (10)
1 Goblin Dark-Dwellers
2 Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker
3 Restoration Angel
4 Snapcaster Mage
2 Crumble to Dust
1 Dispel
1 Engineered Explosives
1 Izzet Staticaster
1 Keranos, God of Storms
1 Negate
1 Relic of Progenitus
2 Stony Silence
2 Supreme Verdict
1 Timely Reinforcements
2 Wear / Tear